From a press release issued by Moto Guzzi North America:

Moto Guzzi and Sportbike Track Time Announce Special Offer For All MGS-01 Corsa Buyers



Atlanta, GA—Moto Guzzi North America will partner with the premier track-day provider in the country to offer buyers of the high-performance MGS-01 Corsa an unlimited 1 year pass to unwind their bikes under safe, controlled conditions. The lucky owners of the first Corsa models to be imported will enjoy the thrill of riding without cars, signals, driveways, radar guns, gravel, double yellow lines, or other distractions.

“Our track days are all about just the pure joy of riding,” says Monte Lutz, who, along with partner Bonnie Strawser, founded Sportbike Track Time (STT) in 1997. In 2004 the Delta, Ohio-based company is offering nearly 100 event dates at 23 tracks across the United States. MGS-01 Corsa owners will be able to participate at any of those tracks or dates (excluding Talladega GP and Grattan).

The first 32 MGS-01’s to be imported are “track only” models, so the Sportbike Track Time offer is a perfect match to this one-of-a-kind bike whose introduction took the Intermoto show in Europe by storm. (A street version of the bike is scheduled for U.S. release late in 2004.) According to STT’s Monte Lutz, the collaboration was inspired when the first MGS-01 Corsa he saw “stopped me dead in my tracks. There have been only two motorcycles in my 40 years that have captivated me like that. I have admired this unique design which is a perfect blend of form and function.”

There is much to admire in the MGS-01 Corsa, which came to life from the imagination of the esteemed motorcycle designers Ghezzi and Brian working at the Moto Guzzi Style Laboratory in Mandello del Lario, Italy. The team is developing a new range of modern, agile, sport motorcycles to embody all the rich racing history and spirit of the famous Eagle brand. The MGS-01 Corsa’s designers decided to work with the existing 4 valve V-twin power plant originally developed for the Centauro. The new Corsa racing engine has chrome cylinder walls, Cosworth triple ring racing pistons, and (31 mm exhaust, 36 mm intake) nymonic valves. The choice for the transmission was the current V11 Sport’s road-tested six-speed gearbox and shaft drive.

Sportbike Track Time designs its events to be a cut above in every aspect. Not a racing school, or an “open practice” session for racers preparing for their race weekend, SST events cater to select individuals who want to have a quality experience while riding at their own pace. Events are open to riders of all skill levels. Personalized instruction is provided and encouraged. All novice group participants receive class-time and on-track instruction with qualified instructors at no additional cost. Personal instruction is available for the intermediate and advanced riders by the STT staff.

Sportbike Track Time is an approved AHRMA licensing school. STT operates events at Road America, Mid Ohio, Grattan, Pahrump, Gingerman, Beaver Run, Moroso, Talladega, North Florida Motorsports Park, Putnam Park, Virginia International Raceway, Barber Motorsports Complex, and other top facilities.

For more information about the MGS-01 Corsa, contact your nearest Moto Guzzi dealer or visit the Moto Guzzi North America website, www.motoguzzi-us.com. For information about Sportbike Track Time, visit www.sportbiketracktime.com.

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

MICHAEL TAYLOR RACING DUCATI 999S IN PARTS CANADA NATIONAL SUPERBIKE SERIES

Four-time Canadian National Champion Michael Taylor will be riding the 2004 Ducati 999S for Z1 Cycletech in the Parts Canada National Superbike series.

Ducati increases its North American racing support with the addition of four-time National champion, Michael Taylor in the Parts Canada National Superbike series. Taylor, who recently returned from testing the Ducati 749R in Spain for Cycle Canada Magazine came home from the press launch enthusiastic about Ducati. He will campaign a 999S in the Canadian Superbike series this year. The 999 already dominates World Superbike and took the podium twice in the AMA series so far this year.

Michael Taylor declared himself completely fit and eager to go racing. “Five months ago I asked myself the question, will I be strong enough to compete? Indeed I will! My new team has the right bikes, the right people AND the right tires and I will be faster this year!”

Zaid Saleemi, owner of Z1 Cycletech is also looking forward to the challenge. “Having someone of Michael’s caliber and experience certainly makes my job a lot easier. We’re all really excited about the 999, everyone knows it’s a great platform to go racing. And I think Canadian fans are going to appreciate seeing a Ducati. I’m sure in some ways this will be a learning year for both of us, but as the season progresses be prepared for some surprises.”

The newly formed Z1 Cycletech Ducati team is supported by Eurocorsa performance, Importations Thibault Ltd, VP Racing Fuels, Steen Hansen, Shift Art & Design, Terminal Velocity Ducati and will use Dunlop tires.

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati has won eleven of the last thirteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European and North American markets. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.ducati.com.

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Mies, April 13, 2004

Superbike & Supersport World Championships
Regulations – Decisions of the Superbike Commission

The Superbike Commission, composed of Messrs. Claude Danis (FIM), Paolo Alberto Flammini (FGSport) and Giulio Bardi (Team representative), has unanimously decided to introduce the following modifications to the Road Racing World championship Regulations for Superbike & Supersport, for immediate application:

1.15.2 Practice Sessions
iii) The end of practice will be indicated by the waving of a chequered flag at which time the pit exit will be closed. A rider’s time will continue to be recorded until he passes the finish line after the allotted time has elapsed (to delete the rest of the sentence). After the chequered flag riders may complete one additional lap prior to entering the pits.

1.22 Behaviour during Practice and Race
8) Riders may enter the pits during the race. Refuelling and changing motorcycle are strictly prohibited.

1.23.2 Red Flag and Red Lights
To delete: At the end of each practice session and warm-up, the red lights will be switched on at the start line.

2.4.6.7 and 2.5.6.7 Tyres
To add at the end of each article:
After the samples have been delivered to the Technical Director at the beginning of the event, modification of the tread pattern (with the exception of the normal wear) is not permitted.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA Pro Racing and Daytona International Speedway Officials to Meet

Pickerington, Ohio (April 12, 2004) — Officials from AMA Pro Racing and Daytona International Speedway are scheduled to meet this week to discuss AMA-sanctioned motorcycle racing at the race track. Issues related to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as the track’s upcoming renovation project are agenda items to be discussed during the meeting.

AMA Pro Racing Vice President, Director of Communications Kerry Graeber confirmed that Daytona remains an essential part of the championship. “There is so much history and importance surrounding Daytona,” says Graeber. “We’re looking forward to sitting down with Daytona’s leadership to map out the future of AMA motorcycle racing at the facility.”

Motorcycles have raced at Daytona International Speedway since 1961. The Daytona 200 by Arai is the cornerstone of motorcycle racing activities occurring each March. In addition to the AMA-sanctioned road races held at the facility, AMA Pro Racing sanctions a supercross race that’s part of the AMA Supercross Series as well as an AMA Flat Track Championship event at nearby Municipal Stadium. All of the races are held during Daytona’s “Bike Week” which draws thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country. The 2004 event drew the largest crowds in recent years to view motorcycle racing at the facility.

Graeber stated that the major motorcycle manufacturers view Daytona as the premier event on the championship calendar. “Winning at Daytona is a tremendous accomplishment for any individual and, to a large extent, defines him as racer,” said Graeber. “Plus, when you consider the amount of effort put forth by the manufacturers in promoting their success at Daytona through advertising and marketing support, it’s obvious how important this single event is in everyone’s mind.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Reuben Frankenfield and wife Brittany had a daughter, Mia Rose Frankenfield, April 10 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

From a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM OPENS A NEW CHAPTER

After the re-introduction of four-stroke machinery to MotoGP racing in 2002 the public interest and levels of factory participation in the premier motorcycle racing class have grown to all-time record levels, a fact the recently restructured Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team and its riders Valentino Ross and Carlos Checa have played a solid part in achieving. On the eve of the 2004 World Championship season, which starts in South Africa on 18 April, a glittering array of talent lines up to do battle after an exhausting off-season of testing and machine development.

For the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team, 2004 heralds a new stage in the development of Yamaha’s factory squad, after a series of encouraging winter tests. In pre-season 2003 the Team confined its testing operations to Europe, but so far in 2004 the squad has completed two tests in Malaysia, two in Australia and most recently two in Spain. This gruelling programme has given Yamaha newcomer Valentino Rossi, his team-mate Carlos Checa and the Yamaha engineers and crews ample opportunity to get to know the newest version of the Yamaha YZR-M1.

The newly-named Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team was officially unveiled to the world in an extravagant flurry of publicity, with a special display of the bikes, livery and riding skill prior to the recent IRTA tests in Barcelona. Rossi and Checa pulled wheelies and performed stoppies and burnouts for an appreciative crowd under the shadow of Montjuic Castle in Barcelona, during an event that was beamed worldwide on television.

The Factory Team’s intimate knowledge of the YZR-M1’s ever expanding capabilities, allied to the prowess of five times World Champion Rossi and proven top level race winner Checa has delivered some impressive results in pre-season and Rossi has topped the test time sheets in the two most recent Barcelona and Jerez IRTA sessions. The 25-year-old set the fastest lap of all in the special timed session at the Barcelona test, scooping his and Yamaha’s first prize of their new association – a BMW car. The IRTA tests are always a significant moment, taking place right before the race season begins. Virtually every team and rider attends, vying for that last fragment of psychological advantage to take into the first race of the season. The good performance of both Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha riders at these tests is a vindication of the development work carried out by Yamaha, under the supervision of Yamaha’s MotoGP Technical Director Masao Furusawa.

The arrival to the Yamaha Factory Team of Rossi, 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and double MotoGP World Champion, along with his experienced pit crew headed up by Jerry Burgess, has brought an added impetus to Yamaha’s MotoGP efforts, and the long-running development programme of the M1 has gone from strength to strength in the last few months. Checa, the 31-year-old Spaniard, is twice a race winner in the premier class and has also played a strong role in the team’s resurgence. He demonstrated his personal progress recently at the Jerez IRTA tests, where he took his M1 to fourth best time overall. The competition in MotoGP has never been stronger but the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team is looking forward to a competitive season as it moves to Welkom for the betandwin.com Africa’s Grand Prix.

ROSSI RELISHES NEW 2004 CHALLENGE
Since signing for Yamaha, reigning World Champion Rossi has enjoyed some memorable moments, on track and off. Alongside Checa he was a guest at the recent Australian F1 round, where he found a myriad of fans on both sides of the pit wall. Rossi, as big a star in Japan as anywhere, was also the guest of Yamaha at a Tokyo press conference, when he was officially presented to the local media.

After the final, very wet, session at the recent Jerez IRTA tests the Italian said: “There’s not very much to say because of the bad weather, except that I’m pleased with the way the bike has gone in the wet. It is still not bad to ride and the tyres felt okay too. Anyway this is the end of the winter tests and I’m very happy with our progress.

“I completely feel I am a Yamaha rider now. In fact I felt this even by our second day together in Sepang in January! It’s great, we are working together to improve the bike and to get to the top together. Certainly every test so far has been really important for us because we started from the beginning with this bike and are all working to the same goal.

“When I spoke with Yamaha in the beginning I got a great feeling from them because they wanted me so much to come and join them to go for victory. My work with Honda was finished so now with Yamaha we are trying to make another dream, to make a fresh start and to come back to the top. This is so good for motivation and to keep that motivation at 100 per cent.”

When asked of his hopes for first race he stated: “It’s difficult to say, we hope to improve a bit from now, and to arrive at the first race ready to fight for the podium. That is our target, it might not be easy but we will try.”

CHECA LOOKING FOR RESURGENT FORM TO CONTINUE
It’s been a busy winter for Carlos Checa. Having put in sterling work at the Phillip Island test sessions Carlos also put in an appearance at the Yamaha World press test of the new R1 at the Eastern Creek circuit near Sydney, before coming back to Europe via California, where he dropped in to visit old friend and Yamaha legend Wayne Rainey.

Always a force to be reckoned with when all things are equal, Checa is enthused beyond measure at the prospect of the new season, and feels Welkom will be good to him.

“Welkom is a circuit I like quite a lot,” said the London resident. “It feels like we are going to our first race this year at just the right moment in our development. Anything can happen but for sure it’s going to be really tough this year because everyone is at such a high level. It’s really not easy to predict who could win the first race. The new rule change to have three guys per row on the starting grid will make things very tricky, but exciting.”

In relation to some previous seasons, Checa thinks he and his machinery are in perfect shape to challenge. “I feel completely different in my approach to the championship this year compared to last year. At the start of 2003 we had some problems with the bike and it did not evolve as much as I would have liked during the winter. I didn’t really feel ready to start racing at the Suzuka GP and it was the same at Welkom last year, when I had problems with rear grip and stability, and just could not break through the pack to fight with the top guys. By the time of Jerez we had made significantly good progress with the bike but unfortunately I had some unlucky problems with the engine in the race there.

“We have made great progress with the M1 since then and I really want to prove that at this first race, where the results will give us our reference point for the rest of the season. I am very excited, in fact I think maybe this is the most excited I have felt before a season in all my years with Yamaha. It’s going to be great.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO LOOKS FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
“I’m happy to start racing finally!” said Davide Brivio, Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team Director, summing up the feelings of his motivated and determined team. “We’re all very curious to see how competitive we are going to be. It’s seemed like a longer winter than ever with all the testing and it will be great to go racing. It feels like an extra special moment because we are involved in this new challenge that Valentino chose to take on board with Yamaha. We are fully committed to giving him the necessary support, and to succeed with him in the challenge. It’s just the beginning of a two-year plan so we still have a lot of time to develop our bike and grow up further.”

Brivio is confident that his riders will be well able to handle the challenge of the first event of the year, but stops short of making predictions. “At the last two tests in Spain we had very strange and difficult weather conditions but even then our bike showed good potential, both with Valentino and Carlos, and with the other Yamaha riders. We aim of course to do our best, and I don’t want to make any specific results predictions now!” he stated.

“All I can say is that Yamaha has been very busy for many months redesigning many chassis parts and reviewing the engine. Valentino seems quite satisfied with the bike and that makes me relaxed, as it’s a good sign that our engineers have done a good job so far. We need to see how the bike copes at the last part of the race under race conditions.”

Brivio explained the team’s technical approach to Welkom. “Valentino has tested four different chassis and four different engine specs during the winter. He has selected a final race package that was also given to Carlos at the recent test in Barcelona and that combination seems to be the right one to use for Welkom. Carlos also had an important part to play in the bike’s winter development as he has worked a lot on the chassis. At the IRTA tests we saw that he can be up there in the top positions. We hope to see both him and Valentino in the top group from Welkom onwards. We are motivated, excited, and ready to race!”

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
The Phakisa circuit, a stand-alone facility near Welkom in the South African gold fields, is a flat and frequently dusty track, ringed by a speed bowl designed for CART-style car racing. Not used as a venue for pre-season testing, it always throws up some peculiarities come race weekend and has a consistent reputation of featuring a slippery surface due to the dusty environment.

More than most tracks, the key to a quick lap time at Welkom is good machine balance, with a harmonious relationship of chassis and engine, allied to a keen tyre choice for the prevailing conditions. Always bumpy, the low change in gradient over the lap distance of 4.242 kilometres is a factor in suspension set-up. The front and rear suspension needs enough pliability to handle the staccato bumps at full lean, but enough firmness during acceleration to keep the rear tyre in contact with the tarmac at all times, thus preventing understeer on the exit.

Softer springing and damping rates are generally the starting point for the Phakisa set-up, moving progressively firmer as the lap times drop and the work done by the suspension becomes more demanding.

The most significant factor affecting the performance of the engine is the relatively high altitude in that part of South Africa. The thinner air robs any engine of outright power, due to the decreased density of the incoming fuel/air mixture and thus the lower energy yield of each combustion cycle. With all MotoGP machines producing comfortably over 200bhp at present, this may be less of a factor across the board than it may at first appear. Fast work in qualifying, and reference to data from previous seasons, will nonetheless be required to make the necessary fuelling adjustments to the M1 in preparation for raceday.

VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION
Age: 25
Lives: London, UK
Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1
GP victories: 59 (20 X MotoGP, 13 X 500cc, 14 X 250cc, 12 X 125cc)
First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)
First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)
GP starts: 124 (32 x MotoGP, 32 x 500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 30
Welkom 2003 results (Honda):
Grid: 2nd, Race: 2nd

CARLOS CHECA: INFORMATION
Age: 31
Lives: London, UK
Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1
GP victories: 2 (500cc)
First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500cc)
First GP: Europe, 1993 (125cc)
GP starts: 152 (32 x MotoGP, 92 x 500cc, 27 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 2 (1 x MotoGP, 1 x 500cc)
First pole: Spain, 1998 (500cc)
Welkom 2003 results (Yamaha):
Grid: 7th, Race: 9th


Welkom MotoGP lap record
Valentino Rossi (Honda) 1:33.851 2003

Circuit best lap
Sete Gibernau (Honda) 1:33.174 2003


More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:

Camel Honda fires up engines as world championship gets underway in Welkom, South Africa

It’s upon us: on 18 April in South Africa the spotlights will be trained on what looks all set to be one of the most spectacular seasons of recent years – certainly one of the most long-awaited. The winter tests raised expectations for a truly hard fought season in which the outcome is by no means a foregone conclusion. The two Team Camel Honda riders, Max Biaggi and Makoto Tamada, were at any rate constantly among the fastest whenever they had time to set up their RC211Vs properly. So both are setting off for Welkom with one imperative: to make the very best of the four practice sessions and find the settings best suited to the African circuit. Since it was built in 1999, the “Phakisa” has acquired a reputation as a circuit with dirty and rippled tarmac. Last year the problem was reduced by repaving, but the fact that few races are held here means the inconvenience of having almost no rubbering in – and thus very little grip – comes round every year. Another characteristic of the Phakisa is the altitude, as the rarefied air reduces the power of the engines by as much as 15%: a challenge within the challenge that the Team Camel Honda technicians and riders are ready to take up.

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin tyres)

“As for South Africa, I can say that I quite like the track: it’s got a nice layout and it’s pleasant to ride. The weather’s normally good… though I do feel like making a gesture to ward off ill-fate when I say that. What’s sure is that I’m not looking forward to the undulating tarmac, even though it’s been redone just recently, and the fact that the track generally takes quite a bit of time – at least all the first day of practice – before the grip is acceptable. And with two different frames to compare and the right set-up to work out, we’re going to need every minute we’ve got to decide what configuration to use for the official qualifying – and this is going to be even tougher, with the new three-per-row rule – and, of course, for the race. We’re going to have to react fast and understand immediately what to do. I feel good and I’m starting out with confidence and determination.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone tyres)

“I can’t wait to be in Welkom when the first green light of the season goes on. I’m just raring to go and I’m feeling incredibly motivated to do my best. In the recent IRTA tests in Montmelò and Jerez, I really didn’t bring my full potential to bear. We didn’t have the weather on our side that time, and the work was very discontinuous. The cold weather didn’t let our simulate the GP in conditions like what I think we’ll be finding in the first championship races. I’m waiting for some more new materials to come in from Bridgestone: I was able to try out some in the IRTA tests, and the results were good, but I’m expecting more in South Africa. Now, the track at Welkom has a few little unknown factors: first of all, it isn’t much used for practice and competitions, so we don’t have much recent information about the grip and the state of the circuit – and the weather, which is sometimes unsettled, may be another variable. So there may be a few surprises – but I’d like to be the biggest of all: going fast during the four hours of practice and getting out in front in the race.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. WERA West and WSMC racers John-Mark Arechiga and Britt Bohannan (who also races USGPRU) married on March 26th in San Diego, California. Five-time AMA Pro 250cc Grand Prix Champion Rich Oliver married Karin Kelsey on March 27 in Auberry, California.

Copyright 2004, carolinabreeze.com, reposted with permission:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

What Does it Take to Earn Respect from the Public?

By Papa Thiam

Based on motorcycle racing fans’ behavior, multiple championships and dozens of wins are not the answer. Australian-born AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin has been ruling what is arguably the most prestigious national motorcycle road racing championship with an iron fist since 1999.

His reign was only interrupted during 2002 by phenom racer Nicky Hayden, who went on in 2003 to compete in the MotoGP world championship for the best team in the paddock. Hardly someone one would be embarrassed to lose to. Yet Mladin has managed to gather an impressive crowd of haters in the United States, a following that any WWF bad guy would be proud to claim as his own. Listening to the “fans”, it appears that one main factor is responsible for this sentiment: His attitude.

With the corporatization of motor racing, competitors have become talking billboards any time their helmets are off. This has conditioned the fans to a point where they expect to hear nothing but positive comments about everything at all times. Race fans demand a smile and gratitude they feel entitled to by virtue of turning their television set on. And when they are not satisfied, they threaten to boycott whatever products the offending racer is promoting through his sponsorship. Many racers conform to what the public expects from them, especially in disciplines with extensive media coverage such as NASCAR. And then there are people like Mladin.

Like all great champions, Mladin is extremely focused on his job and works as hard as anyone to stay on top of the game. And of course, he demands as much of others as he does of himself. This has led part of the public to categorize any complaint he voices as “whining.” This becomes even more blatant when similar comments are made by Mladin and by popular American racers such as Kenny Roberts Jr. When others complain about having an inferior machine, they are “merely stating facts.” When Mladin says the same thing, he is “whining.”

Even when his complaints are directed at serious safety items that the AMA fails to adequately address, things that other racers think but are too afraid express, Mladin’s detractors find reasons to criticize him. Fortunately, he has yet to behave like a corporate puppet and remains dedicated to and focused on his task regardless of how this affects his public image. And as a result, he has become the most successful AMA superbike competitor ever.

Racing fans have also been known to complain about Mladin’s accessibility during race weekends. Because some racers are able to smile at all times and willingly pose for pictures or sign autographs between practice sessions, the fans demand the same accessibility to everyone. After all, they paid for a ticket to the event so they are entitled to anything they please, right? Wrong. A ticket buys you a seat for the race and a walk through the paddock.

How would you feel if someone walked into your office during a transaction and asked you to smile for a picture? Just because some are nice enough to do it every time does not mean Mladin has to. People will argue that this is part of what Suzuki pays him for. I am willing to bet that so long as he can deliver championships and Daytona 200 wins, and stays away from drugs, fist fights and other career-limiting habits, he does not have to worry about smiling. Suzuki is paying him to win and so far, he has delivered.

Another favorite complaint about Mladin is his lack of involvement in a world championship series. For every fan who marvels at Mladin’s achievements in AMA superbike racing, there is one person who quickly points out that “if he was so good he would be racing in the World Championship.” What many American fans seem unaware of is that Mladin briefly raced a Cagiva in the 500 GP World Championship long before he won on Superbikes in the U.S..

He was offered that ride very early in his career and was not as successful as he might have been later. And the machine was no Honda. Regardless, none of the critics who have been complaining that Mladin stays in the AMA to avoid a real challenge have been able to produce an example of a good MotoGP offer that Mladin turned down.

The reality is that his success has come at an age when racers do not typically get World Championship offers. Leasing a competitive machine for World Championship racing requires a budget in the millions of dollars. Team managers, manufacturers and sponsors must use more criteria than just speed to ensure a return on their investment.

One of those criteria is the potential for a career long enough to maximize that return. At age 30, a rookie GP racer likely offers a potentially shorter lifespan at the top than a 25-year-old of similar skills. Other factors such as nationality also play a role. A Spanish sponsor may prefer a Spanish rider to promote their products. A motorcycle manufacturer may feel that the size of the American market dictates the choice of an American racer over an Australian. At the end of the day, major-league racing is still a business.

So, is Mat Mladin perfect? Not by any means. But anyone with a minimum of objectivity should recognize that he clearly is untouchable by all but the very best (e.g. Nicky Hayden) and deserves the respect that goes with the kind of racing résumé he has built for himself. What he lacks in the promotion and marketing departments, he more than makes up for on the racetrack. And the latter is what racing history books will be made of.

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Suzuki’s Mladin Looks for Repeat at Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) – Mat Mladin is off to a perfect start in the chase for the 2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, and he hopes to continue his hot streak at Infineon Raceway, April 30-May 2, during the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Cycle Gear.

Mladin, who rides for Yoshimura Suzuki, opened the season with a victory at the prestigious Daytona 200 and followed that with a doubleheader sweep at California Speedway in Fontana, April 3-4. But things could change when he visits the Sonoma Valley, the first true road course on the 2004 AMA schedule.

“I enjoy the Infineon Raceway layout, simply because it’s a technical circuit,” said Mladin, a native of Australia. “They’ve obviously made some changes there (increased runoff at Turns 1 and 6), and the new paving has made the race track a little smoother and a little safer. The track is certainly in better shape than it was 12 months ago.”

And so is Mladin. He won an AMA-record fourth Superbike championship in 2003, and he became the top winner in Superbike history with his victories in Fontana, giving him 27 for his career. Moreover, he enters the doubleheader weekend in Sonoma with a ton of confidence, having swept both main events there in 2003, leading 53 out of a possible 56 laps. Overall, he has three Superbike wins at Infineon Raceway, the other coming in 1999.

“You really couldn’t ask for a better start to the season, but you’ve got to put it in perspective and realize you’re here to win the championship,” Mladin said. “And to win that fifth championship would be very important for me.”

Mladin will be tested in Sonoma by four-time Infineon Raceway Superbike winner Miguel Duhamel (Honda), as well as Ducati’s Eric Bostrom, who placed second behind Mladin in Fontana and is a native of nearby Petaluma in the North Bay.

###



WHAT: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Cycle Gear.

WHEN: April 30-May 2.

SCHEDULE: Friday, April 30 – Practice and qualifying. Saturday, May 1 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport qualifying at 1 p.m.; AMA Superbike main event (28 laps), 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 2 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport main event (17 laps), 1 p.m.; Supercuts Superbike Challenge (28 laps), 2 p.m. In addition, there will be racing in two other divisions, as well as Supermoto, a blend of on- and- off-road racing, on both Saturday and
Sunday.

ADVANCE COST: $10 Friday, $30 Saturday and $30 Sunday. $55 for a weekend pass. Children 12 and under are free. Parking is free.

TICKETS: 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com