Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert and longtime girlfriend Melanie Riley are engaged to be married.

The wedding is planned for October 6, 2004 in a beachside church on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

Mother-in-law-to-be Sue Gobert reports that she is “thrilled to have Mel officially in the family – we love her to death.”

Aaron Gobert is currently in Australia but is expected to return to his race season home in Canyon Lake, California next week.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

USGPRU has moved to a new address, with a new phone number, as follows:

USGPRU
609 Riden St
Odenton, MD 21113
(410)674-7538

From a press release:

The Floribama Riders invites you to our 2nd Annual Track Day at Barber Motorsports Park on Saturday May 22nd. This is a members only event and membership is $30. Spectators and camping are welcome. More info available at www.floribamariders.com or by emailing [email protected]

The Floribama Riders are a 200+ member internet based riding club based out of the Southeast promoting safe and responsible sport and sport touring riding.

29 Dreams Motorcycle Resort invites you to Cruiser Style track day at Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday May 23rd. This track day is geared towards cruiser riders, many of who in the Birmingham area have expressed great interest on riding on Barbers. Spectators and camping are welcome. “Many cruiser riders want to practice their street riding skills on a racetrack but are afraid to get out there with a bunch of racer types. This day, for the first time, will give many cruiser riders an opportunity to get their street bikes on the track in a safe controlled environment”, says Tim Langley, owner of 29 Dreams. More info available at www.29Dreams.com or by emailing [email protected]

29 Dreams is a motorcycle only resort located just south of Barber Motorsports Park and Museum on Alabama State Highway 25. 29 Dreams has a restraurant, bar, large air conditioned lodge with large screen TV, seven log cabins, and more. 29 Dreams sponsored a WERA endurance race team in 2002.

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders identify Pirelli preference

New rider Chris Walker felt the benefit of three more days in the seat of the FP1 at the conclusion of Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s three-day test at Phillip Island, Australia.

While testing a variety of new tyres provided by World Superbike championship manufacturers Pirelli, both he and team-mate Troy Corser made steps towards identifying the best construction and compound for the forthcoming race season. And, with one more test remaining before the first round at Valencia at the end of February, Chris took encouragement from the fact that he was only 0.3 seconds away from the best time of 1:35.4 set by team-mate Troy Corser on his home circuit.

Chris said: “I went quicker today on a tyre which wasn’t quite as good as the one we found yesterday. And I am also pleased that I was doing the same lap times as Troy when we were on the same tyre and the same rim. That is really encouraging, particularly at Phillip Island. I am really enjoying working with this team and have already developed a good relationship with our Pirelli representative. When he tells me the differences between tyres, I can definitely feel what he is describing. But they had so many different tyres to test out here that, once we had found the best medium-soft compound, there were not too many left to test and I had wanted to break into the 34s.

“The team has worked to get the bike a bit more Chris Walker-like – a bit softer and looser – so that I can back it into corners and slide it out of them. I have altered my ride height to make the bike more stable on the brakes and that has helped. I jumped on the bike on Tuesday and it felt alien – nothing like the motocross bike I have been on all winter! – but it was good to quickly get it working how I like it and it gives us a clear direction for the next test.”

Chief engineer Steve Thompson said: “Although we still have a lot of work to do with Pirelli in making sure we maintain our corner speed advantage, we now have a clearer idea of the type of tyre that will best suit our bike. Hopefully we will be able to put what we have learnt here into practice at next month’s pre-season final test. Chris has worked very hard on the set-up of the bike with the tyres available and his attitude has been excellent. We have also had the opportunity to test a new cooling package from MB Motorsport, which has produced significant improvements.”

Troy said: “We have been trying to do a few more laps today on the tyres we have found to work best for us, but I still think there is room for improvement. We need a bit more stability as I am still experiencing a small chatter, although I think we are going in the right direction. At this stage in the tyre development I don’t think the lap times have been too bad.”

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

SUZUKI TEAM MANAGER REX WHITE DIES

January 15th 2004

Rex White, who managed the 500cc world championship winning official Suzuki GP team in the 1970’s and 80’s died yesterday at his home in the south of England.

Rex was in charge of the UK based Texaco Heron Suzuki Team that took Barry Sheene to his two world titles in 1976 and 1977.

The cause of death is as yet unconfirmed, but Rex had been unwell for sometime.

Full story to follow.




And now, reaction from a reader:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I know that Rex might not have been that well-known in the U.S. but I had known him and his buddy Ron Grant for many years.

Rex was a very nice guy who went out of his way to help me out when I was running the race version of the Suzuki T500. He sent over boxes of GP parts and information and I never received a bill.

I, for one, am diminished by his passing.

David Hirsch
Galveston, Texas

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ben Bostrom was the fastest rider during a two-day test at California Speedway involving American Honda and Erion Honda.

With warm temperatures, relatively light winds and little rubber and lots of dirt on the 2.36-mile infield road course, Bostrom turned a 1:26.00 Thursday on his race-tire-equipped Honda CBR1000RR Superbike.

Bostrom’s time from the test was faster than any time he recorded during last year’s race weekend at the Fontana, California track.

After riding the new CBR1000RR at Daytona International Speedway, Willow Springs, Laguna Seca and California Speedway, Bostrom has declared the bike incredible.

“Everywhere we’ve gone this bike has been the most incredible bike I’ve ever been on,” said Bostrom. “It’s really fast, it steers well, it does everything a bike should do. No complaints. Riding a bike is really fun again.

“Over the last couple of years I got kind of down, especially after last year – it really kicked me in the butt. Part of me kind of wishes I’d like to have another year on the RC51 to try and see how fast we could go, because at the end of the year we started getting faster on it, but once I got on this thing (laughs) that thing (RC51) was out! That’s (CBR1000RR) the funnest thing to ride. It makes me feel like a kid again, like I’m just learning to ride all over again. It’s fresh and exciting again. It’s really great.”

As good as the new Honda is Bostrom feels it can get even better, especially the rear end of the bike and the clutch. “I think maybe they need to come out with a new (clutch) design or something. That would set you into the corner a lot better. You kind of have to wait on it a little bit,” said Bostrom, echoing comments he made at the Daytona test in December.

Honda team members are expecting updated clutch parts before the Daytona race in March, which they hope will also help their riders launch the CBR1000RR Superbike off the line – something that has thus far proved difficult.

Asked for his outlook on the upcoming season, Bostrom laughed then said, “As long as we stay healthy, that bike’s so good we’re going to be up front. The bike’s great. I plan on doing some winning.”

Sharing Superbikes with both Bostrom and Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke at California Speedway as he has at other tests this winter, Miguel Duhamel took over the reigns of Bostrom’s CBR1000RR Thursday afternoon and went faster with nearly every lap until he ran out of fuel and daylight. Duhamel ended with a fast time of 1:27.00 on his final lap.

“I was just starting to get comfortable,” said Duhamel, immediately after climbing off his bike. “The promise that it showed the first time we rode it is coming good. The power is amazing, and it steers great, really turns great. Everyday we’re finding new stuff about the bike, but it’s really good.”

Duhamel also tested his CBR600RR Formula Xtreme racer, which was equipped with a full MoTec engine management system for the first time and is on-schedule to meet its horsepower target, according to Crew Chief Al Ludington.

Like Duhamel, Zemke rode both a CBR1000RR Superbike and CBR600RR FX machine during the test. Zemke said he struggled on the Superbike because he couldn’t make improvements to the bike’s set-up that would allow faster lap times. Zemke’s fastest time (1:27.31) was set just before lunchtime Thursday.

As for his few laps on the FX bike, Zemke said he was mainly trying to “work the bugs out of it…getting it to run right with the fuel-injection mapping.”

The Erion Honda CBR600RR Formula Xtreme machines were equipped with new, pressurized Ohlins forks, new Brembo brakes and new rear suspension linkages at Fontana.

Zemke’s teammate Alex Gobert continued development work on his CBR600RR FX bike and got to ride what will become his Superstock CBR1000RR for the first time. The 1000cc machine was essentially a street bike at California Speedway – equipped with a slip-on exhaust canister, rear sets from a CBR600RR, 17-inch Dunlop slicks but still wore the stock suspension and bodywork, including the taillight. Still, Gobert did a 1:32.87 on the machine within six laps.

Sport Tire Services sent a crew to California Speedway to mount and balance Dunlop tires, and the test was attended by Dunlop’s Les Washburn.

American Honda has one Superbike test remaining, January 25-26 at Daytona, before it goes to Japan to build the remainder of its CBR1000RR Superbikes in time for the 2004 season opener.

In the meantime, American Honda and Erion Honda will continue testing their CBR600RR Formula Xtreme bikes.

Unofficial Lap Times:

1. Ben Bostrom, Superbike, 1:26.00
2. Miguel Duhamel, Superbike, 1:27.00
3. Jake Zemke, Superbike, 1:27.31
4. Miguel Duhamel, Formula Xtreme, 1:28.40
5. Jake Zemke, Formula Xtreme, 1:29.10
6. Alex Gobert, Formula Xtreme, 1:30.11
7. Alex Gobert, Superstock, 1:32.87

From a press release issued by the Bruno Event Team:

BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK REMAINS IN DISCUSSION FOR A 2005 UNITED STATES MOTO GP

(Birmingham, AL)- When questioned as to the possibility of MotoGP returning to the United States and more specifically the status of talks with the Barber Motorsports Park, Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta offered the following comment: “We are very pleased with the continued growth in popularity of the MotoGP World Championship Series as evidenced by the increased attendance figures in 2003. We are presently in discussions with the Barber Motorsports Park for 2005 and believe it to be in the best interest of the series to return to the United States. We are optimistic and anticipate further word on developments in early 2004.”

When asked to comment on the status of current discussions, Gene Hallman, President of the Bruno Event Team added the following: “The Barber Motorsports Park had an excellent year in 2003. The facility hosted two very successful spectator events culminating with the AMA Honda Superbike Classic, which attracted approximately 50,000 spectators.”

“Development of the facility was completed with the grand opening of the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum, the largest motorcycle museum in the world. Overall, the venue has received extremely high marks and we are very excited about the potential of this facility. With regard to MotoGP, we are confident that this facility would be an excellent location for a U.S. Grand Prix. We will continue our discussions with Dorna for a 2005 event and hope to have closure in the spring of 2004,” continued Hallman.

The Bruno Event Team is a sports marketing company based in Birmingham, Alabama that manages spectator events at the Barber Motorsports Park.

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

DUCATI PRESENTS BOSTROM WITH 999

Eric Bostrom visited Ducati North America headquarters and received keys to a 999 this week.

AMA racer Eric Bostrom visited Ducati North America to meet with CEO Michael Lock and staff this week in Cupertino, California. As the newest addition to the Ducati family, Bostrom was welcomed by Michael with the keys to a 2004 Ducati 999, based upon the 999R Factory AMA04 bike he will ride this season for the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team. The 999 dominated the World Superbike Championship in 2003, finishing 1st and 2nd in overall points.

Ducati Corse’s commitment to success is carried to the United States this year with full support for Bostrom’s AMA campaign. This effort is important to winning the competitive AMA series and demonstrates Ducati’s continued development through racing worldwide. The 999 features winning technologies derived from the racetrack, such as the 4-valve testrastretta engine. On the standard 999, this engine delivers 124 horsepower at 9500 rpm.

The addition of a factory supported Ducati team in the U.S. has generated a wave of excitement among fans. Bostrom’s first race of the season is the Daytona 200 on March 6th in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Eric concluded his visit by accepting a framed photo, signed by the Ducati North America staff, in addition to his new motorcycle.

From a press release issued by FGSport:

World Superbike Championship 2004
Winter Tests
Phillip Island, January 13 – 15 (Australia)

Pre Season SBK Pace Hots Up

The countdown to another new era of World Superbike competition has continued apace over the winter months, with Valencia and Phillip Island playing host to some of the championship’s top teams.

The most recent test, a three-day marathon completed at Phillip Island in Australia on Thursday 15 January, saw two of the main factory teams, Ducati Fila and Foggy Petronas, in attendance.

With the World Superbike Championship opting for a spec tyre format, putting all riders in all classes on Pirellis, the Phillip Island test was a crucial one for all concerned. The abrasive Aussie tarmac provides the toughest test of the year for rubber, especially for the left hand side of the overworked rear tyres.

Weather conditions were most favourable in the morning sessions, and for Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) the tests were seen as a success, with the Frenchman lapping hard on all three days, setting competitive single lap and race simulation times. Laconi’s best race long effort would have placed him on the podium in one of last year’s Phillip Island races, even without the spur of actual competition to boost his performance still further.

For his team-mate, James Toseland, the test was a generally positive one, but a heavy crash, exiting Honda corner on day two, put paid to his thoughts of completing full race simulations. He had to make allowances for three stitches on his leg, bruised and blackened fingers and a large amount of overall discomfort. Nonetheless, Toseland set a 1:34.8 lap and the young Briton is expected to be back to full fitness for the next planned SBK/Pirelli test at Valencia, from 11 to 13 February – a mere two weeks before the 2004 season kicks off at the same venue.

The unique Petronas FP-1 three-cylinder machines of 1996 World Champion Troy Corser and Chris Walker were also at Phillip Island, with both riders setting times within the 1:35 bracket, on a machine which is still to develop its full potential. A new cooling system helped the team keep the engine temperature under firmer control.

Corser, one of the best development riders in the world, as well as one of the fastest in competition, experienced some chatter during the tests, but declared that the lap times were about where he expected them to be at this stage of the evolution of the technically fascinating FP-1.

As the season approaches the final line up of riders in the series now includes another pilot who has proved his global credentials time and again – Australian Garry McCoy. Now resident in Andorra, McCoy drove to the pre-Christmas SBK/Pirelli test to join his new 2004 team, NCR Ducati. Having injured his right radius in a celebrity Supermoto race a short while beforehand, McCoy completed only a handful of laps on his Ducati 999 RS but with at least one further test scheduled before he makes his competitive debut in SBK at Valencia on 29 February, he is expected to be on pace from the first outing.

The next Valencia test will see the public debut of the all-new Honda Fireblade, prepared by Ten Kate and ridden by reigning World Supersport Champion Chris Vermeulen.

Other notable 2004 SBK entries include the Zongshen Chinese team, featuring experienced pilots Warwick Nowland and Piergiorgio Bontempi on Suzuki GSX-R1000 machinery, plus the competitive DFX Ducati squad, featuring Steve Martin and Marco Borciani on customer 999s.

In World Supersport another year of intense competition beckons, with top class entries from Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha all preparing for another dip in the Supersport crucible.

In the Ducati camp, Lorenzo Lanzi was testing the new-to-World-Supersport 749 factory machine at Phillip Island, suffering a crash on oil on day one. His eventual best lap proved to be a 1:37.08, as he too fought against the effects of high winds in the afternoons.

In the previous Valencia tests Ten Kate Honda riders Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes, plus Klaffi Honda pilot Sebastien Charpentier were in attendance, setting quick lap times throughout. The Yamaha line up for 2004 will be spearheaded by Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret from the Belgarda team and Christian Kellner and Kevin Curtain from the Yamaha Motor Germany outfit. Suzuki’s usual dynamic duo of Stephane Chambon and Katsuaki Fujiwara will have an updated 2004 machine to compete with in Supersport.


In 2003 the Superbike World Championship achieved the following:

– More than 2-billion worldwide television viewers

– Live broadcasts on 85 television networks covering 170 countries

– 1,950 broadcast hours with a television media value in excess of US$ 590-million

– 1,000,000 race spectators

– More than 32-million Internet page views on www.worldsbk.com