From a press release issued by series organizers:

SUPERBIKE DOUBLES UP IN ‘04

TORONTO, ON An additional doubleheader round highlights a busy 2004 Parts Canada Superbike Championship schedule. Canada’s national motorcycle road racing series will consist of eight rounds at six venues across the country.

For the second straight year Mosport International Raceway will stage two point scoring races on its traditional mid-July date. But another doubleheader is slated for Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park. The Race City event also has a new date, moving from its early June slot to the July 2-4 weekend.

The Mosport twin bill follows just two weeks later, July 15-18, setting up a critical early season stretch in the battle for the Canadian number one plate.

In another new twist, the doubleheader weekends will include two feature races for both the Parts Canada Superbike and Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike classes. Previously, only the Superbike category ran two races on the doubleheader weekend.

The third national class, the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class will run one feature race on the doubleheader weekends.

As usual, the Parts Canada Superbike season will open and close at Shannonville Motorsport Park, near Belleville, ON. The 1.53-mile ‘Pro’ Track hosts the season opener May 20-23 while the title chases wrap up on the 2.5-mile ‘Long’ Track Sept. 3-5.

Following the two doubleheader weekends in July, the series moves to Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS for round 6 Aug. 6-8. That event is followed by a round at the scenic Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, just north of Montreal Aug. 19-22.

“The doubleheader round at Mosport was a great success last year so we are excited to expand the format further,” said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsport Productions, organizer of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. “We have run the doubleheader format at Calgary in the past. It is a popular venue for our series and it gives us a second points scoring event in western Canada.”

The Race City facility is undergoing significant safety upgrades in preparation for the 2004 season and beyond. By the time the Canadian tour hits Calgary track officials expect to have completed modifications to turn 11, the exit of the Carousel.

“We’re going to open up the corner so that if a rider goes down there he has more space to clear the track,” said Race City owner Art MacKenzie.

Race City will wrap up its 2004 race season early next fall to allow time to continue upgrades to the road course.

“The doubleheader at our track will be great for the western racers,” MacKenzie added. “I know it’s expensive for the eastern teams to come west, but its moreso for our guys to head back east, so it’s nice for them to have an extra event in which to pick up some points early in the season.”

All eight rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship will be shown during the season on TSN, The Sports Network with further television arrangements to be announced shortly. Each doubleheader will produce two separate television episodes.

2004 Parts Canada Superbike Championship Schedule
Round 1 May 20-23, Shannonville Motorsport Park (Pro Track), Shannonville, ON

Round 2 July 2-3, Race City Motorsport Park, Calgary, AB

Round 3 July 3-4, Race City Motorsport Park, Calgary, AB

Round 4 July 15-17, Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, ON

Round 5 July 15-18, Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, ON

Round 6 Aug. 6-8, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Shubenacadie, NS

Round 7 Aug. 19-22, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant, QC

Round 8 Sept. 3-5, Shannonville Motorsport Park (Long Track), Shannonville, ON

From a press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki racers Steve Rapp and Vincent Haskovec completed a three-day test at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. The test gave the team valuable track time to test new motorcycles and allowed the riders to evaluate tires for Michelin.

Steve Rapp rode a new 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600 at the test. The veteran, a two-time winner in 2003 for the team, was impressed with the new Supersport machine even though the bike had a completely stock engine due to the recent arrival of the new machine. “The new GSX-R600 is really something, a huge improvement on last year’s version,” Rapp said. “The bike stops like a Superbike due to the improved brakes and the engine works through the rev range quicker than before, plus has a higher rpm limit. Handling is very stable as well.”

Rapp enters his second year with the team and is coming off a successful season. “It’s great to be back,” he said. “The way it worked out, I haven’t been with the same team for two years in a row in a while. Here, the team is very professional, like a full factory team with all the resources. I have a lot of confidence in (Crew Chief) Keith Perry and the crew. Winning those races this past season was a great feeling and I hope we can do it again in 2004.”

New rider Vincent Haskovec made his debut with the team in Daytona. His enthusiasm and infectious personality fit well with his skills as a racer. “Vincent will strengthen the team this year,” Rapp said. “He’s a lot like me. Both of us came up the hard way, club racing and earning whatever we got the hard way. I enjoyed racing with him as a rival this past season in the Superstock class and will enjoy having him as a teammate, especially when it comes to having help evaluating the Michelin tires.”

“I got a good feel for everything, how the bike, the team and the tires work. I was quite pleased,” Hasvovec said.

Vincent is among the first to ride an Formula Xtreme bike since the class has moved to smaller displacement machines and allows Superbike-style modifications for the 2004 season. “Nobody knows how far you can take it, how far you can go. So it will be exciting. The one I rode this weekend was an ’03 project bike built with the new rules in mind, so the final version will be a little different. That bike is gonna be a lot of fun to ride, that’s for sure,” Vincent said. “A little bike like that is nimble, with 16.5 inch tires and Superbike brakes. I can’t wait to ride it again.”

At Michelin’s request, the riders also spent time on the GSX-R1000, evaluating both slicks and treaded tires. “It’s a missile,” said Haskovec. “That bike is unbelievably fast here (at Daytona). Riding by myself, I went 180 miles per hour on the radar gun. By myself! When I got a draft from Steve, I went 182.5. On a 600, this Daytona track has spots where you can conserve your energy because you are just wide open on the throttle, but on the GSX-R1000 there is no time. That bike makes this place like Fontana or Colorado.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The 2004 Honda CBR1000RR Superbike reached 190 mph Monday during its public debut during Dunlop tire tests at Daytona International Speedway.



A reliable source reported that Ben Bostrom reached 190 mph on the CBR1000RR, compared to 184 mph for the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbikes of Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates.

The Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock racebikes were said to reach 183 mph, while the Kawasaki and Attack Kawasaki ZX-10Rs topped 180 mph consistently.



Crewmen from both American Honda and Yoshimura Suzuki recorded top speeds with radar guns from the starter’s flagging stand in Daytona’s tri-oval section.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Several of the factory and factory-supported AMA road racing teams have not officially announced their racing plans for the 2004 season, but most of the details were disclosed Monday morning during the Dunlop tire test at Daytona International Speedway.

American Honda will field Ben Bostrom and Miguel Duhamel on CBR1000RR Superbikes. Duhamel will also race a CBR600RR in the new-for-2004 AMA Formula Xtreme class, but Bostrom will not run the new class all season, instead racing a Honda FX bike at Daytona and possibly in other selected events.

Jake Zemke has taken over what was basically Kurtis Roberts’ ride and will race Superbike on a CBR1000RR and Formula Xtreme on a CBR600RR, both in Erion Honda colors.

Erion Honda will also enter Alex Gobert in Superstock on the CBR1000RR and in Formula Xtreme on the CBR600RR.

American Honda will not race the RC51 in Superbike and will not race in AMA Supersport in 2004, according to Team Manager Chuck Miller.

Yamaha and Graves Yamaha will share Damon Buckmaster, Aaron Gobert, Jason DiSalvo and 2003 AMA Supersport Champion Jamie Hacking. The foursome will ride factory Yamaha YZF-R6s in Supersport and Graves Yamaha-badged Yamaha YZF-R1s in AMA Superstock.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin will look for his fifth AMA Superbike Championship on a GSX-R1000. Mladin’s teammate Aaron Yates will also race in Superbike and in addition will race Supersport on the all-new 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600. 2003 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Ben Spies will race a GSX-R1000 in Superstock and a GSX-R600 in Supersport.

Kawasaki will enter Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden on ZX-6RRs in Supersport and ZX-10Rs in Superstock.

Tony “The Tiger” Meiring will move over to the Attack Kawasaki team and only race Supersport while teammate Josh Hayes will race in AMA Superstock, and possibly Superbike, on the new ZX-10R.

From a press release issued by Club Motorsports:

MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS REVVING UP FOR MOTORSPORTS COUNTRY CLUB IN TAMWORTH, NH

Interest Exceeding Expectations – More Than Fifty Days Reserved by Motorcycle Organizations



DERRY, NH – Club Motorsports, Inc. (CMI), developers of New England’s first motorsports country club (www.clubmotorsports.com), announced today that interest from motorcycle enthusiasts in their recently named Valley Motorsports Park has far exceeded expectations. According to Mike Botan, President of Corse Moto, an affiliate of CMI, motorcycle organizations have already reserved more than fifty “track days” at Valley Motorsports Park’s 3.3-mile European style road course, which is currently under development in Tamworth, New Hampshire.

“Initial response from the motorcycling community has been phenomenal,” said Botan. “It’s clear that motorcycle enthusiasts have been thirsting for this type of facility in the Northeast – a challenging yet safe road course engineered by a world-renowned designer like Alan Wilson. Valley Motorsports Park will allow riders to experience the performance and excitement of their machines in a controlled environment, free from the problems associated with street riding.”

Through Corse Moto (www.corse-moto.com ), motorcycle organizations such as Northeast Sport Bike Association and Sportbike Track Time have reserved more than fifty “track days” at Valley Motorsports Park over the next three years, according to Botan.

Botan said, “These organizations and individuals are very excited by the prospect of having a purpose built motorsports course that will have over three hundred feet of elevation change and four different circuit configurations. Valley Motorsports Park’s country club atmosphere and world class facilities will provide motorcycle enthusiasts with the amenities not normally seen at other race oriented facilities.”

In addition, Corse Moto has reached an agreement with one of the world’s largest and most successful motorcycle road racing schools to offer its course at Valley Motorsports Park. Keith Codes’ California Superbike School, which has trained thousands of motorcyclists in the art of cornering, will be coming to Valley Motorsports Park in August, 2004. The Superbike school trains motorcyclists throughout the United States, Europe and Australia.

A first-of-its-kind concept for New England, the Valley Motorsports Park development is located in wooded land off Route 25 in Tamworth, approximately two miles west of the intersection of Routes 25 and 16. Described as a “ribbon through the woods,” the road course would be available for use by its members, much like a golf course country club.

There would be no stands or stadium seating, as the road course is not designed to be a spectator facility. The $14 million Valley Motorsports Park development includes a 3.3-mile, 21-turn, European-style road course for drivers of cars and motorcycles to develop and practice their driving skills and attend performance and safety driving schools. In addition, Valley Motorsports Park will feature a vehicle dynamics area for driver development, short and long-term garage buildings, locker room and shower facilities, vehicle maintenance facilities, and a professional driving school. The Clubhouse will feature spectacular views of the White Mountains, function rooms, a pool, tennis courts, an automobile museum, additional locker rooms, a closed circuit media center, short-term lodging, and an elegant restaurant on its top floor.

For additional information on CMI’s Valley Motorsports Park, or Corse Moto, please contact Scott Tranchemontagne at 603-625-5713 x222 or [email protected].

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Day one of the three-day Dunlop tire test at Daytona International Speedway ended with American Honda’s Ben Bostrom taking fastest-lap honors.

Bostrom only spent about half of the day on his unpainted carbon-fiber-clad Honda CBR1000RR Superbike but went 1:48.981 to lead all times.

In comparison, Bostrom also took fast-lap honors on the first full day of Dunlop testing at Daytona last December, but the Californian’s time on his ex-Nicky-Hayden RC51 that day was only a 1:49.322. He returned to take pole position for the 2003 Daytona 200 by Arai with a 1:48.376.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin was second-fastest Monday, his 1:49.438 from early in the afternoon holding up well. Mladin rode a Suzuki GSX-R1000 fitted with stock throttle bodies, a stock airbox, developmental bodywork and a re-shaped (to accommodate the stock airbox) 24-liter endurance fuel tank. Mladin said he has not been doing any physical training and has only been resting since the end of the season due to his affliction with Epstein-Barr virus.

On day one of last year’s Dunlop tire test at Daytona, Mladin only went 1:50.076.

The big news of the day was the exceptional speed exhibited by the new Superstock machines, the quickest of which was the Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 of Jamie Hacking.

Hacking and teammate Jason DiSalvo swapped fastest Superstock lap times in the closing moments of Monday’s session, but Hacking’s 1:49.552 won out over DiSalvo’s 1:49.853.

Both Hacking’s and DiSalvo’s times were quicker than Aaron Yates’ 1:49.877, turned on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike.

“It’s pretty cool that Yamaha can build a production bike that can run with the Superbikes,” said DiSalvo. “This year the Superstock class is going to be all about who can get traction, who can get hooked up.”

Halfway through the afternoon, Jake Zemke took over the reigns of the lone Honda CBR1000RR Superbike and managed a best time of 1:50.047 in limited laps.

Hacking also had the quickest Supersport lap time of Monday afternoon at 1:53.105, but DiSalvo’s 1:52.792 from the morning session was the fastest Supersport time overall.


Monday afternoon lap times (as provided by AMA Pro Racing Timing & Scoring):

1. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:48.981
2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:49.438
3. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:49.552
4. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:49.853
5. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:49.877
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:50.047
7. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock, 1:51.143
8. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:51.472
9. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock, 1:51.592
10. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock, 1:52.063
11. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:52.517
12. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:53.105
13. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:53.109
14. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:53.246
15. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:53.783
16. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6RR Supersport, 1:53.786
17. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR Supersport, 1:54.469
18. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R600 Supersport, 1:55.323
19. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:55.397
20. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:55.5*
21. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR Supersport, 1:56.04*
22. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6RR Supersport, 1:56.085

* times provided by team

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Long-time CMRA official Claire McMahan died Monday morning in a hospital in Alabama, from cancer.

Claire McMahan and her husband, Barry McMahan Sr., were retirees who both worked as CMRA officials. They recently resigned their posts with CMRA and moved from Texas to Alabama, where their son, AMA race mechanic Barry McMahan, Jr., lives.

Details will follow as available.

Condolences may be sent c/o 22559 Smith Rd., Athens, AL 35611.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Four-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin was the fastest rider Monday morning at the start of the three-day Dunlop tire test at Daytona International Speedway. Mladin turned a time of 1:50.388 on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, which was equipped with stock throttle bodies and airbox, and was heard reporting to his Crew Chief Peter Doyle, “I can do that (time) easy.”

Ben Bostrom was second-fastest on the brand new American Honda CBR1000RR Superbike with a 1:51.957, within his first 10 laps on the machine. Bostrom was heard telling the half-dozen HRC engineers, “You did a good job on the bike. It’s awesome. It’s so fast.” The huge smile on Bostrom’s face added weight to his words.

Third-fastest overall Monday morning was Jason DiSalvo on his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport bike with a 1:52.792, which is just off Miguel Duhamel’s 2003 Supersport pole time of 1:52.785. DiSalvo swore his time was legitimate and not done by cutting the chicane. “And I did it pretty much without a draft, so I’m pretty happy about that,” said DiSalvo.


Monday morning test times (as provided by AMA Pro Racing Timing & Scoring at 11:40 a.m. local time):

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:50.388
2. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:51.957
3. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:52.792
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:53.189
5. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:53.559
6. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock, 1:53.594
7. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:54.051
8. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:55.424
9. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR Supersport, 1:55.598
10. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R600 Supersport, 1:56.882
11. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6RR Supersport, 1:59.152
12. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6RR Supersport, 1:59.366

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

CCS Florida at Homestead-Miami Speedway
December 7, 2003

Eric Wood Dominates Homestead

By Lisa Theobald

Penguin Racing School’s Eric Wood dominated at Homestead-Miami Speedway on his GSX-R1000 during the CCS Florida Region 2003 grand finale. Wood won all three of his races after working his way through traffic to get to the front of the field in the GTO, Unlimited Supersport and Unlimited Grand Prix Expert events. “I was a little bit of a ways back and I just tried to put my head down and pick them off one by one,” Wood said after the Unlimited Grand Prix race. “Several were a bit tough.”

This event marked the first time a race was run on the infield course of the track since the banking was widened and the entire oval portion of the track resurfaced. Because of the surface changes, the transition from the back straight to the infield course in turn 10 caused the concern for race officials. Race promoter Henry DeGouw and Penguin Racing School officials met early on Thursday, prior to the weekend event, to set up cones and brake markers to guide the racers through the best possible line into the infield. The resulting low line was a safe, smooth entrance with only a mild dip at the transition from new to old asphalt.

Florida racer Jim Pihokken secured the Regional Number One plate for the 2004 season, beating out contender Alex Ferreira. Pihokken entered the event with a 218-point gap over Ferreira, which closed up to a mere 80-point lead at Ferreira’s final race of the day, Lightweight Supersport. Pihokken was presented with the 2004 Number One plate by this year’s plate holder, Darren Luck.

Pihokken chalked the whole thing up to consistency and said, “I don’t know that I really deserve this thing. I not one of these dominant Champions like Shane Prieto or Marco Martinez. My goal this year was just to win one regional Championship, Heavyweight Superbike. By the middle of the year, I was leading in the points and was flabbergasted. I don’t think this has been done in a long time by a guy with one bike. So really, there was nobody going after it, so I kind of lucked into it.”

From a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Dunlop Tire Testing Underway At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Dec. 8, 2003) — The three-day Dunlop tire test in preparation for the 63rd Daytona 200 By Arai on Saturday, March 6 kicked off Monday at historic Daytona International Speedway.



At the center of attention on the first day of Dunlop tire testing was the debut of the new Honda CBR1000RR with rider Ben Bostrom.

After completing Monday’s session as the fastest rider with a lap of one minute, 48.9 seconds, Bostrom gave the new ride the thumbs-up.
“I’ve never smiled so much on a road race bike before,” Bostrom said. “I don’t want to stop riding the thing. I really love it.”

Bostrom’s solid start to the three-day Dunlop tire test has raised his confidence level for the March 6 Daytona 200 By Arai motorcycle classic, which will be held for the first time in event history on a Saturday.

“I know this thing has a lot of power and tire wear is going to be an issue,” Bostrom said. “The boys are pretty good about setting up the bike. Even if you have to hurt the lap time initially, on the 16th lap, if you can still run a quick lap, that’s the way you’re going to setup the bike. Honda is good about that kind of thing. I’ve got a lot of confidence in them. Dunlop has built us some great tires. This is the best tire I’ve ever had here by far.”

In the 2003 Daytona 200 By Arai, Bostrom was part of one of the most memorable finishes in the race’s 62-year history. On the last lap, Bostrom and fellow Honda riders Miguel Duhamel and Kurtis Roberts were running nose-to-tail.

Exiting the chicane, Duhamel passed Roberts in NASCAR Turn 3 and beat Bostrom to the start/finish line by .069 seconds.

Bostrom believes the experience of that three-bike last lap finish will help him in future drafting battles as he continues to pursue his first Daytona 200 By Arai victory.

“We’re hoping that happens again, but I want to be in first this time,” Bostrom said. “I did learn a few things. I’m going to put that in my pocket and take it to the race in March. It’s all I can do.”

Dunlop tire testing continues on Tuesday and Wednesday. The test session is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand available through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.

Tickets for the Daytona 200 By Arai and the Daytona Supercross By Honda are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling (386) 253-7223.