Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Thursday Morning AMA Superstock Practice Times:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:49.254
2. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:49.494
3. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:49.691
4. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:50.018
5. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:50.139
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:50.330
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:50.395
8. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:50.414
9. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:50.793
10. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha, 1:50.863
11. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:51.096
12. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki, 1:51.431
13. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, 1:52.061
14. Eric Wood, Suzuki, 1:52.094
15. Jake Holden, Suzuki, 1:52.207
16. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:52.370
17. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:52.618
18. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:52.621
19. Jordan Szoke, Honda, 1:52.805
20. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:52.995
21. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:53.139
22. Corey Eaton, Suzuki, 1:53.817
23. Jason Curtis, Suzuki, 1:54.874
24. John Dugan, Suzuki, 1:55.725
25. Craig Fitzpatrick, Suzuki, 1:56.528
26. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, 1:57.004
27. Montez Stewart, Yamaha, 1:57.335
28. Ron McGill, Suzuki, 1:57.558
29. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, 1:58.833
30. Roger Bell, Suzuki, 1:58.953

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo turned the fastest lap time in Thursday-morning Supersport practice, a 1:52.197 on his YZF-R6, according to AMA Pro Racing Timing & Scoring monitors, but the information on those monitors has not been completely accurate during the event, as DiSalvo alluded to in a post-practice interview with track announcer Richard Chambers.

“The bike is working really good right now, but I don’t want to say anything because in five minutes I might be second,” DiSalvo told Chambers.

On Wednesday, DiSalvo was listed as having the fastest lap time at the end of the Superstock qualifying session and began doing interviews with Chambers and reporters as if he had the pole.

Then, several minutes after the end of that session, the Timing & Scoring monitors displayed Ben Spies as having the fastest qualifying time. Although Spies’ lap time was confirmed as being accurate through AMA Pro Racing’s back-up systems, DiSalvo was still upset over the mix-up.

Provisional Thursday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:52.197
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:52.298
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:52.378
4. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:52.426
5. Michael Barnes, Yamaha, 1:53.077
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:53.230
7. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:53.311
8. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:53.392
9. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:53.782
10. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:54.238
11. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha, 1:54.270
12. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:55.138
13. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha, 1:55.138
14. Chris Peris, Suzuki, 1:55.169
15. Jason Perez, Yamaha, 1:56.756
16. Jeffrey Tigert, Honda, 1:57.011
17. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:57.012
18. Barrett Long, Yamaha, 1:57.552
19. Padro Valiente, Yamaha, 1:57.921
20. Danny Eslick, Suzuki, 1:58.337

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Thursday Morning AMA Formula Xtreme Practice Times:

1. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.329
2. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.293
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:54.538
4. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:54.609
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:55.818
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:56.743
7. Jeff Wood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.794
8. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.966
9. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:57.086
10. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:57.644
11. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:57.910
12. Nathan Dressman, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.622
13. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.761
14. Jason Smith, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.995
15. Frank Trombino, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.655
16. Marcus Winfree, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:02.960
17. Adam Vella, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:04.526

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Dale Kieffer’s high-performance shop, Racer’s Edge, at 3021 S. Valley View Blvd. in Las Vegas, Nevada, will host a Daytona 200 party Saturday to benefit the family of CCS racer Tony Shortman, who was killed in a street crash last weekend.

More information is available from Kieffer at (702) 257-3808.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Graves Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert used the draft to win the action-packed AMA Superstock race on his new YZF-R1 Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.

Gobert’s teammates Damon Buckmaster and Jamie Hacking diced back and forth for the lead through the first half of the race. In the second half, Kawasaki’s Roger Lee Hayden came up to battle for the front position with the Yamaha pair while Tommy Hayden, Jason DiSalvo and Gobert raced at the back of the elastic six-rider pack.

Roger Lee Hayden led into and out of the chicane on the last lap with Buckmaster, Hacking, Gobert, Tommy Hayden and DiSalvo fighting for position in the draft.

As the pack came to the line, Gobert caught a daisy chain of drafts to go from fourth to first and the win. Hacking was elbow-to-elbow with Gobert at the line, but 0.010-second behind, according to AMA Timing & Scoring. Tommy Hayden moved up to third, Buckmaster slipped to fourth, Roger Lee Hayden dropped to fifth and DiSalvo crossed the line sixth, a mere 0.862-second behind the winner.

Attack Kawasaki’s Josh Hayes, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies (who served a stop-and-go penalty during the race), Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp (who started 18th on the grid) and early front-runner John Haner of Hooters Suzuki rounded out the top 10 finishers.


Provisional AMA Superstock Race Results:

1. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 12 laps
2. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, -0.010 second
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -0.069 second
4. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, -0.100 second
5. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -0.131 second
6. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R1, -0.862 second
7. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -8.002 seconds
8. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -15.160 seconds
9. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -16.845 seconds
10. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -16.951 seconds
11. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -17.207 seconds
12. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -21.138 seconds
13. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -24.274
14. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -29.487
15. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -29.532
16. Jordan Szoke, Honda CBR1000RR, -29.640
17. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -29.640
18. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -36.229
19. Frank Trombino, Yamaha YZF-R1, -42.038
20. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -44.744
21. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -48.626
22. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR1000RR, -48.626
23. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -56.366
24. Jason Curtis, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -66.857
25. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -72.521
26. Montez Stewart, Yamaha YZF-R1, -86.714
27. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -86.722
28. Roger Bell, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -98.484
29. David Bell, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -101.851
30. Bostjan Skubic, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -108.097
31. Dave Loikits, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -108.865
32. Craig Fitzpatrick, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
33. John Wilson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
34. Eric Haugo, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
35. Joe Capelli, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
36. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, -2 laps

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Thursday Morning BMW Boxer Cup Practice Times (all on BMW R1100S):

1. Brian Parriott, USA, 2:03.729
2. Richard Cooper, GBR, 2:03.745
3. Sebastien Legrelle, BEL, 2:04.158
4. Oriol Fernandez, ESP, 2:04.163
5. Gwen Giabbani, FRA, 2:05.544
6. Stephane Mertens, BEL, 2:05.553
7. Thomas Hinterreiter, AUS, 2:05.916
8. Markus Barth, GER, 2:05.998
9. Barry Burrell, GBR, 2:06.061
10. Nate Kern, USA, 2:06.305
11. Roberto Panichi, ITA, 2:06.353
12. Guillaume Dietrich, FRA, 2:06.651
13. Javier Valera, ESP, 2:06.860
14. Dirk Buylinckx, BEL, 2:07.046
15. Jose Maria Martin, ESP, 2:07.126
16. Klaus Nies, GER, 2:07.185
17. Ricky Orlando, USA, 2:07.546
18. Jeroen Oudeman, NED, 2:07.996
19. Andreas Bildl, GER, 2:08.191
20. Stefan Heinrichs, GER, 2:08.652

29. Katja Poensgen, GER, 2:10.239

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Graves Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert continued to set the pace in practice at Daytona International Speedway by leading the first, 40-minute AMA Superstock practice Wednesday morning.

Aided by new-for-2004 rules allowing 1000cc engines and 17-inch slick tires, Gobert turned a 1:48.631, which was well under Jason Pridmore’s Superstock lap record of 1:51.567, turned in 2003 on a Suzuki GSX-R750.

“The bike’s just incredible. I’m really impressed,” Gobert told Roadracingworld.com. “I’ve been trying really hard to get back in shape after all of my off-season surgery. I thought I was behind the 8-ball, but maybe I wasn’t as bad off as I thought. Maybe being on ‘Struggle Street’ isn’t so bad.

“I haven’t pulled the pin yet and I’m doing these times.”

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies was also brimming with confidence after turning a 1:49.132 on his third flying lap, according to the young Texan.

Spies crashed at 186 mph when his rear tire exploded during his last visit to Daytona.

Gobert’s teammate Jamie Hacking shook off the effects of a crash in Wednesday-morning Supersport practice to post the third-fastest Superstock time, 1:49.738. Hacking said his Yamaha Supersport bike “stepped out real quick” exiting the International Horseshoe and threw him over the highside. But Hacking – and his Superstock lap times – said he was uninjured in the fall.

Provisional AMA Superstock Practice Times:

1. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:48.631
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:49.132
3. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:49.738
4. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:49.813
5. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:50.074
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:50.261
7. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:50.695
8. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:50.887
9. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:51.155
10. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:51.259
11. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:51.503
12. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:51.568
13. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:51.919
14. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.289
15. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.445
16. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.477
17. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.916
18. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.197
19. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:53.344
20. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:54.218

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional AMA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Results:

1. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR600RR, 1:52.800
2. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.339
3. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:54.213
4. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.297
5. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:54.661
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:55.990
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.180
8. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.445
9. Jeff Wood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.687
10. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:57.657
11. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:58.283
12. Frank Trombino, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.538
13. Nathan Hester, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.061
14. Jason Smith, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.192
15. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.310
16. Nathan Dressman, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:02.491
17. Marcus Winfree, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:02.516
18. Adam Vella, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:05.260

112 percent of fast time: 2:06.336

DNQ. Randy Rega, Buell XB12R, 2:08.928


More, from a press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

TEAM VALVOLINE EMGO SUZUKI KICKS OFF 2004 AMA SEASON AT DAYTONA

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki opened their 2004 AMA race season on Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway, posting solid efforts in each of their classes. The team attempted to keep up momentum from the excellent results of last weekend’s Formula USA weekend that saw Steve Rapp and Vincent Haskovec win races and Chris Peris finish on the podium.

On Wednesday, Vincent Haskovec certainly made a good first impression as a member of the squad in AMA competition with a front row qualifying performance on his Michelin slick-shod GSX-R600 Formula Xtreme racer. Haskovec, originally from the Czech Republic, will start from the third spot on the grid in tomorrow’s 15-lap race thanks to his fast lap of 1:54.213 aboard the still-developing 600 ‘mini-Superbike’. In fact, Vincent out-qualified several riders on factory machines.

“It’s going well so far, the Michelin tires were giving me grip around this track and the team gave me a good bike to ride today,” Haskovec said afterward. Vincent backed up his Formula Xtreme showing with a third row qualifying effort aboard his GSX-R1000 in the extremely competitive Superstock class. His best time was a lap of 1:50.873.

His teammate Steve Rapp will line up in tomorrow’s twelve-lap Superstock race two rows behind Haskovec. Unfortunately, Steve’s best lap time on the fire-breathing Suzuki GSX-R1000– one that would have put him inside the top ten — was disallowed after he missed turn one. “Those are the rules,” Rapp said after the session held in warm, sunny weather. “I didn’t gain an advantage by missing turn one, but all it really means now is that I’ll just have to charge even harder in the race.”

The 31-year-old Californian fared better with his GSX-R600 in Supersport practice, ranking tenth with a best time of 1:54.674.

Rapp’s other new teammate, 18-year-old Chris Peris, was just one position behind him in the Supersport free session. The Canadian posted a best mark of 1:54.928 in his AMA racing debut with the team.

From a press release issued by Pro Italia:

Join Pro Italia on Saturday March 6th for our annual Daytona 200 TV Party complete with a 61″ big screen television and refreshments for your race viewing pleasure. We will have a contest with prizes for leaders at various stages in the race. Get to Pro Italia in time for the Superbike rider name drawing at 10:15am.

Pro Italia will open at 7:30 a.m. for the exciting BMW BoxerCup. Superbike racing starts at 10:30 a.m.

Pro Italia Los Angeles
3319 N Verdugo Road
Glendale, CA 91208

818 249-5707
[email protected]

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Wednesday Morning AMA Formula Xtreme Practice Times:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.248
2. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.230
3. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:54.243
4. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR600RR, 1:54.335
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:54.923
6. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:55.644
7. Jeff Wood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.744
8. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.904
9. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.992
10. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:58.285
11. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.709
12. Jason Smith, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.932
13. Frank Trombino, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.088
14. Nathan Hester, 2:00.378
15. Marcus Winfree, 2:01.313
16. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:01.763
17. Nathan Dressman, 2:02.614
18. Adam Vella, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:06.385
19. Randy Rega, Buell XB12R, 2:10.606
20. Jay Jacobson, 2:11.427