From a press release issued by Croft Circuit:

ROCKINGHAM AGREES FOR CROFT CIRCUIT TO HOST ROUND OF THE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2004

Negotiations have been concluded successfully between Rockingham and Croft resulting in Rockingham’s 2004 round of the British Superbike Championship being run at Croft, the first time the BSB Championship will visit the North of England

Ashley Pover – Chief Executive Officer of Rockingham Motor Speedway Limited said:

“When first contacted by Croft, we were reluctant to give up our BSB meeting this July. However, I had a meeting with Croft Director Trevor Chaytor-Norris and we have agreed that, for one year only, the Rockingham BSB round would move to Croft.

“BSB will be back at Rockingham in 2005. We are looking at giving this meeting a ‘Days of Thunder’ makeover with more off track entertainment and a live band that will appeal to a wider bike audience. This agreement is a commercial deal for Rockingham, in what is proving to be an extremely busy year for us.”

Trevor Chaytor-Norris – Director of Croft Promosport Limited said:

“Croft is delighted to have done a deal with Rockingham which enables a round of the most prestigious national Motorcycle championship to come to the North of England for 2004. This deal will be a boost for the championship with a new venue on the calendar and offer live racing to a region starved of top quality motorcycle sport.

“A round of BSB will compliment the other major motorsport championships held at Croft including the British Touring Car Championship and the British Formula Three Championship. Croft has a long tradition of motorcycle racing and very much looks forward to welcoming the teams, competitors and spectators for what will be a fabulous weekend of motorcycle action.”

Croft Circuit, Croft on Tees, North Yorkshire, DL2 2PN. Tel: 01325 721815 Fax: 01325 721819

From a press release:

Team Hammer Talent Search Now Open To Riders On All Bikes, Tire Brands

Due to popular demand, the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented by Alpinestars has been opened up to riders on all brands of motorcycles and all brands of tires, and the sign-up deadline has been extended to March 1.

The program is designed to prepare riders for a professional career and to evaluate their potential. It covers all aspects of a professional career, including riding, bike set-up, sponsorship, dealing with the media and other major components of professional motorcycle road racing, and is open to Expert or Pro-licensed riders.

Two finalists in the program will earn the use of a Valvoline EMGO Suzuki racebike at the 2004 Suzuki Cup Finals, along with a mechanic, race entry fees, and a set of custom Alpinestars leathers in team colors along with Alpinestars boots and gloves, and will be considered for a 2005-season ride with the team. The best-finishing finalist in the Suzuki Cup Finals will take home the GSX-R he or she races at the event.

More information is available from Team Hammer at (909) 245-6414 or online at www.teamhammer.com

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

FORD EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON; 2004 FORD HARLEY-DAVIDSON TRUCK SALES SOAR

Leather and chrome. Freedom and the open road. Trucks and motorcycles. Some concepts just go together, like Harley-Davidson and Ford. Ford and Harley-Davidson announced plans to extend their alliance through 2007, which means three more years of exciting Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-Series products.

“We’ve sold nearly 40,000 trucks since we introduced the first Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 in 1999,” said Steve Lyons, Ford Division president. “We couldn’t be happier with the success of our alliance, and the great response these trucks have generated from our customers.”

Available as an F-250 or F-350 SuperCab or Crew Cab, the limited edition 4×4 model is arriving at dealerships now. Production began last November, and after only four months, the order banks are more than 50 percent completed. To date, more than 90 percent of customers have ordered Crew Cab models powered by Ford’s 6.0-liter Power Stroke® diesel engine.

“We’ve seen a tremendous response to the Harley-Davidson™ Super Duty,” Lyons said. “Customers are snatching up these trucks as fast as we can build them and they are opting for the higher-end models.”

Ford and Harley-Davidson forged an alliance in 1999 to celebrate their corporate heritage and shared 100th Anniversaries in 2003.

“The Ford Harley-Davidson product partnership brings out the best attributes of two American icons,” Lyons said.

From a press release issued by the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum:

MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM EXHIBIT IS SHOWCASED AS ONE OF “WORLD’S BEST” IN NEW BOOK

PICKERINGTON, OHIO – The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum’s current exhibit “Heroes of Harley-Davidson, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance,” is one of 70 corporate, commercial and museum installations featured in the new book, “Designing the World’s Best Exhibits.” Written by Martin M. Pegler, the book features high-impact visual environments from around the globe, ranging from luxury retail concepts and massive consumer product showcases to multi-million dollar trade show stands. To be included, exhibits had to be more than just a showcase for products or objects—they had to create a seamless brand experience and establish a powerful emotional connection between viewer and subject matter. In addition, exhibit designers had to achieve this objective through innovative visual elements and materials.

These criteria were especially well met by the “Heroes of Harley-Davidson, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance” concept and design team, which included Mark Mederski, executive director, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum; Ed Youngblood, exhibit curator; William Mahon, exhibit and fixture designer; and Dean DeShetler, principal of DeShetler Design, graphic and exhibit designer.

One example of the team’s approach to engaging exhibit visitors is the full-size replica of the backyard shed and workshop of founders William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, located near the exhibit entrance. Complete with period tools and machinery, including a 2500-lb engine lathe and drill press on loan from the Henry Ford Museum, the structure was constructed from lumber specially milled to 19th century specifications.

Such attention to detail and historical accuracy is a hallmark of the entire 8,100-square foot exhibit. Throughout the 19 themed sections that comprise the exhibit, visitors can immerse themselves in the colorful tales of over 100 individuals, while also admiring 54 rare motorcycles, 150 unique artifacts and a collection of fine art, including officially licensed Harley-Davidson artists. Serpentine walls and edge-to-edge graphics create a rich continuum throughout the visitor’s journey, revealing surprises around each bend—such as an accurate board track racing surface replica, complete with race-ready vintage machines.

“Our mission for this exhibit was to bring Harley-Davidson’s 100-year journey to life, through the stories of the people and personalities who have played important roles in the company’s ride to success,” said Mark Mederski, executive director, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “The machines, artifacts and memorabilia were all selected to illustrate and support their stories, which is a very non-traditional approach to exhibit design.” Mederski points out that while many transportation-themed Museums have extensive collections of rare machines, few create exhibits that consider the hardware secondary to the people associated with the products.

“Heroes of Harley-Davidson, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance” has been delighting thousands of visitors since its February 2003 opening. The world-class exhibit, the largest ever in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame’s history, provides an unprecedented introduction to the intriguing men and women who contributed sweat, inspiration, innovation and passion to build an American icon. Open to the public through the end of 2004, the exhibit has also been featured on national television, including The Travel Channel and CBS News Sunday Morning..

About the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum

The goal of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed notably to the sport, and three major exhibition halls showcase the machines and memorabilia that have shaped motorcycling. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; closed on New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adult admission is $10 per person; $5 for AMA members, $9 for members of other national motorcycling organizations; $8 for seniors; $3 for students age 12 to 17; children age 11 and under are admitted free. A special family rate of $25.00 admits parents and all single children under the age of 18. For more information, call (614)856-2222, or visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

From a press release issued by Clear Channel Entertainment — Motor Sports:

FORT WORTH, TX. (February 13, 2004) – Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports reported today that it has suspended the operation of its Formula USA National Dirt Track Series. CCE-MS will continue to entertain individual dirt track opportunities.

Clear Channel Entertainment, the world’s largest producer and marketer of live entertainment events, is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Worldwide (NYSE: CCU), a global leader in the out-of-home advertising industry. Clear Channel Entertainment currently owns, operates and/or exclusively books 135 live entertainment venues, including 44 amphitheaters in the U.S. and 28 venues in Europe. Each year, more than 62 million people attend approximately 26,000 events promoted and/or produced by the company, including: Live music events; Broadway, West End and touring theatrical shows; family entertainment shows; and specialized sports and motor sports shows.

In addition, Clear Channel Entertainment owns leading talent management businesses that specialize in the representation of athletes and broadcasters, including independently operated baseball, basketball and football businesses. Clear Channel Entertainment is headquartered in New York City.

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Laconi Sets Fastest Final Testing Pace

A frantic final day of testing at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia saw the morning session delayed twice because of two separate oil spills. The afternoon session delivered the fastest lap of the test to Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila), the Frenchman taking a best overall time of 1:35.393. His hard work over the whole three days saw him set a total of 156 laps as he installed himself in the position of first among equals, after what is the last test before the laps start to count for real.

Laconi was the first rider into the 1:35 bracket but he was not the last, as Steve Martin (DFX Ducati) improved on his previous best personal performance to secure a lap time of 1:35.574, finishing second overall. On a private Ducati compared to Laconi’s factory machine, Martin was impressive throughout, even if he did experience a couple of gremlins on the final day.

James Toseland (Ducati Fila) was third fastest overall in the tests, his lap total also being one of the best, a massive 190. He beat his own previous quickest mark from Thursday to take a time of 1:36.162 on the final day, 0.8 seconds shy of his team-mate Laconi.

Finishing his final day with a rush to the airport and home Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati), joined his new SBK peer group in more than respectable style, improving despite his finger injury and setting a best time of 1:36.201; good enough for fourth quickest of all sessions.

Marco Borciani (DFX Ducati 999RS) put in a massive leap on the final day, stripping 1.2 seconds from his Thursday performance to record a lap of 1:36.303 and edge out 1996 World Champion Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas FP-1). Ending his weekend sixth fastest, Corser made steady improvements each day on the unique three-cylinder 900cc machine, which remains largely unchanged from last year’s spec.

Returning World Superbike hero Noriyuki Haga finished his first official test on the Renegade 999 Ducati in seventh overall, using only one of his two bikes. He set a better time on the second day than the last, with a personal best of 1:36.676 his eventual top reward.

The new Honda CBR1000RR FireBlade finished its first proper SBK test in ninth place, after Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda) gradually brought his times down to 1:36.907. His was nonetheless the fastest four-cylinder machine on display, displacing Spaniard Sergio Fuertes’ MIR GSX-R1000 Suzuki. Fuertes had to sit out the second day after a crash on day one damaged his machine too much to continue without replacement of some key parts.

Ivan Clementi and Mauro Sanchini (Kawasaki Bertocchi ZX-10) rode their relatively stock fours into tenth and eleventh, with Clementi overtaking his team-mate in the final standings on the very last day.

Chris Walker gained more knowledge of his Petronas triple to finish in the top 12, but one even more experienced rider found his new Ducati a tricky machine to set-up to his liking. Swapping back to his 998 Ducati for a period to make comparisons, Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 999RS) eventually finished 13th overall, two seconds down on Laconi’s quickest time.

Riding a single bike at the test Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati NCR 999) was disappointed with his 14th classification on the stopwatch, never feeling comfortable on a bike which is a big change from the multi-cylinder machines he has been used to.

SBK perennial fixture Lucio Pedercini was one of the few 998RS riders on show and ended his test 15th out of 24 entrants. Piergiorgio Bontempi was the fastest rider out of the two Zongshen Suzuki pilots, in 18th, two places ahead of SBK new boy Miguel Praia (Xerox Ducati 999RS).


Best Official Lap Times OF Test (as supplied by FGSport Group):

1. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, 1:35.393, 156 laps
2. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, 1:35.574, 117 laps
3. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.162, 190 laps
4. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, 1:36.201, 151 laps
5. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, 1:36.303, 150 laps
6. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:36.310, 91 laps
7. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 1:36.676, 101 laps
8. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:36.907, 125 laps
9. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:37.023, 87 laps
10. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:37.186, 124 laps
11. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:37.281, 129 laps
12. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.287, 114 laps
13. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.343, 96 laps
14. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.585, 128 laps
15. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:37.674, 146 laps
16. Michael Schulten, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:37.821, 82 laps
17. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, 1:37.840, 34 laps
18. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.512, 135 laps
19. Giancarlo De Matteis, Ducati 998RS, 1:38.568, 98 laps
20. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, 1:39.033, 145 laps
21. Jurgen Oelschläger, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:39.148, 100 laps
22. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.276, 137 laps
23. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.303, 166 laps
24. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.867, 191 laps

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DUCATI DEALER TRACK DAY WITH A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY ERIC BOSTROM

March 15, 2004 – Ducatisti will take over the California Speedway in Fontana for this track day hosted by Ducati North America and Southern California Ducati dealers.

This event is an excellent opportunity to safely explore a bike’s limits in a controlled environment. The day will be dedicated to improving street bike riding skills and safety in a non-competitive environment. All skill levels are welcome to attend.

Ducati AMA racer Eric Bostrom will make a guest appearance both on and off the track. In 2003, Bostrom finished a strong 7th place in points despite a season shortening accident. However, in the 2002 AMA Superbike series Bostrom finished 2nd and plans to be challenging for the title again in 2004, now riding a factory-supported Ducati 999R with Team Austin. The awesome 999R dominated World Superbike in 2003, claiming 1st and 2nd place in overall points.

The price of this event is $195 for the day. Register at any Southern California Ducati dealer. Visit www.ducatiusa.com to access the dealer locator.

This is a chance to ride on the Fontana racetrack before Bostrom and the AMA Superbike racers test their skills on April 2 – 4, 2004.

For more event information, please contact your local Ducati dealer.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Event Schedule
Daytona International Speedway
March 3-6, 2004

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3

7 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

7 a.m.-5 p.m. Tech Inspection open

11 a.m. Post-entries close for Superstock and Formula Xtreme

8-8:40 a.m. Pro Honda Oils Supersport practice

8:50-9:30 a.m. Repsol Superstock

9:40-10:10 a.m. BMW BoxerCup practice

10:20-11 a.m. Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme

11:10-12:10 a.m. Chevrolet Superbike

12:10-1 p.m. Lunch break

12:25 p.m. Riders meeting

1-1:30 p.m. Repsol Superstock Qualifying, Group 1

1:40-2:10 p.m. Repsol Superstock Qualifying, Group 2

2:20-2:50 p.m. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, Group 1

3-3:30 p.m. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, Group 2

3:40-4:20 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 1

4:30-5:10 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 2

5:20-5:50 p.m. BMW BoxerCup Qualifying


THURSDAY, MARCH 4

7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

9 a.m. Post-entries close for Supersport and Superbike

7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tech Inspection open

8-10 a.m. Practice (in the following order):

Pro Honda Oils Supersport
BMW BoxerCup
Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
Repsol Superstock

10:10-11 a.m. Chevrolet Superbike practice

11:10-11:40 a.m. Pro Honda Oils Supersport Qualifying, Group 1

11:50-12:20 p.m. Pro Honda Oils Supersport Qualifying, Group 2

12:20-1:15 p.m. Lunch break

1:15-1:45 p.m. BMW BoxerCup Qualifying

1:55-2:30 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 1

2:40-3:15 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 2

3:40 p.m. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Race (15 laps)

4:40 p.m. Repsol Superstock Race (12 laps)


SATURDAY, MARCH 6

8 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

8:30 a.m. Tech Inspection open

9-10:15 a.m. Practice (in the following order):

Pro Honda Oils Supersport
BMW BoxerCup
Chevrolet Superbike

10:30 a.m. Pro Honda Oils Supersport Race (18 laps)

11:50 a.m. BMW BoxerCup Race (13 laps)

1:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony and Pole Award Presentation

1:45 p.m. Sighting Lap for the Daytona 200

2 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Race, 63rd Daytona 200 by Arai (57 laps)