Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The first day of official AMA activity at Daytona has been marked by a series of timing & scoring problems.

The wireless network that is supposed to transfer data from timing & scoring to the press room first started working late in the afternoon. The day started with runners carrying timing sheets from timing & scoring to the press room, until a FAX machine was finally installed in timing & scoring.

Duplicate times and rider names have been common on timing screens all day, with, for example, Jamie Hacking appearing as third-fastest and sixth-fastest at the same time on monitors during Supersport practice.

Fast times by several riders appeared on screens, then disappeared, then appeared again.

Chuck Graves is in an uproar, claiming that Ben Spies’ pole time in Superstock qualifying appeared on the screen several minutes after the session ended, and that Spies did not start his lap prior to the checkered flag falling on the session.

At 3:43 p.m., timing & scoring issued times for Formula Xtreme Group #1 qualifying, showing Ben Bostrom fastest at 1:52.800, followed by Miguel Duhamel at 1:53.339 and Vincent Haskovec at 1:54.213.

At 4:02 p.m., timing & scoring issued times for Formula Xtreme Group #2 qualifying, showing Ben Bostrom fastest at 1:52.800, followed by Miguel Duhamel at 1:53.339 and Vincent Haskovec at 1:54.213.

No word on when the system will be up and running correctly, if ever.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

In an unannounced move, AMA Pro Racing will not lock in the front row of the 63rd Daytona 200 by Arai during the first Superbike qualifying session, as has been the tradition throughout recent memory.

Instead, the Rolex Pole Position Award and the rest of the Daytona 200 grid will be determined according to the fastest times turned regardless of which of the two qualifying sessions the times are set in.

(Actually, there are four Superbike qualifying sessions at Daytona, two for slower riders and two for faster riders, as determined by practice times.)

Locking in the front row of the Superbike grid after the first qualifying session was a Daytona-only program.

The benefit for first-row qualifiers was it allowed them to use the second qualifying session for additional practice. Locked-in qualifiers of the past normally used the second qualifying session to do long-distance endurance runs to improve their race set-ups and test tires.

AMA Pro Racing is expected to issue a statement regarding the change in the Daytona qualifying procedure later today.


Update:

AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick told Roadracingworld.com, “Now that we’re running the condensed schedule and the guys are used to having all of the first day to practice, we, along with the Speedway, decided it was better to do it by the normal method we use at all of the races through the year and combine the times from all qualifying sessions. We didn’t think it was fair to give them just one practice and then just throw them out in the pressure cooker.”

Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom, the quickest Superbike rider Wednesday morning, agreed, saying, “If they didn’t (give both sessions to chase the pole position) you would be out their with your bike all messed up.”

After announcing the change in the Daytona 200 Superbike qualifying procedure at Wednesday’s rider’s meeting, Barrick announced that the qualifying cut-off limit for Superbike would be 110 percent of the pole position time in 2004, down from 112 percent. All of the other AMA classes will continue to use a 112 percent qualifying cut-off.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Crew Chiefs and Team Managers said they prefer the new-for-2004, single 40-minute practice sessions versus the normal two, 20-minute practice sessions of the past at Daytona International Speedway.

“It gives you more time to go through tire choices, more time to get the set-up for the tires,” said Yamaha Crew Chief Tom Halverson. “It gives you more ability to work on your strategy for the session and try something different back-to-back on the A-bike and B-bike. I just wish the Supersport and Superstock practice sessions weren’t back-to-back.”

“I generally like these (longer sessions) more,” said Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Crew Chief Keith Perry. “It’s better to test tires, to put race-distance on tires, especially here at Daytona where tires are so important.”

“I think it’s better to have the longer session,” said Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Don Sakakura. “Once you get your test items going it’s better to keep rolling in the session.”

But the feeling was not completely unanimous among AMA team leaders.

“I’d like to have two sessions no matter what, but I like the long session,” said Kawasaki Team Manager Michael Preston. “It’s nice to have two sessions in case you have an issue and it gives your riders time to think and sort stuff out. But we’ve got a good crew of guys, and it’ll be fine.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert started the 2004 Daytona AMA weekend off right by turning the fastest lap time in Supersport practice, a 1:52.234 on his YZF-R6, a time which is well under the 2003 AMA Supersport lap record (Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:52.785) for Daytona International Speedway.

“The track’s pretty good this morning,” Gobert told Roadracingworld.com. “I got a good draft on that lap. You know how it is, this place is all about the draft. It’s good to be fastest, but you have to make sure you don’t let yourself get all built up too early.”

Brother/teammates Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden were second- and third-fastest respectively on the new and improved 2004 Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Tommy Hayden’s 1:52.268 was also under the old lap record, while Roger Lee Hayden’s 1:52.924 was just slower than Duhamel’s record.

Wednesday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:52.234
2. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:52.268
3. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:52.924
4. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:52.961
5. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:53.120
6. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:53.260
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:53.801
8. Michael Barnes, Yamaha, 1:54.027
9. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:54.220
10. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:54.675
11. Chris Peris. Suzuki, 1:54.928
12. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha, 1:55.101
13. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:55.514
14. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha, 1:55.754
15. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:56.977
16. Barrett Long, Yamaha, 1:57.425
17. Danny Eslick, Suzuki, 1:57.568
18. Heath Small, Yamaha, 1:57.710
19. William Meyers, III, Kawasaki, 1:58.248
20. Pedro Valiente, 1:58.421

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, the 2003 Formula Xtreme Champion, took pole position for the AMA Superstock race Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway with a new lap record of 1:48.202 on his GSX-R1000.

The amazing part of the effort was that Spies encountered technical problems with his preferred, or A-bike, during the session, switched to his back-up bike late, and did his pole time on his one and only flying lap without the aid of a drafting partner.

Graves Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo had the fastest lap until Spies’ flyer. DiSalvo turned a 1:48.496 while doing unplanned drafting with teammate Jamie Hacking in the middle of the session.

DiSalvo ended up second-fastest, and Hacking finished third-fastest with a 1:48.643.

Hacking started feeling the effects of his morning Supersport crash Wednesday afternoon, could not walk and had to be carried to his bike, and did his fastest time on his only flying lap of the session.

Aaron Gobert earned the final spot on the front row with a time of 1:48.763 on his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1.

Larry Pegram crashed his Triangle Cycles Yamaha YZF-R1 in turn one during the Superstock qualifying session.

Provisional AMA Superstock Qualifying Results:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:48.202
2. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:48.496
3. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:48.643
4. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:48.763
5. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:49.252
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:49.295
7. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:49.394
8. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:50.181
9. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki, 1:50.263
10. John Haner, Suzuki, 1:50.333
11. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:50.873
12. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, 1:50.993
13. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:51.265
14. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:51.418
15. Eric Wood, Suzuki, 1:51.454
16. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:51.592
17. Jake Holden, Suzuki, 1:51.633
18. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:51.697
19. Jordan Szoke, Honda, 1:52.163
20. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:52.194
21. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:52.243
22. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha, 1:52.800
23. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:53.185
24. Corey Eaton, Suzuki, 1:54.218
25. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, 1:54.319
26. John Dugan, Suzuki, 1:54.783
27. Frank Trombino, Yamaha, 1:55.063
28. Jason Curtis, Suzuki, 1:55.822
29. John McGarity, Suzuki, 1:55.895
30. Craig Fitzpatrick, Suzuki, 1:56.233
31. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, 1:56.352
32. Bostjan Skubic, Suzuki, 1:57.821
33. Roger Bell, Suzuki, 1:57.893
34. Ron McGill, Suzuki, 1:58.433
35. Montez Stewart, Yamaha, 1:58.620
36. David Bell, Suzuki, 1:59.008
37. John Scott Wilson, Suzuki, 1:59.675
38. Eric Haugo, Suzuki, 1:59.918
39. Dave Loikits, Suzuki, 2:00.662
40. Joe Capelli, Suzuki, 2:00.818

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Wednesday’s Provisional BMW Boxer Cup Qualifying Results (all on BMW R1100S):

1. Sebastien Legrelle, BEL, 2:03.863
2. Richard Cooper, GBR, 2:03.875
3. Gwen Gabbani, FRA, 2:04.099
4. Stephane Mertens, BEL, 2:04.138
5. Oriol Fernandez, ESP, 2:04.381
6. Brian Parriott, USA, 2:04.455
7. Markus Barth, GER, 2:05.160
8. Roberto Panichi, ITA, 2:05.437
9. Thomas Hinterreiter, AUS, 2:05.833
10. Guillaume Dietrich, FRA, 2:06.130
11. Nate Kern, USA, 2:06.203
12. Javier Valera, ESP, 2:06.354
13. Klaus Nies, GER, 2:06.566
14. Barry Burrell, GBR, 2:06.987
15. Mike Ciccotto, USA, 2:07.253
16. Dirk Buylinckx, BEL, 2:07.652
17. Ricky Orlando, USA, 2:07.687
18. Jeroen Oudeman, NED, 2:07.898
19. Greg White, USA, 2:08.028
20. Stefan Hicks, GER, 2:08.282

28. Katja Poensgen, GER, 2:09.945

From a press release issued by Team Troll BQR Honda:

Spanish Racing Opportunities With BQR Supersport and Formula Extreme



Team Troll BQR Honda of Barcelona, Spain, participants in the World 250 Grand Prix Championship with Alex Debon (Spain) and Eric Bataille (France) and in the Spanish National Formula Extreme Championship with 2003 Spanish Formula Extreme Champion José David de Gea (Spain) and 2003 Spanish Superstock (Superseries) Champion Kenny Noyes (USA), have two slots available for the 2004 season.

We offer a Spanish National Supersport Championship ride on our CBR600RR. The Supersport Championship is open to riders of any nationality, but a rider must either be under 24 years of age or must have been under 24 years of age on January 1st, 2004.

Additionally we offer a Spanish National Formula Extreme ride on a fully prepared Honda CBR1000RR. The Formula Extreme series, Spain’s nationally televised premier racing championship, is open to riders without limit to age and nationality.

(In order for American riders to participate in the Spanish CEV riders must hold a valid AMA road racing permit. Riders of other nationalities must, likewise, hold an appropriate national license.)

A vacancy has occurred due to cancellation of a lease by a prospective Supersport rider and we have decided, after our successful test-bed runs with the CBR1000RR, that we can also field a third competitive Formula Extreme machine.

The level of riders and machines is high in the CEV but strictly enforced technical regulations serve to level the playing field.



Troll BQR Honda charges a leasing fee that covers all costs including machines, full race preparation, Dunlop tire service, Showa suspension service and all support necessary to take part in the seven race series plus an additional six private practice sessions held at championship venues at least two weeks prior to races held there. Practice and race format follows World GP procedures with two free practices, two qualifying sessions, a Sunday morning warm-up and 30-35 minute race. The team is headquartered near Barcelona in a new, three storey facility with workshops, offices and test beds, only a quarter hour from the Circuit of Catalunya.



The CEV (Campeonato de España de Velocidad) is one of the world’s top national series and is generally rated, along with the British Nationals, as the best in Europe. All races are held on tracks that are currently hosting World Championship events, with the exception of Jarama (Madrid) a former Grand Prix venue which meets stringent Spanish Federation safety standards.


Date, Circuit, Location

May 23, Catalunya, Monmeló, Barcelona

June 20, Jarama, 20 miles North of Madrid

July 11, Albacete, Albacete, La Mancha

August 29, Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia

September 26, Albacete, Albacete, La Mancha

November 11, Ricardo Tormo, Cheste, Valencia

November 21, Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia

Catalunya, Jerez and Valencia are Grand Prix venues, Valencia also hosts World Superbikes. Albacete, a former World Superbike track, currently stages the Spanish round of the World Endurance Championship. Jarama is a former Grand Prix, World Superbike and World Endurance track. The Spanish National Championship is organized and promoted by Dorna Sports, promoters of the FIM World Grand Prix Championship.

Interested riders and rider representatives can call BQR’s US representative, Dennis Noyes, for complete information: 760 767 7734, or look him up at Daytona this weekend.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, inc.

Provisional Wednesday Superbike Practice Times:

1. Eric Bostrom, Ducati 999F04, 1:49.732
2. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:49.939
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:50.019
4. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:50.078
5. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:50.219
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:50.505
7. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:51.519
8. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:52.010
9. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.031
10. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.776
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.487
12. Jordan Szoke, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:53.507
13. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:53.770
14. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.916
15. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.965
16. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:54.695
17. David Smith, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:55.049
18. Frank Trombino, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:55.273
19. Mike Sullivan, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:55.278
20. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:55.354

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Infineon Raceway Continues Modernization with New Medical & Care Center for 2004 Season

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) – Infineon Raceway has begun work on an 8,850-square foot multi-use building, which will include a new Medical & Care Center that will be operational for the 2004 motor racing season.

The structure, which will be located in the main paddock, will include a Medical & Care Center; tire storage and distribution facility; driver’s meeting room; fire and safety storage area; Safety-Kleen Center for oil collection and recycling; and four additional competitor garages. That will bring the total number of permanent garages to 44, more than enough to accommodate a 43-car starting grid for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event, June 25-27.

The $700,000 project continues Infineon Raceway’s four-year modernization plan, which began in September, 2000, and has transformed the facility into one of the premier motor sports and entertainment venues in the country. Other enhancements fans and competitors can expect in 2004 include a repaved road course and additional runoff at Turns 1 and 6, further enhancing driver/rider safety. Since 2000, Infineon Raceway has added runoff at virtually every turn on the twisting road course and spent more than $60 million in enhancements.

The Medical & Care Center is the featured element of the new structure and will include a driver exam room, family waiting room, imaging facilities and several beds for both treatment and recovery.

“This building is an important new resource for the track and a further step in our commitment to provide the best possible competitor facilities at Infineon Raceway,” said Steve Page, president and general manager at Infineon Raceway.

The new building will also feature additional permanent restrooms.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Young British racer Richard Cooper, the 2003 Daytona BMW Boxer Cup pole sitter, set the fastest time in Wednesday morning practice at the Speedway.

However, riders known to be on the racetrack did not have lap times displayed on timing and scoring monitors.

Provisional Wednesday Morning BMW Boxer Cup Practice Times (all riders on BMW R1100S):

1. Richard Cooper, GBR, 2:06.397
2. Sebastien Legrelle, BEL, 2:06.427
3. Roberto Panichi, ITA, 2:07.079
4. Javier Valera, ESP, 2:08.482
5. Dirk Buylinckx, BEL, 2:08.687
6. Klaus Nies, GER, 2:08.751
7. Barry Burrell, GBR, 2:10.249
8. Frank Shockley, USA, 2:10.818
9. Alex Busquets, ESP, 2:11.004
10. Andreas Bildl, GER, 2:11.017
11. Massimo Rosetti, ITA, 2:11.389
12. Stefan Heinrichs, GER, 2:11.499
13. Greg White, USA, 2:11.788
14. Brad Hendry, USA, 2:12.326
15. Jorge Diaz, ESP, 2:13.247
16. Katja Poensgen, GER, 2:13.555