Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin Previews Barber Superbike Races

Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin Previews Barber Superbike Races

© 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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HODGSON AND BOSTROM TO ATTACK DIFFICULT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK COURSE The Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team travels to Birmingham, Alabama this weekend for rounds two and three of the 2005 AMA Superbike Championship. The scenic Barber Motorsports Park, located outside the city in the Alabama hills, will see the first race action in the series since last month’s Daytona opener. Racers Neil Hodgson and Eric Bostrom hope to capitalize on the team’s extensive testing of their factory Ducati 999 race machines since the first race of the season. For Hodgson, the former World Superbike Champion who has come to the U.S. this year in a bid to become the first man to win the British, World, and American Superbike titles, last month’s test at the Birmingham circuit known for its tight series of turns and blind corners was a valuable experience. “I’m learning all the tracks in America, and this one’s no different. I thought this track looked to be the most ‘normal’ of the tracks by watching the videos (of previous races). From riding at the test, it’s clearly different than I thought it would be,” said the Isle of Man resident currently second in AMA points. “For such a small circuit, it is still very technical and that’s the sign of a good track. I’ve not made friends with it yet and we’re still fighting,” laughed Hodgson. “The tricky part is that there’s a lot of off-camber braking and fast corners that you can’t see the entry. It’s quite difficult but I think it’s the type of place where you come back for the second time and feel a lot more comfortable. I’m really looking forward to getting back to racing after all this testing.” Eric Bostrom, winner of 12 AMA Superbike races in his career, is still working on adapting the powerful Ducati 999’s suspension settings to fit his distinctive riding style. Bostrom showed a marked improvement at recent tests, however. “It’s coming good. We’ve come a long way. Now we need to get the bike setup just a little bit better, then I think that will improve my riding as well,” says Bostrom. “We’re making progress and getting closer to where we want to be.” Eric agrees the Birmingham circuit is a challenging one, a track that doesn’t allow a mighty machine like the Ducati 999 to fully make use of its powerful engine. “The track is really a monster,” says Bostrom, who finished fourth and seventh in last year’s Barber Motorsport Park Superbike races. “Except for the Esses down by the museum, there aren’t a lot of flat turns. Even the Esses aren’t very flat, either. Every turn is a challenge because the bike is weighted and unweighted so much. You’ll brake uphill and then have to turn on a downhill. Setup is always a real compromise at Barber. It’s really a very cool racetrack, but it is very difficult.” “It’s going to be an interesting race weekend,” said Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team manager Tom Bodenbach. “Despite all the time between races, things have been hectic and everyone in the team has been working hard to get ready. Our hope is that Neil and Eric will continue with their momentum in testing now that we’re racing again.” The two 28-lap Superbike races will be held on Saturday and Sunday. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after 1 of 16 races): Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 38, NEIL HODGSON (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) 32, Ben Spies (Suzuki) 29, Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 27, Jake Zemke (Honda) 26, Miguel DuHamel (Honda) 25 … ERIC BOSTROM (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) 20 THE CIRCUIT Name: Barber Motorsport Park, 2.3 miles (3.70 kilometers), 16 turns with 80 feet of elevation changes. STATISTICS Lap record: Mladin (Suzuki) 1:23.176 (2003) Race distance: DuHamel (Honda) 40.41.42 (2004)

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