From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

DUHAMEL ADDS LOCKHART-PHILLIPS USA FORMULA XTREME WIN TO IMPRESSIVE RESUME

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Miguel Duhamel will lead the charge of Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme riders into round two of the series at California Speedway on April 2-4 for the Yamaha Superbike Challenge Weekend. Duhamel is already the all-time winningest rider in AMA Chevrolet Superbike and Pro Honda Oils Supersport. Now the ageless veteran has started a winning tradition in another class. Duhamel won the opening round of the overhauled Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series at Daytona. Formula Xtreme now features modified 600cc machines, or mini-Superbikes as some have called them. Duhamel is a natural for this class with his extensive background in both Superbike and Supersport racing.

“I’d like to start a new winning tradition in Formula Xtreme,” Duhamel said. “Honda has given me a bike in the CBR600RR that’s almost an unfair advantage. Maybe I had a little benefit because of my experience at Daytona and I held off Ben at the line. It’s nice to have a perfect record in the class. I don’t know how long that’s going to last. I’m sure Fontana is going to be a little tougher.”

Duhamel’s Honda teammate Ben Bostrom finished a close second at Daytona, but is not slated to ride in the class at Fontana.

Honda was the class of the field in Daytona, sweeping the top four sports in the series opener. Fontana could be a different story. While the Hondas of Duhamel, Jake Zemke and Alex Gobert are favored Suzuki could be strong at Fontana with former AMA champs Jason Pridmore and Jimmy Moore. Both Pridmore and Moore had miserable outings at Daytona – neither finished the race – and both will be looking for a strong comeback at Fontana. Vincent Haskovec signed with Valvoline EMGO Suzuki during the off-season and scored sixth in the season opener at Daytona. Haskovec, a native of the Czech Republic who now lives in Lake Elsinore, Calif., would love to earn a podium finish at what has become his home track.


Rugged Aussie rebounds from injury to lead AMA Repsol Superstock Series

If toughness counts in racing then Graves Yamaha’s doggedly determined Aaron Gobert has a very bright future. The 23-year-old middle brother of Australia’s most famous motorcycle racing family was on his way to making a name for himself when he was involved in a freak accident that took out much of the lead pack in the 2002 Daytona Supersport final, leaving Gobert injured and with an uncertain racing future. Two years later Gobert has made a complete recovery, put the accident behind him and is now leading the AMA Repsol Superstock Series after a breathtaking victory in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Gobert leads the revamped series as it moves from the East Coast to West Coast. California Speedway, in Fontana, will host round two of the Repsol Superstock Series, part of the Yamaha Superbike Challenge on April 2-4.

It was a dramatic beginning to the 1,000cc era of Superstock racing at Daytona, impressing even the riders involved in the last-lap dice. As veteran racer Hacking noted, “That was something else.”

Gobert took the victory by a scant .01 seconds on his Graves Yamaha R1, and the top five riders crossed the line in a bunch separated by just 0.131 seconds.

Gobert sloughed off his horrifying crash two years earlier that almost ended his racing career. “I don’t think about it anymore,” he said after winning at Daytona. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to comeback and have a second chance. I plan on taking full advantage of that opportunity.”

Yamaha’s veteran Hacking finished just inches behind his young teammate at Daytona, extending his hard-luck streak at the famous Speedway. Hacking has no such jinx at Fontana. He is the defending Supersport winner at the track and is one of the favorites to win this year’s Superstock race. Graves Yamaha has an incredibly strong team. In addition to Gobert and Hacking, there is also Damon Buckmaster and Jason DiSalvo. Buckmaster, a former Fontana winner, has perhaps the most experience with the big-bore bikes and DiSalvo is considered perhaps the most promising up-and-coming riders in the championship.

Kawasaki’s new ZX-10R proved competitive right out of the box. At Daytona Tommy Hayden took third and his younger brother Roger Lee was fifth. The Haydens are counting on the rapid development of the new bike to help put them on top of the podium.

Defending Formula Xtreme champ Ben Spies is impatiently waiting to return to Fontana where he dominated the Formula Xtreme race last year. Spies is ranked eighth in Superstock after being forced to serve a stop-and-go penalty at Daytona for jumping the start. Spies is eager to show that the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 is up to the task of competing in the new Superstock formula. Suzuki dominated the series for years when it featured 750cc bikes but now, with all the major manufacturers fielding teams, Suzuki has its work cut out. Veteran rider Steve Rapp will be on the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki coming off a ninth place finish at Daytona.

Honda is stepping up big time in Superstock at Fontana with the expected entry of Anthony Gobert. Gobert won an AMA Superbike race at Fontana two years ago and is expected to be a leading competitor in the class once he shakes off the rust of having not raced regularly since the middle of last season. He is joining his youngest brother Alex on the Erion Honda squad.

The California Speedway Formula Xtreme race will be televised on SPEED Channel on Sunday, April 4 at 2 p.m. EST. For additional information on the Yamaha Superbike Challenge call 800-944-RACE (7223) or visit the website www.californiaspeedway.com

From a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

We are delighted to invite you to join the all-conquering MonsterMob Ducati team run by Paul Bird Motorsport as it goes in search of its third successive British Superbike title. Previously restricted to team sponsors and VIP/celebrities, we have been extremely fortunate in securing a very limited amount of hospitality packages at selected rounds during 2004.

From the moment you arrive in the morning you will receive a total VIP experience. Our hostesses will serve you with a light breakfast before taking you on a tour of the team’s pit lane garage, where you will get to meet the entire MonsterMob crew and learn about the behind the scenes secrets of Britain’s leading BSB team.

After meeting Sean Emmett and Michael Laverty, you can enjoy our extensive lunch menu that will leave you well fed and ready for an afternoon of racing action as the MonsterMob riders go in search of victory once again. Before leaving us much later in the day, we will present you with an exclusive gift to remind you of this very special occasion.

The fully inclusive price of £149.95 per person includes entrance to the track, paddock passes and full team hospitality. With a maximum of 20 places available per date, bookings will be dealt with strictly on a first come first served basis.

Call now 0161 763 6660 to make your reservation or for further information.

Group bookings accepted – G2F Europa House Barcroft Street Bury BL9 5BT – [email protected]

Even in the great modern World, winning remains one of the best feelings on earth. Unfortunately we are not all blessed with the talent or chance to experience that amazing sensation that every rider feels as they cross the finish line first, but through this very rare opportunity we aim to take you closer to touching the chequered flag than ever before.

Tasting the victory champagne and enjoying the spoils associated with winning has become very much a part of the MonsterMob Ducati team over the last two seasons. 2002 saw the team dominate the domestic series with a history making double championship victory in both the superbike and supersport classes through the late and great Steve Hislop and fellow Scot Stuart Easton respectively.

Proving that this was no fluke, the Monstermob team confirmed its status as the top Ducati team when they steered Shakey Byrne to the 2003 title, a feat that many felt would never happen.

Looking to continue their winning run, the team has recruited two new riders during the winter months, ready for another full-blooded assault on both championships in 2004. Only a brave man would bet against the MonsterMob pairing of Sean Emmett and Michael Laverty picking up their fair share of silverware in the coming year as the red squad marches onward….

available dates

Rnd 2 12th April Brands Hatch
Rnd 4 3rd May Oulton Park
Rnd 7 20th June Brands Hatch
Rnd 11 30th August Cadwell Park
Rnd 13 19th September Donington Park

From a press release issued by Nikon Yamaha:

Development Continues for Nikon Yamaha at Phillip Island

The Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team continued its impressive development of the brand new Yamaha YZF-R1 during the three Australian Superbike support races held at the second round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island on March 26-28.

In only the second race meeting for the all-new R1 rocket, the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team – with riders Daniel Stauffer and Shannon Johnson – scored a win and the fastest lap of the weekend to gain further valuable information and development progress in an event that had no bearing on the Australian Championships – although, as usual, plenty of pride was on the line.

Stauffer and Johnson qualified second and sixth respectively, with Dan’s time good enough to put him in the Superpole Shootout for the World Superbikes – a remarkable statistic considering the difference between the specs of the near standard Nikon Yamaha R1 and the international Superbikes. Also, due to time constraints there was no free practice so the first time on the Island track for the year was also the first qualifying session.

The Phillip Island circuit is notoriously tortuous on tyres – particularly the left-hand side as the bikes are leaned over for extraordinarily long periods at high speeds – plus the weekend produced unseasonal high temperatures. Combined with the extra power this new breed of Superbikes are producing and that all riders are limited to only two sets of tyres for the three races, tyre selection would play a critical role in proceedings.

Stauffer took the early running in the first 10-lap race and was in a commanding position fort the majority of the journey and looked certain to grab the win. However, the combination of a lack of development of the new R1 and the all-new 2004-spec Dunlop tyres saw his charge to the front come up just short and he brought the Yamaha home in a gallant second place. Johnson managing to battle through to finish in third position just behind his teammate to score his first podium in only his second meeting with the team.

“We still have a long way to go in the development of the new R1,” explained Nikon Yamaha’s Team Manager, Steve Trinder. “We have had very little practice as we are doing the development of bikes at the meetings but there is plenty of light at the end of the tunnel. We haven’t been to Phillip Island with the new bikes so we gained heaps of vital information that will be very useful for the final round of the Australian titles later in the year.”

The second leg was another example why the fans crowd the spectator fences and many of the world teams drop tools to have a look at the local talent as the race was a cracker between the usual combatants – a five lap sprint race. Stauffer went out on a harder compound Dunlop on the rear while Johnson elected to use the same tyre so he could have fresh rubber for the critical 10-lap final leg.

Stauffer’s decision was prudent as he took the win and the fastest lap of the three races and just missed out on claiming a new class lap record while Johnson, after being up to third place had to slow towards the end to eventually finish sixth.

The final five-lap leg was held between the two World Superbike races on Sunday afternoon by which time the track temperature had soared to over 42 degrees – unusually high for late March at the island track.

From the start Stauffer took up his now customary position at the front of the field and look set to make it another win but a worn tyre and the intense heat took their toll as he dropped off the pace of the leaders as Johnson on a fresh tyre did the reverse and in the final drag to the line pipped his teammate for fourth spot.

“I suppose I can’t be disappointed as we have still so much work to do but it would’ve been nice to come away with the outright victory over the three races” explained Stauffer. “With the rules the way they are stating that we have to use two sets of tyres for the three races, the nature of the track and the hot conditions it was always going to be hard but I’m happy to get a win and the fastest lap of the weekend.

“The team worked very hard and the new bike is the best thing I have ever ridden. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s still a road bike and virtually stock standard. We still have a lot of work to do to turn the new R1 into a proper race bike but when that happens I reckon they wont see which way we went!”

In only his second meeting on a Yamaha and dealing with a new team and Dunlop tyres Johnson is demonstrating that it won’t be too long before he will be battling with his team mate for outright honours. “I haven’t ridden a Superbike for over a year so I shouldn’t be too down on myself and for sure would’ve liked to have been closer to the front. I’m pretty hard on myself at the best of times but I’m working well with the team as I learn a new bike and new tyres as well.

“I’m happy we have moved forward from the first time on the bike and look forward to testing so I can understand the bike some more and push for podium finishes every time I go out.”

The next meeting for the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team is the second round of the 2004 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championships at Wakefield Park near Goulburn (NSW) on April 16-18.

From a press release issued by Russ Hodgson Racing:

Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup – Round 1 – Silverstone – 28th March 2004

RUSTY’S HOPES SKITTLED AT SILVERSTONE

Just when it looked like Russell Hodgson’s seemingly endless run of bad luck was diminishing, along came another competitor who comprehensively wiped out his hopes of grabbing a deserved victory in round one of the Yamaha R6 Cup at Silverstone.

Having qualified on the front row for the first time in the series – after finishing eighth overall in last season’s inaugural championship – ‘Rusty’ was confident of running a good race pace, a fact which was borne out as he led for the opening ten laps in difficult damp conditions.

But going into the final third of the race, the 22 year old from Hutton Rudby, Cleveland – who celebrated his 23rd birthday the day after the race – was skittled from behind by rival Bob Collins who took Hodgson’s back wheel away at the infamous Woodcote chicane, causing them both to crash out.

“I couldn’t believe he did that” said a devastated Hodgson. “I was just about to get on the gas and head out of the corner and the next thing I was rolling around on the floor. I thought I’d broken my leg at first but luckily it’s nothing more than bad bruising although I could have done without this. It just means I’m even more determined to win at Brands Hatch” he said referring to the next round at the Kent circuit on Easter Monday.

The series rules allow a rider to drop their two worst scores in the 13 round series so all is not lost for Hodgson as he bids for the top prize of a coveted works-supported ride in the Virgin Mobile Yamaha British Superbike Championship Team in 2005.

R6 Cup Round One Results
1, A Jenkinson, 2. J Hillier, 3.C Cummins, 4.K Bryce, 5.G Sanders, 6. V Cox, 7. J Lee, 8. J Edmeades, 9.R Wren, 10. M Pollock.

From a late press release issued by California Speedway:

AMA Riders take over Inland Empire this week

Several American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Pro Racing riders will make appearances in Southern California as they get ready for the Yamaha Superbike Challenge at California Speedway April 2-4. Whether it’s appearing at a kick-off party, cruise night, autograph session or being on-air at two of the areas top radio stations, riders are helping make this weekend’s event unforgettable to area fans. Here’s a look at where you can be part of the action:

Wednesday

Defending Yamaha Superbike Challenge winner Mat Mladin is expected to be on-air with Scott and Bo on K-FROG 95.1 FM Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. In 2003, Mladin earned 10 wins (two of which were at California Speedway) and one additional podium finish on his way to claiming his fourth AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship. He got the 2004 season off to a good start by winning the Daytona 200 by Arai earlier this month.

Thursday

Be sure to tune into K-CXX 103.9 FM to catch Yamaha rider Jamie Hacking, as he will be in studio with DJ’s Ginny Harman and Bower, Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. Competing in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei and the Repsol Superstock classes this season, Hacking is the defending Supersport champ. He won the first of four checkers in the Supersport event at California Speedway last year. Ginny took a ride on a Yamaha R6 on California Speedway’s motorcycle competition course a week ago.

The SpeedFreaks, from ESPN radio 710 AM, will kickoff the Yamaha Superbike Challenge weekend at Outback Steakhouse Thursday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Riders expected to attend include Ben Spies, Montez Stewart, Jake Zemke, Roger Lee Hayden and Tommy Hayden. Greg White, from SPEED Channel’s 2 Wheel Tuesdays, will also be in attendance. Be sure to stop by, get some autographs and enter to win some California Speedway tickets (while supplies last).

At the tail end of their 2400-mile cross-country scooter ride, SPEED Channel has teamed up with Dave & Busters, Charter Communications and area Yamaha dealerships to allow fans the opportunity to meet Greg White. Fans will be able to race White on the games, get autographs and receive SPEED channel giveaways (as long as supplies last) from two SPEED models. The action starts at 8:00 p.m. Two Wheel Tuesday cameras will be rolling to capture footage for the show.

Friday

Cruising Fontana Friday Nights will have a handful of special appearances this Friday. The fun begins at 4 p.m. when hot rods, motorcycles and pretty much anything interesting that has wheels comes to downtown Fontana (Nuevo and Arrow intersection). Hooters Suzuki is expected to stop by at 6:30 p.m. with riders John Haner and Eric Wood along with the Hooters showbike and Hooter girls. Ben and Eric Bostrom are expected to appear at 7:30 p.m. Both appearances will take place right next to the bandstand.

Saturday

We saved the best for last; virtually every top rider is expected to attend California Speedway’s Autograph session Saturday evening from 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. in front of the speedway’s media center. Mladin, Spies, Aaron Yates, Stewart, Miguel Duhamel, Ben Bostrom, Anthony Gobert, Jason DiSalvo and Hacking, among others, including some of the Supermoto TT riders, will be on hand to sign autographs.

Tickets to the Yamaha Superbike Challenge are $10 on Friday, $30 on Saturday and $30 for Sunday. Two-day packages are available for $50 and three-day packages are available for $60. For ticket and event information call 800-944-RACE (7223) or log onto www.californiaspeedway.com.

From a press release issued by Penguin Racing School:

The Penguin Racing School has just taken delivery of 14 new Ducati 900 Supersport and 750 Supersport motorcycles. These Ducatis will be available for rent for Penguin Racing schools, track days and CCS racing. The Penguin Racing School, established in 1973, is based at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon New Hampshire. The school also operates at several Florida tracks in the winter.

The Penguin / Ducati program gives riders an opportunity to earn a racing license and compete in their first race on a professionally prepared racebike, all on the same weekend. Full racing gear is also available, so you could fly in and race. For reservations and information go to wwwpenguinracing.com or call 508-339-4673.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

YOUNG GUN DISALVO LEADS PRO HONDA OILS SUPERSPORT PRESENTED BY SHOEI

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (March 29, 2004) — Jason DiSalvo, 20, of Stafford, N.Y., has been on the racing radar for a long time for a rider of his age. By the time he was 17, DiSalvo already had an impressive racing resume. This racing phenom was an experienced AMA amateur flat track racer; winner of the esteemed AMA Horizon Award for being the top amateur road racer in the country; a rider with important European and World Championship races under his belt; and a winner of an AMA Superstock Series race in 2002. Just a few weeks ago DiSalvo took the biggest win yet of his young career when he came out the victor in the thrilling Daytona Supersport final.

Now DiSalvo finds himself atop the point standings in the 2004 Pro Honda Oils Supersport as the series heads to round two at the Yamaha Superbike Challenge at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on April 2-4.

DiSalvo was victorious in the opening round at Daytona International Speedway in early March, coming out on top of another classic drafting battle that saw the top six riders finish within two-tenths of a second. DiSalvo and Roger Lee Hayden actually rubbed fairings as the two crossed the finish line at Daytona. It marked DiSalvo’s first win in AMA Supersport and gave Yamaha its first Daytona Supersport victory in 14 years. In addition DiSalvo set a Daytona Supersport track record en route to winning the pole for the race.

“It feels great to get my first Supersport win,” DiSalvo said. “I’m looking forward to Fontana. With my qualifying record, that was one lap. I needed 15 fast laps to win it. Now I need 10 more good races to have a great season.”

Yamaha, which won the AMA Supersport Championship last year with Jamie Hacking, looks to be the manufacturer to beat again this season. Fully half of the top-10 riders coming into Fontana are Yamaha mounted. Defending champ and Fontana Supersport winner Hacking is ranked fifth. He’ll be looking to become the first repeat winner in the class at Fontana. Other Yamaha riders in the top 10 include another young gun Aaron Gobert, and veterans Michael Barnes and Damon Buckmaster. Barnes’ run in the lead group at Daytona was especially impressive. Riding a Prieto Racing Yamaha, he was the only non-factory rider in the top 10.

Kawasaki also looks strong in Supersport this year. Roger Lee Hayden came within a wheel length of beating DiSalvo at Daytona and his older brother and teammate Tommy was right there as well. Roger Lee hopes to quickly follow DiSalvo and break through to earn his first AMA Supersport win at Fontana. Brother Tommy is already the sixth-ranked AMA Supersport rider all-time, so a victory for him at Fontana would come as no surprise. Attack Kawasaki’s Tony Meiring could also be a factor.

Suzuki appears to have an uphill battle coming out of Daytona. The top Suzuki finisher at Daytona was 2002 AMA Supersport champ Aaron Yates, who took seventh. However, Yates is serving a one-event suspension and will miss the Supersport race as well as both rounds of the Superbike double-header at Fontana. That leaves ninth-place Daytona finisher Steve Rapp, of Valvoline EMGO Suzuki, the leading Suzuki rider coming into California Speedway. Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies suffered a mechanical problem with his bike at Daytona and comes into Fontana with no points.

The California Speedway Supersport final will be televised on SPEED Channel on Tuesday, April 6 at 2 p.m. EST. For additional information on the Yamaha Superbike Challenge call 800-944-RACE (7223) or visit the website www.californiaspeedway.com.