From a press release issued by Kawasaki’s PR agency:

KAWASAKI TO FOCUS ON SUPERSTOCK AND SUPERSPORT IN 2004

Company releases Eric Bostrom to pursue personal career objectives

IRVINE, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2003)—Bruce Stjernstrom, director of professional racing for Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., today announced the company’s decision not to contest the 2004 AMA Superbike Series, and instead to concentrate on the Superstock and Supersport series races. At the same time, he indicated that Kawasaki would release the company’s Superbike racer, Eric Bostrom, to pursue his personal career objectives.

“Our decision is to put our team effort behind the Superstock and Supersport series at a time when the AMA’s Superbike series is being restructured,” said Stjernstrom. “Eric’s contributions to the team and Kawasaki have been enormous over the past several years, and there’s just no way we could stand in his way once the decision was made to not race the Superbike series,” he continued.

According to Stjernstrom, team management discussed the company’s 2004 plans with Bostrom and a mutual agreement was reached, which the director of racing says “is a prime example of the respect that exists between the two parties.”

“Kawasaki certainly wishes only the best for Eric in the future,” concluded Stjernstrom.



See related posts:

11/13/2003 Kawasaki Tests At Thunderhill, Without Bostrom

11/13/2003 Manager Denies That Eric Bostrom Is Considering U.S. Superbike Deal With Ducati

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy’s team make strides forward with Walker

Carl Fogarty was provided with immediate proof of the value of new signing Chris Walker during his Foggy PETRONAS Racing team’s two-day test at Valencia.

Chris was in action on the FP1 for the first time since signing for FPR and joined team-mate Troy Corser in the first chance to test the Pirelli tyres that all World Superbike championship teams will be using for the 2004 season.

But the focus of four-times world champion Foggy was firmly on his new man, who has replaced fellow Brit James Haydon.

Carl said: “This has been one of the best tests I have been to and the atmosphere within the team has been really positive. Chris had a few mechanical problems on the second day but the first day went very well. He loved the bike from the word go, especially the way it handled in the corners. And I was very surprised to see that he was nearly as fast as Troy at such an early stage. Chris did not really have much of a chance to test the Pirelli tyres, but Troy went very well on them on the second day.

“I was very impressed with Troy’s performance. He did around 16 laps on the same tyre, with his last lap quicker than the first. I don’t think I ever saw that with our Michelins. We still have a bit of work to find the perfect tyre for our bike but Troy said the Pirelli tyres gave good consistent grip throughout. So everything looks good for exciting racing and close competition in the championship next year.”

Chris had finished the first day with a best time of 1:38.2, just half a second down on his team-mate. But, while Troy broke into the 1:36s, mechanical problems prevented Chris from making progress with lap times on the second day.

Chris commented: “I spent the first day familiarising with the bike and the way the team works, but I was unable to make much progress on the second day because of a few problems with the bike. But I already know that the bike does certain things very well. All I can do at this early stage is use Troy as a benchmark and I was only half a second behind him on the first day which was very encouraging. I didn’t get much chance to test the new tyres but there will be time for that.”

Troy said: “I was doing lap times today as good as the ones at our last test here, with similar engine performance. It is still early days in our selection but the signs are that the one-tyre rule is going to work well for the championship.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Mat Mladin was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus in the middle of the 2003 season and won the AMA Superbike Championship despite suffering extreme fatigue caused by the virus.

Epstein-Barr virus is a herpes virus that causes acute infectious mononucleosis, with symptoms that include extreme fatigue, sore throat and fever. There is no cure for the disease, although symptoms usually decrease within a few months.

Responding today via e-mail to a Roadracingworld.com rumor-control inquiry made yesterday, Mladin wrote:

“I was diagnosed with the virus about a month after Laguna. As everybody is aware I pulled out of the WSB second race (at Laguna). It was in mine and the other competitors’ best interest that I did this as about 10 laps into the first race things started to happen that were a little scary, double vision, etc. I actually struggled to hold myself up under braking and just felt like lying on the tank.

“At Pikes Peak I started feeling a little funny and run down, I thought that maybe I had overtrained and everything would return to normal after a rest.

“I didn’t think anything else of it until Laguna on Saturday afternoon after the AMA race and I could hardly get off the bike from fatigue. I said to my wife that something is wrong. I went and had all the usual bloodwork and stuff done and was told that I have Epstein-Barr.

“A few weeks before Laguna my training was going nowhere and generally I was feeling tired. Alot of people noticed after the Ohio races that I was in bad shape. After the first race I couldn’t see straight again. Having that battle with Kurtis (Roberts) really took it out of me. Walking onto the podium was an all-out effort.

“After Ohio was when the diagnosis was made, so I told my boys that I have to rest as much as possible to keep as much gas in the tank as possible for racing. We started doing a lot less laps than normal and at a much lower intensity during practice and qualifying. There was a lot of stuff going on but we ended up getting the job done and that’s all that counts.

“I learnt alot about training, recovery and myself through all this. I am feeling much better already. I have four months till Daytona and I will be in my best shape ever for 2004 to go for (AMA Superbike Championship) number five.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Zonghshen manager Michel Marqueton has confirmed that the team will switch from the Endurance World Championship to the Superbike World Championship for 2004 and 2005, and has revealed that participating teams have to pay Pirelli $45,000 per rider for spec tires.

The Zongshen team won the Endurance World Championship in 2002. In 2003 the team won the first five races of the eight-race series and took pole for all but one race.

“Yes, it’s true,” wrote Marqueton in an e-mail response to an inquiry from Roadracingworld.com. “I signed an agreement with Paolo Flamini, to participate at the World Superbike Championship with Warwick Nowland and Piergiorgio Bontempi.” Marqueton added that the team will continue to run GSX-R1000 Suzukis.

“For 2004 we switched to SBK for two reasons,” explained Marqueton. “The main reason is that, in China all the major media are interested in what we do. It’s not like in occidental countries, where only the specialized media speak about motorcycle racing. China is the biggest motorcycle producer of the world. Chinese people like everything new and everything fashionable. Racing is also a fashion. If we don’t create something new, few by few, people will forget us and it will be lost for China, because we are actually the only Chinese team participating in a World Championship.

“Now, I would like to bring a new World Championship title to China. As long as we are growing, people are interested. I don’t want to do like some of teams, spending all their life in endurance. After one world title, I think there is no more value to get another one. Anyway, I still have a lot of work to do. After SBK, there is GP and after GP, there is industry.

“The second reason, is more personal. In 2003, the winner of the World Endurance Championship did not win any race, did not take any pole position, where is the racing? Look also the case of A1 Ring. All the teams feel cheated, except one. Where are the rules?

“About the new tire rule, the idea is very nice, to make everybody equal. But this is a little bit less nice for the teams which were sponsored by a tire maker (like us). This coming year, I will pay $90,000 for two bikes. I prefer spending this money at restaurant… but now, we will get the certitude that all the teams, included factories, will get the same tires.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

In response to reader inquiries:

The Army Captain we know who sent us periodic reports on what is really going on in Iraq, is back in the United States and will not be returning to the Middle East.

The last dispatch from our correspondent–who will remain anonymous–was posted September 15. Previous reports were posted September 8, August 15, July 19, June 21, June 12, June 3 and May 21.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kawasaki tested at Thunderhill Park in Willows, California yesterday and today, without Eric Bostrom.

Tommy Hayden, Roger Lee Hayden and Tony Meiring rode a mix of 2004 ZX-6RR and ZX-10R Kawasakis.

Eric Bostrom is said to be sitting out the test because he hurt his shoulder during recent tests at Homestead. Tommy Hayden also tested at Homestead, but Roger Lee Hayden and Meiring did not.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sources close to the deal say that Eric Bostrom is considering riding a Superbike fielded by Ducati Austin in the 2004 AMA Superbike series.

What brand of tires the bike will run on–Dunlop versus Michelin–is a major factor in negotiations.

Kawasaki’s decision to not run a Superbike in the 2004 AMA series is said to have been a factor in the opening of negotiations involving Bostrom and Ducati. Details of Bostrom’s contract with Kawasaki, and whether or not the contract specifically refers to the Superbike class, are unknown.

But Eric Bostrom’s manager, Norm Viano, denied the report.

In an e-mail to Roadracing World, Viano said the report was, “Completely untrue. We’re happy with Kawasaki and are, in fact, in a two-year deal with them. Not sure where you are getting that info.”

Despite the denial, an involved sponsor insists negotiations for the 2004 season have taken place, and sources at Kawasaki say that the company was quietly looking at possible replacement riders last week.

From a press release issued by Alice Aprilia Racing:

MotoGP: Shane Byrne!

Shane “Shakey” Byrne is the chosen one to tame in the Moto GP 2004 one of Noale’s Aprilia Cube. The new union between the Italian firm and the British rider, winner in England’s last Superbike championship, has been formalized during the meeting with Mr. Beggio. Not bad for a rider who is considered to be one of the best in UK.

British motorcycling passionate have been waiting a long time for a young champion comparable to the great Barry Sheene, winner in the 500 category in 1967 and in 1977. Shane Byrne’s double victory in Brands Hatch, this year, probably means that the long wait is finally over. Only 26 year old, Shane is only one year older than the famous Sheene, who won when only 25, and is also four years younger than Neil Hodgson, Superbike’s winner in 2003. Shane Byrne is definitely a new force in motorcycling; his name sounds like the as-well known Irish rugby player so that supporters call him “Shakey” to not confuse him with “Munch”.

“When I was first called by Aprilia, I almost didn’t believe it – Byrne said – who today visited for the first time the racing section of Noale’s factory-I realized that it was true only when I left for Valencia, the last GP of the season, to meet the chief of the racing activities, Jan Witteveen. I was really excited to get on the Rs “Cube” for the first time, it really was amazing!”

Byrne’s name, after the double victory in Brands Hatch, was on many firms notepad. “It’s true, I had few other offers to compete in the Superbike championship – revealed Shakey – but Aprilia’s one won them easily because my dream was to race in the Moto Gp. What convinced me more, beside the good project, was the fact that was precisely from Aprilia that riders such as Max Biaggi and Valentino Rossi started. They are my heroes, as other riders in the “queen” category, and the thought of riding close to them gave me an enormous motivation.

Beside the results Shane Byrne is a though guy. “I know that the first year will be difficult -he admits- I’ll have to learn the environment and the tracks and in the mean time help Aprilia developing the motorbike. It’s not going to be easy, but I will dedicate myself to it totally. During the next few days I’ll try to decide whether is better to stay in England or move to Italy. Everything happened so fast that I haven’t got any time to focus on the details.”

Motocross, travels and snowboard passionate Shakey relaxes himself with long walks in the countryside together with his dog.

HIS CAREER

1988 – Debut in the Trial with one victory in four competitions

1993 – Motocross four victories in five months

1996 – His debut with a Kawasaki. A broken wrist closed his season in advance.

1997 – Supersport 600 Champion. First National victory in Cadwell Park

1998 – National Supersport Championship, 6th. One victory in Snetterton

1999 – National Superbike Championship with a Harris-Kawasaki ZX-7RR. 5th and 6th place

2000 – Shifts to Honda racing on a SP-1.5th place in Brands Hatch.

2001 – Riding a Suzuki he collected three fifth places and gets 20 times among the first eight positions. Two fourth places in Oulton Park and Brands Hatch made of him the best private in the championship.

2002 – Riding a Ducati 998 R Testastretta wins in Donington, in Knockhill and in Thruxton. He is the fourth in the championship with three fast laps.

2003 – Riding a Ducati ex Hislop Byrne wins the championship two competitions before the end with nine victories on eleven races. Three pole positions and seven fast laps crown his season. The double victory in England’s Gp comes soon after.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Dennis Noyes

Fila Ducati factory rider Regis Laconi did two race simulations on the Ducati 999F03 at Valencia today, lapping consistently in the low 1:36s, clocking a best time on a race tire of 1:35.9. His best time on a qualifier was 1:35.6. Conditions were dry and chilly.

Teammate James Toseland had a quick time of 1:36.4 on a race tire and did not use a qualifier.

Top Petronas rider was Troy Corser who lapped in 1:36.9 on a race tire and did not use a qualifier. New teammate Chris Walker’s best time in only his second day on the Malaysian Triple was 1:38.2. Corser was finding it hard to ride around chatter problems on the Triple. “We tried lots of different constructions and compounds but couldn’t get past the chattering. We gave Pirelli our input and now they will go back and try and build a tire that works for us.”

Considering that this was the first time Superbike riders have run on the new generation of Pirelli slicks, team managers, riders and Pirelli technicians were pleased, especially with the Ducati performance, but that might be expected since Ducati has worked with Pirelli in the past and since the D.F.X. Ducati team ran Pirellis last year.

Most promising was the 17-lap stint in the 36s put in by Laconi–a pace that would have secured him a podium position at the World Superbike opener run at Valencia this spring but was not quite on the pace to match factory riders Neil Hodgson and Rubén Xaus who finished one-two in both races. A Solo Moto journalist who observed the three days of testing from trackside reported by phone from the circuit, “Laconi seemed to be very comfortable in the 1:36 range. I timed all his laps and can verify that he did 17 consecutive laps in the 36s and broke into the high-35s twice. The times I got were confirmed by Pirelli. It looked like he was not having any trouble running those times.”

Giorgio Barbier of Pirelli said, “We are very happy with the way this test went because this is the first time we have had a major test of our mass productions. Until now our slicks have been made one at a time in a laborious process. This was a big step forward, but it is only the beginning.”

The Chinese ZongShen team of Warwick Noland and Piergiorgio Bontempi did 38.5 and 38.3 respectfully on their heavy (185 kilo) and under-powered (160 horsepower) endurance-spec Suzukis. The team will contest the SBK championship.

The Alstare Corona Suzuki team was present but only in Supersport. It looks increasingly as if Suzuki will not back the team in the Superbike Championship.

Best Supersport time was by Jurgen Van den Goorbergh on the Belgarda Yamaha R6 in 1:38.0. His new teammate, Fabien Foret, very pleased with the Yamaha and with the Pirellis, lapped in 1:38.3 but crashed at the end of the third day, slightly injuring his thumb. Both Ten Kate Honda riders, Broc Parkes and Karl Muggeridge were said by the team to have done 1:38.3, a full second faster than Lorenzo Lanzi on the new Ducati 749. Stephane Chambon was the quickest Suzuki Supersport rider in 1:38.9.

It is far too early to tell how the switch to Pirelli will go in the Superbike class, but the first tests showed that the huge gap in times that some pessimists feared did not materialize, at least not at Valencia.


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

LACONI AND TOSELAND MAKE 999 DEBUT FOR DUCATI AT VALENCIA

Valencia (Spain), 13 November 2003: The Ducati Fila 2004 World Superbike championship pairing of Regis Laconi and James Toseland made their first appearance for the team this week as they completed a three-day testing session at the Valencia circuit in Spain, organised by Pirelli. The Italian manufacturer will be official one-make tyre supplier for next season’s World Superbike, World Supersport and European Superstock championships.

The 28-year-old Frenchman, who finished fourth in this year’s championship, was quick right from the start of the test on Tuesday and ended up with a time of 1:35.6 on qualifying tyres, which was the quickest time recorded in the three days. During his total of 215 laps, Laconi also did several long-runs, setting a quickest time of 1:35.9.

“It’s the first time I have ridden the 999 after following them around all year so I’m very happy!” declared Regis. “Ducati have made the 999 fast, it’s so enjoyable to ride and I’m already working very well with the team. We have a good feeling with the bike and we did a lot of work in these days, testing a lot of tyres and changing the settings. The front tyre is already OK and good for my style of riding and it’s important to set a good lap time right at the start.”

Britain’s James Toseland also got to grips with the championship-winning Ducati 999 and Pirelli rubber for the first time and the 23 year-old from Sheffield was pleased with his time of 1:36.4, recorded during a total of 195 laps.

“It’s all new for me and the only thing familiar is the track!” joked Toseland. “The first three days have been difficult as I knew they would be, but we’ve just got to get into the massive learning curve. The chassis and the riding style of the 999 are very different so we’re working hard on that as well. It’s all just a confidence-building exercise really. I’m pleasantly surprised with the way everything went and we’re not far off the times I set earlier this year. If we improve like this, I know it’s going to be a good championship.”

Lorenzo Lanzi continued testing with the Ducati 749R the Italian will race in the 2004 World Supersport championship, setting a quickest time of 1:39.3 in his 180 laps.



More, from a press release issued by Belgarda Yamaha:

Team Yamaha Belgarda Newsletter

Date: Thursday 13th November 2003
Circuit: Communitat Valenciana- Day 3

SUCCESSFUL TEST FOR TEAM YAMAHA BELGARDA
Team Yamaha Belgarda concluded three days of tests at Valencia this afternoon and left the Ricardo Tormo circuit delighted with the progress they made. New signing Fabien Foret crashed and hurt his left hand almost at the end of proceedings, but even that didn’t deter from his satisfaction with his R6 and new team and he is already looking forward to the next test. Jurgen set the quickest Supersport time over the three days and was very happy at the end of the test.

JURGEN VD GOORBERGH
130 laps (3 day total), best lap – 1:38.00
Generally I’m very content with what we’ve done here. We’ve tried lots of things and I think it’s been a very productive test for us all. We’ve gained a lot of information and now we’ll take that back to our workshops and use it to get ready for our next tests. The good news is that we know which direction to go and now when the next season begins, I will be ready straightaway. I will not be learning a new bike and new circuits – like I had to this year.

FABIEN FORET
161 laps (3 day total), best lap – 1:38.30
That was a very good test and I am happy with everything so far. At the end I crashed and maybe it was my fault. The tyre was a new one and maybe it hadn’t got up to temperature and I highsided in turn one. I banged my left hand and maybe cracked a little bone in my thumb, but it’s nothing really and I’ll be OK for the next test for sure. I am particularly happy because I feel I made some good progress today and although my times really weren’t any better, I felt much more comfortable on the bike. I did a run of about 15 laps, all in the 1:38s, so that made me very happy. It’s a shame about the crash, but I’m glad it happened right at the end of three days instead of at the start! I’m looking forward to the next test and getting my leg over the R6 again. I think I’m going to enjoy myself next year!

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Mies, November 13

Superbike & Supersport World Championships
Changes to the Technical Regulations – Tyres

The following amendments to the Superbike and Supersport Technical Regulations have been approved:

2.4.6.7 Tyres (Superbike)

1) Tyres may be replaced from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle.

2) The use of tyre warmers is allowed.

3) At each event, during free practices, qualifying practices, Superpole, warm up and races, a maximum of 15 rear and 11 front tyres may be used. Front and rear wet tyres will be included in the total quantity count. A Technical Steward must mark all of these tyres.

During free practices, qualifying practices, Superpole, warm up and races, no motorcycle may enter the track without the front and rear tyres being marked.

If the riders are given a red flag during a race (or during the Superpole for reasons beyond rider’s control) the FIM Technical Director may allow an additional set of tyres to be used.

For each race, one extra set of tyres can be put on the second motorcycle to have it ready for substitution on the grid in case of failure of the first motorcycle.

4) The competitors must use only the tyres distributed during the event by the Official Supplier.

All tyres to be used must be easily identifiable with a colour marking or a numerical system to be applied by the Official Supplier at the time of manufacturing.

At the beginning of the event, the Official Supplier must deliver to the FIM Technical Director 4 samples of each type of tyre which will be used at the event.

When the Official Supplier delivers the samples of the tyres to the FIM Technical Director, he must also give a written explanation of the marking and the general characteristics of the different types of tyres.

The FIM Technical Director may, at his discretion, require the exchange of one or more competitors’ tyres for a tyre sample under his control. The tyres exchanged remain under his control and he can exchange them for the ones of another competitor.

2.5.6.7 Tyres (Supersport)

1) Tyres must be a fully moulded type carrying all size and sidewall marking of the tyres for commercial sale to the public. Tyres of V and Z rating must be used. The depth of the tyre treads must be at least 2.5 mm over the entire tyre pattern width at a pre-race control. The tyres must have a positive and negative tread of 96% positive and minimum 4% negative (land and sea ratio). The maximum distance from the external edge of the tyre to 50% of the tread elements is 35 mm.

One size for the front and two sizes for the rear are allowed. Each size, front and rear, must be available with the same tread pattern as the commercial tyres for the road use. The manufacturers may only submit one front and rear pattern for approval. The previously approved tyre pattern will remain valid until one year after the introduction of a new approved tyre pattern.

The FIM/CCR will grant the approval. The manufacturers must submit the tyre for approval 30 days prior to its first use. Templates proving the land and sea ratio must be included. The tyres must have a DOT and/or E mark. The DOT and/or E mark must appear on the tyre sidewall.

Only when a race or practice has been declared “wet”, the use of a special tyre commonly known as a full wet tyre is allowed. Wet tyres must be a fully moulded tyre, no hand cutting is allowed on moulded tyres. The use of hand cut tyres is not allowed. Wet tyres do not need to carry DOT or E marks; however these tyres must be marked “Not for Highway Use” or “NHS”.

At each event, during free practices, qualifying practices, warm up and the race, a maximum of 11 rear and 9 front tyres may be used. A Technical Steward must mark all of these tyres.

During free practices, qualifying practices, warm up and the race, no motorcycle may enter the track without the front and rear tyres being marked.

If the riders are given a red flag during the race, the FIM Technical Director may allow an additional set of tyres to be used.

For the race, one extra set of tyres can be put on the second motorcycle to have it ready for substitution on the grid in case of failure of the first motorcycle.

2) The competitors must use only the tyres distributed during the event from the Official Supplier.

All tyres to be used must be easily identifiable with a colour marking or a numerical system to be applied by the Official Supplier at the time of manufacturing.

At the beginning of the event, the Official Supplier must deliver to the FIM Technical Director 4 samples of each type of tyre which will be used at the event.

When the Official Supplier delivers the samples of the tyres to the FIM Technical Director, he must also give a written explanation of the marking and the general characteristics of the different types of tyres.

The FIM Technical Director may, at his discretion, require the exchange of one or more competitors’ tyres for a tyre sample under his control. The tyres exchanged remain under his control and he can exchange them for the ones of another competitor.