From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

French Grand Prix at Le Mans May 14/15/16 2004

HONDA RIDERS NOW SET TO BUILD ON SPANISH SUCCESS

After a resounding 1-2-3 at Jerez two weeks ago, Honda’s main men are eager to carry on where they left off in Andalucia and establish supremacy as the European rounds of the 16 race MotoGP World Championship unfold. Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) who won in Spain two weeks ago now heads the points standings with Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) lying second.

The pair now lead reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) who kicked off the year with a win in Welkom in the opening race of the season. Gibernau and Biaggi will be looking to prevent Rossi’s title challenge from gaining momentum again in France. All three riders have tasted victory here before in the premier class – Gibernau last year, Rossi in 2002 and Biaggi in 2001. So sparks are likely to fly here.

Rossi has admitted that the riders he expects to be challenging for the title are Gibernau and Biaggi. On account of their experience and the fact that they were consistently fast last year on their Honda RC211Vs. Riding the same machinery this year, the duo have fulfilled the Champion’s prophecy so far and will be aiming to further cement his prediction at Le Mans.

But the 4.180 kms Bugatti circuit presents something of a challenge. It’s part of the famous road circuit that hosts the Le Mans 24 hour car race and was built in 1965 around the start and finish straight of the 24 hour circuit. The track was modified and shortened last year to improve safety and it returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2000 (the French Grand Prix had previously been held at the Paul Ricard circuit).

It’s not a favourite circuit for many of the MotoGP riders because of its stop/start characteristics. However, the fast uphill right hand bend between the grandstands en route to the chicane after the start/finish, still provides a breathtaking spectacle for thousands of fans. This will be of little concern to the riders though.

Le Mans is essentially a set of nine right-hand and four left-hand turns followed by short straights, and linked by one long pit straight, and it’s always proved a tricky track for set-up. Slow corners followed by flat-out acceleration onto the straights make it too easy for the rider to spend time with the front wheel in the air instead of in contact with the track. Bike set-up requires stability under braking allied to quick turn-in, plus a chassis that doesn’t allow for too much weight transfer under violent acceleration out of the corners.

After his win there last year Gibernau has warmed to the track. “Until last year Le Mans wasn’t one of my favourite tracks. I never seemed to get a good feel or race rhythm there. But last year everything finally clicked there and felt good and I won on a wet track. Now I should be okay there wet or dry.”

Max Biaggi has always been at home there. “Le Mans has always been good to me and I’m happy to go there. I think we should be able to get the right set-up quickly. We’ve still got a slight chatter problem but we know that Le Mans is less grippy than Jerez so it shouldn’t be too bad. I can’t wait and I’m very motivated.”

Biaggi’s teammate Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres is a big fan of the French track. “It’s a medium-fast track and that’s good for me,” said the Japanese. “I’m at my best in third and fourth gear turns and all the factors are in place for me to do well there.”

Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) is less keen. “It was my first time there last year and it rained almost non-stop. It’s a stop/go track and not a favourite of mine. But if we find the right set-up, who knows…”

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) is looking to do even better than his recent third place at Jerez. “Things seem good at the moment,” he said. “My doctor has given me the green card so my condition is clear; I took my first podium for the team at Jerez last week and we are off to Le Mans where I scored my best finish last year. We had a good couple of days testing after the GP in Jerez and have sorted out a few things with the set-up of the bike. The team is really working well and we are all very motivated right now.”

And teammate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is as fresh as ever approaching this race. “Last year it was a tough weekend and an even tougher race,” said the American. “We made a bad tyre choice in the race and finished way down. That was last year. I’m really looking forward to having a big weekend in France and getting on pace right from the start on Friday morning. We had a good test in Jerez after the race last week and tried a whole load of things that should really help over this coming GP.
The competition is so tight at the moment that every little thing we can do which gives us the advantage will help.”

In the 250cc category, that has now been given a reprieve until 2009 after initial plans were in place to phase it out by 2006, things are as tight as ever with two different winners of the first two Grands Prix. Danny Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) prevailed in Welkom, while Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) reigned in Spain.

Pedrosa, 125cc Le Mans race victor last year, is at home at the French venue. “In the last two years I was on the podium at Le Mans and, normally, when you enjoy in a track you can adapt yourself better to all changes.” The young Spaniard said. “I like to ride in Le Mans, it’s a track where you need good brakes and also good acceleration. It isn’t too technical, but you need to concentrate if you want to be fast.”

But it’s Randy de Puniet who heads the standings as he competes in his home Grand Prix. The Frenchman is eight points clear at the top of the table and if he can snatch his first win of the season in front of a home crowd, it could be just the boost he needs to consolidate his advantage.

But reigning All Japan 250cc Champion Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) showed at Jerez that he has all the aggression and speed required to shine in this class in only his first full season. In treacherous conditions he ran with top men only to crash through over-exuberance. At a track that’s easy to learn quickly like Le Mans – he could easily spring a surprise.

“I arrive at another new circuit for me,” Said Aoyama. “I only hope to be lucky, not like in Jerez. There I felt OK in wet conditions, but the race was a lottery. It was a pity because I was riding fast, but the most important thing is that I’m OK, without injuries. Two days of testing in Jerez were good for me to understand the bike much better.”

Rolfo is ready to go. “We stayed on at Jerez after the race for two days testing to work on the chassis to try and find the limits of performance before Le Mans,” he said. “I like the track, probably because very few riders like the place. If I remember well we had the same problems in qualifying at Le Mans that we have had at Welkom and Jerez in the dry. But we found good solutions to our problems for the race last year and finished third. I think this bike is not too far off where we need to be for the race this year.”

In the 125cc category Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) heads the overall rankings after a win in South Africa and a fighting fourth in Spain. His consistency has paid off with 10-point margin over second-placed Steve Jenkner (Aprilia).

Julian Simon (Angaia Racing Honda RS125R) is the next best-placed Honda rider in 13th after two races and last season’s revelation Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) has yet to score points this year. This leaves Dovizioso exposed at the front, but the Italian now has ample experience in the class and he can more than cope with the pressure of leading a series in the early stages of a season.

He finished fifth overall last year and posted two second-place finishes. His maiden win in South Africa and a measured ride to fourth in Spain show his maturity as a competitor and Le Mans will be a useful place for him to build on this season’s early promise.

“I injured my finger at Jerez but it’s responding to treatment so I should be OK for Le Mans. Its not one of my favourite tracks but I finished third last year and with the bike running so well I hope to improve on that this year.” Commented the 125cc series leader.

Luthi is determined to resurrect his season in France. “I got ninth at Le Mans last year after a great battle with Azuma,” he said. “The track is so-so for me, some of it I like but some parts are not interesting. We must begin from zero with the bike the most important thing is to finish the race after the first two bad races where I scored no points.”

From a press release issued by American Suzuki Motor Corporation:

Team No Limit Suzuki To Reorganize

BREA, Calif. (May 12, 2004) – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced that No Limit Motorsports, citing unforeseen financial concerns, will reorganize Team No Limit Suzuki beginning with the next round of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., May 14 – May 16, 2004.

No Limit previously fielded former AMA SuperStock and Formula Xtreme Champion Jason Pridmore, two-time AMA SuperStock Champion Jimmy Moore and development rider Jason Curtis in the AMA series. ASMC and No Limit Suzuki are negotiating a new agreement in which Pridmore and Moore will no longer be part of No Limit Suzuki but will retain use of the team’s motorcycles and equipment for the remainder of the season.

Beginning with the next round, Pridmore and his crew — Jeremy Daniels, John Ethel, Sam Line and Richie Alexander — will operate from under Pridmore’s Star School tent while they attempt to locate additional sponsors to finish out the season. Moore, who is rehabilitating from injuries and is not expected to race until late June, is currently without a ride.

“It’s unfortunate, but these things happen. Now the focus is on trying to salvage the season for Jason and Jimmy,” said ASMC’s Senior On-Road Specialist Morgan Broadhead.

“We aggressively went after the factory teams in the Formula Xtreme class at a cost that exceeded our expectations,” said No Limit’s Ben Curtis. “We knew we had riders capable of winning, but in our attempt to produce the level of race bike machine necessary to compete with factory race budgets, we simply found ourselves financially unable to continue without additional funding. We know we have developed machines that are competitive, but in order to finish the season properly, it will take more money than we are willing to spend.”

The team will finish the season with Curtis racing in the AMA Superstock and Superbike classes.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

ESPN2 TO TELECAST 24 HOURS OF ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING FROM 2004 AMA CHEVROLET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (May 12, 2004) — AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce that ESPN2 will devote 24 hours of original programming to the 2004 AMA Chevrolet Motocross Championship, beginning with two hours of coverage from the season opener, this weekend at the Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Calif.

All of ESPN2’s coverage of the series will be shown within one week of the race, on desirable weekend timeslots with at least one re-air of each telecast. One-hour shows will be devoted to 125- and 250-class action, which are set to be aired back-to-back for added continuity.

Carrying over from the network’s popular AMA Supercross telecast team, will be Cameron Steele, Todd Harris and pit reporter Jamie Little, with occasional substitutions as the season progresses.

“It’s great to continue AMA Pro Racing’s association with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports television,” said John Farris, AMA Pro Racing vice president of commercial development. “As in recent years, the content of each show will not only focus on the intense racing, but also feature the colorful personalities, and the motocross scene, that make AMA Motocross unique.”

Returning in 2004 will be key series television sponsors Suzuki, Honda and Chevrolet.

ESPN2 is in nearly 87 million U.S. households, but the AMA Motocross Championship coverage is also distributed internationally to Latin and Central America, Africa, Israel and the Pacific Rim, which comprises more than 100 countries around the world.



2004 AMA CHEVROLET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ESPN2 TELEVISION SCHEDULE

Air date Air time Venue Class

Sat., 5/22 12-1 p.m. Hangtown Motocross Classic 125

Sat., 5/22 1-2 p.m. Hangtown Motocross Classic 250

Fri., 5/28 3-4 a.m. Hangtown Motocross Classic 125

Fri., 5/28 4-5 a.m. Hangtown Motocross Classic 250



Sat., 6/5 12-1 p.m. High Point Raceway 125

Sat., 6/5 1-2 p.m. High Point Raceway 250

Wed., 6/9 3-4 p.m. High Point Raceway 125

Wed., 6/9 4-5 p.m. High Point Raceway 250



Sun., 6/20 12-1 p.m. Motocross 338 125

Sun., 6/20 1-2 p.m. Motocross 338 250

Sat., 6/26 12:30-1:30 a.m. Motocross 338 125

Sat., 6/26 1:30-2:30 a.m. Motocross 338 250



Sun., 6/27 2-3 p.m. Budds Creek Motocross Park 125

Sun., 6/27 3-4 p.m. Budds Creek Motocross Park 250

Sun., 7/4 1-2 a.m. Budds Creek Motocross Park 250

Sun., 7/4 2-3 a.m. Budds Creek Motocross Park 125



Sat., 7/10 12-1 p.m. Red Bud Track ‘N Trail 125

Sat., 7/10 1-2 p.m. Red Bud Track ‘N Trail 250

Thurs., 7/15 2-3 a.m. Red Bud Track ‘N Trail 125

Thurs., 7/15 3-4 a.m. Red Bud Track ‘N Trail 250



Sat., 7/24 12-1 p.m. Unadilla Valley Sports Center 125

Sat., 7/24 1-2 p.m. Unadilla Valley Sports Center 250

Fri., 7/30 3-4 a.m. Unadilla Valley Sports Center 250

Fri., 7/30 4-5 a.m. Unadilla Valley Sports Center 125



Sat., 7/31 12-1 p.m. Kenworthy’s Motocross Park 125

Sat., 7/31 3-4 p.m. Kenworthy’s Motocross Park 250

Tues., 8/3 3-4 a.m. Kenworthy’s Motocross Park 125

Tues., 8/3 4-5 a.m. Kenworthy’s Motocross Park 250



Sat., 8/7 12-1 p.m. Washougal Motocross Park 125

Sat., 8/7 1-2 p.m. Washougal Motocross Park 250

Tues., 8/10 2-3 p.m. Washougal Motocross Park 125

Thurs., 8/12 2-3 a.m. Washougal Motocross Park 250



Thurs., 8/19 7:30-8:30 p.m. Spring Creek Motocross Park 125

Thurs., 8/19 8:30-9:30 p.m. Spring Creek Motocross Park 250

Thurs., 8/26 4-5 a.m. Spring Creek Motocross Park 125

Mon., 8/23 3-4 p.m. Spring Creek Motocross Park 250



Sat., 8/28 12-1 p.m. Broome-Tioga Sports Center 125

Sat., 8/28 1-2 p.m. Broome-Tioga Sports Center 250

Mon., 8/30 3-4 a.m. Broome-Tioga Sports Center 125

Sat., 9/4 12:30-1:30 a.m. Broome-Tioga Sports Center 250



Sun., 9/12 5-6 p.m. Steel City Raceway 125

Sun., 9/12 6-7 p.m. Steel City Raceway 250

Mon., 9/13 4-5 p.m. Steel City Raceway 125

Sat., 9/18 12-1 a.m. Steel City Raceway 250



Thurs., 9/16 11-12 p.m. Glen Helen Raceway Park 125

Sun., 9/19 11-12 p.m. Glen Helen Raceway Park 250

Fri., 9/24 3-4 a.m. Glen Helen Raceway Park 125

Fri., 9/24 4-5 a.m. Glen Helen Raceway Park 250

Check ESPN2’s TV listings
for the most accurate and up to date schedule, All times Eastern.

From a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corporation:

YAMAHA MOTORSPORTS GROUP PRESIDENT JIM GENTZ TO RETIRE EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2004

CYPRESS, Calif., May 12, 2004 — After 37 years with Yamaha Motor Corporation, Jim Gentz, president of Yamaha Motorsports Group has announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2004.

As Motorsports Group President, Gentz has overseen nearly a decade of sales increases and steady market share growth in Yamaha motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, generator and accessories business.

Through Gentz’s leadership, Yamaha has developed a solid foundation for continued success in the motorsports industry. “I believe we have a well qualified and enthusiastic team at Yamaha to assist during this transition.”

Commenting on his retirement plans, Gentz said, effective July 1, 2004, “I will become an active ‘Yamaha test rider’ using all the exciting products we have had so much fun developing and selling.”

From a press release issued by FGSport:

World Superbike Championship 2004 World Superbike Championship Round 4 Monza, Italy 14-16 May 2004

PREVIEW – WORLD SUPERBIKE PREPARES FOR WARP SPEED

At The Speed of Light: With ultimate velocities of well over 300kmph and average lap speeds of over 190kmph Monza holds the crown as the fastest track on the SBK calendar. Despite the addition of numerous chicanes over the years, speed and power are the most important steps on the Monza podium ladder. Monza is one of the most atmospheric and traditionally sculpted circuits in world racing, a true giant among tracks – and one of the longest – at 5,793km. The oldest permanent European track still in regular use, Monza is located inside a former Royal Park, surrounded by greenery and the remains of the old circuit’s steep banking. A place of memories and nostalgia, Monza is still a venue where modern SBK competitors get to practice their slipstreaming and racecraft in a unique fashion.

Leading Light: With no fewer than five different winners in six races so far this year, the 2004 version of World Superbike is as closely fought and unpredictable as ever. The adoption of a blanket 1000cc capacity limit, stringent technical regulation and the innovation of single make Pirelli control tyres have all contributed their part to this phenomenon. The latest race winner is also the pre-Monza championship leader, Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 999/998). At Misano on April 18 Chili sent his local crowd (and legions of his loyal fans around the world) into a frenzy of joy, securing his 17th career win, in his 223rd SBK race. The enduring and always entertaining Chili knows what it’s like to win at Monza, having secured his first ever SBK victory there in 1995.

Fila Factory Power: Privateer Chili’s speed and consistency have delivered him a 20-point championship cushion but at the high-speed academy of Monza, works power is always an important asset. The factory Fila Ducati riders, James Toseland and Regis Laconi, sit second and third overall in the table at present. More than any other riders, they will be looking to exploit any power advantage that their unique Ducati 999F04 machines may have. In this season, in which ultimate performance is within range of more teams than ever before, Monza will be an excellent test of how far the teams equipped with multi-cylinder 1000cc machines have progressed since the first round at Valencia on February 29th.

Honda Powers On: The foremost four-cylinder machine in the championship at present time is the Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade of Chris Vermeulen. The reigning World Supersport Champion has made outstanding progress since his promotion to Superbike, having secured two podiums already. The 21-year-old Aussie now sits in fourth place overall, 27-points off the lead. Monza is a circuit Vermeulen rates very highly and if his still-developing machine has improved sufficiently since Misano, he may be the darkest horse in the Monza firmament. As Vermeulen is the only rider in the top six without a win to his name this season he is particularly keen to join this increasingly inclusive club with all due haste. Other top-level four-cylinder entries come from the Bertocchi Kawasaki, MIR Suzuki and UnionBike Yamaha teams. Winner’s Circle: With Chili, Toseland and Laconi (2) having all won races so far, the other victories have gone to Ducati 999RS riders Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999RS) and Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks 999RS). Monza will be less of a known quantity for SBK inductee McCoy, as this is his first full season of World Superbike, having enjoyed a glittering GP career.

Petronas Progress: The upwardly mobile Foggy Petronas team, running the unique three-cylinder Petronas FP-1 machine, has experienced a real measure of success this season. First off Chris Walker took a third place at Valencia on the opening day and more recently Troy Corser secured second place in race one at Misano. An interim engine specification will power their Monza assault, before a full revamp comes on stream for the Laguna Seca round in July. The team has managed to squeeze in a test of the new motor in Spain and it has already been voted an improvement over the previous spec.

Supersport: The fourth round of the World Supersport Championship is expected to be the most knife-edge of them all, despite the recent success of Honda riders at the Monza speed bowl. Last year’s winner Chris Vermeulen has moved on to Superbike duty for the Ten Kate Honda team, but the remaining combatants, Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes, know that Ten Kate CBR600RR Hondas have secured the past two Monza wins. The other four manufacturers involved in Supersport have already proved to have their own turns of speed this season, and with Championship leader Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia YZF-R6) finishing second last year, and with his team hailing from the outskirts of Monza itself, there is great expectation from the official Yamaha camp. To underline the challenge, 2002 World Champion Fabien Foret (Yamaha Italia) won the ‘02 Monza race on his way to the title. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) is another Monza favourite, and the all-new Suzukis of Katsuaki Fujiwara and Stephane Chambon, plus the factory Breil Ducati 749 of Lorenzo Lanzi, cannot be written off.

Webcam World: The trial use of webcams for interviews and other live coverage of the Superbike World Championship at Misano has been deemed a huge success and will continue for Monza (May 15th and 16th). Seen only on the official website for the series, www.worldsbk.com, the huge number of visitors using the interactive area has delighted the race organizers. The webcam initiative is one in a series of planned improvements to the www.worldsbk.com designed to give visitors not only more news and information on World Superbikes, Supersport, Superstock and the participating teams and riders but also to be directly involved. Fidoweb provides live interviews, video highlights and video IRC chat facilities through the interactive interface on the SBK website using a minimum of three exclusive cameras. On the Saturday after Superpole, live interviews with the front-row qualifying riders from Superbike and the pole sitter from Supersport take place. During this session, visitors to the site can put their questions, seeing and hearing the answers the riders give those chosen. On the Sunday, there are two more sessions similarly covered following the end of the Supersport and two Superbike races. Other interviews are planned with many of the Championship’s leading riders including Pierfrancesco Chili, James Toseland, Regis Laconi, Noriyuki Haga, Chris Vermeulen and Garry McCoy. Other chances to put questions in Italian or English to team personnel will take place over each weekend.

Fidoweb specializes in Internet broadcast techniques and uses the latest digital equipment and satellite links to ensure that everybody with internet access is able to take full advantage of this unique free service. FGSport will study the level of interest and, if it proves as successful as is anticipated, the company plans to expand the service to all events in 2005. The Championship website receives more than 32-million page views, 219-million hits and has in excess of 1,550,000 unique visitors. It is the definitive source of information on the Superbike World Championship.



More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:


HONDA RACING INFORMATION

World Supersport Championship 2004 – Round 4
Monza Race Preview
14 – 16 MAY 2004

FESTIVAL OF SPEED BECKONS FOR HONDA SUPERSPORT RIDERS

Almost exactly one month after the last Italian based race of the 2004 World Supersport campaign the top Honda riders in the series return to this hotbed of European motorsport, this time to the historic Monza circuit, just north of the industrial power base of Milan.

All six manufacturer supported Honda entrants will have the proven capabilities of the championship winning Honda CBR600RR to call on, a machine which scooped both rider and manufacturer championships in 2003. The well-balanced CBR600RR is also usually the fastest machine through the speed trap at any track on the ten race campaign trail and at Monza speed and outright power are required to compete along the many straights and fast curves of the 5.793km city centre track.

A proliferation of speed calming chicanes have been introduced to the Monza layout over the years, making stability under braking from top speed another important consideration in the pre-race set-up rituals.

Monza is a circuit the Ten Kate Honda team relishes competing at more than any other, thanks to its consistent record of success at this cathedral of speed. In the past two years, the combination of Honda power and Ten Kate preparation has taken pole position and wins in each Monza WSS race. Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) was the man in control of qualifying in 2003 and he hopes to add his first Monza win to his recent Misano victory in round three. ‘Muggas’ currently lies third in the championship chase, with seven rounds remaining.

Muggeridge’s talented team-mate Broc Parkes has shown his speed in qualifying in his first full Ten Kate Honda season, but with misfortune frequently dogging his raceday performances, he looks to Monza to acquire his first podium of the year and move back into the top ten overall.

For the Klaffi Honda team, based in Austria, Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) lies one place behind Parkes in the table, having also seen his raceday luck desert him on more than one occasion. Always a force in practice, Charpentier took pole in Misano and loves the high-speed ballet and chicane brinkmanship that Monza offers.

Charpentier’s 20-year-old team-mate Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) approaches Monza with a very different level of experience when compared to almost any of his rivals. Having moved from 250cc European Championship racing this year, the class rookie has never been to Monza.

Honda’s third supported team, Team Italia Megabike, is on home tarmac once more. Alessio Corradi (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) learned enough about his new-for-2004 Honda at Misano to take a charging fifth, while his team-mate Denis Sacchetti (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) is in his rookie World Supersport season.

Karl Muggeridge, a man with no end of reasons to look forward to Monza, stated, “I don’t know what the weather will do but we’ll be alright because the bike is good. Winning at Misano was great because we’re back in the game. That’s brought a bit of a buzz back into the team. There is no pressure because we know that there’s a lot of races left in the season.”

For Broc Parkes, Monza is an opportunity to improve his championship position. “Hopefully it will be better than Misano,” said Parkes, who fell while leading last month’s race. “Last year the Ten Kate riders were fast at Monza and the bike should be pretty good. I’m not sure about the exact set-up yet but the team knows what they want to do. They know a lot more than me about the bike. If nobody breaks away early we can all run together at Monza and that makes it easier to slipstream. I’m hoping that Karl and I can be the ones who can be break away together.”

Despite his recent fall in Misano, Sebastien Charpentier can’t wait to get to Monza. “I am OK, my body condition is OK, my mindset as well.” Charpentier also feels he and his fellow CBR riders are in good shape this weekend. “I like the track and it seems to be made for the Honda. Monza was a good race for me last year. It was my first European ride for the Klaffi team, I wasn’t fully race fit but I still got sixth place. I will be going for the podium this time around, no question.”

Max Neukirchner may be a stranger to Monza, but he has no end of experience to call on in the Klaffi pit garage. “Monza is very fast so it should be interesting for me!” said the talented German. “I don’t know Monza at all but my team boss, Klaus Klaffenbock has told me all about it. Monza should be good for us. I hope to at least finish in the points, inside the top 15. Our bikes are good and very fast so we could do quite well.”

After Monza the championship features races each alternate weekend until the summer break, with Oschersleben running on May 28 – 30 and Silverstone scheduled for June 11-13th

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Jason Pridmore and former AMA 750cc Supersport Champion Jimmy Moore have split with No Limit Motorsports and apparently will attempt to finish the 2004 AMA season on their own, working out of Pridmore’s Star School truck.

Seeking comment, Roadracingworld.com has traded phone messages with No Limit Motorsports team owner Ben Curtis but has not been able to speak with him in person. An American Suzuki spokeperson declined comment, saying that a press release would be issued regarding the matter. Pridmore and Moore also declined comment.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

BOSTROM PREPARES FOR BARBER DEBUT

Birmingham (Alabama) – Round 4 of the AMA Superbike Championship will see both Eric Bostrom and the Ducati 999 make their race debuts at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend, the 27-year-old having missed last year’s race at the newly added Southern venue due to injury.

Bostrom will be looking to recover points lost at Infineon Raceway two weeks ago and, with the championship points remaining close for 4th, 5th and 6th positions, has an opportunity to capitalize on the two races at Barber to move back up the series standings.

A mid-March test at Barber gave Bostrom much-needed exposure to a track with blind drop-away turns, where judging the correct corner entry speed is critical. The Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team is not a complete stranger to the track, as they scored a second place finish in last year’s season finale with Italian rider Giovanni Bussei aboard a 998RS.

“We’re coming off a low from Infineon where we suffered from a lack of pre-season testing there,” commented Eric. “There were some things that we just couldn’t get sorted out, which was frustrating because the Ducati was so good on the throttle. We still have to work on a few issues, and it’s going to be difficult going for us until then. But I know that I, my crew, Ducati, and Michelin are all working very hard and we’re anxious to sort out the set-up so we can give the fans some good battles and put the Ducati on top where it belongs.”

“After Infineon we had a chance to do some testing at Pikes Peak,” said Racing Manager Tom Bodenbach. “We focused on the front end and we also tried some tires we haven’t run before. We’ve got specific ideas on what we need to do at Barber so we can get Eric and the Ducati on the podium. The races were exciting at Barber last year – we want to be a part of the action again this weekend.”

The Circuit

The newest venue added to the AMA schedule, Barber Motorsports Park opened in spring of 2003 and hosted its first major spectator event in September with last year’s season finale of the AMA Superbike Championship. The track measures 2.3 miles (3.70km) with 16 turns, and has 80 feet of elevation change. Built to FIA and FIM standards, the track is 45 feet wide, offering passing opportunities throughout much of the flowing circuit.

Originally planned as a small test track to showcase the 750 motorcycles and 45 cars housed in the Barber Museum, the project grew into a state-of-the-art racing facility on 700 acres. With spectator seating landscaped into the hillsides – there are no grandstands – the track has been positively received by fans for its overall track visibility from most locations.



More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

HEATH SMALL POSITIVE GOING INTO BARBER ROUND OF AMA

HAS/Shogun Racing rider Heath Small is looking forward to a full weekend of racing at round four of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama this weekend, May 14-16. His weekend was cut short at the previous round at Infineon Raceway with electrical problems on both of his machines.

“We were having problems with the electric shifters at Sears Point,” said Heath. “We sent them back to have them looked at and re-calibrated. We should get them back by the weekend, but if we don’t, we’ll just race without them. I really like racing at Barber, so we’ll just go out and do the best we can. I’m 100 percent healthy, so there’s no reason not to do well this weekend.”


More, from another press release issued by Proforma:

ESLICK AND HIGBEE HEAD TO BARBER

Shawn Higbee, Danny Eslick and the rest of the Millennium Technologies Suzuki team head to Barber Motorsports Park this weekend, May 14-16, for round four of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship.

Danny Eslick
“I was bummed out about not getting to run the Supersport race at Infineon,” said Danny. “I pulled into my grid position from the warm-up lap, and oil was just dripping out of the fork leg. There was no way I could start the race. It was a shame too, because me and my mechanic Charlie (Ramirez) had gotten rid of the chatter that I had at Fontana. But I’m looking forward to Barber. I was there a couple of times last year on a GSX-R750. I like the track. It should be a lot of fun on the 600.”

Shawn Higbee
“I had a couple of good races at Barber last year in Superbike, two sixths,’ said Higbee, who earned the top privateer award in the 2003 AMA Superbike series. “The track seems to suit my style, and my bike (Suzuki GSX-R1000) is close to last year’s spec, so I think I’ll be able to get up to speed fairly quickly. Plus, the forecast is calling for rain over the weekend, and I go pretty well on a wet track.”

Kevin Hunt – Team Owner
“We’ve been working on both the 600s and the 1000s to make them more rideable,” said Kevin, who oversees the R&D of the team’s equipment. “Both bikes make good horsepower, but we spend a lot of time on the Dynojet dyno to tweak the powerband, the torque curve, to make the power more usable for the riders.”

From a press release issued by California Speedway:

CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY WELCOMES NEW VICE PRESIDENT

FONTANA, Calif. (May 11, 2004) — California Speedway President Bill Miller today announced the addition of Roger Curtis as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Curtis will directly oversee the Southern California superspeedway’s advertising and promotions, marketing and sales, public relations and ticketing departments.

“We look forward to the addition of Roger to our staff,” Miller said. “His experience and creativity will enhance our efforts in the areas of marketing, sales and public relations. He has established himself as a leader and innovator of marketing programs at two of our other International Speedway Corporation facilities, and I am confident he will increase California Speedway’s marketing and brand presence not only in Southern California but nationally as well.”

Curtis, 37, joins California Speedway after three and one-half years at Richmond International Raceway as the Senior Director of Marketing and Sales. While at Richmond he oversaw public relations, ticket operations, advertising, promotions, sales and branding. Prior to that Curtis spent three years at Watkins Glen International as Director of Marketing and Sales beginning in May 1996.
Involved in motorsports since 1992, Curtis started with Bobby Allison Motorsports. He also worked with Bill Davis Racing and NASCAR Busch Series driver Bobby Dotter. Curtis helped bring DeWalt Tools into NASCAR in 1993 with Dotter.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my family to join the California Speedway team,” Curtis said. “I’m anxious to get started in building upon the foundation that has been put in place since the speedway opened in 1997. They have an incredible racing schedule at California Speedway, especially with two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races, and our focus will be to capitalize on all the positives that make the facility one of the premier racing and entertainment venues in the world.”

Curtis and his wife Marla have one son and one daughter.

From a press release issued by Team Pro-Motion:

Enhanced Safety Program at Summit Point Raceway

After long negotiation Team Pro-Motion Sportbike Club was given the green flag to lead the way in providing a safer environment for motorcycle participants at Summit Point Raceway said Pro-Motions president Glen Goldman. Team Pro-Motion will now cover turn #4 of Summit Point titled “The Chute” with over 130 feet of newly acquired Alpina air modules.

“Pro-Motion will not only be using the new air modules for our own club events, as we have elected to provide any motorcycle racing organization who would like to utilize our safety program at no additional cost” said Goldman.

A special trained safety crew will be dispatched to set up, maintain and break down the safety modules upon the request of CCS, WERA, Formula USA and AHRMA, plus the program will be available for various other club events carrying a small fee.

Team Pro-Motion has over two years experience working with the Alpina air modules when a decision was made to enhance rider safety at their own club track events. George Benes the appointed safety director has been successful in seeing many walk away from what could have been much more serious injuries and situations. The team’s investment into rider safety will continue and will remain a top priority.

For further information concerning this safety program contact Team Pro-Motion Sportbike Club at 215-675-6677 or log onto their website at www.teampromotion.com