From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

BARROS AND HAYDEN BACK IN TESTING ACTION IN SPAIN

Alex Barros and Nicky Hayden completed a valuable first day of a two-day test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit on the outskirts of Valencia today (Saturday) in preparation for the 2004 MotoGP season that kicks off in South Africa in six weeks time.

Hayden returns to the track where he secured his first front row start during his debut GP season last year. The 22-year-old MotoGP Rookie of the Year had a good day on the 2004 Honda RC211V and cocked up 70 laps round the twisty 4.005km circuit.

Barros continues to make great progress since his winter shoulder operation and looked forward to getting back on the Honda RC211V at a track he notched up a victory at during the last race of the year in 2002.

Alex Barros
“A good day. I’m happy with the shoulder – no problems and it seems to be recovering well. After the high speed flowing tracks at Sepang and Phillip Island we’ve been getting the bike to work and a different circuit. We’ve made some changes to the gearbox and I’m really happy that the times are very similar to the times form the race that I won here in 2002. The rhythm was good and many of the laps were of constant pace to the race here. We have much date from today that will hopefully help in tomorrow’s progress.”

Best lap 1:33.5 81 laps


Nicky Hayden
“It was important to ride a completely different circuit in the build-up the start of the season. We’ve spent time at Sepang and Phillip Island and got the bike going pretty well there. This circuit is very twisty and I am pretty pleased with the set-up we have after the first day. We worked a lot on the suspension and are all pretty pleased with how the new chassis and the swing arm are improving things. The weather broke the day up a little – some rain – but mostly sun and wind. A positive day and am looking forward to moving on tomorrow.”

Best lap 1:33.7 70 laps



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

POSITIVE DAY FOR DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM AT VALENCIA

Valencia (Spain), March 6 2004: The Ducati Marlboro Team has returned to the Valencia circuit in Spain to continue development work on the new Desmosedici GP4 in preparation for the 2004 MotoGP championship, which promises to be one of the most hard-fought and exciting in recent years.

The new bike, which had its first shakedown in the torrid heat of the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, followed by the cooler climate of Phillip Island in Australia, appeared for the first time today at a European circuit. However strong winds hampered the day’s session and showers in the afternoon twice interrupted testing for riders Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi.

Despite the changeable weather, the temperature remained between 18° and 20° C (track between 17° and 27° C) for most of the day and the Ducati Marlboro Team engineers were able to complete the scheduled workload.

Troy Bayliss completed a total of 70 laps today, stopping the clocks at 1:33.56 (on race tyres), and knocking more than one second off the time he set in qualifying for the final race of last season on the same track. The Australian was pleased with today’s session. “Today we got through a lot of hard work. Despite the gusty wind, I put in a lot of laps” he commented. “We continued with front tyre development and now I’ve got a good feeling with both the 16.5″ and the 17″ tyres”.

Team-mate Loris Capirossi made a lengthy series of a few laps aimed at finding the best set-up for the Spanish circuit. “We are going well and our ideas are clear. Today we did a lot of work on the suspension and I am quite happy with the set-up of my Desmosedici” declared Loris. “There are still a few things that we will be working on tomorrow however. I’m sure we will get our lap time down, but for the moment I’m not really thinking about that, I prefer to focus on the development of the bike and prepare it for the championship”. The Italian rider completed a total of 46 laps, recording a best time of 1:34.00.

Ducati Corse test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi was also present at Valencia with a ‘laboratory’ bike, the Italian concentrating on the development of the Desmosedici.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will conclude testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Spain tomorrow, Sunday.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Not only did Eric Bostrom’s lap of 1:46.8355 during qualifying for the 63rd running of the Daytona 200 by Arai set a new motorcycle lap record for Daytona and earn him a new Rolex watch, it also reduced the field to a scant 37 riders.

With the new Superbike qualifying cut-off reduced from 112 percent to 110 percent of the fastest qualifying time in 2004, Daytona 200 hopefuls needed to turn a lap of 1:57.518 to make this year’s field.

The higher-than-normal cut-off time eliminated 18 racers, including AMA Superbike regulars Chuck Allen, Kevin Hanson, Eric Haugo, James Kerker, Greg Fryer and all-time Daytona 200 mileage leader Rick Shaw.

Had Shaw made the 2004 field, it would have be his 23rd Daytona 200 by Arai start and another new record, but trouble during qualifying resulted in Shaw just missing the cut-off with a 1:57.987.

“I got caught behind with the crash (in qualifying Wednesday),” Shaw told reporters. “We’ve played catch-up all week long, and I never got caught up. I’ve got no one to blame but myself. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever felt.

“I thought I might have made it on the last lap, but we ran out of gas.”

Because the Daytona 200 has the largest purse on the AMA Superbike circuit, the 37th and last rider on the grid Saturday will make at least $750. That’s $50 more than Damon Buckmaster earned for finishing fourth in Thursday’s hard-fought Superstock race.

A quick calculation of the purse structure and the 33 empty spots on the Daytona 200 grid showed that $12,750 in purse money – or more than the entire Superstock purse at Daytona – will go unclaimed.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

DUCATI TO SPONSOR AMA SUPERBIKE EVENT AT BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (March 5, 2004) — AMA Pro Racing today announced that Ducati North America will be the title sponsor of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship event at Brainerd International Speedway.

The event, to be called the AMA Superbike Trofeo Ducati, is set for June 25-27 and is Round Seven of the 11-Round Championship.

Ducati, who has had past Superbike victories by Ben Bostrom, Alessandro Gramigni and Doug Polen on the Minnesota track, will help transform the event into a top destination for owners of the exotic Italian marque. Special viewing areas, parking corrals, bike show, Ducati owner’s club dinners and Ducati demo rides will all be available throughout the weekend at the nearly 900-acre circuit.

Ducati, which strengthened its commitment to AMA Superbike in 2004, sees the sponsorship as part of a bigger marketing thrust in the United States.

“The hiring of Eric Bostrom to ride our new 999R in the AMA Superbike Championship is just part of our renewed focus on the core values of the Ducati brand,” Ducati North America Director of Marketing John Porter said. “Now that Eric and the team are in place, a natural progression was to sponsor a top-notch AMA event. We’re thrilled to sponsor the Brainerd round. The campground, superb road riding nearby, and the excellent facilities will let us present not only a fantastic race, but also a camping rally to celebrate the Ducati experience with our fans.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former Congressman Bill Janklow is seeking early release from jail while his lawyers appeal his manslaughter conviction in the August 16 death of motorcyclist Randy Scott.

His appeal apparently will be heard by judges Janklow appointed while serving as Governer of South Dakota.

For more, see a story on argusleader.com

http://www.argusleader.com/news/Tuesdayarticle1.shtml

From a press release issued Team Suzuki:

RIZLA SUZUKIS VALENCIA TEST

Team Suzuki Press Office – Yukio Kagayama put his aggressive riding style on show during today’s pre-season British Superbike test session at the Valencia circuit in Spain.

Yuki, riding his new 2004 liveried Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 at the demanding and twisty Spanish track, completed 52 laps.

The 29-year-old Japanese rider finished just over a second off the fastest lap of the day set by his team mate John Reynolds. Yuki, who is still recovering from the horrific crash he suffered at Cadwell Park last August, was testing new Ohlins gas forks and new electronics that are designed to reduce engine braking.

“It feels great to be back on my Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000,” said Yuki. “I am feeling good and we are starting to make progress with new parts. But as I am still healing, I am riding very safe and taking no risks. I really want to ride harder, but I am holding back as this is not a race, only a test. I am very pleased that my lap times are good without pushing hard.”

Rizla Suzuki’s JR was happy with the parts he was testing on his GSX-R1000 and he also spent time trying out new Dunlop tyres.

“It’s back to business as usual,” smiled JR. “Yesterday we learnt some lessons and today we put them into practice and took well over a second off our lap times and I am happy with that.

“I tested some Dunlop tyres for race distance and enjoyed myself on track today, helped a bit by the weather which was much better than yesterday. I am looking forward to testing again at the weekend and seeing what further progress we can make. There is still a lot of potential in the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000.”

Team manager Paul Denning said: “Watching Yuki on track is awesome. He looks completely at home on his Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000. He is a pure, natural racer and his improvement in lap times today, despite holding back because he doesn’t want to risk a crash, is impressive. I can take nothing away from Yuki. His first ride on the bike has been much more positive than any of us would have expected.

“JR did a good job today and set a quick lap time on race rubber. There’s a lot more to come from John as he is still riding within himself and testing parts. We are all looking forward to see what sort of improvements both riders can make when they test here again at the weekend alongside the MotoGP teams.”

Rizla Suzuki continues to test at Valencia this weekend before returning to the UK and the official British Superbike Championship test at Donington Park on Sunday March 14th. The first BSB round is at Silverstone on March 28th.

From a press release issued by Triumph Mmotorcycles (America) LTD.:

INTRODUCES 2005 TIGER

Popular Adventure Touring Bike Updated with Styling and Handling Refinements

New Models to Arrive in US Triumph Dealerships in May

NEWNAN, Georgia – March 5, 2004 -Triumph’s 2005 Tiger continues its tradition of delivering exceptional dual-sport styling, high performance, a commanding riding position, and unmatched comfort. For 2005, Triumph has further refined this long-time favorite.

The 2005 Tiger features the same class-leading three-cylinder 955cc fuel-injected engine that has made it a preferred bike among adventure-touring riders. For 2005, Triumph has enhanced the Tiger’s impeccable handling by sharpening the chassis geometry for quicker steering and increased agility and retooling the suspension for a more composed and controlled ride. The 2005 Tiger sports cast wheels and tubeless tires – giving riders more choices for replacement tires. This versatile machine sports a new silver frame finish, and updated tank graphics. It is scheduled to debut at Triumph dealerships throughout the US in May.

“The 2005 Tiger’s refined chassis and suspension sharpen a motorcycle that’s always been known as the best handling adventure-tourer in the market,” said Todd Andersen, Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., Vice President of Marketing. “The cast wheels give riders access to the best new tires on the market, and the new graphics update the look of this great bike.”

This venerable member of Triumph’s product line features a torquey 3-cylinder engine, compliant long travel suspension, hard-luggage, and a large comfortable seat. It is a highly versatile motorcycle that is equally at home traveling the back roads as it is navigating the urban jungle. The Tiger has long been popular with long distance tourers, commuters, and those who appreciate a bike that handles all road conditions well.

The 2005 Tiger comes complete with hard saddlebags and the MSRP is $10,500. Like all of Triumphs models, the Tiger is covered by a comprehensive 24-month warranty.

This Tiger is available in Aluminum Silver, British Racing Green or Lucifer Orange. A full range of Triumph accessories is available to tailor the bike to the riders riding style.

Technical changes for 2005:

a. Revised front suspension – new single rate springs with revised rebound damping
b. Revised rear suspension – increased spring rate, compression and rebound damping
c. Revised steering geometry – rake: 25.8 degrees (was 28 degrees) and trail 87.9mm (was 92mm)
d. Wheelbase reduced from 1550mm to 1537mm
e. Spoked wheels and tubed tires changed to cast wheels with tubeless tires
f. Revised shift and rear brake levers with weight relief slots

Cosmetic changes:

a. New silver frame finish
b. Updated graphics

Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triumph Motorcycles, Ltd., the manufacturer of Triumph motorcycles and accessories. Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., is located in Newnan, GA and services the Triumph dealer organization throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo dropped the jaws of nearly everyone in the Daytona International Speedway paddock Thursday by turning an incredible 1:50.998 on his YZF-R6 during AMA Supersport qualifying.

Not only was 20-year-old DiSalvo’s time good enough for pole position, it was nearly two full seconds faster than the old Supersport lap record (1:52.785 by Miguel Duahmel in 2003) and DiSalvo did the time without the benefit of a drafting partner.

“I might have had a little, tiny draft off of a lapper in the back,” said DiSalvo. “I wanted to get every little bit I could, then I just put my head down.”

Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden (1:51.298) and Roger Lee Hayden (1:52.237) qualified second and third, respectively, and were equally happy with their ZX-6RRs.

DiSalvo’s teammates Aaron Gobert (1:52.434) and Damon Buckmaster (1:52.492) drafted together to the fourth- and fifth-fastest times, respectively.

Pascal Picotte crashed his Picotte DXS Yamaha YZF-R6 early in the session, causing a red flag. Picotte was seen walking after the crash but was taken to the infield care center for X-rays, according to team members.

Triangle Cycles Yamaha’s Larry Pegram did not qualifying in Supersport. After Thursday morning’s Supersport practice session, Pegram decided to sit out the Supersport race because of limited resources and a better chance of winning in the Superstock race, according to his team.

Provisional AMA Supersport Qualifying Results:

1. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:50.998*
2. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:51.297
3. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:52.236
4. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:52.434
5. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:52.492
6. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:52.547
7. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:52.764
8. Michael Barnes, Yamaha, 1:52.909
9. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:53.271
10. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:53.497
11. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha, 1:54.046
12. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:54.451
13. Chris Peris, Suzuki, 1:54.533
14. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:55.971
15. Danny Eslick, Suzuki, 1:56.719
16. Jeffrey Tigert, Honda, 1:56.952
17. Jason Perez, Yamaha, 1:57.368
18. William Meyers, III, Yamaha, 1:57.643
19. Blake Young, Suzuki, 1:57.731
20. Pedro Valiente, Yamaha, 1:57.886

*New lap record

From a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Ducati Austin Rider Eric Bostrom Keeps Daytona 200 By Arai Pole

Miguel Duhamel Adds On To Daytona Victory Total
With Victory In Formula Xtreme

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (March 4, 2004) — Nobody could touch Eric Bostrom during the second day of Daytona 200 By Arai qualifying on Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.

Bostrom’s track-record qualifying lap of one minute, 46.835 seconds, 119.961 mph, set during Wednesday’s qualifying session, wasn’t broken during the final day of qualifying for Saturday’s 63rd Daytona 200 By Arai and the Ducati Austin rider held onto his first Daytona 200 By Arai pole.

“If the conditions maybe had been a little bit better, we’d probably slapped a qualifying tire on it and try to best our time yesterday,” Bostrom said. “It was windy out there. We felt fairly confident we had a pretty good lap yesterday and we could rest on that.”

The Ducati Austin rider from Las Vegas, Nev., earned his first pole position on the 3.56-mile road course and delivered Ducati its seven Daytona 200 By Arai pole. Ducati has yet to win the Daytona 200 By Arai.

Eric joins his brother Ben as the first brother combination to win poles for the Daytona 200 By Arai. Ben Bostrom captured the pole for last year’s race.

Rounding out the front row for the Daytona 200 By Arai was Honda’s Ben Bostrom, Suzuki’s Mat Mladin and four-time and defending Daytona 200 By Arai champion Miguel Duhamel.

On the disappointing end of Daytona 200 By Arai qualifying was Rick Shaw, who failed to qualify for what would have been his record-breaking 23rd start in the race. Shaw, a privateer rider, is tied with Warren Sherwood with 22 starts and is the mileage record holder for the Daytona 200 By Arai.

Following Daytona 200 By Arai qualifying, the inaugural Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme event and the Repsol Superstock final took centerstage at the “World Center of Racing.”

The Lockhart-Formula Xtreme event was dominated by Hondas as Duhamel held off a hard-charging Ben Bostrom for his 11th career victory at Daytona. Besides his four Daytona 200 By Arais, Duhamel owns six Pro Honda Oils Supersport triumphs.

In Repsol Superstock, the last lap featured a five-bike duel with three Yamaha riders and two Kawasaki riders. Aaron Gobert nipped teammate Jamie Hacking at the start/finish line by a half-a-tire for his second AMA National victory.

“That was the most incredible draft that I’ve ever had,” Gobert said. “I wasn’t sure the bike was geared to go that high. I just kept on wheeling by.”

In final BMW BoxerCup qualifying, Thomas Hinterreiter claimed the pole with a lap of two minutes, 3.727 seconds. Sebastien Legrelle, who was fastest in BMW BoxerCup first-round qualifying on Wednesday will roll off second.

Daytona International Speedway takes a day off from road racing on Friday for the inaugural nighttime running of the Daytona Supercross By Honda. For tickets to all motorcycle races, log on to www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.


More, from a press release issued by Mat Mladin’s publicist:

2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship – Round 1, Daytona 200
Daytona International Speedway, Florida, USA
Final Qualifying Session Report

MLADIN THIRD FASTEST IN QUALIFYING – THIRD DAYTONA 200 TITLE IN HIS SIGHTS

Daytona Beach, Florida, USA (Thursday, 4 March) – Mat Mladin will start Saturday’s 63rd running of the Daytona 200 from the front row of the grid after posting the third fastest overall time between the two qualifying sessions at the Daytona International Speedway, host of the opening round of this years American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship.

Mladin got down to business today, blasting his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike to a best lap time of 1-min 47.640 around the 5.729km (3.56 miles) famed banked circuit in Florida. Pole position for this Saturday’s 200-mile Superbike classic went to Ducati’s Eric Bostrom, whose time of 1:46.835 remained unbeaten today. Honda’s Ben Bostrom will start alongside his brother after being the fastest rider in today’s second session and setting the second fastest overall time of 1:47.318. Completing the front row of the grid is Canadian Miguel DuHamel (Honda) who set a best lap of 1:47.679 today.

After being sixth fastest at the end of yesterday’s opening session, it was a different Mladin who turned up at the circuit today. He set the fastest time during the morning’s free practice and then elevated himself up the leader board to past the second fastest time in today’s second and final qualifying position.

A back-to-back winner of the Daytona 200 in 2000 & 2001, Mladin knows all to well what it takes to win the most prestigious race on the American calendar. Strategy will be a major factor in the outcome of the race as the juggle of speed, tyre wear and reliability all play a role.

“Everything went fine for us today, we’re on the front row for Saturday and that’s pretty much where we wanted to be by the end of qualifying,” said Mladin. “We’ve actually had two good days of qualifying here. We’ve achieved a lot, so there’s no complaints at the moment. I think we are looking okay for Saturday and that’s all we can ask for at the moment.”

“Things are definitely different here this year with the tyre battle between the two top brands. Last year we didn’t use soft qualifying tyres, but this year we are and look at the times. Eric obviously had a very good tyre for that lap he did yesterday. But at the end of all that though, we’ve got 57-laps to run on Saturday and score some points in the championship.”

“As usual tyre strategy will play a part in the race. There’s been a lot of talk about tyres here over the past few months, now we get to see the outcome. Pit stops will be crucial for sure as they always are, so it will be interesting to see who does what in the race.”

“The race will probably follow the same sort of pattern as usual where it will be fast early, possibly in the 49’s and gradually slip back to 52’s as the race goes on. We’ll see who can sustain their speed at the end.”

With qualifying for the Daytona 200 now complete, the riders will have a day off before the opening round of this years 18-round AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship gets underway.



More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

SHORT WEEKEND FOR HAS/SHOGUN AT DAYTONA

HAS/Shogun Racing rider Heath Small crashed during qualifying for the AMA Lockart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme event on Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway, separating his right shoulder. The injury ruled Small out of further competition at Daytona, however doctors estimate a fast recovery and he should be fit and ready to race at the next round of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at California Speedway in Fontana, CA.


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

JOHN HANER FINISHES A SOLID TENTH IN DAYTONA SUPERSTOCK EVENT

Texan John Haner finished a fine tenth place on his Hooters Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the AMA Repsol Superstock event at Daytona International Speedway today. In his first race for the team, Haner got a blazing start and ran in fourth place on the first lap. After being passed on the banking by three of the over 20 factory-supported riders in the race, John settled into a somewhat lonely eighth place.

“I just got a good start and everybody checked up,” said Haner, who started on the third row of the grid. “I said, ‘This is my only shot to make sure I can stay with the leaders.’ I stayed with them and then I tucked the front in turn six. I passed Josh (Hayes) in the International Horseshoe and I led him until six and tucked the front. Then they gapped me a little bit and I just tried to maintain. A couple of laps from the end I felt a vibration, and I knew something was there. The bike went sideways at start-finish at the checkered, that’s about as far out as I ever want it, dude!”

Haner is planning on competing in the Daytona 200 by Arai on Saturday, March 6th.

John’s personal sponsors include Speez Racing, Shogun Motorsports, Oasis Fire Protection, Keith Cherry, HJC Helmets, Joe Rocket, Hooters Racing and Unleashed Clothing.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

SUZUKI ON FRONT ROW IN DAYTONA

Team Suzuki Press Office – March 4 2004.
Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki opened their 2004 AMA race season at the Daytona International Speedway yesterday, posting solid qualifying positions in each of their classes.

The team kept up their momentum from last weekend’s excellent results at the Formula USA weekend that saw Steve Rapp and Vincent Haskovec win races and Chris Peris finish on the podium.

On Wednesday, Haskovec made a good first impression as a member of the squad in AMA competition, with a front row qualifying performance on his Michelin slick-shod GSX-R600 Formula Xtreme racer.

The Czech rider will start from the third spot on the grid in tomorrow’s 15-lap race, thanks to his fast lap of 1:54.213 aboard the still-developing 600 ‘mini-Superbike’, after out-qualifying several riders on factory machines.

“It’s going well so far. The Michelin tyres were giving me grip around this track and the team gave me a good bike to ride today,” said Haskovec.

Vincent backed up his Formula Xtreme showing with a third row qualifying effort aboard his GSX-R1000 in the extremely competitive Superstock class with a best time of 1:50.873.

His teammate Steve Rapp will line up in tomorrow’s twelve-lap Superstock race two rows behind Haskovec.

Unfortunately, his best lap time on the fire-breathing Suzuki GSX-R1000 – one that would have put him inside the top ten – was disallowed after he missed turn one.

“Those are the rules,” Rapp said after the session, held in warm, sunny weather. “I didn’t gain an advantage by missing turn one, but all it really means now is that I’ll just have to charge even harder in the race.”

The 31-year-old Californian fared better with his GSX-R600 in Supersport practice, ranking tenth with a best time of 1:54.674.

Rapp’s other new teammate, 18-year-old Chris Peris, was just one position behind him in the Supersport free session. The Canadian posted a best mark of 1:54.928 in his AMA racing debut with the team.


More, from another press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

RAPP, HASKOVEC BATTLE FOR RACE GLORY AT DAYTONA

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki claimed a pair of top ten finishes today in the opening races of the 2004 AMA season at the famed Daytona International Speedway.

Vincent Haskovec piloted his Michelin-shod GSX-R600 to sixth in the first race of the new era of Formula Xtreme racing. It could have easily been much more. After winning a race at the Speedway last weekend, Haskovec came out on the wrong end of a four-man battle for third and finished less than a half-second off a podium placing.

“My bike was on rails out there, but we missed out by just a little bit,” said a disappointed Haskovec at the end of the day. “I could see the other guys spinning up out there but I was holding my lines well with the Michelin tires. I had the double draft perfectly set-up at the end, but we hit the rev limiter as I tried to pass. It unfortunately happened at the worst possible time.”

Teammate Steve Rapp took eighth in the hotly contested Superstock final, despite starting from the 18th spot on the grid after losing his best lap in Wednesday’s qualifying session. Rapp worked his way up from 17th after the first lap into a top-ten spot in the twelve-lap final.

He said of his race: “I passed nine riders in twelve laps, so there was quite a bit happening on the track for us. I was happy about the pace we ran in today’s race. My times were in the 1:50 range, which would have kept me close to the race leaders. Eventually, I was out on my own on the last lap and ran a 1:51 without any one to draft. Despite the tough luck this weekend, the race was very promising for the rest of the season.”

Steve’s teammate Haskovec was 23rd in the Superstock race.

In Supersport qualifying, Rapp was tenth and the Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s young gun Chris Peris was 13th. The Supersport race will be held Saturday.


More, from a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin:

BOSTROM TO START DAYTONA 200 IN POLE POSITION

Eric Bostrom’s track lap record, which he set yesterday, stood throughout final qualifying today to give him and his Ducati 999 pole position for Saturday’s Daytona 200 race. Today’s qualifying session was marred by two crashes, which cut heavily into practice and made it difficult for teams to focus on long distance testing. The Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin rider used the limited qualifying time to focus on final tire selection for the race.

“Had the conditions been a little bit better we might’ve slapped a qualifying tire on and tried to better our time from yesterday, but it was windy out there,” explained Bostrom. “We felt fairly confident we had a great lap yesterday and could rest on that. We’re here to win the 200 miler, not to just see it on pole position. I’ve never been on the front row here at Daytona. It’s a great showing for the 999 for its first time here at Daytona. I’m really confident with it because it’s been great all throughout testing and in practice. I think we’re in a great position to win – we’ve got the bike and the tires and the team to do it.”

Ducati Corse’s Paolo Ciabatti declared, “We’re very happy. We have a lap from yesterday that was hard to beat so today we didn’t bother with the qualifying tire. We used the race tires so we could focus on the race set-up because the most important thing is winning on Saturday. We’re happy to be back here with Eric, the 999 and Michelin on pole position. He’s the first rider ever below 1.47 – it’s a good start.”

Team owner Terry Gregoricka was pleased with his team’s efforts. “I’m not happy – I’m ecstatic! This has been a great weekend. We feel ready for Saturday. I know it’s going to be a tough race, but Eric’s been riding well and the team has been completely on the ball. I’ve been at Daytona a few times, but nothing compares to this year so far.”

The 57-lap Daytona 200 race is scheduled to take place Saturday at 2:00 p.m.


More, from a press release issued by Michelin:

POLESITTER BOSTROM PREVIEWS DAYTONA 200

Parts Unlimited-Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom says he’s pleased with the record-setting performance of his Michelin Pilot tires in qualifying for Saturday’s Daytona 200, but harbors no illusions about the challenge of finishing the longest race on the AMA Superbike schedule.

Bostrom set a Daytona track record of 1:46.835 in qualifying Wednesday. With the 200 scheduled for Saturday rather than its traditional Sunday slot, the timetable for the entire race weekend has been compressed. Track time is at a premium, so with a margin of 1.3 seconds over his nearest rival after first qualifying, Bostrom and technicians from Michelin and Ducati used Thursday’s second session to concentrate on race set-up of Bostrom’s Ducati 999.

“We felt pretty comfortable that our lap time would hold up,” he says. Still, he believes that the Ducati had even more speed in reserve. “We could’ve improved the time if we had to. I felt like we could’ve gotten down to the bottom of the 46s. The tires are that great. But ultimately the 200 is what’s important to me and the team, not the pole.”

Bostrom expects the race itself to be an exciting one, in part because the restricted time for practice and qualifying has kept teams from testing bikes over the usual 20-lap distance between pit stops at Daytona. “The fact is that no one has been able to complete a full stint,” he says. “With the limited schedule, it will be interesting to see everyone’s strategy on race day.”

Michelin Road Racing Manager Jim Rhodes is satisfied with the results achieved so far. “Our lap times are consistent, and we have a good race pace,” he says.

Bostrom is confident that he has the right package to achieve the success at Daytona that has long eluded him. “From where we sit now, I wouldn’t change a thing,” he says. “Our lap times on race tires have been the times to beat.”


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

EMPIRE RACING SUZUKI GETS GOOD RESULTS IN FIRST 1000cc SUPERSTOCK EVENT AT DAYTONA

Teammates Lee Acree and Chris “Opie” Caylor of Empire Racing Suzuki finished 13th and 20th, respectively, in yesterday’s AMA Repsol Superstock final at Daytona International Speedway. Both riders were disappointed but not discouraged about their results, considering that the team only received their Suzuki GSX-R1000s three weeks ago, with no opportunities for testing prior to Daytona.

“I had a pretty lonely race,” said Lee, who started on the fifth row after crashing during qualifying on Wednesday. “I got a decent start, I made up a few spots, but by the time I got to the International Horseshoe for the first lap, I’d probably done all but one or two of the passes I did the whole race. I may have gotten a few people as the laps progressed. Between having such a late start to get prepared for the weekend combined with my little mishap in qualifying, we missed quite a bit of track time, quite a bit of access to time to try to get some stuff sorted out. We’ve got a month to make all our motorcycles good for Fontana.”

“I try not to make excuses, but to be honest, Daytona is not one of my favorite tracks,” said Opie. “I respect it a lot. Late in the race, I felt a vibration from the rear. Granted, the Pirellis haven’t had any issues, but with all of the well-publicized tire failures, I just wanted to play it cool. Kevin (Schwantz) talked to me right before the race, and said ‘Just get points and move on to the next round.’ I’m looking forward to Fontana, I’ve done well there the last couple of years.”

Lee will compete in Saturday’s AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport race on his 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600, then both Lee and Opie will line up for the 63rd Daytona 200 by Arai on their GSX-R1000s. Both events will be televised live on SPEED Channel.

Empire Racing Suzuki is proud to be partnering with American Suzuki, Pirelli Tires, Leo Vince SBK Exhausts, The XFactory Store, Hotbodies Racing Bodywork, 1-888-FASTLAP, EBC Brakes, Silkolene Lubricants, Thermosman Suspension/Ohlins USA, Teknic Leathers, Pitbull Stands, Vortex Racing, Dynojet Tuning and the Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School.

For more information, contact Empire Racing at (336) 343-4059 or visit their website at www.empireracingmx.com.


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

SHAWN HIGBEE FINISHES 11TH IN DAYTONA SUPERSTOCK FINAL

Millennium Technologies Suzuki rider Shawn Higbee finished 11th in yesterday’s AMA Repsol Superstock event at Daytona International Raceway, running as high as ninth while battling with fellow Suzuki riders Steve Rapp and Eric Wood. The group was split up when factory Suzuki rider Ben Spies came through the pack after serving a stop-and-go penalty, allowing Rapp to move ahead with Spies.

“It wasn’t the race I was hoping for,” said Higbee, who started from the inside of the fourth row after making lots of changes to his 2004 GSX-R1000. “Constantly, every session, making major changes to the bike, trying to get
it to feel the way I want it to. We kind of stair-stepped up, we’d make an improvement and I’d go a little faster. We haven’t found the missing piece in the rear end, I just can’t get the bike to drive off the corner with consistency. During the race, not only was I lacking the drive, the bike was running wide, I was fighting it. Both Rapp and I were closing on Haner, then Spies blasted me in the chicane and I lost the draft of Rapp. That was on the white flag lap, so it hurt my chances of setting him up for the finish like I had planned.”

Earlier in the day, 17-year-old Millennium Technologies Suzuki rider Danny Eslick qualified 15th for Saturday’s AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport final. Look for Danny on his # 69 GSX-R600 during the live telecast Saturday, March
6th on SPEED Channel starting at 10:30 am Eastern time.

KWS Motorsports Suzuki is proud to be sponsored by Millennium Technologies, American Suzuki, KWS Motorsports, Yoshimura R&D, Vortex Racing, Dunlop Tires, EBC Brakes, Hotbodies Racing Bodywork, Nutec Fuel, EK Chain, Shoei Helmets, Teknic Leathers, Pit Bull Stands, Penske Suspensions, Traxxion Dynamics, Web-Cam, Baker Race Gear, Kaufman Trailers, Inc., HSA and BG
Lubricants.

For more information, contact KWS Motorsports at (843) 552-7177 or visit their website at www.kwsmotorsports.com.

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

DUCATI NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES SPECIAL FINANCING ON SPORT TOURING AND SUPERBIKES THROUGH MAY 31ST.

Now is the opportunity to own a 2003 Ducati 749 for payments as low as $249 per month*. Or if you are more suited to Sport-Touring, a 2002 Ducati ST4S is only $260 per month*. These are two examples of the special 3.99% APR financing available on Ducati Superbikes and Sport Touring motorcycles. Ducati models eligible for this program include new 2003 749, 749S, 999, and 999S motorcycles as well as new 2001-2003 ST2, ST4, ST4S, and ST4S-ABS bikes.

This is the chance to join the revolution and ride away on the choice of World Champions – the Ducati Superbike. They are the most advanced family of twin-cylinder motorcycles ever produced. Dealers still have a limited supply of 2003 Superbikes between $13,495 to $22,995 that are eligible for the 3.99% APR, 60 month financing.

If you’d rather enjoy the comfort and performance of a Ducati Sport Touring motorcycle, 2001-2003 ST models also qualify for the financing program. Payments on a 2002 ST4S are as low as $260 per month* for qualified customers. Begin the journey on your new Ducati today.

Also speak with your dealer about including up to $2,000 of financing for popular Ducati Performance accessories and apparel suited to either the Superbike or Sport Touring motorcycles.

This program is effective March 1st , 2004 through May 31st , 2004 at your local Ducati dealer. Call 1-888-DUCATI 2 or visit www.ducatiusa.com to locate the nearest Ducati dealer.

*Financing subject to Tier I credit approval through E*TRADE Consumer Finance Corporation; not all applicants will qualify. Financing rates and terms may vary based on credit qualifications and are subject to change without notice; 60 monthly payments of $18.41 per $1000 borrowed with a 10% down payment. May not be combined with any other offer; void where prohibited. Offer good through May 31, 2004, on all new and untitled 2003 749 BIP, 749 S, 999 Mono, 999 BIP and 999S models and on 2001-2003 ST2, ST4, ST4S, and ST4S-ABS models. Offer may be discontinued or extended without prior notice. See participating U.S. Ducati dealers for details (not available in Puerto Rico).

From a press release issued by Norm Viano, Lawdog Sports Management:

It is with great pleasure that Ducati Austin’s Superbike rider, Eric Bostrom, is following up his exciting qualifying performance with an equally exciting announcement today of new commercial and lifestyle partner, Von Dutch. The new partnership will not only see the Von Dutch branding on his Alpinestars leathers, but also on his factory Ducati 999 Superbike. In addition, a dedicated Eric/Von Dutch line of high end clothing that reflects Eric’s unique style and character will be unveiled shortly and become available to fans everywhere.

A Von Dutch spokesman had this to say,”We whole-heartedly welcome Eric to our Von Dutch family through our strategic sponsorship program. We feel that Bostrom is a natural fit for the Von Dutch brand – his exceptional racing skills and enigmatic personality truly represent our company and all that it stands for – “freedom, style, sex, power, and motion.”

Having partnered with outside-industry sponsor RedBull four years ago in what has become an incredibly successful long-term commercial and (more importantly) personal relationship, Eric is entering into this new partnership with the same hopes. “It was really cool to get to know my new friends at Von Dutch because we quickly learned that we had so much in common; in lifestyle and interests. And this is really a nice match for me personally because the clothes are bitchin’, the people there are great, and they are real motorcycle enthusiasts. We give them a strong connection to the motorcycle industry and they give me a strong connection to the Hollywood fashion industry. We’re going to do some really cool things together. And by reading what they think about me, we definitely are on the same page!”

And judging by Eric’s electrifying qualifying performance, shattering the lap record at Daytona and earning pole position for the 63rd Daytona 200 to be run this Saturday, the relationship is off to a good start.

Von Dutch Originals is a Los Angeles-based clothing company specializing in fashions inspired by nostalgic vintage-styled clothing and denim. Launched in its present form in 2001, the company is named after legendary hot rod “Kustom Kulture” king, the late Kenneth Howard, who under his professional name “Von Dutch” is credited with being the first to paint hot rod style pin stripes and flames on cars and motorcycles in the ’40s and ’50s. Modern day enthusiasts identify themselves with “Kustom Kulture” – a lifestyle that appreciates everything vintage – from classic threads to custom hot rods and motorcycles. Von Dutch Originals reintroduces this lifestyle in clothing, Kustom Cycles, Von Dutch Collectibles and Toys for all ages. Von Dutch Flagships stores are located in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, California, Miami, Las Vegas and Chicago, and specialty clothing retailers across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.vondutch.com/.