Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Graves Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo took pole position in AMA Superstock during qualifying Saturday at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

Riding a YZF-R1 fitted with a Dunlop qualifying tire, DiSalvo lapped the 2.25-mile course in 1:25.328, which not only lowered the lap record by over two seconds but was also faster than the fastest Superbike time recorded so far during the weekend.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies and DiSalvo’s teammate Damon Buckmaster and Jamie Hacking will also start Saturday’s 17-lap final from the front row.

Provisional AMA Superstock Qualifying Results:

1. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 1:25.328
2. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.077
3. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R1, 1:26.137
4. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R1, 1:26.152
5. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, 1:26.692
6. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:26.890
7. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:26.939
8. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.210
9. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:27.320
10. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R750, 1:27.410
11. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.519
12. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R750, 1:27.654
13. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.026
14. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:28.772
15. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.588
16. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.402
17. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.483
18. Roland Williams, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.195
19. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:32.791
20. Montez Stewart, Yam YZF-R1, 1:33.068
21. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, 1:34.851

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Final 125cc GP Qualifying Results:

1. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 2:12.684
2. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, 2:13.576
3. Casey STONER, KTM, 2:13.718
4. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 2:13.843
5. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, 2:13.969
6. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 2:14.346
7. Roberto LOCATELLI, Aprilia, 2:14.479
8. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 2:14.487
9. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 2:14.534
10. Fabrizio LAI, Gilera, 2:14.568
11. Gabor TALMACSI, Malaguti, 2:14.664
12. Stefano PERUGINI, Gilera, 2:14.680
13. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Aprilia, 2:14.915
14. Simone CORSI, Honda, 2:15.015
15. Julian SIMON, Honda, 2:15.281

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Final 250cc Grand Prix Qualifying Results:

1. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 2:06.940
2. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 2:07.644
3. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 2:08.287
4. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 2:08.345
5. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 2:08.501
6. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 2:08.510
7. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 2:08.905
8. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 2:08.948
9. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 2:09.051
10. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 2:09.364
11. Alex DEBON, Honda, 2:09.760
12. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, 2:09.892
13. Marcellino LUCCHI, Aprilia, 2:10.010
14. Erwan NIGON, Aprilia, 2:10.494
15. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 2:10.533
16. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 2:10.847
17. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 2:10.902
18. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 2:11.043
19. Johan STIGEFELT, Aprilia, 2:11.084
20. Hector FAUBEL, Aprilia, 2:11.114

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Lap Times From Second AMA Superstock Practice:

1. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.490
2. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R1, 1:26.569
3. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 1:26.570
4. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R1, 1:26.747
5. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, 1:27.343
6. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.564
7. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.812
8. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:27.879
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:28.040
10. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:29.180
11. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.388
12. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.395
13. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R750, 1:28.425
14. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R750, 1:28.845
15. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.520
16. Scott Greenwood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.833
17. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:29.875
18. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.586
19. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:32.196
20. Montez Stewart, Yam YZF-R1, 1:32.837

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Saturday Morning AMA Superbike Practice Times:

1. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:25.807
2. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:26.654
3. Ben Bostrom, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:26.711
4. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.889
5. Josh Yates, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:27.275
6. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:27.421
7. Marty Craggill, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.657
8. Lorenzo Lanzi, Duc 999F04, 1:28.008
9. Eric Bostrom, Duc 999F04, 1:28.023
10. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.268
11. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.268
12. Regis Laconi, Duc 999F04, 1:28.592
13. Larry Pegram, Yam YZF-R1, 1:28.656
14. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.128
15. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.485
16. David Weber, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.711
17. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.823
18. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.593
19. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.659
20. Scott Greenwood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.707
21. Cory West, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.108
22. Jeremy Toye, Yam YZF-R1, 1:31.133
23. Chuck Sorensen, Yam YZF-R1, 1:31.181
24. Byron Barbour, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.223
25. Shawn Higbee, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.276
26. Heath Small, Yam YZF-R1, 1:32.038
27. Roger Bell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:32.489
28. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:33.150
29. Roland Williams, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:33.719
30. Scott Jensen, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:33.807
31. Marco Martinez, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:34.292
32. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, 1:35.370
33. Steve Scott, Yam YZF-R1, 1:35.430
34. Jeremiah Johnson, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:37.157

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The rider turnout for the postponed AMA Finale at VIR is light.

Entries in each class:

Superbike: 41
Supersport: 35
Formula Xtreme: 26
Superstock: 24

Total Entries: 126

Total Riders: 92

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom will most likely have a European teammate in the 2005 AMA Superbike series, according to sources within Ducati Corse.

“We will definitely have a second rider in AMA Superbike next year,” Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Superbike Racing Director told Roadracingworld.com Friday at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). “We are not considering any Americans at this time. We are looking at European riders.”

Ducati World Supersport rider Lorenzi Lanzi and World Superbike Championship runner-up Regis Laconi are at VIR and will be riding with Ducati Austin this weekend.

Some paddock rumors had Eric Bostrom and Ducati cutting their two-year relationship short, but both sides confirmed that they would be together in 2005.

“We’re very happy with our relationship with Eric,” said Ciabatti. “He is a very good rider and is very good at PR. We have no doubts that we want him with us next year.”

“For sure,” Bostrom said, when asked if he would be back with Ducati in 2005. As for gaining a teammate, Bostrom added, “Yeah, it should be cool. Obviously, having a second rider will be good.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Australian Ben Attard, who rides for Corona Extra Suzuki in the AMA Supersport Series, will ride an Attack Kawasaki ZX-10R in the WSMC Toyota 200 weekend at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California, October 15-17.

Dunlop will supply Attard and Attack Kawasaki lead rider (and defending Toyota 200 Champion) Josh Hayes with its best developmental slick tires, as used by factory Superbike riders in the AMA Series.

The 80-lap, 200-mile Toyota 200 pays $50,000 to win with $30,000 for second and $10,000 for third. The $150,000 purse pays all 40 starters a minimum of $1000.

Final qualifying for the Toyota 200 will be held Friday with a full schedule of WSMC races on Saturday and Sunday.

The Roadracingworld.com 250/50, a 50-mile, $30,000-purse race for 250cc Grand Prix machines, will run Sunday before the Toyota 200.

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

FGSPORT BIDS FAREWELL TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MARKETING MANAGER

FGSPORT regrets to announce the departure of Superbike World Championship Marketing Manager Robert Wicks who is leaving the Group after five years in the role.

Robert joined the organisation in 1999 from South Africa where he had previously worked in the sports media sector. He leaves to take up another position in the motorcycle industry details of which will be announced next week.

“Since joining the Championship I have been able to accomplish and experience so much more than I ever anticipated. Perhaps the best part of the job has been the vast array of people – from all walks of life – that I have met and worked with. It is this aspect of the role that I will undoubtedly miss the most,” said Wicks.

He added: “It really has been so encouraging to see such a positive feeling throughout the paddock during the last few events, from the media, the teams as well as the Championship’s commercial partners. Everyone seems really excited about the success achieved in the latter part of this year and the potential that lies ahead. This has made it all the more difficult to leave, but I will always maintain a close affinity with the series.”

FGSPORT CEO, Paolo Flammini, said: “Robert has made a significant contribution to the organisation over the past five years maintaining excellent relationships both inside and outside the company. We wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”