Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

There is no plan for American Honda’s Ben Bostrom, Miguel Duhamel or Kurtis Roberts to race in the World Superbike races July 10-13 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, but the possibility has not been ruled out, according to team sources.

“We’re still kind of up in the air,” Chuck Miller, American Honda Racing Teams Manager told Roadracingworld.com Tuesday. “To tell you the truth, right now there is not a plan to participate in WSB.

“We’re still having some discussions. I’m going to tell you no, right now, but if you see something change then…anything is possible, certainly. We’re still having discussions about it. Tentatively, no Honda (AMA) riders will ride the WSB event. We will concentrate on the AMA.”

Miller said that several factors, particularly the risks involved, weighed into the decision to exclude his riders from the event. “There’s a cost. There’s a risk. There’s a marketing value. There’s a lot of different reasons, obviously,” said Miller. “At this point, we want to focus on the AMA, where all of our guys are in the (Superbike) Championship hunt for that series. That’s where we have our most marketability as well. That’s why we’re going to stick with AMA only.”

Miller said that the plan was tentative and that anything could happen. But when asked what factor would change his plan, Miller said, “I don’t know. Right now, I’m not sure if there is a factor that would change it.”

As for published reports indicating Bostrom and Roberts would join series regular Duhamel in the AMA Supersport race Friday, July 11, Miller said, “Still discussing it. Nothing for sure is planned there. Miguel is for sure (going to race Supersport). That’s the only for sure at this point. We’ve had discussions about it and talks, but no final decision on it has been made at this point.”

Miller explained that some of the same factors that are leading him to hold his riders out of the World Superbike races are leading him to include Bostrom and Roberts in AMA Supersport at Laguna Seca. “Marketability, it’s local, easy to do. We can haul another truck up there with the extra equipment if we want to,” said Miller. “It’s on Friday, so it kind of spreads the weekend out a little bit so it makes it a little easier for the guys to do that. We’re still talking with the guys about that. No final decisions have been made for sure.”

Miller also said that Honda officials in Japan had not asked for any American Honda Superbike riders to participate in the Suzuka 8-hour July 31-August 3 even though it falls within a month-long break in the AMA Superbike schedule.