From a press release issued by series organizers:

PICOTTE ON THE POLE

SHANNONVILLE, ON Pascal Picotte opened the defence of his Parts Canada Superbike Championship title in style by claiming pole position for the first race of the 2004 season at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Saturday.

The Granby, QC racer took his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 around Shannonville’s 1.53-mile ‘Pro’ circuit in 1:05.032 to claim the $500 MPM/Array Pole Award and four points in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship standings.

Picotte’s time was a new track record, breaking the previous mark of 1:05.746 set by Steve Crevier in 2001.

“We definitely made progress from yesterday,” Picotte said. “A little better suspension and a little better clutch set-up could make a difference, but I know this bike is going to be good.”

Calgary’s Clint McBain posted the second fastest time, a 1:05.166 on the Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Crevier, from Maple Ridge, BC overcame engine trouble to record the third best time of 1:05.209 on his DXS/Diablo Racing Team Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC completes the front row of the grid for Sunday’s race after setting a time of 1:05.498 on the Lacombe Racing/Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1.

A total of seven racers eclipsed Crevier’s old lap record and less than a second separated the nine fastest qualifiers.

Superbike racing at Shannonville was marred by a serious practice accident involving two-time national champion Michael Taylor. The Toronto rider crashed his Z1 Cycletech Ducati 999S late in the morning practice session and sustained a broken right femur and broken right thumb.

In other action at Shannonville, Picotte also claimed pole position for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike race on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Picotte, who is also the defending champion in that class set a time of 1:05.811.

McBain qualified second fastest at 1:05.893 on the Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600 and Andrew Nelson of Kars, ON placed third with a 1:06.030 aboard the Honda Canada/Fast Company Honda CBR600RR.

Erick Beausejour of Val D’Or, QC will start from pole position in Sunday’s International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike feature on the AMI Sport Honda CBR600RR. Ballantrae, ON’s Eric Warren will line-up second on the Pro 6 Cycle/McBride Cycle Honda CBR600RR and Guelph, ON’s Tyler Kennedy will start third riding the Sturgess Cycle/BMG Sports Honda CBR600RR.

Feature races in all three national classes will be held Sunday. Practice begins at 8:30 a.m. with the day’s first race, for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship set to go at 12:45 p.m.

Television coverage of this weekend’s event will premier on TSN on Saturday, June 19 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. It will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS.

Starting line-up for Sunday’s opening round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park, showing starting position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time:

1.Pascal Picotte, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:05.032; 2. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:05.166; 3. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:05.209; 4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:05.498; 5. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:05.554; 6. Craig Connell, Brisbane, Australia, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:05.595; 7. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:05.693; 8. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:05.825; 9. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:06.021; 10. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:07.263; 11. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:07.313; 12. Stewart Nodell, Ajax, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:07.780; 13. Brent Strong, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:07.783; 14. Jean-Francois Cyr, St. Lin, QC, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:08.125; 15. Michael Leon, Beaconsfield, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:08.202; 16. Dave Young, Woodstock, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:08.283; 17. Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:08.624; 18. Bill Card, Wellesley, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:09.088; 19. Corey Sherman, Corbyville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:09.449; 20. Derek Vammus, Orangeville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:09.616; 21. Sebastien Michel, St. Jerome, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:09.679; 22. Jeremy French, Erin, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:09.700; 23. Marco Alessandrini, Bradford, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:09.986; 24. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:09.992; 25. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:10.103; 26. Yannick Morin, Repentigny, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:10.387; 27. Barry French, Brampton, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:10.787; 28. Dean Plater, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:11.007; 29. Dave Hodge, Acton, ON, Triumph Daytona 600, 1:15.163; 30. Hugo Brisson, St. Sauveur, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, No Time (disqualified from qualifying session)

From a press release issued by T.E.A.M. Arizona:

Rider, Author, Racer, and glove manufacturer extraordinaire, Lee Parks will be at T.E.A.M. Arizona’s TrackTime on Sunday, May 30. T.E.A.M. Arizona will be at Firebird International Raceway’s West circuit, all day Sunday. Lee will be selling copies of his book, “Total Control:High Performance Street Riding Techniques”, and will autograph your purchase. Lee will be at the track for the day, no word though if he will be bringing any gloves. More information on Lee at: http://www.leeparksdesign.com

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN CHASES VICTORY IN COLORADO MOUNTAINS

With five wins from the opening seven races of this years American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, defending champion Mat Mladin arrives at this weekend’s round at Colorado’s Pikes Peak International Raceway holding a 25-point advantage over his rivals.

Victory in the first of last weekend’s two Superbike races had Mladin a strong position, but the tide turned for the second and he was left trailing current second and third placed riders in the championship, Honda’s Miguel DuHamel and Jake Zemke in the second and neutralising his advantage.

After a string of double-header rounds of the championship at California Speedway, Infineon Raceway and Barber Motorsports Park, this weekend’s Pikes Peak round will return to a single race format for the Superbike competitors and will also see the complete meeting held over just two days as opposed to the traditional three.

With the series approaching its midpoint and Pikes Peak being in the middle of a five race spread over four weekend’s the four times AMA Superbike champion and his Yoshimura Suzuki team will be aiming to further consolidate their position at the top of the points table as they chase a maximum haul of points this weekend.

Mladin may not have a Pikes Peak race win to his name, but in years gone by he has been in a position to mount a challenge for the win, but elected to earn valuable championship points rather than risk any misfortune.

“Being such a short track (just 2.12km, 1.315miles in length), Pikes Peak offers different demands on the rider and on the motorcycle,” said Mladin. “One thing that I do like about the place is the format, where all of the meeting is run over two days. I feel that this format offers a lot and should be looked at for a lot of other circuits on our calendar.”

Last year, Mladin was forced to make a pit stop as his rear tyre failed and with a new one fitted, went on to finish ninth. Tyres again may proved to be the key for good results over the weekend.

“Tyres will be a telling factor here that’s for sure, Mladin added. “I’m not sure exactly what Dunlop are bringing for the weekend, but the way that they have approached this season, I’m sure that they will have something good there for us.”

“The hard thing with this track is that you spend so much time on the left hand side of the tyre. There’s only two real right hand turns and the rest of the circuit is left, so that puts a lot of stress on that side of the tyre. So when we have to string 48 54-second laps together and all bar five to ten seconds of that is on the left side, you can see how difficult it is going to be on the tyres. Chassis set up is important wherever we go, but getting the tyre to perform for the full race is the key here.”

Mladin and his crew arrived in Colorado earlier this week, taking time to acclimatise themselves with the higher altitude in the famous mountain region before taking to the track for round eight of the championship.

Practice and qualifying at Colorado will take place on Saturday, with the 48-lap Superbike national scheduled to run on Sunday afternoon.

PIKES PEAK – FAST FACTS

Circuit length: 2.12km (1.315miles)
2003 Pole position: Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki) 53.780 Seconds

2003 Results:
1. Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki)
2. Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda)
3. Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki)
9. Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki)

Superbike lap record: Nicky Hayden (American Honda) 0:53.776 mins (2001)

2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship (Points after 7 of 18 rounds)
1. Mat Mladin (243, 5 wins); 2. Miguel DuHamel (218, 2 wins), 3. Jake Zemke (216), 4. Geoff May (154); 5. Eric Bostrom (147), 6. Lee Acree (136), 7. John Haner (132), 8. Larry Pegram (117), 9. Josh Hayes (112), 10. Cory West (109).


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

HIGBEE AND ESLICK HEAD FOR THE MOUNTAINS

Danny Eslick, Shawn Higbee and the Millennium Technologies Suzuki team head to Colorado Springs, Colorado this weekend, May 22-23, for round five of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship. The event at Pikes Peak International Raceway is a two-day affair instead of the normal three-day, compressing the schedule and putting a premium on quickly finding a set-up for the motorcycle.

Danny Eslick
“This is my first time at Pikes Peak,” said Danny, who made a two-day pit stop at home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma before continuing on to Colorado. “I’ve watched the races from Pikes, so I know it has a couple of long, fast left-handers, so my flat track experience should come in handy. But I’m only gonna get one practice session in Supersport and Formula Xtreme before I have to qualify, so it’s gonna be tough.”

Shawn Higbee
“I finished 13th last year at Pikes,” said Higbee, who will focus exclusively on the Chevrolet Superbike class for the remainder of the year.

“We struggled a little bit, so we’ll look at the data acquisition from last year, look at where we’re at for this year and make some improvements.”


More, from a press release issued by Corona Extra Suzuki:

CORONA EXTRA SUZUKI ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH POGGIPOLINI

Corona Extra Suzuki is very pleased to announce the partnership with acclaimed titanium and specialty component supplier Poggipolini Titanium, Srl for the 2004 and 2005 Superbike Series. Poggipolini has been heavily involved in motorcycle racing at the World level for many years, supplying Ducati, Honda Racing (HRC) and Yamaha Factory departments with components for their Moto-GP programs. In World Superbike, Poggipolini owns and sponsors the famous NCR brand. Additionally, Poggipolini is the specialty fastener and component supplier and an Official Sponsor of the Ferrari Formula 1 Team.

Poggipolini President Stefano Poggipolini said, “We have recognized that the US market offers an excellent opportunity for our products and the timing is right to enter it. We wanted to partner with a team able to provide the most exposure for our products and capability. Corona Extra Suzuki, through its on-track performance and nationwide display bike program with Corona, offers us tremendous exposure. We will be working with the team to develop products that meet the needs of the racer and sport bike enthusiast”.

Corona Extra Suzuki Principal Tim Saunders said, “This is a tremendous opportunity to work with a supplier experienced at the highest level of Motorsports. The component development Poggipolini has undertaken for Ferrari and Moto-GP factory teams will directly benefit us here in AMA Superbike competition. And for our part, we are really pleased to be able to provide nationwide exposure through our display bike program for Poggipolini to develop sales in the US market!”


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

HEATH SMALL LOOKS FORWARD TO PIKES PEAK EVENT

HAS/Shogun Racing rider Heath Small heads to round five of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Pikes Peak International Raceway this weekend, May 22-23. Heath comes to Colorado Springs directly from the Freddie Spencer School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended a two-day school.

“I like the Pikes Peak track,” said Heath. “I was doing well here last year until I fell and hurt my hand. The schedule’s tight, and I’m gonna have to get up to speed fast, but I just got finished with two days of Freddie Spencer’s School, so I’ll be okay. At least we have promoter’s practice on Friday.”

From a press release issued by Design Works:

Ray Campanile, President and General Manager of Motorrad North America has resigned as of June 1st. (Motorrad of North America is the MZ factory owned U.S. office and importer of MZ motorcycles, scooters, and ATVs). Ray started as National Sales Manager with American Jawa Ltd. in 1989,in 1993 convinced the company to import and distribute the MuZ brand of motorcyles from Germany. MuZ of North America was incorporated in April of 1997 under the leadership of Ray. The company was originally set up as the MZ and Laverda Distributor for the US. To broaden the product line, Ray was instrumental in creating the Scooter market that has now grown to be a significant power sports industry sector.

MZ motorcycles were made popular with their 660cc single cylinder Skorpion line. Ray promoted this line with a special class that ran in the AHRMA road race series. He is now exploring new and exciting challenges. Ray can be contacted at 386.679.8229 any time or e-mail him at [email protected]

From a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin:

PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN TEAM MOVES ON TO PIKES PEAK

Fountain (Colorado) – Thursday May 20, 2004: Having won four of the last seven AMA Superbike races held at Pikes Peak International Raceway, Eric Bostrom is preparing to doing battle on his Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin 999 at the high-altitude Fountain, Colorado venue. Eric’s success at this short 1.3 mile (2.12 km) track can be partially credited to his dirt-tracking experience, as the circuit features a long sweeping left hand turn like that of a big mile oval. He has always enjoyed this challenging track which has no real straight stretches and offers no room for rest.

“I’ve had a great deal of success there and it’s a fun track, so it’s great to be heading back,” said Eric. “But I am heading into Pikes Peak with some mixed feelings. It’s not a secret that we’re still looking for an ideal set-up at the moment and that our results reflect that.

“I guess that until we get to a place where we can do nothing but test things out for a full couple of days and find that set-up, it’s going to be a tough challenge for us. I know that once it’s sorted, the Ducati will be at the top where it belongs, because we have an incredibly competitive package. In the meantime, we’re going to go hard at Pikes, do our best, and see where that puts us!”

Qualifying will be held on Saturday with the 48-lap (100 km) AMA Superbike race taking place Sunday afternoon.

The Circuit
Sitting in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 6,500 ft (1,981 m), Pikes Peak International Raceway was originally a horse track and in 1997 was transformed into a race track featuring a D-shaped oval and a 1.3 mile (2.12 km) road course. With its tight bowl-style configuration, Pikes Peak is the shortest track in the series. The AMA Superbike race has the highest lap-count at 48, with the only exception being the much longer 57-lap Daytona 200 race. This is also the only circuit in the AMA Superbike series to feature sub-one minute lap times.

POINTS: 1. Mladin 243; 2. Duhamel 218; 3. Zemke 216; 4. May 154; 5. Bostrom 147; 6. Acree 136; etc.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

‘ALL STARS’ READY TO BATTLE

TORONTO, ON An all-star line-up of Canadian motorcycle racing talent is ready to face off at the opening round of the 2004 Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park this weekend.

The starting grid for Sunday afternoon’s feature race will highlight no fewer than five former national Superbike champions, including the winners of the last six titles. Additionally, the entry list boasts nine racers who have won at least one Canadian Superbike feature race.

The man showing off the number one plate on his bike will be Granby, QC’s Pascal Picotte, who claimed his first Canadian Superbike title in 2003. He defends his crown with the latest version of the Yamaha YZF-R1 run by his Picotte Racing Yamaha team.

Among those leading the chase of Picotte will be Maple Ridge, BC veteran Steve Crevier, the most successful rider in Canadian Superbike history with six championships and 21 race wins. Second in last year’s series, Crevier is back with the Diablo Performance Suzuki squad on a GSX-R1000.

Another title contender from 2003, Francis Martin has rejoined the Canadian Kawasaki Motors squad to race its brand new ZX-10R. After three years with Suzuki, the Rock Forest, QC native is back with the team for which he won the Canadian crown in 1999.

Two-time national champion Jordan Szoke returns to Canadian action with the new Honda Canada / Fast Company team, riding the CBR1000RR. The Brantford, ON native was champion in 1998 and 2002, but spent last year competing on the U.S.-based AMA Superbike tour.

Last of the former champions in the field is 1994 and ’96 titlist Michael Taylor, who will race a Ducati 999R for the Z1 Cycletech team. This is the first time Ducati has had a major presence in the Canadian series since 1995.

Joining this stellar line-up at Shannonville will be former race winners Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON and Granby, QC racer Kevin Lacombe, both on Yamahas prepared by Brooklin Cycle; Laval, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr on the CyRacing / Michelin Honda CBR1000RR; and Crevier’s Diablo Suzuki teammate Jeff Williams from Harrowsmith, ON.

Also sure to contend will be Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki pilots Clint McBain of Calgary and his new Australian teammate Craig Connell; Szoke’s Honda Canada / Fast Company partner Andrew Nelson of Kars, ON; and young Kawasaki factory rider Matt McBride from Mississauga, ON.

This weekend’s racing will also include the opening rounds of the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship and the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship. Picotte is the defending Pro 600 Sport Bike champion while a host of young up-and-coming riders will attempt to emulate Keremeos, BC’s Jeremy Leduc, winner of last year’s Amateur 600 crown.

Qualifying for all three national classes will take place Saturday afternoon with feature races on Sunday.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN this summer and later this year on the Outdoor Life Network and Quebec’s RDS.

For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com


All Time Shannonville Motorsport Park Superbike Wins

Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC) 9; Michel Mercier (Thetford Mines, QC) 5; Rueben McMurter (London, ON) 3; Miguel Duhamel (Repentigny, QC) 2; Jeff Gaynor (Toronto, ON) 2; Pascal Picotte (St-Cecile de Milton, QC) 2; Michael Taylor (Toronto, ON) 2; Don Munroe (Halifax, NS) 2; Francis Martin (Rock Forest, QC) 2; Paul MacMillan (Downsview, ON) 1; Gary Goodfellow (Vancouver, BC) 1; Steve Dick (Vancouver, BC) 1; Linnley Clarke (Barrie, ON) 1; Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON) 1; Frank Trombino (Kleinburg, ON) 1; Kevin Lacombe (Granby, QC) 1

Shannonville Motorsport Park Fast Facts

…Only twice in the last 10 years has the winner of the Canadian Superbike season opener gone on to win the series title. Steve Crevier did it in 2001 and Michael Taylor in 1996. Last year Crevier won the first race but Pascal Picotte was champion at the end of the year.

…This marks the fourth straight year that the Parts Canada Superbike Championship has opened at Shannonville Motorsport Park. The track hosted its first season opener in 1991 and has kicked off the tour in all but six years since. The last track other than Shannonville to hold the season opening event was Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park in 2000.

…This year’s Parts Canada Superbike Championship field features winners of 12 of the 24 national titles held in the class’s history. Six of those belong to Steve Crevier, Michael Taylor and Jordan Szoke account for two each, and Francis Martin and Pascal Picotte each have one.

2003 Final Point Standings

Parts Canada Superbike: 1. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 308; 2. Steve Crevier (Suzuki) 303; 3. Francis Martin (Suzuki) 299; 4. Jean-Francois Cyr (Yamaha) 261; 5. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 223

Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: 1. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 352; 2. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 232; 3. Frank Trombino (Yamaha) 216

International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: 1. Jeremy Leduc (Yamaha) 233; 2. Bill Card (Honda) 221; 3. Derek Bowker (Yamaha) 211

Provisional Weekend Schedule

Saturday May 22

1:15 p.m.-1:40 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Qualifying

2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Qualifying

3:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Qualifying

Sunday May 23

12:45 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 15 laps

1:50 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Race 15 laps

3:00 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Championship Race 18 laps


More, from a press release issued by Team Shoulder Check Racing:

It’s the first Canadian National of the 2004 season! Come on down to Shannonville (www.shannonville.com)to check out Pat, Rich and the other top Amateurs. There will be some top Pro riders there as well like Dan Henri, Pascal Picotte and others.

This will be the first round of the New Diablo SV650 cup in which TSC’s Rich Peillard (am #46) is hoping to be a front runner. He will also be
riding his SV650 in the 250gp class and Heavyweight Sportsman where Pat Boyd (am #48) will be riding his trusty 1991 Honda CBR 600 F2. Pat will also be entering the National Amateur 600 class on his Ex Dan Henri Yamaha R6 where he hopes for a top 10 finish.

TSC’s Dan Henri will be making his debut Pro ride aboard his New Yamaha R6 in the Pro 600 Class and may also enter the Pro Superbike feature.

Be sure to visit the hospitality area of the Team Shoulder Check pits where Johhny Vintage wil be servring up some nice cool beverages for
those brave enough to consume them.

From a press release issued by event promoter RPM:

Dr. Arthur Ting and Tuan Nguyen, ATC named Chief Medical Officers for the Honda Superbike Classic at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

DENVER, CO – RPM (Race Promotion Management) Racers unlucky enough to earn themselves a trip to the medical facilities at this year’s Honda Superbike Classic will at least be comforted by a couple of familiar faces in motorcycle racing.

Dr. Arthur Ting is highly regarded in the racing community and even serves as a consultant to Yamaha Motor Sports. He is also considered one of the top Orthopedic surgeons around by professional athletes from the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball, and his patients have included such athletes as Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods, Joe Montana and Yao Ming. As a Bay Area resident, Dr. Ting is the Head Team Physician for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, the MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes and the AFI’s San Jose Sabercats.

Dr. Ting received his medical degree from St. Louis University and completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles. He completed his fellowship in sports medicine at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Inglewood, California.

Certified Athletic Trainer, Tuan Nguyen has worked with many AMA regulars in road racing and motocross as well as racers from Moto GP. Some of his patients include former AMA Superbike Champ Nicky Hayden, and former Supersport and Formula Xtreme Champ Kurtis Roberts. Mr. Nguyen is the Sports Rehab Specialist for Dr. Ting and has participated as the Sports Medicine Coordinator for numerous athletic events around the country. He is also the Director of Sports Medicine for the East/West Shrine game and the Director of Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation for Sports Physical Therapy. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Sports Medicine in 1991 and attended Graduate School at San Jose State University.

“We definitely are excited about the event and appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the race at this level and guarantee that we will provide the best medical care possible in the best interest of the racers and all involved,” said Mr. Nguyen and Dr. Ting.

The Honda Superbike Classic will be held July 9, 10, 11, 2004 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. A full weekend of racing includes Round 8 of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship and Round 7 of the SBK World Superbike Championship. Tickets and information are available online at www.superbikeclassic .com.

From a press release issued by FGSport:

World Superbike Championship
Round 5
Oschersleben, Germany
28 -30 May 2004

PREVIEW

WORLD SUPERBIKE TAKES IT TO THE FIFTH DIMENSION

Spectator Spectacle: The fifth round of the World Superbike championship gets underway on 28 May at the multipurpose motorsports park of Oschersleben, situated some 35km west of Magdeburg. Nestling within the heartland of German motorcycle sport, Oschersleben was in the vanguard of the 1990s revolution in circuit design, its magnificently appointed facilities deliberately created in a stadium-style layout. Thanks to the raised spectator grandstands Oschersleben affords excellent viewing facilities for the enthusiastic German crowd, a fact which makes Oschersleben one of the more popular European based races for foreign visitors from East and West of the German border.

The Möbius Strip: After the impossibly high speeds of Monza, where some teams’ speed sensors clocked into the 200mph plus band and 300kmph top speeds were commonplace, Oschersleben could not be a more different challenge. With seven left and seven right hand corners in a short 3.667km lap distance, the riders have no chance for respite from their rhythmic trinity of braking, cornering and accelerating. The corners at Oschersleben are also peculiar in that many feature tightening exits, a factor which challenges each rider’s self discipline to not run in towards the apex too fast. As technical as they come, Oschersleben is a tough stop for the World Superbike Express, and one that particularly rewards a good grasp of machine set-up and tyre choice.

Previous Oschersleben Highlights: Of the competing powers at Oschersleben in 2004, only one has taken a win on a previous visit, James Toseland, who secured a race two victory last year when riding for a private Ducati team. As a full member of the official factory Ducati Fila squad this year, Toseland currently lies second in the championship, only three points from the lead.

Laconi The Leader: Having taken the lead in the championship for the first time at the preceding Monza event, four time 2004 race winner Regis Laconi enters the Oschersleben race in a better position than he could ever have expected after two no-scores in round one at Valencia. Having scored a total of three non-finishes so far Laconi nonetheless leads his team-mate James Toseland by a mere three points. Given Toseland’s pedigree at Oschersleben, and that Laconi has never previously finished on the Oschers podium, the battle in Germany may verge on the internecine.

Chili Determined: Before the desperate disappointment of a double DNF at the previous Monza round, Ducati privateer Pierfrancesco Chili led the world on his 998R-based Ducati machine. Even after two no scores at Monza, he still sits in third place overall, safe in the knowledge that he had an outstanding second place in race one last year. Looking for payback from lady luck, Chili approaches his 40th birthday in June with as much speed and aggression as riders half his age, ensuring his continued popularity to a global audience.

Privates Progress: With all riders in SBK 2004-style having the same choice of a range of Pirelli control tyres, the championship fight has closed up to a huge degree, as Ducati privateer riders Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks 999RS) and Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999RS) have duly both scored a race win apiece. With two third places earned at Monza, McCoy approaches Oschersleben on a roll – and with third place Chili only ten points ahead of him.

Flying Four: The recent disappointment of being excluded from the results of race two at Monza will be banished well behind the fastest of the four-cylinder entries to the SBK Championship by the time Oschersleben rolls around. The Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade of Chris Vermeulen has already given the 21-year-old reigning World Supersport Champion podium success in any case. Although Vermeulen may have lost some ground in the championship battle his ability to deal with new situations as they arise, and the speed of progress of the new Honda’s development, means Oschers may still hold much for the Dutch-based team. Other top-level four-cylinder entries come from the Bertocchi Kawasaki, MIR Suzuki and UnionBike Yamaha teams, as they ride to the challenge of toppling the twin cylinder machines from the leading positions.

Martin Marches On: If there was an award for meritorious effort in the face of adversity this season then Aussie privateer Steve Martin would surely take it for his efforts on the fast Ducati DFX 999RS machine. Teamed with another talented trier, Marco Borciani, Martin is 11th, and would be much higher if he had not suffered some outrageous misfortunes, including an elbow injury at Monza. With two podiums to his credit nonetheless, Martin will be out for a personal hat-trick of champagne ceremonies on Sunday 30th at Oschersleben.

Three Huggers: The Foggy Petronas team, running the unique three-cylinder Petronas FP-1 machine, came away from Monza with real hopes of another few shots at the podium in the later stages of the year. Chris Walker and Troy Corser have both taken podiums but despite a new engine team looking after the development and maintenance of the reverse head three-cylinder 900cc engine, the team acknowledge that the twins and bigger fours may have the edge on corner exiting grunt at the convoluted Oschersleben. SBK has, however, offered up a world of surprises this year so far, and another good weekend could be on the cards for one of the most unique teams in the paddock.

Supersport: With both Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes on the podium at Monza and Muggeridge having taken the Monza and San Marino race wins, the team of the moment in WSS is the Ten Kate Honda crew. The fact that Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia YZF-R6) still leads the title chase is testimony to his and his team’s acknowledged prowess while the shadowing figure of Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) has shown it’s not going to just be a two-rider fight for the title just yet. In amongst a strong line up of Honda and Yamaha teams there is a three-man Suzuki effort, currently headed by fourth place Katsuaki Fujiwara (Alstare Suzuki) while Italian hot-shot from the Breil Ducati 749 team, Lorenzo Lanzi, fills sixth place overall, still looking for his first podium.

From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
KAWASAKI/FUCHS ITALY IMOLA WEEKEND

FUN WEEKEND AHEAD FOR FUCHS KAWASAKI TEAM AT IMOLA

The Italian Grand Prix may still be two weeks away, but the historic Imola circuit will reverberate to the sound of MotoGP engines this weekend, as Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann give Italian Kawasaki riders their first glimpse of the 2004 Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine that took Nakano to tenth place in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez less than one month ago.

The annual Imola weekend, which is organised jointly by Kawasaki Italy and the Italian arm of the Kawasaki Racing Team’s title sponsor Fuchs, has traditionally attracted Kawasaki owners from all over Italy, but this year the event is predicted to be bigger than ever.

Upwards of 3,000 Kawasaki owners are expected to descend on the Imola circuit this weekend, where they’ll get the chance to chat and have their photographs taken with Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann, before watching the two Fuchs Kawasaki riders tackle the world famous Imola circuit aboard the Ninja ZX-RR machines on which they’ll contest the Italian Grand Prix in two weeks time.

And while the bikes may be too fast to get a good look at during the demonstration laps, there will be ample opportunity for close inspection of the 230BHP machines as they’ll be on display all weekend in front of the Fuchs Kawasaki race transporter.

In addition to autograph and photo sessions with the Fuchs Kawasaki pilots, visitors to this weekend’s event will also have the opportunity to win a set of Alex Hofmann’s leathers, and one lucky female visitor will get the chance to stand on the Mugello grid next to one of the Fuchs Kawasaki riders immediately before the start of the Italian Grand Prix.

Joining the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team at the Imola event will be Mauro Sanchini and Ivan Clementi from the Bertocchi Kawasaki World Superbike team.