From a press release issued by Jurgen Wimbauer:

Nicky Wimbauer (American young gun overseas) finishes 14th in Italian Championship race in Vallelunga, July 4th. 2004

Vallelunga (close to Rome, Italy) is the 3rd round of the Italian Championship and yet another new track for Nicky Wimbauer. The challenging layout and extreme hot temperatures made the tire choice and bike set-up difficult. Nicky qualified 29th on Saturday afternoon with a lap time of 1:23:33 just 3.5 seconds off pole. The field was very close and 22 riders were within 2 seconds of the qualifying lap times.

The Sunday afternoon race of 20 laps with 36 starters was held in temperatures above 103 degrees F.

Nicky’s comments: “We chased set-up issues all weekend and after a call with my old friend Thermosman (Mike Fitzgerald) we finally moved into the right direction. The warmup set-up felt much better. Italian riders are like fireworks in the first three laps, and I choose the softest tires possible so I could charge even more (a la 4th of July fireworks) and make up positions which worked out good. After a battle with Scalvini (125GP winner and now 600SS racer), the race started to settle in and I was able to keep ahead of a group of four riders. My tires started to feel really greasy and I just wanted to protect myself from the back and was unable to catch the group ahead of me. Next time (in September), I’ll know more about tackling this specific track. I can’t wait to go to Misano which is going to be the first race weekend on a track that is already familiar to me.”

Nicky Wimbauer (16) is currently in 7th place of the prestige “Trofeo Italia” which features national riders under 25 years of age, with no previous season of world-level competition.

From a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin:

BOSTROM HEADS TO FAVORITE LAGUNA SECA CIRCUIT IN CONFIDENT MOOD

Monterey (California) – July 6, 2004: Winner of two AMA Superbike races at Laguna Seca, Eric Bostrom is hoping to record his third superbike win at the Monterey peninsula circuit during the combined AMA and World Superbike weekend, a round which in recent years has seen fan attendance regularly exceed 90,000.

Currently fourth overall in points, Bostrom’s recent Michelin test in France showed positive results as he stayed on pace with the race leaders throughout the contest at Brainerd. Ducati Corse’s World Superbike experience from last year on a Michelin-shod 999 will also give the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team a head start with their set-up for the Laguna Seca round.

Heading into last year’s Laguna Seca race only six points back in the AMA championship lead, Eric’s season was prematurely ended when he was caught up in a crash that resulted in injuries which kept him from being able to continue his battle for last year’s superbike title.

“I’m excited to go to my favorite track,” said the 27-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada. “I know it’s going to be a lot of work and a difficult race to win, but I also know that we need to win. And everyone is riding really well right now so it’s going to be a great race. I’m anxious to be a part of the best event in America. Unfortunately we can’t ride as wildcards in the World Superbike races because of their spec tire rule, and I know the fans will be disappointed to not see the local wildcards, but we hope to give them a good show in the AMA Superbike race.

“The crowd size and enthusiasm are normally really incredible, and Ducati always has a strong presence with Ducati Island and they have some cool activities planned, so I’m looking forward to being a part of that. It’s going to be a great weekend.”

The Laguna Seca event also plays host to the international launch of the new U.S. version 999R, based on the motorcycle representing Ducati in this year’s American Superbike Championship with Eric Bostrom and the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team.

The Circuit
During the 1950s, the “Pebble Beach Road Races” attracted some of the world’s best sports car drivers as they tested their skills on the winding roads of the coastal town. The prestigious races brought fans and money to the Monterey Peninsula but within a few years the event had outgrown the area and the cars had become too fast for the open road. The races needed a new home, and Laguna Seca Raceway was born.

Laguna Seca Raceway is recognized as one of the greatest and most spectacular road-racing circuits in the USA. Built by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) in 1957, it has hosted some of the world’s greatest racing series, including CART, NASCAR, FIA GT, GP Motorcycle and the Superbike World Championship. The 2.238 mile (3.610 km), 11-turn track is famous for its beauty and daunting Corkscrew turn, which features a difficult left-right swoop plunging more than 50 feet.


POINTS: 1. Mladin 358; 2. Duhamel 352; 3. Zemke 348; 4. E Bostrom 262; 5. May 241; 6. B Bostrom 210; etc.

From a press release:

Inaugural “Racing to Save Lives” is a Great Success!

Denver, CO – A unique event benefiting five children’s charities, Racing to Save Lives closed its activities over the weekend, but the pledges are still rolling in. A five day endurance race culminating in an MRA (Motorcycle Roadrace Association) race weekend brought out over 200 competitors, riding over 32,000 miles (32,517) and raised over $67,000.00 so far!

Corporate sponsors donated tires, lubricants, and items to be sold through silent auction. Riders donated their time at the track, as well as their wallets either driving pledges or breaking their own wallets to ride in the event, while a diversely committed group dedicated themselves to the event ensuring a near seamless experience for the participants. A special thank you to the Colorado Sportbike Association is due for their “over the top” volunteering and follow through.

The Racing to Save Lives Crew is already looking forward to next year, as the bench racing is getting better and better with this inaugural event already. For further details, stay tuned to the Racing to Save Lives website at http://www.racing2savelives.org

A special thanks to all the Sponsors:
Vanmar Racing, comCables, Imaginary Designs, La Shacheri Studios, Second Creek Raceway, Motorcycle Roadracing Association, Colorado Sportbike Club, Rich Oliver’s Mystery School, Fay Meyers Motorcycle World, Suncor Energy/Phillips 66, Light Speed, Grand Prix Motorsports, HJC/Chatterbox, WD40, Colorado Powersports, Mo’s Cajun Corner, EBC Brakes, Spyderco Knives, Twin Peaks Powersports, Dunlop Tires, United Site Services, Vickery Motorsports, TK Motorsports, TFOG, Ricky Orlando, American Supercamp, Performance Cycle, 5280 Technologies

From a press release issued by HMC Milwaukee Ducati:

HMC DUCATI MILWAUKEE RACING ROLLS WEST TO LAGUNA SECA

HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing – The Ducati Motor Holding (DMH) factory-backed Formula Xtreme 749R Dark racer rolls into Laguna Seca to compete in Saturday’s AMA Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme race.

Local Salinas native and Ducati star, Doug Chandler, will race the 749R Ducati on his home track at Laguna Seca. Chandler knows this track well and has won numerous times in the past.

The challenging and very technical track normally makes the going hard for the race technicians. The elevation changes and off camber corners creates difficulties in setting up the race bike.

“Since we have raced with Doug in the past and know what he wants, we will pull the base settings from our little black book with very little modifications,” explained Mitch Hansen, HMC Ducati Milwaukee team owner. “Then with Doug’s input in practice we fine tune the race set up. This is why we have been able to come out so very strong this year.”

The mechanical gremlin that raised there ugly head in the last round at Brainerd, Minnesota turned out to be a faulty sensor. “The problem only appeared in racing conditions,” stated Crew Chief Gary Medley. “It threw our computer mapping off by 50% and reduce the engine output by 3,000 rpm. At Laguna you will see the race bike coming off the corners faster and higher top speed.”

Doug Chandler will be signing autographs at the HMC Milwaukee Ducati transporter throughout the weekend and will be making a special appearance on Ducati Island to sign autographs for fans. Fans can win a Doug Chandler t-shirt by registering at www.hmcracing.com website.

Ducati Island, located in the infield of the racetrack between turns two and three, provides the Ducatisti parking, hospitality, and access to grandstands to all Ducati owners who show their Ducati key or proof of ownership.

From a press release issued by Bridgestone/Firestone:

Rio de Janeiro – July 4th, 2004 Rio Grand Prix Carneval for Bridgestone:Pole Position, lap record and first MotoGP victory Pole Position, new lap record and a maiden MotoGP victory: The Rio Grand Prix turned into carneval for Bridgestone. The first celebration of the weekend took place when Suzuki star Kenny Roberts stunned his competitors with a blindingly fast final lap in qualifying, taking a surprising pole position ahead of four Honda riders despite their superior engine power. The former world champion confirmed his good shape with seventh place in the race, his best result so far this season. But there was more to come for Bridgestone. Makoto Tamada had dominated the free practice session on Saturday morning, pushing his Camel Honda to the best lap time on a slick tire that had done 18 laps already. As race conditions could be expected to be similar due to the earlier starting time of 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, hopes for a strong result were high within Tamada’s team and his tire crew. But nobody dreamt of a display of such supremacy. Seventh after one lap, Tamada pushed ahead relentlessly, marking the new lap record on the Nelson Piquet race track in the battle with Valentino Rossi on lap seven. By mid-race, Tamada had taken third place from the current world champion, took second spot from Nicky Hayden soon after, and left the best for last:

Four laps from the end, Tamada swept past Camel Honda team-mate Max Biaggi in the last right-hand corner of the track, and extended his lead to more than two seconds by the time he crossed the finish line. The Rio success was the first ever MotoGP victory for Bridgestone and Tamada, after celebrating their first podium finish on the Nelson Piquet track last year. The pole position of Kenny Roberts was Bridgestone’s first best time in a MotoGP qualification, but not in the blue ribbon class of motorcycle racing: Jeremy McWilliams had ridden to pole position aboard a Bridgestone-fitted 500cc Proton KR 3 at the Australian Grand Prix 2002.

Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda – 1st position “I chose a new rear tire shape that was only introduced at Assen last week, so there were not so many compounds available. But from the first free practice session on, I knew that I didn’t have to keep looking because this tire performed flawlessly, and we concentrated entirely on a set-up that would suit this kind of tire – with a fantastic result in the end. My only worry was that the track temperature seemed to rise more than we had anticipated, but in the end, there was no problem – I had good and consistent grip on the rear, and I also had an advantage on the front. Whereas Biaggi was pushing the front in the long corners, I was able to keep my own tight line without a problem. Catching up to Max was a tough piece of work, but once I got close to him, he was easy prey – planned my move for the last right-hand corner on the track, and overtook easily. I decided to keep on pushing after that in order to make sure he couldn’t get back on me, but at the same time, I got very nervous. I never got nervous in my life before, but winning the first Moto Grand Prix is certainly something very special. I want to thank Bridgestone and my team for the great support I’ve had, and I want to dedicate this victory to my great friend Daijiro Kato. July 4th is his birthday, and since I saw this year’s Grand Prix calendar for the very first time, I really wanted to win this race for him. I am glad and relieved that it happened this way!”

Hiroshi Yamada – Motorcycle Racing Manager – Bridgestone Motorsport “What a fantastic weekend: Pole position, lap record, victory, all of our riders within the point rankings, and three of them in the top ten – that is clearly our best result ever, and exceeds all our expectations. Makoto’s team did a marvelous job, squeezing more than 100 per cent of their performance out of our tires. Makoto himself was cool and concentrated and had things under control from the start to the finish. I want to thank the teams, the riders and all our people in the technical center who worked day and night to overcome the problems we have had at the Mugello Grand Prix. This weekend shows that we recovered completely, and it also shows the power of Bridgestone as a company. Our first target was a MotoGP podium which we achieved last year. Our second target was a MotoGP victory which happened today. From now on, we are working towards our ultimate goal of winning the MotoGP championship!”

Akira Nishimura – General Manager – Bridgestone Tire Corporation, said “This is our first victory in our third year in MotoGP racing, and we are extremely happy with today’s result. Makoto did a superb job and rode ggressively throughout the race. I thank everyone in Makoto’s Camel Honda Team and Pramac for all their hard work, and to Honda for always giving us excellent advice. With this victory as our motivation, Bridgestone will continue to further develop tires to contribute to the growth and success of the racing industry!”

Bridgestone Results: 1. Makoto Tamada (JAP) Honda, 44.21,976, 7. Kenny Roberts (USA) Suzuki, 44.45,469, 9. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki, 44.49,778, 11. Alex Hofmann (GER) Kawasaki, 44.59, 689, 15. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki, 45.32,272

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Mark Watts married Cheryl Hackett, June 27 in Barona, California.

Watts has raced on the Isle of Man 11 times and is the current WSMC 250cc Grand Prix Champion.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Hacking shooting for Laguna Seca Supersport record

Veteran could become first four-time winner of the race

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 6, 2004) – Jamie Hacking has an enviable record at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. The 33-year-old British-born racer stands alongside AMA Supersport racing legends Miguel Duhamel and Mike Smith as the only three-time winners of the Laguna Supersport race. On Sunday, July 11, at round 8 of the 11-race Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei, Hacking could make history by becoming the first four-time victor in the class at Laguna Seca.

Hacking may have been the pre-race favorite coming into this weekend’s race, but a crash last week during testing left him with a broken collarbone. Immediately after the crash Hacking flew to California, to have his collarbone pinned. He plans on competing at Laguna Seca, but he’s sure to be in some discomfort trying to throw his factory Yamaha R6 around the challenging 2.238-mile, 11-turn Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca circuit. If Hacking can overcome his injury to win at Laguna Seca it would be one of the biggest stories of the 2004 season.

Kawasaki teammates and brothers Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden are first and second in the AMA Supersport point standings. Tommy is on a three-race wining streak coming into this Sunday’s race. The competition in AMA Supersport racing is so intense that winning streaks of more than a few races are rare. In fact, if Hayden wins at Laguna he will be the first Supersport rider in nine years to string together four-consecutive race victories in a single season. Additionally, he would tie Aaron Yates for third on the all-time AMA Supersport wins list. Hayden is attempting to earn his first AMA championship after years of coming agonizingly close.

Roger Lee Hayden broke through to earn his first AMA national win in the Supersport race in Birmingham, Ala., in May. Since then the youngest of the racing Hayden’s, from Owensboro, Ky., has been a constant threat in the class. At Brainerd two weeks ago he nearly took the win, but was nipped by his oldest brother at the line. The Hayden battles harkens back to a few years ago when it was Nicky (now racing MotoGP for Honda) and Tommy going head to head for the championship.

The Yamaha team is stacked with the likes of Hacking, Aaron Gobert and Jason DiSalvo, all in the top five of the point standings. There’s slated to be one more contender on a blue bike this weekend when Aussie veteran Damon Buckmaster makes his return from injury. If Buckmaster is healthy expect him to be a leading contender. “Bucky” has scored inside the top five at the Laguna Seca Supersport race three times in the last five years.

Suzuki riders have struggled at times in the series this year. Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies won the Infineon Raceway round in Sonoma, Calif., but since then has not finished better than sixth. Look for the Texan to try to make a strong showing this weekend. Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp, ranked seventh, has also had an up and down 2004 campaign. The native of Northern California hopes to have a good race in front of friends and family at Laguna Seca. And finally there’s Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates. The third ranked AMA Supersport racer of all-time and former series champ has had a sub-par showing in the series this year. He would love to win this race at Laguna Seca again as he did back in 1997.

Others to watch for at Laguna include veteran privateer Michael Barnes on the Prieto Racing Yamaha and Aussie Ben Attard on the Corona Extra Suzuki.

The Laguna Supersport final will be featured on SPEED Channel on Tuesday, July 13 at 12 p.m. EST, as part of the network’s popular Two Wheel Tuesday motorcycle programming lineup.

For ticket information contact Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at (800) 327-SECA or visit www.laguna-seca.com

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM STAYS ON AT RIO FOR SUCCESSFUL DAY’S TESTING

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Monday 5 July 2004 – Ducati Marlboro Team testing concluded successfully today at Rio de Janeiro’s Nelson Piquet Circuit, following on from yesterday’s fourth place for Loris Capirossi in the Rio GP, the Italian team’s best result of 2004.

Troy Bayliss today focussed on further back-to-back tests with the two different types of engine he used over the weekend. The Australian rider completed 45 laps of the track and carried out a long-run with the Four Pulse engine and one with the Twin Pulse. Troy was able to confirm that the Desmosedici GP4 with its Twin Pulse unit was easier to ride and allowed him to maintain a rapid pace with less physical effort. Troy’s best time today with the Twin Pulse engine was 1:50.2.

Loris Capirossi completed just nineteen laps and mainly concentrated on testing cycle parts and electronics. The Italian continued development work with the new irregular firing order Twin Pulse engine, with which he made an encouraging debut at Assen and with which he confirmed to be a further step forward here at Rio. Loris’s best time was 1:50.4.

Partially cloudy skies but warm weather, unusual for the Brazilian winter (air 26° C/track 33°C), characterised the one and only scheduled day’s testing at the Rio circuit and the Ducati Marlboro Team will return to Italy tomorrow.

As confirmation of the major commitment being made by Ducati Corse in MotoGP, while the Ducati Marlboro Team was hard at work in Brazil, the development team was down in Mugello today with tester Vittoriano Guareschi, who will also remain at the Tuscany circuit tomorrow to test new electronic components.

The next race for the Ducati Marlboro Team is at the Sachsenring (Germany) on July 16-18, round 8 of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship.

From a press release:

Croft Circuit
Croft on Tees
North Yorkshire
England

Monday 5th July

DerbyPhoenix Club Motorcycle Races
Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th July 2004

MORE TWO WHEELED ACTION AT CROFT

The 2004 season continues in style this weekend at Croft Circuit when rounds nine and ten of the Derby Phoenix Motor Cycle Club road race championships take place at the North Yorkshire track on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th July.

The club has attracted a capacity entry for the two day meeting with a host of club regulars set to mix it with a smattering of track specialists in the action which is sure to be fast and furious.

All solo classes are represented including the ever-popular 600cc Steel Frame series and Formula 750 class whilst the sidecars will be out in force with both F1 and F2 teams vying for honours.

The headline race over the weekend will be fifth round of the ACU/FSRA Super F2 Sidecar Championship which sees championship leaders Roy Hanks and Dave Wells go into the race with a mere one point advantage over Nigel Connole and Dennis Lowther.

Practice starts on Saturday at 9.30am and 12.00 noon on Sunday with racing immediately afterwards on both days.

Adult admission is just £6.00 on Saturday and £12.00 on Sunday with accompanied children under 15 admitted free on both days.

From a press release issued by FGSport:

2004 FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 7 Laguna Seca, USA 9 – 11 July 2004 – PREVIEW

SBK MAKES ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE USA

ONE OFF: As the 11-Round 2004 World Superbike Championship heads off on its seventh outing of the season the latest fight for supremacy will take place at the wondrously unique Laguna Seca circuit, just inland from the Monterey Peninsula, in Northern California.
Laguna is one of the most challenging circuits imaginable, its tortuous layout rolling up and down the sides of a dried out lagoon bed that gives the circuit its Spanish derived name – ‘Dry Lagoon’.

The 3.160km circuit features arguably the most famous corner in World Superbike racing, the endlessly dramatic Corkscrew. This precipitous corner is so called because the riders have to plunge their machine off the edge of a ridgeline of tarmac, diving down what is a 90 degree left hand corner, only to flick immediately right at the base. The Corkscrew is just one of many difficult and unique obstacles to a good lap time at this most specialised of race circuits, a true visual feast for enthusiasts of bike racing.

OPEN HOUSE: After the first six rounds of World Superbike competition have been completed, and a total of 12 races have taken place, no fewer than six riders have scored at least one win so far.
The most successful of those is championship leader Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) with a total of five wins. Despite his full hand of wins, and his four from six score of Superpole successes this year, Laconi only leads his team-mate, James Toseland, by a slender three points. Toseland’s single win at Valencia and his happy habit of taking podium finishes, even when he is not 100% happy with his machine set-up, has kept him fully in the championship hunt. The Ducati Fila duo are finding the challenge of the 2004 series a tough one, especially as all riders on all machines now have the same pool of available tyres, from solus supplier to the championship, Pirelli.

CLOSER: Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati) has had a glorious comeback to World Superbike this year, the 29-year-old rider for the British-based Renegade team enjoying three wins so far, the most recent at Silverstone in early June. Lying in third place in the championship, only 32 points from the lead, Haga is an old hand at Laguna, having won races in 1998 and 2000. His recent charge to the higher echelons of the table has come coming despite a rash of four DNFs, unwelcome happenings that he and his team hope they have now seen the back of.

NEW HEAD BOY: Chris Vermeulen has had good reason to celebrate recently, taking his first championship race win in Superbike, after a glorious win in the overall World Supersport Championship in 2003. His Ten Kate Honda team, like Vermeulen himself, has made the jump to Superbike for the first time this year, running the all-new Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR. He sits fourth overall, only two points behind Haga and 34 points from the top of the current table.
The revised SBK rules have evened out the competition in World Superbike this year, with all machines allowed to be of 1000cc capacity. Irrespective of engine configuration air-intake restrictors have been abandoned this season.

OLD MASTER: As the Laguna event approaches Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998RS) sits fifth in the championship race after some superb rides, only marred by more than his fair share of DNFs. The most experienced rider of all, Chili has recently turned 40-years-old, but has been a race winner in SBK as recently as Misano this year, and a Laguna Seca race winner in 2003. He is only one of three current SBK riders to have won on previous visits to Laguna.

NEW TEST FOR GAZ: Garry McCoy (Xerox Scuderia Caracchi Ducati 999RS), a former MotoGP and proven SBK race winner, is one of the most experienced riders of all, but Laguna will be another unfamiliar event for him, even if he has raced on the Laguna layout, in his 125cc GP days. McCoy has already joined the 2004 SBK race winning crew, thanks to his race two success on home soil in Australia.

COEUR DE LEON: Leon Haslam, son of British racing hero Ron, has been making a strong reputation for himself in World Superbike since his full-time induction into the series this year. Having taken a podium finish of third at Oschersleben, and win the most recent British Superbike Championship outings, Leon’s pace of progress has been an impressive factor in the rejuvenated SBK class.

FRESH MOTORVATION: With a new engine spec in their armoury of weapons to take to Laguna the Foggy Petronas Team, running the technically innovative Petronas FP-1 triple, have many reasons to look to the American Venue as a potential source of more podium finishes.
Troy Corser is one of the trio of former Laguna race winners in this year’s Laguna contest, and thanks to a Superpole win in Oschersleben and a second place race finish at Misano, his hopes of similar performances are well founded. His team-mate Chris Walker is hoping to have recovered from his most recent catalogue of injuries in time to be a force at Laguna, looking to add to his single podium finish so far.

MARTIN AND MARCO SHOW: DFX Ducati Sterilgarda riders Steve Martin and Marco Borciani have shown well this year, with Martin even looking capable of wins on his fully private 999RS machines. His single podium thus far may be added to at Laguna, while Borciani waits his first turn at a top three finish.

FOUR SQUARE: The privateer four-cylinder equipped riders in the championship this year will be looking to Laguna as an opportunity to score worthwhile championship points. Big capacity fours are already a proven entity in SBK and in the American Superbike series, which runs in parallel with the SBK version at Laguna once more this year. Best hopes for SBK success in America are the Bertocchi Kawasakis of Mauro Sanchini and Ivan Clementi, while for Suzuki Sergio Fuertes’s MIR Suzuki has already made some ripples in the big Superbike pool. The Chinese backed Zong Shen Team, featuring Piergiorgio Bontempi and Warwick Nowland on Suzuki GSX-R1000s, has also been in the privateer mix all season, and they embark on yet another new adventure in SBK with their first trip to Laguna Seca.

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