From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON UNVEILS 2004 MOTORCYCLES
AND ANNOUNCES NEW WARRANTY PROGRAM

MILWAUKEE (August 27, 2003) – Harley-Davidson, Inc. introduced its Model Year 2004 motorcycle line-up to the public today as it kicked off its four-day 100th Anniversary celebration in Milwaukee. Key new models include a completely redesigned XL Sportster family and a new VRSCB V-Rod power cruiser, which complements the VRSCA V-Rod. These exciting new models will begin shipping to dealers in September.

Additional highlights of the 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcycle model line-up are listed below.

XL Sportster family is all-new with a redesigned, rubber-mounted Sportster XL Evolution powertrain, a stiffer frame, and lower seat height. Four models acknowledge 47 years of Sportster heritage while delivering a new level of comfort and performance.

VRSCB V-Rod offers a tough, new blacked-out styling interpretation of the award-winning, liquid-cooled VRSCA V-Rod power cruiser.

New Road King Custom and restyled Road Glide bring new style to the Harley-Davidson Touring line.

Dyna Glide models will now be available with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI). New-look fuel tanks and consoles update the styling of the Dyna Glide line.

Springer Softail gets a fresh new look with several feature enhancements.

Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) adds a new motorcycle to its roster: the Screamin’ Eagle Electra Glide, and offers the Screamin’ Eagle Deuce in two brand new custom colors in its second year.

Harley-Davidson’s 2004 motorcycle models demonstrate the Company’s continued commitment to styling, product innovation and the riding experience. For 2004, the Company is offering 20 different color schemes, including solid colors and two-tones, after offering a limited range of color options during the 100th Anniversary model year.

Harley-Davidson also announced that all 2004 motorcycles will be covered by a two-year warranty. In addition, most service intervals have been extended from 2,500 miles to 5,000 miles.

Average suggested retail prices for 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been reduced when compared with similar 2003 motorcycles. The 2004 model prices are lower by less than one percent. The new pricing reflects the removal of 100th Anniversary content on the 2003 model year motorcycles. Information on 2004 model year suggested retail pricing is available at www.harley-davidson.com or from local Harley-Davidson dealers.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight street, custom and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson/Buell dealers and customers.

From a press release:

2003 WILLOW SPRINGS RACEWAY TOYOTA 200 QUALIFYING INFORMATION

A) 40 riders will qualify for the TOYOTA 200 road race being held on Sunday, October 19, 2003.

B) Two (2) qualifying rounds will be held. Fri. September 19, and Fri. October 17, 2003.

C) Entry fee for TOYOTA 200 qualifying is $100. Entry is accepted as post-entry at the WSMC Office. The WSMC Office opens at 7:00 a.m. each qualifying date.

Riders may participate in as many of the above qualifying dates as they desire.

D) Rider must fill out required WSIR releases and show proof of current (i.e. 2003 season) Expert Road Race Competition License status with a recognized sanctioning body. No exceptions.

E) Tentative Friday schedule as follows:

Toyota 200 qualifying entrants only – timed practice, 10:40 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Toyota 200 qualifying entrants only – timed practice, 1:10 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Toyota 200 qualifying entrants only – timed qualifying Group “A”, 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Toyota 200 qualifying entrants only – timed qualifying Group “B”, 3:35 p.m. – 4:05 p.m.

Note: Only lap times set in ‘Timed Qualifying’ will be utilized for gridding purposes.

Fastest riders from timed practice will be seeded into Group “A” each qualifying date.

F) The fastest rider from Round 1 (Sept. 19) qualifying will be guaranteed a front row grid position regardless of their lap time. Should a rider be fastest on more than one qualifying date the second fastest rider of that session will receive a guaranteed front row grid position. Note: Any tie in lap time will be decided by ‘coin-toss’.

G) Final front row assignments will be based in order of fastest lap time (not the date the lap time was set).

All four front row qualifiers will receive custom roadrace jewelry and the fastest rider at each qualifier round will receive a commemorative TOYOTA 200 Fast Qualifier trophy award.

H) Final positions of TOYOTA 200 grid will be based on all qualifying riders one (1) best lap time from all sessions combined.

I) After final qualifying session on Fri. Oct. 17 and posting of preliminary TOYOTA 200 start grid, rider must pay TOYOTA 200 race entry fee of $200 to WSIR. Deadline for filing of TOYOTA 200 entry fee is 12 Noon on Sat. Oct. 18, 2003.

J) Riders not entering the TOYOTA 200 and paying race entry fee will be replaced on the grid by alternate riders (in order of rider qualification based on lap times).

Alternate riders will have until 2:00 PM on Sat. Oct. 18, 2003 to file entry form and race entry fee.

All racers starting the TOYOTA 200 will receive a minimum of $1000 as posted by WSIR.

All racers finishing the TOYOTA 200 will receive a commemorative event award.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Anyone interested in sending a get well message to injured Rizla Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama can do so at [email protected].

Kagayama is in a British hospital recovering from a broken pelvis. The Japanese rider suffered the injury in a crash during morning practice for a British Superbike race Monday, August 25 at Cadwell Park.

Kagayama is expected to miss the remainder of the 2003 season.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Vie e-mail:

Shaun Harris finished second in C-Superstock Expert behind Larry Denning, and second in C-Superbike Expert, also behind Denning.

Harris was gridded in the 5th row for the Superstock race, having never been to the track before, and never ridden the bike prior to that weekend. At the green flag Harris wheelied on the start which hurt his chances to catch Denning early. Denning led into the first turn and every lap thereafter. Eventually catching up to 2nd position, Harris tried to reel in Denning but Larry had managed to build a 10 bikelength lead. Lap times for Denning and Harris were in the low 1:22 range.

The C-Superbike race was a different story. The race was shortened to 6 laps after a series of earlier delays. Harris got a good start from the
5th row and caught Denning going into turn 1. From there it was one of the wildest races I’ve ever witnessed. Coming out of the hairpin turn, Harris was leading Denning through the esses, over the jump, and up into turns 4, 3, and 2 (race was counter clockwise). Coming down the front straight both bikes sounded like missiles as they entered the braking zone with Denning
making an absolutely insane late-breaking pass into the first turn. The following lap had Denning leading throught the back section and onto the front straight with Harris close behind. Harris made the same move Denning had done on the previous lap and took the lead into the first turn. From there it was a back and forth battle with Denning leading at the checker by a couple bikelengths. Lap times were 1:21:00 for Denning and 1:21:01 for Harris. Truly entertaining!

Jeffrey Agnes
WERA #123
Wooster, Ohio

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Rizla Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama was hospitalized with a broken pelvis after crashing into a barrier during the morning warm-up for Monday’s British Superbike race at Cadwell Park in England.

According to reports out of England, Kagayama was riding his GSX-R1000 Superbike when he collided with a slower rider and hit “crash barriers,” causing the session to be red-flagged. The former All-Japan Road Race Series star was taken to a local hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken pelvis. The other rider involved suffered a broken ankle.

Kagayama’s teammate, veteran John Reynolds, described Cadwell Park as “a dangerous place to race” and told reporters “the track could do with more safety being built in.”

Current AMA Supersport rider Jason DiSalvo described Cadwell Park as “insane” after racing there in 2000. DiSalvo said he was jumping his 125cc GP bike six inches off the ground at one point on the roller-coaster track and said Superbikes could get both wheels over 12 inches off the ground.

Just weeks ago Kagayama told reporters at the Suzuka 8-Hours that he found tracks in England to be dangerous.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Reports that a Honda V6-powered MotoGP prototype was tested recently at Motegi are not true, according to Suguru Kanazawa, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Senior Managing Director of Honda R&D Co., Ltd.

The report, labeled as being issued by Honda, appeared in the fan forum section of one MotoGP rider’s website and quickly spread across the Internet via other fan forums.

The report in question claimed that Shin’ichi Itoh tested the next-generation, V6-powered Honda racer, the “RC214V,” at Motegi. The detailed report claimed that Itoh, riding on Bridgestones, went one second faster than the 2002 MotoGP pole time.

“The article that you mention isn’t true,” Kanazawa responded to Roadracingworld.com in an August 25 e-mail. “We at HRC don’t have any 6cyl. MotoGP machine at the moment.”

From a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

MONSTERMOB DUCATI BRITISH SUPERBIKE TEAM

Round 10 – 2003 British Superbike Championship powered by HALLS, Cadwell Park

Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August 2003

ANOTHER ROSTRUM FOR BYRNE AS EASTON MISSES OUT

The new British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne celebrated his title with another rostrum performance in race two in front of a record 36,250 crowd at Cadwell Park today.

Byrne followed home Suzuki’s John Reynolds and the Honda of winner Steve Plater to celebrate his seventeenth rostrum placing of the season but ironically his first third place of the year.

Shakey got a poor start but gradually clawed back the gap to take third position at the end of the eighteen lap race.

“The race was a bit tactical really. I got a bad start and got a bit bashed up on the first lap but got it together again and made up some time. Once I got past Gary Mason and Leon Haslam I managed to catch the top three quite easily. I felt quite relaxed and sat behind John Reynolds and watched him for a bit, I thought I could pass him but I just left it a bit too late to be honest,” said Byrne.

Meanwhile defending Supersport Champion Stuart Easton relinquished his British title when main rival Karl Harris won the race and the young Scot could do no better than fourth place.

Nevertheless it has been a gallant effort by the Hawick rider especially due to the fact that he has been campaigning an elderly machine against much more modern bikes this year.

“I struggled with the package to be honest. I couldn’t get the bike to do what I wanted it to do. I’m very disappointed. I gave 100% but it wasn’t good enough on the day,” said Easton.

Team owner Paul Bird was disappointed to relinquish the Supersport title. “Stuart rode good for the first half of the race but lost heart in the second part. I hope to see some improvement in his performance next time.”

The series moves on to Brands Hatch in three weeks’ time (13th and 14th September) for the penultimate round.



Superbike Result

Race One
1, Shane Byrne (MonsterMob Ducati) 27:26.156, 2, John Reynolds (Suzuki) -0.573 seconds, 3, Michael Rutter (Ducati) -4.557s, 4, Gary Mason (Yamaha) -4.762s, 5, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) -5.039s, 6, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) -6.744s, 7, Sean Emmett (Ducati) -13.962s, 8, Dennis Hobbs (Suzuki) -15.523s, 9, Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) -15.882s, 10, Nick Medd (Ducati) -16.110s

Race Two
1, Steve Plater (Honda) 25:52.771, 2, John Reynolds (Suzuki) -0.227s, 3, Shane Byrne (MonsterMob Ducati) -2.242s, 4, Leon Haslam (Ducati) -8.246s, 5, Gary Mason (Yamaha) -9.798s, 6, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) -12.146s, 7, Sean Emmett (Ducati) -18.400s, 8, Chris Burns (Yamaha) -21.092s, 9, Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) -40.312s, 10, Dean Ellison (Ducati) -40.591


Superbike Standings after Round 10

1, Shane Byrne (MonsterMob Ducati) 406pts
2, John Reynolds (SuzukI) 277pts
3, Michael Rutter (Ducati) 243pts
4, Steve Plater (Honda) 227pts
5, Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 214pts
6, Glen Richards (Kawaski) 210pts
7, Gary Mason (Yamaha) 172pts
8, Sean Emmett (Ducati) 166pts
9, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 128pts
10, Steve Hislop (Yamaha) 122pts

Supersport Result
1, Karl Harris (Honda) 23:36.486, 2, Michael Laverty (Honda) -1.060s, 3, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) -3.310s, 4, Stuart Easton (MonsterMob Ducati) -3.455s, 5, Tom Sykes (Yamaha) -4.787s, 6, Adrian Coates (Honda) -16.538s, 7, Rob Frost (Kawasaki) -16.863s, 8, Dean Thomas (Honda) -18.343s, 9, Kim Ashkenazi (Yamaha) -21.509s, 10, Tom Tunstall (Yamaha) -28.728s

Supersport Championship Standings after Round 10
1, Karl Harris 215pts
2, Stuart Easton (MonsterMob Ducati) 158pts
3, Simon Andrews 115pts
4, Michael Laverty 102pts
5, Dean Thomas 87pts
6, John Crockford 82pts
7, Tom Sykes 80pts
8, Adrian Coates 79pts
9, Rob Frost 78pts
10, Craig Jones 67pts




More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

BSB Round 10, Cadwell Park

Monday August 25
Track length: 2.173 miles
Weather: cloudy, overcast, 22°C
Track: dry, 28°C

Triple Top Ten Treat for Hawk!

Hawk Kawasaki yet again proved its strength within the British Superbike Championship, with superb performances from all three of its riders in both races at Cadwell Park today.

Glen Richards and Scott Smart used their strong starting positions, of fifth and tenth, to great effect in race one. Both Hawk riders gained positions in the opening laps, with Richards moving up to fourth and Smart to ninth.

The 18-lap dash soon turned into a race of attrition, with Honda’s Steve Plater retiring due to a flicked-off chain and Ducati’s Leon Haslam crashing out – elevated Smart to seventh. A lap later the number 88 Hawk rider passed Sean Emmett to take sixth, before he set about catching Ducati-mounted Michael Rutter. But as he did so, and Glen Richards moved in on Yamaha’s Gary Mason, the safety car was sent out to allow marshals to move Haslam’s stricken machine.

‘The course car obviously broke things up a little bit,’ said Smart. ‘Then when we got going again I nearly hit Glen going into the top of the Gooseneck because he got it really sideways and that broke my rhythm badly, dropping me off the back of him.’

When racing resumed, on lap 14, Richards lost out to Rutter who snuck under the Aussie at Chris Curve to take fourth. The ZX-7RR-mounted star tried to fight back, but a cold tyre caught him out and forced him to settle for fifth. ‘I’m not happy that I got passed by Rutter after the pace car went back in,’ mused Glen. ‘I nearly crashed because the left hand side of the tyre went cold, but that’s life I suppose. I feel like I can run at the front but I can’t get there because the 1000s come past me on the straights and then get in my way.’

Smart finished just behind his team mate in a strong sixth while Lee Jackson, whose determined riding gained him five places in the first lap, came home a brilliant ninth. ‘I was really aggressive going into Coppice and I had nothing to lose really,’ explained Lee of his opening lap move. ‘Unfortunately when the pace car came out it affected the tyre a little bit and I got a bit of cramp in my right hand. Then Dennis Hobbs came by me at the end – I had a go on the last lap but I just couldn’t make a pass and I figured that a race finish is better than a crash.’

The Hawk team looked to be on for another triple top 10 finish in race two, until Smart’s chain flicked off its sprockets as he crested The Mountain on lap 12. The former Supersport race winner had been holding a excellent eighth place ahead of Sean Emmett before the incident, but his quick thinking and gritty determination saw him push his machine from Hall Bends back to the pits and eventually rejoin the race.

‘I thought I’d back the pace off by a second and save some energy for the end, but when the chain came off I had to push the thing from Hall bends all the way back to the pits so my mechanics could put it back on again,’ said Scott of his heroic effort. ‘I managed to get straight back out again without even getting lapped and still finish fourteenth in the BSB race, so I’ve still scored points in every race so far.’

Glen Richards produced another characteristically strong showing in race two, to finish sixth. ‘It was another tough race for sure,’ he said afterwards. ‘But it’s frustrating we can’t make more ground on the front guys. I feel I can run with them, but it’s real hard riding a 750 around here. A fifth and a sixth is not a bad result though.’

Lee Jackson backed-up his first race performance by getting the better of race-long rivals Jon Kirkham, Dennis Hobbs and Dean Ellison, scything under the Ducati rider on the last lap to take a well deserved ninth. ‘When Dean passed me before the last lap I thought there was no way he was going to finish ahead of me,’ he said. ‘I did him on the last lap at the Gooseneck, which was a bit off-putting for him because I think he thought it wasn’t possible for me to get past him there, but I did and I’m more than pleased with that. If I’d have got a better start I think I could have run a better pace, but I used my tyre life up early on. I’m now being more aggressive in the race and that’s what you need to be in this championship.’

After excellent and determined performances from all three of his riders, Hawk Kawasaki team boss Stuart Hicken was obviously delighted. ‘It’s always exciting at Cadwell Park and I have to say that I’m pleased all three riders come home in one piece because they all rode their balls off. All in all, a great day’s racing.’

BSB Race 1 result
1) Shane Byrne, Ducati. 2) John Reynolds, Suzuki. 3) Michael Rutter, Ducati. 4) Gary Mason, Yamaha. 5) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki. 6) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki. 7) Sean Emmett, Ducati. 8) Dennis Hobbs, Suzuki (P). 9) Lee Jackson, Hawk Kawasaki. 10) Nick Medd, Ducati. 11) Jeremy Goodall, Yamaha (P). 12) Phil Giles, Suzuki (P). 13) James Buckingham, Suzuki (P). 14) Sam Corke, Suzuki (P). 15) Gordon Blackley, Honda (P). 16) Dave Wood, Suzuki (P). 17) Mike Walker, Yamaha (P). 18) Malcolm Ashley, Ducati. (P). 19) Paul Jones, Suzuki. 20) Francis Williamson, Yamaha (P)

P=Privateer

Fastest Lap: John Reynolds, Suzuki: 1:25.181, 91.83mph

BSB Race 2 result
1) Steve Plater, Honda. 2) John Reynolds, Suzuki. 3) Shane Byrne, Ducati. 4) Leon Haslam, Ducati. 5) Gary Mason, Yamaha. 6) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki. 7) Sean Emmett, Ducati. 8) Chris Burns, Yamaha. 9) Lee Jackson, Hawk Kawasaki. 10) Dean Ellison, Ducati. 11) John Kirkham, Yamaha. 12) Dennis Hobbs, Suzuki (P). 13) Jeremy Goodall, Yamaha (P). 14) Dave Wood, Suzuki (P). 15) Nick Medd, Ducati. 16) Phil Giles, Suzuki (P). 17) Mark Burr, Suzuki (P). 18) Francis Williamson, Yamaha (P). 19) James Buckingham, Suzuki (P). 20) Sam Corke, Suzuki (P)

25/14) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki

Fastest Lap: Shane Byrne, Ducati: 1:25.307, 91.70mph

BSB Riders’ Championship, after 10 rounds
1) Shane Byrne, Ducati: 406 (Champion). 2) John Reynolds, Suzuki: 277. 3) Michael Rutter, Ducati: 243. 4) Steve Plater, Honda: 227. 5) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki: 214. 6) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki: 210. 7) Gary Mason, Yamaha: 172. 8) Sean Emmett, Ducati: 166. 9) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki: 128. 10) Steve Hislop, Yamaha: 122. 11) Lee Jackson, Hawk Kawasaki: 91. 12) Mark Heckles, Honda: 75. 13) John Crawford, Ducati: 74. 13=) Paul Young, Yamaha: 74. 15) Leon Haslam, Ducati: 60. 16) Dean Ellison, Ducati: 43. 17) Jon Kirkham, Yamaha: 39. 18) Nick Medd, Ducati: 33. 19) John McGuinness, Ducati: 26. 20) Dean Thomas, Yamaha: 13

BSB Premier Team Championship, after 10 rounds
1) Monstermob/ETI Ducati: 1605. 2) Renegade Ducati: 1493. 3) Rizla Suzuki: 1472. 4) Hawk Kawasaki: 1456. 5) Virgin Yamaha: 1387. 6) Honda Racing: 1161. 7) Hawk Kawasaki/TDC Suzuki: 1141. 8) TDB Recruit Yamaha: 1089. 9) D&B/Renegade Ducati: 899

From a press release issued by Monstermob Ducati:

MONSTERMOB DUCATI BRITISH SUPERBIKE TEAM

Round 10 – 2003 British Superbike Championship powered by HALLS, Cadwell Park

Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August 2003

BYRNE IS CHAMPION!

MonsterMob Ducati rider Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne clinched his first British Superbike title with a superb victory in the opening race at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire today.

In front of another massive crowd the 26 year old fended off a concerted challenge from Suzuki’s John Reynolds to become the first British rider in recent history to clinch the title with two rounds to spare.

Byrne led from start to finish and despite a safety car intervention which allowed Reynolds to close in, Byrne held on to win the race and in doing so took the second consecutive British Superbike Championship victory for the Paul Bird Motorsport MonsterMob Ducati Team.

“It’s fantastic. If I had won it with two fifth places I think I would have gone home sulking! It’s not been for a lack of trying to win races, I’ve just been struggling lately. I just tried as hard as I possibly could and just managed to hold them off. I’m sorry about Yukio’s crash and I hope he gets well soon,” said a delighted Byrne.

Team boss Paul Bird was also delighted with the performance. “What a fantastic race. Without doubt that is one of the best races I have seen him ride. I’m chuffed for him and the team and our sponsors.”

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

Rounds 15 & 16 –
2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia, USA
Event Preview

CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER MLADIN FOCUSES ON PENULTIMATE AMERICAN SUPERBIKE ROUND AT VIRGINIA

The AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship heads to Virginia International Raceway this weekend (August 30 – 31) with Australian Mat Mladin holding a 33-point lead in the title chase with two rounds (four races) remaining in this year’s championship.

As is always the case for Mladin when he is preparing for any race meeting, he will calculate what needs to be achieved at the meeting to satisfy his and his team’s goals for the weekend as well as the overall championship placing.

VIR is a venue that the three times American Superbike champion has never won at, but while he will be looking to break his win drought there, he will also be riding with a championship win in mind.

“It does present a bit of a challenge for us not having won a race there before,” said Mladin “it’s at the time of the season where I still want to win races, but it’s getting to the point where we are starting to think about the championship a little bit. We have to take things how they come and see what happens when it’s race time. For sure I would still like to win there, but on the other hand, I will not be putting myself into any unnecessary situations either.”

Two weeks ago, Mladin and his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 were the fastest combination in a three-day test conducted at VIR leaving the championship point’s leader in a positive frame of mind for this weekend’s upcoming double-header round.

“The five-week break in the championship before Virginia gave us a little bit of time to get some things sorted and also allowed us time to do a bit of testing which has proven to be very valuable for us. We had a three-day test at VIR, along with other tests at Barber Motorsports Park and Daytona, each of which, were good. Not only have we learned more about the bike for the remaining races, we are already planning for next year. It’s a fairly important time for us.”

Following on from the VIR test in early August, Mladin headed to Daytona last week to take part in a Dunlop tyre test. The timing of the test proved valuable, with favourable weather conditions allowing Mladin to turn a number of laps in the low 1:48 bracket.

“We went there to test tyres for Dunlop and now they’ve gone away to get something better for the December test. It was a good test definitely. If we didn’t make that trip last week, I think we would have been in a lot of trouble come the December test. If the tyres can last in the hotter conditions that we had, then they should last a bit longer in what are normally cooler conditions come race time at Daytona in March, whereas the December test is generally cooler than the conditions that we would expect in March. So this is probably the best test for them.”

With this year’s championship winding down with just Virginia and Barber Motorsports Park, Alabama (September 21) remaining, Mladin finds himself in a position where he can further add to his record-breaking career in the AMA Superbike Championship. Already the all-time AMA Superbike pole position record holder with 30 (with six poles in 2003), he has an opportunity to surpass a number of other win records, such as the all-time career win record which stands at 26 (he currently has 23), the most number of race wins in one season which stands at 10 (he currently has 9) and most importantly he is aiming to become the first rider to have won four AMA Superbike Championships.

“A lot of people have asked me about the records that are able to be broken this year, but for me personally and for Suzuki, our most important goal is to win the Superbike Championship. That is what I am here to do and that is by far the most important. If we are in a position to take another race win or so in the remaining rounds that will be great as well, but we have to achieve our main goal first.”

VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – FAST FACTS

Circuit length: 3.58km / 2.225 miles
2002 Pole position: Nicky Hayden (American Honda) 1:24.7618

2002 Results:
Race 1
1. Nicky Hayden (American Honda RC51)
2. Doug Chandler (HMC Ducati 998RS)
3. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda RC51)

Race 2
1. Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki ZX-7RR)
2. Mat Mladin (Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750)
3. Aaron Yates (Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750)

Lap Record: Nicky Hayden (American Honda) 1:24.7618 (2002)

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship (points after 14 of 18 rounds)
1. M Mladin (431)
2. A Yates (398)
3. B Bostrom (376)
4. E Bostrom (350)
5. K Roberts (349)
6. M DuHamel (332)
7. J Pridmore (315)
8. S Higbee (299)
9. V Haskovec (221)
10. J Szoke (212)