From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

First Among Equals

No global race class is a better test of machinery than the World Supersport Championship. Featuring close to production spec machines, with relatively few modifications and DOT tyres, Supersport is a true proving ground of the track readiness of any particular machine.

In 2003 the Honda CBR600RR made its spectacularly successful appearance on the World Supersport scene. Honda riders took 16 podium finishes including seven out of 11 wins – and six out of 11 pole positions.

With a second year of off-season machine development and increased experience of the CBR600RR, the officially supported Honda teams in World Supersport are primed for another year of exciting competition, in what is normally one of the most closely contested series in the world.

Six riders, in three teams will feel the benefit of Honda-supported status. The Ten Kate Honda squad has provided the set-up for the past two World Supersport Champions, Fabien Foret in 2002 and Chris Vermeulen in 2003. This year an all-Australian pairing of Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes will ride in the distinctive solid yellow livery of the Ten Kate squad. Each is a proven entity in Supersport, with Muggeridge the more experienced of the two.

Former World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenbock lends his name to the Klaffi Honda team, and for the 2004 season he has relied on a mix of experience and youth in his Austrian-based team. Frenchman Sebastien Charpentier was a revelation when he joined Klaffi midway through the season in 2003, securing a podium finish and enough points in only nine races to end his year in the top seven. His team-mate this time around is young German battler Max Neukirchner, a relative four-stroke novice but a highly regarded investment for the future however immediate or long term.

Team Italia Megabike exists to promote Italian riders into the higher echelons of racing and this year the team’s tie up with Alessio Corradi and Denis Sacchetti takes place on supported Honda CBR600RRs. Corradi is a former European Champion and recent podium finisher in World Supersport while Sacchetti is the latest in a long line of Team Italia riders looking to break into the rarefied atmosphere of the World Championships.

The powerful wing beat of Honda’s awesome CBR600RR will propel all six factory backed riders from Australia to Imola, Brands Hatch to Valencia, as once more Honda’s unquenchable spirit of competition forms the vanguard of this intense World Championship competition.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Via e-mail from Connie Kassel:

Nicky Wimbauer Concludes Successful Test At Misano

American Nicky Wimbauer, who turns 16 this month, will race the Italian National Supersport Championship for Team Trasimeno in 2004. Team Manager Moreno Bacchini will also support Wimbauer during three rounds of the Supersport World Championship with two Belgarda-kitted 2004 Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport bikes.

Wimbauer recently tested at Misano with Team Trasimeno in cold conditions (about 49 degrees F) which forced caution. But Wimbauer was able to get within 1.1 seconds of the lap times turned by European Supersport veteran Massimo Biscounti, 25, who also rides for Team Trasimeno.

Wimbauer said after the test, “Even their 2003 bike feels pretty strong and I like the bike’s handling which is similar to my WERA series 2003 R6. I just wanted to get some seat time and learn the track, the team and the bike. I am very excited for this season.”

From a press release issued by WERA West:

WERA West Roadracing Update

The WERA West Roadracing series begins March 13th & 14th at California Speedway in Fontana, CA. “Several Suzuki SV650 riders and Novice riders want to know what the WERA program offers them” states David Pyles, President of Fastrack Riders and WERA West, “so we have decided to put out little news blurbs about various classes and competition as we get closer to our inaugural event the second weekend in March”.

Under WERA rules Suzuki SV650’s can run in four different race classes. Light Weight Twins Super stock (LWTSS), Light Weight Twins Superbike (LWTSB), Formula II (F2), and Heavyweight twins (HWT). The first two classes are comprised of mostly SV650 machines so they offer two classes these bikes can run in and compete for championships. The other two classes these bikes will not be as competitive but it does allow them to run in two additional classes giving any SV650 rider plenty of classes to run in over a weekend.

One of the exciting things about WERA (and there are many) is their Novice program. Novice riders compete for points in their own level even if their race is combined with another Expert group. Also, Novice Riders can compete in the WERA National Challenge Series for points and recognition on a national level. “WERA has a great Novice Riders program that is better than most because each Novice Rider can compete for a championship at the local region or on a national level as well” according to Larry Pointer, Vice President of Operations, “The great thing about WERA is it offers so much opportunity for all riders to compete regionally and nationally.”

“A bulletin will be released later this week that will outline all the classes various motorcycles can compete in a simplified format so everyone can easily understand which classes they can compete in each race weekend.” offers David Pyles. “It can be confusing racing with different organizations and how each structures their classes. This cheat sheet will make it real easy and cover 80% of all bikes that typically compete.”

From a press release issued by Super Dave Rosno:

Daytona 200 Party with Super Dave

Sportsman’s Park Yamaha will have a Daytona 200 party on March 6, 2004.

Other Sportsman’s Park sponsored riders Mark Stiles, 2003 AMA 250 GP rider; Meghan Stiles, CCS racer featured in Roadracing World Young Guns; and Dave Rosno, Owner of Visionsports Riding Schools and rider for “Super Dave’s Race Against Childhood Cancer,” will be in attendance.

A drawing will be held for the winner of a Visionsports Riding Schools’ Skills & Thrills program. This will include a free rental of Vanson Leathers. Individuals can sign up for the drawing at Sportsman’s Park Yamaha until the close of the party.

“Super Dave’s Race Against Childhood Cancer” shirts and stickers will be available for purchase during the party. A major portion of the sales go toward the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer to fund cancer research.

Sportsman’s Park Yamaha is located about five miles south on Interstate 43 on Highway 50 in Delavan, Wisconsin.

More details are available from Sportsman’s Park at (262)728-6037.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Registration for the February 25 Team Hammer track day and for the February 26-29 F-USA/CCS races at Daytona has been moved to behind the speedway, near the chicane.

Parking for rigs is available at the new location.

Click here to see a map of the new location.

From a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM RELEASE
Eastern Creek circuit, Australia
Saturday February 21 2004

CHECA REVS YAMAHA’S NEW R1 AT EASTERN CREEK

Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha rider Carlos Checa took advantage of his sojourn in Australia today when he dropped in on the World Press Test of Yamaha’s new model R1 at the Eastern Creek circuit near Sydney, Australia. The Spaniard impressed attending journalists with several speedy outings aboard the bike at the former MotoGP venue, where he last competed in the 500cc class in 1996.

The press test sees around 120 international journalists pass in and out of the Sydney area over a six-week period, testing both the new R1 and Yamaha’s XT 660R and XT 660X models. Checa arrived on the scene today directly from his arduous pre-season Yamaha MotoGP testing programme, which in 2004 has already sent him twice to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, and in the past week to the Phillip Island circuit near Melbourne.

Checa is no stranger to Yamaha’s new R1 model, having tried it out at the bike’s launch at the French Paul Ricard circuit towards the end of 2003. He was equally delighted with the bike’s power after today’s laps, commenting, “This was a great way to have fun, especially on such a good track. I’m very impressed by this bike, the performance is good, it handles lightly and well, and is a real pleasure to ride. When the original R1 first came on the market I got one, and the performance of the R1 model has increased since then. This bike might become my number one passion outside racing! It’s not just good to ride but I really like the look of it. I’ve just moved from the north of England down to London and the weather is normally quite bad, but this is the kind of bike that even if it was too wet to ride, I would keep it in my garage and look at it every day!”

Checa will return to Australia for Yamaha Factory Racing’s next test at the Phillip Island circuit on 9,10,11 March.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Fastrack Riders has canceled its two events scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, February 21-22, at California Speedway in Fontana, California due to weather forecasts calling for rain, according to Fastrack Operations Manager Larry Pointer.

Pointer said Fastrack would be sending out a mass e-mail to its members to inform them of the cancelation.

For additional information, call (877) 560-2233, e-mail [email protected], or go to www.fastrackriders.com

From Sport Tire Services, which for some reason keeps sending us press releases:

Press Release: S.T.S. Paso Robles, California

Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, Post record road racing tire contingencies in U.S.

In 2004 Dunlop posts $2,083,750 to motorcycle racers nation wide. That is up 12% from 2003 calendar year postings.

To be eligible, riders must race with a club that is registered with and has Dunlop postings. (i.e.. WERA, CCS, WSMC, AFM and many more) Also must have Dunlop tires front and rear, and have Dunlop stickers on each side of the front fender (one size only) and each side of the fairing (12 inch min.), and have Dunlop patches on the shoulder of their leathers.

Details on class and payouts are now available from your local club, or from, Sport Tire Services 800-776-8473. (For racers west of the Mississippi)

Or Race Tire Service at 800-772-8473 (For racers east of the Mississippi)