From a press release issued by RoadracingGirl PR:

Jessica Zalusky wraps up her snowboarding season to road race

Jessica Zalusky, professional snowboarder and road racer, recently finished her snowboarding season on top. After finishing 5th in the Open Women’s Class Halfpipe event in the United States of America Snowboarding Association National Championships, Jessica is ready to conquer her upcoming road racing schedule.

Jessica will be racing in selected AMA events, including Brainerd Intl Raceway and Road America. Jessica will race in both the 600cc Supersport and 1000cc Superstock class aboard her Yamaha R6 and Suzuki GSXR. In addition to AMA, Jessica will race the Central Roadracing Association series plus selected F-USA/CCS races.

Jessica’s sponsors include K2 Snowboards, Moto Primo, Teknic, Suomy, Kymco Scooters, Screaming Eagle, Teknic, Blown Concepts, Factory Pro, Scotts Performance, Armour Bodies, Specialized Graphics, M4 Exhaust Systems, Edge Performance Riding Courses, and Galfer.

www.roadracinggirl.com

From a press release issued by Ducati:

PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN CONCLUDES TWO-DAY MICHELIN TEST AT ROAD AMERICA

Elkhart Lake (Wisconsin): Cold temperatures and intermittent rainfall kept the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team from fully capitalizing on their two-day Michelin test session at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Eric Bostrom managed to get in nine laps during Tuesday’s test session, but with temperatures topping out at 49°, Bostrom’s hands were numbed to the point where working the controls proved difficult, so the team opted to wrap up testing in the early afternoon.

During Wednesday testing, Bostrom put in several laps on slicks before wet weather forced the 27-year-old rider onto rain tires for the remainder of the test session. In spite of the poor conditions, Racing Manager Tom Bodenbach felt positive about the track time.

“When we set up the date at Road America with Michelin, we knew it was a gamble for this time of the year. The weather certainly didn’t turn out the way we would’ve hoped, but at least we got to put in some time on the track and we did learn a few things.”

The AMA series resumes April 30 to May 2 with round 3 taking place at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

From a press release issued by WSMC:

Mike Tribble, 35, 2003 WSMC Novice #919, passed away from cancer on Saturday, April 17. He leaves behind wife Kacy and daughter Abby.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 24 at 1:00 p.m., at Morning Star Christian Chapel, located at 16241 Leffingwell Ave., Whittier, California, (562) 943-0297.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN RACE WIN ADVERTISING AT 2004 AWARDS BANQUET

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (April 22, 2004) — AMA Pro Racing has announced that it will recognize outstanding advertising during its annual AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet in November. Two awards will be given: one for best print ad and one for best TV ad.

The AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet is held at the end of the racing season and is where champions from each form of AMA motorcycle racing are honored.

Kerry Graeber, Vice President, Director of Communications will present the awards and is excited about the new award category. “Motorcycle manufactures as well as leading aftermarket companies that participate in racing make win advertising an important part of their marketing mix and we’re looking forward to recognizing their efforts,” said Graeber. “For companies who race, success on the race track is only part of the equation. Promoting that success through an effective advertising campaign extends the message and can lead to improved sales opportunities, which is, after all, why many companies race in the first place.” Graeber added that any advertising that promotes success in AMA-sanctioned professional motorcycle racing will be eligible for the competition.

Companies wishing to submit their advertising should visit www.amaproracing.com . Participants can enter as many ads as they wish. Each submission requires a separate entry form which is available on-line. Entries can be submitted by the advertiser or its agency of record. There is no fee to enter.

Graeber said ads promoting individual race wins from the 2004 racing season as well as ads promoting a 2003 championship are eligible. “Earning an award for advertising that promotes their racing success will be beneficial to the recipients,” said Graeber. “In addition to announcing the winners at the awards banquet and in subsequent news releases, we’ll also post the winning ads on the AMA Pro Racing web site. This will be like the ads running all over again.”

From a press release issued by AHRMA:

Race bargains at New Mexico’s Sandia Classic

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association announces it will waive the post-entry surcharges for roadrace and motocross entries at the May 1-2 Sandia Classic in Albuquerque, N.M.

“We want as many people as possible to experience this wonderful event, and we hope that a few more racers will be encouraged to make the trip if it costs the same to post-enter as it does to pre-enter,” said David Lamberth, AHRMA’s executive director.

Competitors in the May 1-2 Pro-Flo/Progressive Suspension Historic Cup Series roadrace rounds at Sandia Motor Speedway can enter the vintage, Vintage Superbike and modern Sound of Singles/Battle of Twins/Sound of Thunder classes for $50 per class. A complete round of AHRMA’s national series is run each day.

Entries for either the May 1 Northwest Maico & CZ/Pro-Flo post-vintage motocross for machines from 1975 to the early ’80s or the May 2 Speed & Sport vintage MX for pre-’75 motorcycles at Sandia Motocross Park will cost $35 for the first class and $25 for each additional class.

As previously announced, post-entries at the May 2 Classic MotorCycle/Metro Racing dirt track at Hollywood Hills Speedway are just $10 per class.

In all cases, competitors must be members of both AHRMA and the American Motorcyclist Association. Memberships will be available at the track. Pre-entries closed April 16.

For AHRMA information, call 615-851-3674 or visit www.ahrma.org. Details on the Sandia Classic can be found at www.sandiaclassic.net.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Mladin and Duhamel battle for top dog at Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown

Infineon Raceway hosting AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship doubleheader

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (April 21, 2004) — Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin and Honda’s Miguel Duhamel will go head-to-head as Infineon Raceway plays host to the top motorcycle road racers in the country, April 30-May 2 for the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown. The weekend, which is presented by Cycle Gear, features rounds four and five of the 18-race AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship.

The stakes are doubly high between Mladin and Duhamel this weekend. It was at Infineon (then called Sears Point Raceway) in 1998 that Duhamel matched the Motorcycle Hall of Famer Fred Merkel’s all-time AMA Superbike wins record. Later that season, Duhamel became the all-time wins leader and held that esteemed record for nearly six years. His record was broken just a few weeks ago when Mat Mladin eclipsed the mark by winning his 27th-career AMA Superbike win at California Speedway.

Duhamel comes into Infineon Raceway as the all-time wins leader at that circuit with four-career AMA Superbike wins on the Sonoma, California track. Duhamel, then riding a Muzzy Kawasaki, won his first race at the track in a last lap thriller over Doug Polen in 1993, but hasn’t tasted victory in the Superbike ranks at Sonoma since 1998. He’s hoping the new Honda CBR1000RR will work well at the picturesque track and carry him to victory once again.

Mladin is the hottest rider in the series. He’s won all three rounds leading up to the Infineon doubleheader and has already established a 24-point lead in the championship points race over Honda’s Superbike newcomer Jake Zemke. Duhamel is a close third in the series. Mladin hopes to duplicate the doubleheader sweep at Infineon he earned last year. The Aussie sensation feels the strengths of his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 plays right into his hand on the twisty 2.32-mile Infineon Raceway.

“Typically a lot of circuits have some decent-length straightaways, which allows the guys with the faster motorcycles to sometimes get involved with a race for the lead,” Mladin explains. “At Infineon Raceway you don’t need the fastest bike, you need the best setup. You also need to be physically fit because there’s no time to rest. Typically, if you get it all right, you can usually win the race by a fair margin. Handling is at a premium.”

This weekend will mark the return to the championship of Mladin’s Suzuki teammate Aaron Yates. The Georgian gets back to action after serving a one-event suspension after a post-crash incident at Daytona. Yates missed both of the Superbike rounds as well as the Supersport race held at Fontana and is way behind in points. Yates joins Mladin and Duhamel as a former Superbike winner at Infineon Raceway.

Local fans will be rooting for the Bostrom brothers Ben and Eric. The Bostroms grew up in the Bay Area racing on dirt track ovals all across Northern California. Both Bostroms are looking for their first AMA Superbike victory at Infineon.

Eric jumped from 26th to fourth in the standings after a strong weekend at California Speedway on his Ducati Austin 999 earlier this month. Northern California has long been a hotbed of Ducati fans. Bostrom said he feels very appreciated by enthusiast of the Italian brand.

“It was pretty rewarding when we went to Fontana, where I went out and ran my 999 street bike around the track with them,” Bostrom said of a Ducati riders group outing. “The enthusiasm from the Ducati fans and the Ducati owners is just unlike anything I’m used to. They are just fanatics. The whole day I was going wide open, and they were really going after it too. They are really into their Ducatis.”

Ducati is looking for its first victory at Infineon since local ace Paul Ritter took a pair of upset wins on his privateer Ducati in 1977 and 1978.

Older brother Ben is still trying to find the combination that earned him the AMA Superbike Championship with Honda in 1998. So far the elder Bostrom brother’s season has been a big disappointment. His bike broke at Daytona and he crashed out of the first race at California Speedway and was fifth in the second race in Fontana. Those results find Bostrom 20th in the series standings. While the championship may be improbable for Bostrom he would be happy to earn his first win in the series since returning to America from World Superbike last year.

A number of privateer teams are breaking through to earn strong finishes in the championship so far this season. Empire Racing Suzuki rider Lee Acree is the leading rider on a non-factory team coming into this weekend’s doubleheader. Acree, a North Carolinian, is a former Superstock winner and current track record holder at Infineon, is ranked fifth in the championship.

The races will be televised on Speed Channel with both rounds being shown back-to-back on Sunday, May 2 starting at 5 p.m. Eastern.

For ticket information on the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

From a press release issued by Buell:

THREE BUELL PROMOTIONS GET RIDERS READY FOR SPRING:

Demo Days, Fuel in the Frame for a Year and No Down Payment Programs

MILWAUKEE (April 21, 2004) – Motorcycle enthusiasts who want to experience the adventure of riding Buell motorcycles this spring can take advantage of three promotional offers at participating Buell dealerships.

Motorcyclists who demo ride a Buell motorcycle through May 31, 2004 during Buell Demo Days will receive a free Buell Sling Bag. A valid motorcycle endorsement and proper riding gear are required for the demo ride. The customized sling bag, a $50 retail value, is made from heavy-duty denier fabric with nylon lining and features four individual storage compartments.

Those who purchase a Buell before May 31 will receive free gasoline during the Buell “Fuel in the Frame for a Year” promotion. Fuel in the Frame for a Year will be provided through a $150 Visa Gift Card. The Visa Gift Card is a prepaid card that can be used at millions of worldwide locations. Instead of worrying about rising gas prices, new Buell owners can focus on enjoying the ride. Highway gas mileage averages for the Firebolt and Lightning models are 65 mpg, and the Blast boasts nearly 73 mpg on the highway.

In addition, eligible buyers can also qualify for No Down Payment financing. This option is available through Eaglemark Savings Bank and Harley-Davidson Credit until June 30 on all 2003 and 2004 new, previously untitled Buell motorcycles including Blast.

Riders should stop by their participating Buell dealer or buell.com for full details on all of the Spring promotions.

Buell Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc., produces sport motorcycles, motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. Call 1-800-490-9635 for the Buell dealer nearest you. Or pull into www.buell.com.

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

World Superbike is Number One on UK television


The Superbike World Championship round at Misano, San Marino dominated viewing figures for motorsport programming across the United Kingdom last week with an audience of more than 1.68-million viewers on the BBC. The broadcast also achieved a high share percentage of 14.5%.

What makes the viewing figures even more interesting is that fact that they were achieved during what was an extremely busy weekend of televised motorsport. Other televised events included the opening round of the MotoGP Championship in Welkom, South Africa, the New Zealand round of the World Rally Championship, as well as the Super Racing Weekend in Valencia, Spain.

FGSPORT is the Superbike World Championship rights holders and CEO, Paolo Flammini, said: “We are extremely happy to see the Championship consistently achieving this level of viewership in the UK market. We enjoy a very good relationship with the BBC and they always provide an excellent level of programming. I am certain that they too are delighted with the results our Championship is providing.”

This year’s viewing figures are slightly up on those achieved for same round of the Superbike World Championship last year which were 1.63-million with a share percentage of 12.3%.

The next round of the Championship takes place at Monza from 14 – 16 May, while two rounds of the Championship take place in the UK this year – one at Silverstone from 11 – 13 June and the other at Brands Hatch from 30 July – 1 August.

Rank, Title, Channel, Date, Day, Start, Duration, 000s, TVR(%), Share(%):

1. World Superbikes, BBC2, 18-Apr, Sunday, 14:25, 00:55:00, 1.686 (million), 3.05, 14.52

2. MotoGP, BBC1, 17-Apr, Saturday, 13:05, 00:05:00, 1,447 (million), 2.62, 19

3. World Superbikes, BBC2, 18-Apr, Sunday, 14:00, 00:25:00, 1,320 (million), 2.39, 11.35

4. MotoGP, BBC2, 18-Apr, Sunday, 12:45, 01:15:00, 1,153 (million), 2.09, 10.19

5. World Rally Champ, ITV1, 18-Apr, Sunday, 15:00, 01:00:00, 0.859 (million), 1.55, 6.97

6. Speed Sunday, ITV1, 18-Apr, Sunday, 14:00, 01:00:00, 0.727 (million), 1.32, 6.31

7. GT on 4, CH4, 17-Apr, Saturday, 7:30, 00:30:00, 0.146 (million), 0.27, 5.57

8. Brit Superbikes, Sky Spts 3, 12-Apr, Monday, 13:00, 03:30:00, 0.108 (million), 0.33, 2.02

9. Elite Speedway Lge, Sky Spts 3, 14-Apr, Wednesday, 19:30, 02:00:00, 0.058 (million), 0.17, 0.43

10. V8 Supercars, Five, 12-Apr, Monday, 1:25, 00:50:00, 0.053 (million), 0.1, 2.87

Note: All figures quoted are overnight ratings and have been supplied by the Broadcaster Audience Research Board (BARB).

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING ANNOUNCES REMAINING 2004 SPEED TV BROADCAST SCHEDULE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (April 20, 2004) — AMA Pro Racing today announced the SPEED TV broadcast schedule for the balance of the 2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship season.

As part of SPEED TV’s effort to increase viewership, the network has created a more consistent programming block which will result in an improved overall road racing programming schedule. SPEED TV will broadcast races on the Sunday afternoons of each event weekend and as part of its popular “Two-Wheel Tuesday” program.

The 2004 television package features all remaining AMA road racing events in the Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei and Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme classes. AMA Repsol Superstock racing highlights will also be shown as part of SPEED TV’s Formula Xtreme programming.

“The television package SPEED TV has put together gives us a great degree of overall coverage for 2004,” AMA Pro Racing Vice President, Commercial Development John Farris said. “The new TV package allows for regularly scheduled broadcasts in programming blocks and helps build consistency among our growing fan base.”

The remaining 2004 Superbike broadcast schedule includes live coverage from both rounds at Barber Motorsports Park and Pikes Peak International Raceway. Live coverage continues at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Sunday rounds of double-header weekends at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Road Atlanta, and the season finale at Virginia International Raceway. Races not shown live will be tape-delayed as part of SPEED TV’s Sunday afternoon broadcast schedule.

“Seven live Superbike broadcasts, in addition to the live Daytona 200 coverage we received, give millions of SPEED TV viewers a great chance to experience to excitement of AMA Pro Racing’s top class as it happens,” Farris said. Currently, SPEED is available in nearly 65 million U.S. and Canadian households.

Additionally, SPEED will feature live coverage of Supersport Championship races from Infineon Raceway, Pikes Peak International Raceway and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Races from Road America, Brainerd and Virginia International Raceway will be same-day tape broadcasts with all remaining rounds shown as part of SPEED TV’s “Two-Wheel Tuesday.”

Formula Xtreme races will be coupled with Superstock highlights during the “Two-Wheel Tuesday” lineup or as part of Sunday’s race programming.

For a complete list of the 2004 Speed TV broadcast schedule, visit www.speedtv.com. AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship fans can also follow each race live at www.ussuperbike.com.

REMAINING 2004 AMA CHEVROLETE SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP BROADCAST SCHEDULE

SPEED CHANNEL (ALL TIMES EASTERN AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

TRACK, LOCATION, CLASS, AIR DATE, AIR TIME, LENGTH

Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA, Supersport, SUN 5/2, 4:00pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA, Superbike, SUN 5/2, 5:00pm, 1 HR

Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA, Superbike, SUN 5/2, 6:00pm, 1 HR – SDD

Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA, FXtreme/Superstock, TUE 5/11, 2:00pm, 1 HR

Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL, Superbike, SAT 5/15, 4:00pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL, Superbike, SUN 5/16, 4:30pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Pikes Peak Int’l Raceway, Fountain, CO, Supersport, SUN 5/23, 1:00pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Pikes Peak Int’l Raceway, Fountain, CO, Superbike, SUN 5/23, 5:30pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL, Supersport, TUE 5/25, 2:00pm, 1 HR

Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL, FXreme/Superstock, SUN 5/30, 5:00pm, 1 HR

Pikes Peak Int’l Raceway, Fountain, CO, FXtreme/Superstock, TUE 6/1, 1:00pm, 1 HR

Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, Supersport, SUN 6/6, 3:00pm, 1 HR – SDD

Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, Superbike, SUN 6/6, 4:00pm, 1 HR

Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, Superbike, SUN 6/6, 5:00pm, 1 HR – SDD

Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, FXtreme/Superstock, TUE 6/15, 2:00pm, 1 HR

Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Brainerd, MN, Supersport, SUN 6/27, 3:00pm, 1 HR – SDD

Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Brainerd, MN, Superbike, SUN 6/27, 4:00pm, 1 HR – SDD

Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Brainerd, MN, FXtreme/Superstock, TUE 7/6, 1:00pm, 1 HR

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, FXtreme/Superstock, SUN 7/11, 2:00pm, 1 HR

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, Superbike, SUN 7/11, 5:00pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, Supersport, TUE 7/13, 12:00 noon, 1 HR

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH, Supersport, SUN 7/25, 1:00pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH, Superbike, SUN 7/25, 2:00pm, 1 HR

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH, Superbike, SUN 7/25, 3:00pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH FXtreme/Superstock, TUE 8/3, 1:00pm, 1 HR

Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA, Superbike, SUN 9/5, 2:00pm, 1 HR

Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA, Superbike, SUN 9/5, 3:00pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA, Supersport, TUE 9/7, 1:00pm, 1 HR

Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA, FXtreme/Superstock, TUE 9/14, 2:00pm, 1 HR

Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA, Superbike, SUN 9/19, 2:00pm, 1 HR

Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA, Superbike, SUN 9/19, 3:00pm, 1 HR – LIVE

Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA, Supersport, SUN 9/19, 6:00pm, 1 HR – SDD

Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA, FXtreme/Superstock, TUE 9/28, 2:00pm, 1 HR

SDD = SAME DAY DELAY