Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Attack Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore and Bruce Transportation Group Honda’s Marty Craggill are considering racing the 2003 Daytona 200 AMA Superbike race on their respective Formula Xtreme bikes, modified to fit the new-for-2003 Superbike class rules.

“That’s tentative,” said Attack Suzuki team owner Richard Stanboli. “I figured since we’re here it would be a shame just to run one class.”

Stanboli said Pridmore will also probably ride in the AMA Superstock race at Daytona before concentrating on defending his AMA Formula Xtreme Championship on a 2003-model Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Attack Suzuki’s Josh Hayes will also race Formula Xtreme on a new Suzuki GSX-R1000 and will race the Superstock class full-time on a GSX-R750.

Bruce Transportation Group Honda brought an updated version of its CBR954RR Formula Xtreme bike for Craggill to test at Daytona. The bike was fitted with a new ram-air intake system, with vertical intake scoops on the leading edge of each fairing lower, and a new airbox, which utilizes the fuel tank as the top of the airbox for extra internal volume.

“Basically, we’re testing with a Superbike-spec motor,” said Bruce Transportation Group Honda Crew Chief Joey Osowski. “With the (AMA Superbike) rule change, we are able to run the 200. We just have to see where we’re at with it (Honda CBR954RR).”

Osowski says he want to see how competitive the team could be with the CBR954RR before investing in the quick-change pitstop hardware necessary to run the classic 200-mile race. “Where we are right now, it would probably be a two-minute tire change, which is a lot (of time),” said Osowski. “So it’s kind of ridiculous. But if we can get up to speed and figure that we’re running somewhere near qualifying (lap) times, we’ll consider it. Again, we’re doing it as a test to see where we’re at.

“We’re actually looking to do more, again with the rule changes and stuff, looking at 2004 to see where we’re going to be then, whether we’re going to step up and do Superbike in 2004.”

In the meantime, Craggill said he has been preparing to race the Honda CBR600RR, losing nearly 20 pounds in the off-season to be more competitive in his first-ever season racing a 600cc machine.