Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Although Lorenzo Lanzi did well in testing and the AMA Superbike races at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) on the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin 999 and Ducati Corse Superbike Racing Director Paolo Ciabatti has stated he will send a European rider to join the AMA Superbike team for 2005, the second Ducati Austin rider will not be Lanzi, according to both Lanzi and Ciabatti.

In telling Roadracingworld.com about the idea to bring Lanzi to America for the one-off race event at VIR, Ciabatti said of Lanzi, “He is young, and he will possibly be on a World Superbike satellite team next year.”

At the end of the VIR race weekend, Roadracingworld.com asked Lanzi if he would like to or planned to race in the AMA full-time in 2005, and with translation help provided by Ciabatti, Lanzi said, “Not at this time, not next year.”

When the same question was asked of World Superbike Championship runner-up, Regis Laconi at VIR, he said, “I don’t know. Maybe yes, maybe no. I have to see.”

“Everyone’s been making a big deal about these two world guys coming over and that,” commented five-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin. “This is the AMA. It isn’t World Superbike. If he (Laconi) thinks he’s going to come over and win, he’s got something to think about. He might be able to race for a World Championship, but if he wants to come race AMA next year…rock and roll!”