From a press release issued by MSS Discovery Kawasaki Team:

NEW-LOOK MSS DISCOVERY KAWASAKI ACES HEAD FOR OPENING ROUND SHOWDOWN

Vastly experienced Pere Riba and hard-charging Rob Frost carry the British Supersport title aspirations for the new-look MSS Discovery Kawasaki team as the season gets under way at Silverstone, Northants this weekend.

The ZX-6RR-mounted pair head for Silverstone in confident mood and are joined by the team’s British Superstock Championship hope Steve Allan, aboard the brand new ZX-10 machine.

Former World Supersport, World Superbike and MotoGP ace Riba is excited about his debut in the British championship, having raced the ZX-6RR in last year’s World Championship.

“We are ready to race and I’m confident as we head into Silverstone this weekend,” says Riba. “Joining the MSS Discovery Kawasaki team is a new experience for me but from what I have seen so far we are going to have a really good season together.

“Our pre-season testing is finished and we are now ready to race. We had a good test at Silverstone last week and we only have one or two small points to improve on before we find the perfect race set-up for Sunday’s race.”

Frost is looking to improve on 10th place in last year’s British Supersport series and the determined Lincoln rider is in confident mood, he believes:

“We have every chance of winning the championship with the new ZX-6RR. The machine has improved a lot from last year and I’m certain we’ve got a winner.

“The start of the season has probably come a bit early for me so I’ll be concentrating on scoring points while we get the machine fully dialled in for my style and as we search for a base setting.”

The MSS Discovery National Superstock Championship hopes rest with talented Scotsman Steve Allan. The 29-year-old is relishing the chance to do battle in the series aboard the new and exciting Kawasaki ZX-10.

Allan reports: “I’m pretty sure that everyone in the team and at Kawasaki has high hopes of the ZX-10 being a winner and understandably so, the new bike is so, so good.

“I’m not sure what to expect at Silverstone on Sunday but I do know that the team’s expectations are high, especially with the new ZX-10 and Pere and Rob on the ZX-6RRs. I’ll be looking for a podium finish this weekend to get my season off to a solid start.”

Team owners Stuart Simmonds (Discovery) and Nick Morgan (MSS) have joined forces to chase Supersport and Superstock success with their trio of Kawasaki aces.

Simmonds believes: “We’ve got a great line-up of riders and very competitive machinery. We’ve also invested a lot in new workshops and we’re all really excited about the 2004 season.”

From a press release issued by Clear Channel Entertainment — Motor Sports:

Daytona “Race of Champions” Moved To Homestead-Miami Speedway October 20-24

AURORA, IL. – Formula USA / CCS announced today that the October 20-24 Daytona “Race of Champions” round of competition at Daytona Int’l Speedway has been moved to Homestead – Miami Speedway in Homestead Florida. The event at Homestead will take place on the same date as the original event at Daytona on October 20-24.

Due to the construction projects at Daytona Int’l Speedway, the 21st Annual Race of Champions, Presented by Lockhart Phillips USA, must be moved to another facility. The event will be moved to Homestead-Miami Speedway, another ISC (Int’l Speedway Corp.) facility, and the location of an AMA Pro Superbike event in 1992. Since 1992, Homestead has played host to numerous sportsman activities including Florida Region Championship Cup Series events run by Henry Degouw.

The Homestead “Race of Champions” will feature the exact same line-up of classes originally scheduled for Daytona including complete Formula USA and Championship Cup Series competitions and the traditional National Champions Awards Presentation on Sunday Night.

Premier classes on the schedule will include Formula USA Sportbike and Superbike classes, Unlimited Grand Prix, Thunderbike, the “Homestead 200” on Thursday October 21, and the new Formula Sportbike class, which will all take place on Sunday October 24th. The Sportbike class features a Holeshot Award presented by Traxxion Dynamics, while the Superbike class Holeshot Award is presented by Factory Pro Tuning. Factory Pro Tuning also provides the Official Dyno for Formula USA Sportbike and Thunderbike classes.

Formula USA / CCS Director of Competition Kevin Elliott commented that, “Homestead provides a great vacation destination for this 21st Annual Fall event, and we are very pleased to be able to bring this event to the Homestead area, which has hosted CCS road race events for over a decade. We also look forward to returning to Daytona in 2005 after the renovations.”

All race entries for Daytona will be applied to the Homestead event, unless racers otherwise notify Formula USA / CCS in advance.

For weekend schedules, ticket information and more… visit FormulaUSA.com or CCSracing.com.

From a press release issued today by AMA Pro Racing:

MLADIN COULD BECOME ALL-TIME AMA SUPERBIKE WINS LEADER AT YAMAHA SUPERBIKE CHALLENGE

Aussie just one win behind wins leader Duhamel coming into Fontana doubleheader

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (March 26, 2004) — In 2003 Mat Mladin became the first rider in AMA Superbike history to win four championships. This year the 32-year-old Yoshimura Suzuki ace is chasing not only a record fifth title, but is also on the verge of becoming the all-time wins leader in AMA Superbike. Mladin could become the wins leader during rounds two and three of the 2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship in the Yamaha Superbike Challenge at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on April 2-4.

Mladin is coming off his third win in the prestigious Daytona 200 by Arai. It marked his 25th-career AMA Superbike win, putting him just a single victory behind Honda’s veteran Miguel Duhamel. Duhamel has held the title of all-time leading AMA Superbike winner for six years. He passed Motorcycle Hall of Famer Fred Merkel’s 20-career wins in 1998.

During pre-season testing it looked as if Mladin and his factory Suzuki GSX-R1000 would face an overwhelming challenge against the three Honda factory riders and the factory Ducati ridden by Eric Bostrom, but his outlook changed dramatically after Daytona. Mladin credits the Yoshimura Suzuki team for putting him in the position of becoming the all-time wins leader.

“Records are there to be broken, you know,” said Mladin, whose Daytona victory also moved Suzuki past Kawasaki for second on the all-time AMA Superbike wins list by manufacturer. “Somebody’s going to come along in the future and some young kid, a Ben Spies or a Jason DiSalvo, and probably break that record, if I get Miguel’s. So they’re there to be broken, and that’s it. Race wins are race wins. And I’ve been fortunate. I’ve had a great team over the past six years and I’ve been able to win a lot of races. We took a big chunk out of Miguel’s race win lead last year with a really great motorcycle. This year’s probably going to be a little bit tougher. But we’re ready. To win Daytona, I feel a lot more comfortable going into the season. If we can win this race, we’re going to be competitive.”

Mladin also comes into Fontana with the comfort of knowing he swept the doubleheader there last year. His pair of wins a year ago gave him the series points lead and launched his record-setting 2003 season.

Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke surprised a lot of people by edging out Duhamel for second at Daytona. Zemke, of Paso Robles, Calif., comes into Fontana the second ranked AMA Superbike rider in his first season in the series. Zemke would love nothing more than to keep the surprises coming and nothing short of a win in the doubleheader weekend would do the job.

Former AMA Superbike champ Miguel Duhamel is entering his 17th season of professional racing and is chasing his second title in the series after claiming the top spot in 1995. One thing that Duhamel has proven over the years is that you can never count him out. He has a great deal of incentive to do well at Fontana. Not only is he trying to hold off Mladin atop the all-time AMA Superbike wins list, he also sees a great opportunity to win his second AMA Superbike championship riding the new Honda CBR1000RR. One clue of Duhamel’s commitment to winning this year’s title came at Daytona where he admitted thinking a little more about the bigger championship picture rather than a single race.

“The CBR1000 I think is a wonderful machine,” he said after getting third in the Daytona 200. “I want to be sure to be in a good position and come out through the season strong. Because winning Daytona is great, but winning the championship is pretty good too.”

Two riders who will be eager to make up for dismal starts to the season will be the brothers Ben and Eric Bostrom. Both brothers experienced mechanical failures that caused them to drop out at Daytona. Eric was the pole winner on the Ducati Austin 999 and has repeatedly said that he is very much looking forward to racing the nimble handling Ducati at road courses like Fontana. Ben, like teammate Duhamel, claims that the new Honda is the best Superbike he’s ever ridden and he too has considerable motivation to win at least one of the races at California Speedway. Ben is anxious to get his first win in the AMA Superbike Championship in five years and prove that he still has the ability to win the championship as he did in 1998.

Suzuki’s Aaron Yates will miss Fontana. The Georgian will miss both Superbike races as well as the Supersport race as he is serving a suspension handed to him by AMA Pro Racing after a post-crash incident at Daytona. Yates is slated to return to competition next month at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Privateer teams promise to figure prominently at Fontana. Six of the top-10 finishers at Daytona were on privateer squads. Jack Pfeifer had a great ride to finish fourth in the season opener. It marked the best finish by a privateer in the Daytona 200 in 14 years. The Las Vegas resident hopes to keep the momentum going at Fontana. Pfeifer rides a Pirelli-shod Suzuki.

Among other leading privateers at Fontana will be Empire Racing Suzuki’s Lee Acree and Chris Caylor, the Attack Kawasaki of Josh Hayes and Yamaha privateer Larry Pegram. Canadian Superbike champ Pascal Picotte is also expected to race Fontana on a Yamaha.

Both Superbike races from the Yamaha Superbike Challenge doubleheader will be televised on SPEED Channel Sunday afternoon, April 4. Saturday’s Superbike race will be shown from 5-6 p.m. EST, and Sunday’s race will be shown from 6-7 p.m. EST.

For additional information on the Yamaha Superbike Challenge call 800-944-RACE (7223) or visit the website www.californiaspeedway.com
.


Schedule of Events
AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited

Yamaha Superbike Challenge at California Speedway – April 2-4, 2004


Thursday, April 1

3:00 – 7:00 – Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

3:00 – 7:00 – Tech Inspection


Friday, April 2

7:30 – 4:00 – Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

10:00 – Post-Entry Closed for all Classes

8:00 – 5:00 – Tech Inspection

8:30 – 9:05 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Practice

9:10 – 9:40 – Repsol Superstock Practice

9:45 – 10:15 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Practice

10:20 – 11:10 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Practice

11:10 – 12:10 – Lunch Break

11:25 – Mandatory Rider Briefing for All Classes

12:10 – 12:45 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Practice

12:50 – 1:20 – Repsol Superstock Practice

1:25 – 1:55 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Practice

2:00 – 2:50 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Practice

3:00 – 3:30 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Group 1

3:40 – 4:10 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Group 2

4:20 – 4:50 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Qualifying Group 1

5:00 – 5:30 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Qualifying Group 2

Saturday, April 3

7:30 – 3:00 – Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

8:00 – 5:00 – Tech Inspection

8:30 – 9:10 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Practice

9:15 – 9:45 – Repsol Superstock Practice

9:50 – 10:20 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Practice

10:30 – 11:10 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Qualifying Group 1

11:20 – 12:00 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Qualifying Group 2

12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch Break

1:00 – 1:30 – Repsol Superstock Qualifying Group 1

1:40 – 2:10 – Repsol Superstock Qualifying Group 2

2:20 – 2:50 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Qualifying Group 1

3:00 – 3:30 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Qualifying Group 2

3:40 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race 1 (100K – 28 laps)

4:40 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme (60k – 17 laps)

Sunday, April 4

8:30 – 12:00 – Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

9:00 – Tech Inspection Opens

9:00 – 9:35 – Repsol Superstock Practice

9:40 – 10:15 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Practice

10:20 – 11:00 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Practice

11:00 – 12:00 – Lunch Break

11:20 – Nondenominational Chapel Service

FINAL EVENTS:

12:00 – AMA Repsol Superstock Race (60k – 17 laps)

1:00 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets (60k – 17 laps)

2:00 – Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race 2 (100k – 28 laps)

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Australia Welcomes SBK for the 14th Time

The long-established venue of Phillip Island provides the magnificent backdrop for the second round of the World Superbike Championship, the 14th time the classically sculpted 4.445km circuit has hosted one of the most exciting forms of racing ever devised.

The previous winner’s roll reads like a who’s who of World Superbike legends, with all six of the most recent World Superbike champions having taken wins at this most naturally sculpted and challenging of contemporary race tracks. The most recent PI race winner in the current field is 1996 World Champion and native Australian Troy Corser (Petronas FP-1), who secured a win on the Island in the second leg of the 2000 event.

The ever-improving three-cylinder Foggy Petronas FP-1 machine secured its first ever podium finish at round one in Valencia, thanks to the efforts of Corser’s team-mate Chris Walker and thus Corser sees Phillip Island as one of the main opportunities to score his first podium on the unique machine. “I’m obviously looking forward to going back to Phillip Island,” he stated. “I think that all the riders think that it’s the best track on the calendar, especially for me as it’s my home race. I’ll have a lot of family, friends and supporters there and I will be trying hard to improve on last year’s best finish of fifth. The flowing nature of the circuit should help us, but you can get held up if you are dicing with another rider. At this stage of our engine development, there are probably only the Siberia and Honda corners where we will lose a bit on acceleration. The competition may have improved since last year but you have to take each day as it comes at Phillip Island as a lot can depend on the weather, when local knowledge can come in handy.” With so many riders in with a chance of joining an illustrious list of previous Island winners, Corser will have no end of competition at this race – not to mention over the entire season.

The first race at Round One in Valencia, affected by changeable weather, provided some unexpected results, but none could deny the excellence and commitment show by both race winners James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999 F04) and Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999).

Toseland does not have to look hard for his expected closest competitor this weekend, as Superpole winner from Valencia, Regis Laconi, is his team-mate in the other side of the Fila Ducati garage. With no points compared to Toseland’s 45, Laconi will be desperate to notch as many points as possible in Australia, and has great experience of the circuit from previous SBK and GP campaigns.

For Haga and his Renegade Ducati team the Valencia win was a tremendous boost in their first weekend of full-time SBK competition and the Japanese rider will be out to score his own second Phillip Island win, his previous Aussie highlight coming in 1998.

The list of possible winners, in something of a bumper year for potential podium placers, includes the multiple SBK race winner Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) who continues in a one-man team for the 2004 season. A force to be reckoned with at Valencia, after swapping his new 999 Ducati for his existing 998 model, Chili could ride either bike in qualifying in Australia.

On the opposite end of the age spectrum from the 39-year-old Chili, 20-year-old Renegade Ducati rider Leon Haslam is a full-time SBK rookie, as is the multiple GP race winner, Garry McCoy – another fast rider of local origin.

One of the most exiting prospects for the 2004 season is the combination of reigning World Supersport Champion Chris Vermeulen and the Ten Kate Honda Fireblade, both new inductees into SBK racing. Already enjoying some level of success on a still developing motorcycle, Vermeulen is expected to be the most effective four-cylinder rider on display. As winner of the Supersport race at Phillip Island last year, Vermeulen may surprise a few with his on-bike flair on raceday.

Possible the most underrated rider in the series in recent years, Steve Martin, demonstrated his true prowess at the previous SBK race, finishing third in race two after the heartbreak of retiring from a similar position in race one. The DFX Extreme Sterilgarda Ducati rider is currently the Phillip Island National Superbike lap record holder, and is more than capable of securing his first SBK race win on Sunday.

The fast and flowing nature of Phillip Island lends itself to intense and often tactile competition in all classes. In this year of increased competition and with a level playing field for tyres, both SBK races are expected to be some of the closest of the season.

In the Supersport World Championship, an especially important event at this venue, due to the high numbers of local riders who have beaten a 600cc sized path to prominence in recent years, there are also unprecedented numbers of fast and well-equipped riders.

The previous Valencia race was a game of two contrasting halves, with Honda riders largely dominating qualifying before the Yamaha Italia duo of eventual winner Jurgen van den Goorbergh and second placed Fabien Foret scooped the biggest prizes on offer. Alstare Suzuki rider Katsuaki Fujiwara, currently third in the championship, will be challenging for honours as ever, joined by 1999 World Champion Stephane Chambon and Vittorio Iannuzzo.

Lorenzo Lanzi heads a one man Ducati Breil 749 challenge but the best bets for local glory may well come from the Ten Kate Honda camp. Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes were the leading lights in qualifying in Spain and each has intimate track knowledge, plus the impetus of a partisan crowd behind them. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) is another fast Aussie, but in this class of racing, there are seldom such things as pre-race favourites.

Qualifying for all classes starts on Friday 26 March, culminates on Saturday 28, and while racing for real begins on Sunday 28th with two Superbike and one Supersport contest. SBK Championship leader at present is James Toseland, on 45 points.

The pre-race build up got underway on Thursday 25th March, with the novelty of an SBK ‘Shear-Off’ competition, during which the top International, Australian and Supersport competitors rose to the challenge of shearing some of the many sheep which surround the Phillip Island circuit – against the clock and each other. The International team won this particular contest, by a short head.

For those who do not have access to live TV coverage, the weekend action can be followed in real time on the SBK website, www.worldsbk.com.

From a press release issued by Aprilia:

APRILIA EMBARKS ON ITS 2004 MOTOGP ADVENTURE FROM GENOA

A typical Italian Spring day welcomed the press presentation of the MS Aprilia Racing Team, which will race with the new Rs Cube.

Candido Cannavò introduced the event at Genoa’s Aquarium, the naturalistic window in the ancient harbour of the city of the “Lanternas”.

Mr. Gianni Plinio, Vice President of the Liguria Region said: “I’m very pleased to present the MS Aprilia Racing Team in Genoa’s Aquarium. As you all know, – added Mr. Plinio – this year Genoa is the capital of European Culture, which, considered in its various aspects, can also be defined as the culture of business and therefore Aprilia’s way of life!”.

“I’m here basically because I am Aprilia’s President Ivano Beggio friend”, added Candido Cannavò. Later, when talking of Aprilia’s history in World Championship, Mr Cannavò remembered the 22 World Championships won over the past 20 years and how some of the current biggest champions started their careers on Aprilia racing bikes.

“This new Rs Cube – said Mr Ivano Beggio – contains 235 new elements. This means that we believe in this project and strongly wish to improve it. Aprilia invested many resources in races and this season is definitely centered on the growth and development of the RS Cube”. Aprilia has always built winning racing bikes, but our specialties are the 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, which are extremely difficult to produce”.

Such complexity is, in fact, Jan Witteven’s mission, Tech-in-Chief of the Aprilia Racing Team, who believes in the three-cylinder engine. “Last year – said Witteven – we delayed the development because of certain misleading strategic choices; but I am ready to bet on this project today!”.

The new RS Cube has a new white pretty as well as two new riders. Jeremy McWilliams came back to Aprilia after three years and Shane “Shakey” Byrne is a rookie in the MotoGP series, instead. Jeremy knows Aprilia’s style very well and Shakey is the British champion, who won two races in the World Superbike Championship.

Both riders are optimistic for the 2004 season. “Our target is to be in the top ten”, said Jeremy McWilliams. Jeremy spoke about the bike, defining it as “very fast!!”. He then added “I’m very positive for the 2004 season”.

He concluded by saying: “I’m looking forward to the Irta test in Barcelona to measure my real potential on this bike, and I’m very happy to be part of this Team.”

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

2004 American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship
Round 2 – California Speedway, Fontana, California, USA
Event Preview

HECTIC TESTING PROGRAM HAS MLADIN READY FOR CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY SUPERBIKE ROUND

Victory at the opening round of the 2004 American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Daytona on March 6 has not left defending series champion Mat Mladin and his Yoshimura Suzuki team sitting in any sort of comfort zone, having just completed two, two-day test sessions as the second round of the championship looms close next weekend, April 3 & 4.

In the past two weeks, Mladin and his crew have tested their Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike at Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, California and more recently have just completed a test at Monterey’s Laguna Seca Raceway.

Mladin was very happy with the results and information gathered by his team at both venues, but his trip to Laguna was met with a minor incident on the opening day that left the four times American Superbike champion slightly winded.

“I ran a little wide on the first right-hander and the front tucked under as it hit the white line, I got it back together, but I ran out of space with the wall being so close and was forced to jump off the bike before it impacted the wall,” said Mladin in reference to his opening day crash. “I followed the bike in and when it rebounded I caught the rear wheel in the chest and it knocked me about a bit. I managed to get out of it without any injury and the guys were able to get the bike back together ready for that afternoon.

“The test went very well aside from that. It was very productive for us. We worked through the disruption of the first day and then today, we started and made the most of perfect conditions until just after lunch when the wind picked up. Any time when you have a crash and your body ploughs into something, you are battered and bruised and I was feeling some effects of it today. We learned a lot of stuff from this test and I think it’s got us in good shape for next weeks race at Fontana.”

A week earlier Mladin had posted the fastest time of the contingent of Superbike riders who tested at Infineon. His best time was a reported 1:37.4.

“The test there went really well. The lap time s were promising, but we are struggling a bit with acceleration and speed, but I enjoy tracks like Infineon because you don’t need a lot of that to go fast, it’s all about getting the bike set up as best you can. The resurfaced track has made it very smooth, making it a lot safer than what it was 12 months ago and I think everyone is looking forward to heading back there for the race. Also if the circuit continues to work on some of the track safety issues, I feel it can develop into a very good and enjoyable race track.”

With testing complete for the interim, Mladin and his Yoshimura team will prepare for next weekend’s round at California Speedway.

Mladin was a dominant force at the corresponding round last year, taking both race wins which followed a lap record breaking run to take pole position.

With his Daytona win now behind him, Mladin arrives at California holding a five-point lead over Jake Zemke (37 – 32), with Miguel DuHamel third with 29.

FAST FACTS – California Speedway

Circuit Length: 3.70km / 2.30 miles
2003 Pole position: Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:25.123
2003 Race results:

Race 1
1. Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki)
2. Aaron Yates (Team Yoshimura Suzuki)
3. Ben Bostrom (American Honda)

Race 2
1. Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki)
2. Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki)
3. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda)

Superbike lap record: Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:25.123 (2003)

2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship (Points after 1 of 18 rounds)
1. Mat Mladin (37); 2. Jake Zemke (32); 3. Miguel DuHamel (29); 4. Jack Pfeifer (27); 5. Lee Acree (26); 6. Rick Orlando (25); 7. Pascal Picotte (24); 8. Chris Caylor (23); 9. Scott Jensen (22); 10. Eric Wood (21).

From a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

Hodgson and Xaus back into action

This weekend the d’Antin MotoGP riders go back into action in the Catalunyan Circuit, where all the teams will take part in the Official MotoGP Test. Three days of hard work will end on a Sunday 45 minutes timed session where the fastest rider will get a valuable price.

Neil Hodgson, Superbikes World Champion, is a fast laps’ specialist with another objective: “I like this circuit although since 1995 I have not had the chance of running here and I remember that at that time I was in a bad patch. Anyway, I am longing to ride the bike once again and to take the very best of this working days. We need to keep making progress and I think that there are other riders more interested in getting the best time on the next Sunday’s session, above all to annoy their rivals and that is not our trouble for the moment”.

Ruben Xaus looks forward to this special meeting because he is from Barcelona and will ride at home: “I already have ridden here, but from 1996 up I have not had the chance and I am thrilled to ride here. Also we will have a chance to work for next June’s Grand Prix and to get some information as we have no reference about this track. We have two bikes and I hope we will manage to take advantage of our possibilities along those three days. As for the Sunday timed session I must admit it is not our objective but if I feel at ease I will do as much as I can”.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Thursday’s 250cc Lap Times From The IRTA Test At Catalunya:

1. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:47.096
2. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 1:47.311
3. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:47.526
4. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:47.822
5. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:47.912
6. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:47.996
7. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:48.711
8. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:48.930
9. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:49.000
10. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:49.096
11. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 1:49.421
12. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:49.653
13. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:49.673
14. Arnaud VINCENT, Aprilia, 1:49.791
15. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:50.008
16. Gregory LEFORT, Aprilia, 1:50.087
17. Erwan NIGON, Yamaha, 1:50.213
18. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:50.624
19. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:50.655
20. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 1:50.685
21. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:50.835
22. Hector FAUBEL, Aprilia, 1:50.916
23. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, 1:51.019
24. Johan STIGEFELT, Aprilia, 1:51.589
25. Max SABBATANI, Yamaha, 1:52.133
26. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, 1:52.286
27. Taro SEKIGUCHI, Yamaha, 1:52.667
28. Christian GEMMEL, Honda, 1:54.118
29. Dirk HEIDOLF, Aprilia, 1:54.501


Best Overall Lap Ties Of Test:

1. DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:47.096
2. ELIAS, Honda, 1:47.311
3. PORTO, Aprilia, 1:47.422
4. POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:47.822
5. PEDROSA, Honda, 1:47.912
6. DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:47.996
7. BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:48.711
8. NIETO, Aprilia, 1:48.821
9. AOYAMA, Honda, 1:48.930
10. WEST, Aprilia, 1:49.000
11. DEBON, Honda, 1:49.205
12. SMRZ, Honda, 1:49.421
13. ROLFO, Honda, 1:49.588
14. OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:49.673
15. VINCENT, Aprilia, 1:49.791
16. MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:49.799
17. GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:50.008
18. LEFORT, Aprilia, 1:50.087
19. NIGON, Yamaha, 1:50.213
20. BATAILLE, Honda, 1:50.569
21. BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 1:50.685
22. DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:50.835
23. FAUBEL, Aprilia, 1:50.916
24. MARCHAND, Aprilia, 1:51.016
25. STIGEFELT, Aprilia, 1:51.589
26. SABBATANI, Yamaha, 1:52.133
27. SEKIGUCHI, Yamaha, 1:52.667
28. GEMMEL, Honda, 1:54.118
29. HEIDOLF, Aprilia, 1:54.501

From a press release issued by Yamaha:

BARCELONA CROWDS TREATED TO AN ACTION PREVIEW AS YAMAHA UNVEILS ITS NEW LINE-UP

Yamaha launched its MotoGP effort for 2004 with an action-packed ceremony in the centre of Barcelona this afternoon. Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa were joined by Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 team-mates Marco Melandri and Norick Abe as they unveiled their 2004 MotoGP machines in full race livery for the first time in front of a packed press conference. The local public were then treated to a stunning display of wheelies and burn-outs as the four riders took to the streets in the shadow of Montjuic Castle and showed off the power of their YZR-M1s.

Speaking about his move from Honda to Yamaha, Italian World Champion and Yamaha new recruit Valentino Rossi said: “For sure it was a big decision, a big change and a big challenge for me, my mechanics and Yamaha. We know that it’s going to be more difficult than last year, but I’m confident we can get some good results. My situation is different from 2003, we know that we are still a little behind and need more time to work on the bike, so that means that there’s not as much pressure to win each race. But all this is a big motivation! I am very happy with where we are at the moment and with what we’ve achieved in only two months – Yamaha has worked very hard and that looks good for the future.”

Local star Carlos Checa, who starts his sixth season in the Yamaha Factory Team this year, said: “Each year you expect a lot from the new season, but so far this year the impression I have is even more positive than usual. Yamaha has made a big change since last year. We’ll have to wait and see what happens when the racing starts but I do feel optimistic. It’s a great pleasure for me to have Valentino Rossi as my team mate and to stay working with Yamaha. He’s the number one rider in the world so it’s a big motivation to ride with him.”

Presented by BBC Motorsport Correspondent Suzi Perry, Barcelona’s Sports Minister Mr Pere Alcober welcomed the guests to Barcelona. He was followed by Masao Furusawa, General Manager of Yamaha Motor Company’s Technology Development Division, who spoke briefly about his excitement for the coming season and the arrival of the five-time World Champion. Mr. Jean-Dominique Comolli and Mr. Pablo Isla, co-presidents of Altadis, the parent company of Yamaha’s title sponsors Gauloises and Fortuna, also spoke for a short time about the forthcoming season and the importance of the MotoGP programme to their brands.

The riders were preceded on stage by their Team Managers – Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio and his Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 counterpart Herve Poncharal. Brivio commented: “It’s been a very busy winter with something new to try and evaluate at every test. But the machinery is getting better each time. It’s going to be interesting at these last two tests to see where we are with the competition before we start racing.”

After the press conference the four riders took their M1 race bikes in new 2004 livery out onto the avenue to great applause and cheers from the crowd, who had been gathering for hours in the sunshine. The presentation finished just in time. After a 20 minute display, during which the riders took turns to show off their new-look bikes in the dramatic surroundings, the sun disappeared and Barcelona was treated to a violent hail and thunderstorm.

The Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha team, which has completed four tests so far this year in Malaysia and Australia, begins the first of the two official IRTA group tests tomorrow at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. They will test there for three days before moving on to Jerez in southern Spain next week for the final test before the season-opening Grand Prix in South Africa on 18 April.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA ANNOUNCES 2006 WOMEN & MOTORCYCLING CONFERENCE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that the fourth AMA Women & Motorcycling Conference will be held June 29 through July 3, 2006 in Athens, Georgia.

“The AMA is pleased to once again host the Women & Motorcycling Conference,” said Robert Rasor, President of the AMA. “Based on the success of our previous conferences, we’re confident that the 2006 event will be a valuable experience for all who attend.”

The first three AMA Women & Motorcycling Conferences were held in 1997, 2000, and 2002. Nearly 700 women and men attended the 2002 conference, from nearly every U.S. state and several foreign countries.

Athens was chosen as the site of the 2006 AMA Women & Motorcycling Conference for its excellent facilities, and for its proximity to great motorcycle riding. The AMA is working closely with the leadership of national women’s motorcycling organizations — including Motor Maids, Twisty Sisterz, Women in the Wind, Women on Wheels, Women’s International Motorcycle Association-USA, and Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation — to plan the 2006 conference.

The AMA will announce more details about the 2006 AMA Women & Motorcycling Conference in the coming months. For more information, visit www.womenandmotorcycling.com or www.AMADirectlink.com, or call 1-800-AMA-JOIN.