Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Aprilia USA will be offering demonstration rides on its fleet of 2003 motorcycles April 5-6 at California Speedway. Aprilia’s Mille, Tuono, Falco, Futura and CapoNord models will be among the bikes available for demo rides during the Yamaha Superbike Challenge weekend, according to Aprilia USA Marketing Coordinator Robert Pandya.

Pandya said it was surprising to him that other manufacturers and importers have not arranged to do demo rides especially considering California Speedway has laid out a special, 7.2-mile long demo ride course through the facility’s vast parking lots and has made a special demo ride start/stop point in the Speedway’s infield.

“It’s really nice to be able to do the demo rides on-site,” said Pandya. “They’ve laid out a real twisty, technical course with cones and such, which is also nice considering there aren’t a lot of exciting roads to ride near the Speedway.”

Pandya went on to say that Aprilia USA is putting on a big effort to make its demo fleet available to potential customers by attending 150 events in 2003.

To learn more about Aprilia USA’s demo ride program, go to www.apriliausa.com or call (877) APRILIA.

From a press release issued by the Superbike World Championship press office:

Special Tribute

Two time world 500cc motorcycle champion Barry Sheene will be remembered during a special two wheel tribute at this weekend’s Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island.

Sheene, 52, passed away earlier this month after a battle with cancer, however his old riding rivals have ensured he will be remembered with a special lap of Phillip Island planned.

Sheene’s Classic No 7 1961 Manx Norton racebike will be brought from the Gold Coast for the Superbike event and will be ridden by good friend and team mate Mike Farrell as a precursor to Sunday’s first World Superbike race.

The Manx Norton machine allowed Sheene to continue his passion for racing, with his famed competitive spirit surfacing at Phillip Island’s Annual Island Classic. Sheene set a new Classic lap record for the 4.45km circuit on the Manx when he raced it to victory in the 2002 event. Sheene also competed in the Classic support events at the British Grand Prix at Donington Park in recent years, as well as the Goodwood Classic Festival late last year where he recorded a hard-fought victory over 1987 World 500 Champion Wayne Gardner.

“We have many many great memories of Barry and he has done so much for motorsport in this country. He just loved to race and fans at our January historic meeting were always treated to a great showdown when he competed here,” said Fergus Cameron, Managing Director, Phillip Island Motor Sport Pty Ltd.

“In recent years, Barry, Mike, Craig Morris and Peter Guest had many great tussles around this circuit and Barry more often than not, came out in front. His love of racing, his ever competitive spirit and his unique humour will always be remembered at Phillip Island.”

Naturally, the bike – on which Sheene holds the current Classic 500cc Phillip Island lap record (1min.51.570seconds) – will be pitted at the No 7 garage this Sunday for the demonstration session – with the lap of honour allowing World Superbike riders and fans a chance to remember racing’s Cockney larrikin.

The tribute will take place at 11.00 on Sunday.

The #7 Manx Norton will be on display throughout the weekend in the Australian Motorcycle News Superbike Expo.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

JenningsGP Executive Director Bill Brown said Wednesday that the track near Jennings, Florida is doing everything it can to meet existing county noise restrictions, including installing an additional 150-feet of 14-foot-high berm–making the berm extend along the entire east side of the property–and topping the berm with 180-linear feet of new, 8-foot-tall sound wall.

Brown said that he had mis-stated the sound limit at the property line, and that it is actually 78 dB, not the 87 dB he said it was yesterday, and that he is seeking to have the sound limit raised to 86 dB, not to 94 dB as he said yesterday.

Brown said that the track has only exceeded the existing sound limit twice, with one of those instances being questionable, adding that he is hopeful the new measures will cure the problem.

Brown said the track’s loudest event was a combined AHRMA/WERA Vintage race held in late February.

Brown made his Wednesday comments in reaction to a Tuesday post which accurately quoted his mis-statements.

“I may have said 87 but it actually is 78,” said Brown of the sound limit at the JenningsGP property line, in a Wednesday afternoon phone call to Roadracingworld.com.

A corrected version of the original post follows:

In the face of local government threats to shut the facility down for noise violations, JenningsGP (formerly North Florida Motorsports Complex) Executive Director Bill Brown is asking racers to help keep the racetrack open.

According to Brown, there is pressure from local government officials to close the racetrack due to noise violations. Brown is asking racers to write to Hamilton County in support of keeping the JenningsGP racetrack open.

The problem stems from two alleged violations of the 78 dB noise limit placed on the track, measured at the property line.

The Db measurement of sound levels works on a logarithmic scale, i.e., an increase from 87 to 90 dB indicates twice as much as sound.

For reference, Laguna Seca’s sound limit is 92 dB for motorcycles, while Buttonwillow, Thunderhill and Infineon Raceway have 103 dB motorcycle sound limits. Portland International Raceway has a 105 dB vehicle sound limit. Bridgehampton Raceway on Long Island, which closed in the late 1990s, operated under a 102 dB at-the-motorcycle limit and a 70 dB limit at the property line.

Independent tests of automobiles have shown that the ambient sound level inside a typical sedan traveling at 70 mph is around 70 dB, with the radio off.

Authorities have been taking sound measurements at the JenningsGP fence line during events, and say the 78 dB limit has been exceeded twice, most recently during the February 27-28 (Thursday-Friday) AHRMA/WERA Vintage event at the facility, according to Brown. The county notified the track that any more violations of the sound limit could result in closure of the facility.

Brown said the track is attempting to get the county to either raise the sound limit to 86 dB–more than four times the current sound limit–or grant the track exemptions for events. He is urging all racers who have participated in track days or races at the facility and would like to see the track continue operations to write or e-mail the county.

Brown said that Hamilton County benefits from track operations because Jennings GP attracts many outsiders who spend significant amounts of money on food, fuel and lodging in the county.

Brown is asking all racers to write in, stating, “That’s what’s gonna convince them. Economic impact.” Brown added that angry letters “won’t do any good,” and reminded those who write in to refrain from doing anything that could make the track’s situation more difficult.

Interested racers can e-mail comments to: [email protected], or write to Ronny C. Morgan, County Commissioner, 207 NE First Street, Jasper, FL 32052

From a press release:

FASTRACK RIDERS ASSOCIATION REMINDS AMA RIDERS OF DATES BEFORE AMA NATIONAL EVENT

FASTRACK RIDERS ASSOCIATION is staging their traditional “Track Days” at California Speedway on March 28th, 29th, and 30th in Fontana, CA. “We are reserving one riding group for all the AMA licensed riders only to give them time to really dial in their motorcycles before the AMA National event April 4th, 5th, and 6th” states Larry Pointer, Vice President of Operations. “We felt we would limit one group to only AMA racers so they can get ample track time to properly prepare for the national event. The 2.3 mile 21 turn track changed in two areas from last year which has improved the track making it safer but also most riders will need a few days to really get the track figurer out and get their bikes dialed in.”

In addition FRA is holding a one day test and tune practice day for AMA licensed racers only on Thursday, April 3rd.

David Pyles, President of FRA stated, “Several AMA Riders are calling us asking if our track day weekend was a race weekend because they thought they could not practice unless we were staging races. No, we are not having races that weekend but the practice rule was changed by the AMA rules committee a couple of months ago and announced in Roadracing World. I suggest all teams and riders consult the AMA for verification but it would be a shame for them to not get the track time they need to properly prepare for the national event because they might not be aware of the rule change.”

For more information visit the website at www.fastrackriders.com , or call David Pyles at 949-488-0543

From two press releases issued by California Speedway:

Two-Wheel Action Ready to Roll
YAMAHA SUPERBIKE CHALLENGE SET FOR APRIL 4-6

FONTANA, Calif. — America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, the AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike Championship, returns to California Speedway April 4-6 for its second year of competition on the speedway’s 21-turn, 2.36-mile road course.

Now that the season opening Daytona 200 by Arai is over, the California Speedway event takes on a different meaning for the competitors – two points paying rounds – Saturday, April 5 is the Yamaha West Region Dealers 100k and Sunday, April 6 is the Yamaha 100k.

Miguel Duhamel captured the season-opening Daytona 200 in impressive style, slipping past his Honda teammates, Kurtis Roberts and Ben Bostrom, on the final lap to claim his fourth Daytona win. Duhamel passed Roberts on the famous Daytona high banks in Turn Three. Coming out of Turn Four, Duhamel slid underneath Bostrom and nipped him at the line by 0.069 seconds.

“This is so sweet,” Duhamel said in the post-race press conference. “I was thinking the whole race ‘just stay in the race, stay focused, stay out there.’ It was 57 laps of full concentration. When I finally crossed the finish line and won, ‘I was like holy cow, I just won again.’ I was so happy. It’s so hard to win this race.”

Duhamel’s debut at California Speedway last year didn’t produce any “holy cow” finishes. In the Yamaha West Region Dealers 100k on Saturday, he finished 31st. He rebounded on Sunday to finish seventh.

“Our bikes are working really (well), and California, I went out there and tested, and I was right in the lap times, so I’m feeling pretty good about that,” Duhamel said. “That’s a track I went really well at in testing. It’s going to be a barn burner.”

His teammate, Roberts, accepted his finishing position at Daytona and immediately began looking ahead to Rounds Two and Three at California Speedway on his quest to win a title.

“I wanted to get in here (Daytona) and get a podium for the championship run, and I think we can do it now,” Roberts said. “When we get to California, my bike and my team will be even stronger than what we were here. I have a good feeling about the team. I think the crew and I are going to do a lot of work that we’ve already started, and I think it will show even more at California.”

Roberts has something to prove at California Speedway. A practice crash on Friday eliminated him from the weekend competition last year.

Bostrom, a former AMA Superbike champ (1998) will be making his California Speedway debut as he returns to the U.S. after a successful run in World Superbike. He will compete against his younger brother, Eric, this year, and will be playing catch up to his primary competitors when it comes to California Speedway’s circuit.

“I’ve got one day of testing around that place, which isn’t enough,” said Bostrom. “It was a really windy day. We’ve got to learn the track when we go back there, but I think we’ll be alright.”

Eric Bostrom will be the one and only factory Superbike entry for Kawasaki. Considered by many a favorite to win the title, he finished fifth at Daytona despite giving up considerable horsepower on his Ninja ZX-7R (stock 750cc) to the 1000cc bikes. The younger Bostrom finished second in the championship standings last year to Nicky Hayden, who has moved on to Moto Grand Prix, earning four wins on the year. He finished second at California Speedway last year in the Sunday main event but started the weekend on a bad note, failing to finish Saturday’s race.

Anthony Gobert will look to defend his title in Saturday’s Superbike race with a new team. Gobert moved from Yamaha to Ducati in the offseason. Sunday’s race wasn’t as good to him as an over inflated front tire resulted in him being lapped by Hayden and finishing eighth.

Tickets for the 2003 Yamaha Superbike Challenge are available by calling 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or online at www.californiaspeedway.com. Single-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $30. Tickets for Friday are $10. Children 12 and under are free for this event in the general admission areas.

A great way for fans to purchase tickets is through participating Yamaha dealers. The dealers are offering $5 off a Saturday and/or Sunday ticket.


MOTORCYCLE FANS CAN GET THEIR FILL AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

FONTANA, Calif. — An impressive lineup of on-track two-wheel racing action and off-track displays will highlight the second annual Yamaha Superbike Challenge weekend April 4-6 at California Speedway.

The on-track festivities begin on Friday with practice and Superbike qualifying for the Yamaha West Region Dealers 100k on Saturday. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock qualifying will also take place late on Friday.

A new rule change by AMA Pro Racing for the Superbike class could produce a new qualifying record. Anthony Gobert set the mark last year on a Yamaha with an average lap of 97.126 mph (1:25.250 seconds). During the offseason, the sanctioning body made its first major rule change in 20 years, permitting 1000cc four-cylinder Superbikes. This change will provide a mix of old-style 750cc-based Superbikes, powerful 1000cc fours and 1000cc twins.

Saturday features the first of two Superbike races on the doubleheader weekend, starting at 2:00 p.m. Gobert is the defending champ.

The Superstock race polishes off Saturday, which also includes practice and qualifying for Sunday’s 250 Grand Prix, Supersport, Formula Xtreme and second Superbike race. Tommy Hayden won last year’s Superstock race and is coming off a season-opening win at Daytona International Speedway as he nipped Lee Acree by 0.009 seconds.

Sunday is highlighted by four races, with the Pro Honda Oils Supersport final getting the racing action off to a fantastic start at Noon. Aaron Yates, last year’s series champion and California Speedway winner, returns to defend his title.

The 250 Grand Prix, which features veteran Rich Oliver, a four-time 250 GP champion, follows the Supersport race. He will look to unseat Roland Sands, last year’s winner. Chuck Sorensen, of Sunnyvale, Calif., is the defending series champion.

The Formula Xtreme race will take to the circuit next, making its season debut in what many consider to be one of the most hotly contested championships in all of motorcycle road racing. Last year’s title ended in a tie between Californians Jason Pridmore and Jake Zemke, with Pridmore getting the nod in a tie-breaker (most wins). Pridmore and Zemke finished second and third, respectively, in last year’s event here, but Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster took the crown.

All of this sets the stage for the second Superbike race of the weekend, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. With Nicky Hayden gone to Moto Grand Prix, a new champion will be crowned in the Yamaha 100k, capping a weekend full of on-track activity.

The road course won’t be the only place where there is high-speed racing action. The Super TT races return to California Speedway during the weekend, this time inside the infield in the terrace suite parking lots C, D and E. Last year, these racing daredevils competed in Lot 12. This year, they are in the thick of racing action inside the track. The Super TT races combine high-speed pavement road racing with TT-style dirt track racing.

Before, during and after all the on-track action, a packed display/vendor area is available for cycle fans to browse the latest selection of motorcycles, apparel, helmets and accessories.

“This year’s display/vendor area has grown considerably over year one,” said Dave Allen, director of sales and marketing for California Speedway. “The footprint we are using this year for the area is almost double 2002.”

A new feature this year is the California Cycle Club, a hospitality option featuring exclusive access by club members to one of California Speedway’s Pit Row Terrace Suites and to a luxury Skybox above the main grandstands. The suites are open for club members on April 5 and 6 from 8:00 a.m. until one hour after the last race. Benefits include reserved parking area, food and beverage service with a continental breakfast and picnic style lunch. Club members are also invited to take a parade lap on their own bikes around the speedway’s 21-turn, 2.36 mile road course, giving these guests a feel for what the pros are going through as they tour the circuit. California Cycle Club memberships are available for $125 each day or $225 for a two-day package. For membership or additional information, contact the speedway’s marketing department at 909-429-5300.

Tickets for the 2003 Yamaha Superbike Challenge are available by calling 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or online at www.californiaspeedway.com. Single-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $30. Tickets for Friday are $10. Children 12 and under are free for this event in the general admission areas.

A great way for fans to purchase tickets is through participating Yamaha dealers. The dealers are offering $5 off a Saturday and/or Sunday ticket.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM – PRESS INFORMATION
Mugello (Scarperia-Italia)
March 24-25, 2003

GUARESCHI TESTS THE DEVELOPMENT BIKE IN MUGELLO



Having sent the official bikes to Japan, ready for the first Grand Prix of the season at Suzuka on April 6th, the Ducati Marlboro Team continues with the Desmosedici’s development schedule. Two important and significant days of testing saw MotoGP test rider Vittoriano Guareschi busy at the circuit of Mugello for two days of testing.



In front of the technical staff – led by Ducati Corse’s Technical Director, Filippo Preziosi – Guareschi completed a series of important tests, alternating between the two available test bikes and testing several different configurations which concentrated specifically on rear suspension set-up.



After two days of intense testing Guareschi had completed 90 laps despite a crash on the first day (with no consequence) at the entrance of the “Arrabbiata 1” curve.

On Thursday the Ducati Marlboro Team will leave for Suzuka where, on Sunday 30 and Monday 31, they will have the opportunity to test on the circuit, which is completely new for both the Desmosedici and Troy Bayliss who, unlike Loris Capirossi, has never seen the track before.

From a press release issued by WERA:

WERA NATIONAL SERIES HEADS TO JENNINGS GP FOR SEASON OPENER

JENNINGS, Fla.- The WERA National Challenge Series and the National Endurance Series head to Jennings GP this weekend for the opening round of the 2003 season.

The Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series will get underway at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 29. The 6-hour event will feature five classes of bikes and a field of about 40 teams.

Vesrah Suzuki returns to the Endurance Series this year to defend their championship title against Army of Darkness. The Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000 won eight of nine rounds in 2002, and the team hopes to repeat their successful run again this year.

Army of Darkness won the 2002 Mediumweight Superbike title on their Suzuki GSX-R600, but fell short of the overall championship. The hunt for the endurance championship will continue this season in one of the most exciting motorcycle road racing series in the United States.

The WERA National Challenge Series will have 12 races on Sunday, March 30, beginning at 12:30 pm. Each race will consist of ten laps around the
2-mile, 14-turn Jennings GP course.

The National Challenge Series races include both novice and expert divisions and a variety of classes, including the popular 125 GP, 600 Superstock and Superbike, 750 Superstock and Superbike, Formula 1, and Lightweight Twins classes.

The STAR School 600 Superstock novice class is where many of the current top experts honed their skills. Greg Moore won the 600 Superstock race at Jennings GP last year, and this year he is competing in both the WERA expert classes and AMA Pro Racing.

The Pirelli Formula 1 class includes machines of up to 1000cc and will feature some of the fastest bikes of the event. This year, the entrants in Formula 1 will be competing for a purse, giving riders even more incentive to be at the front of the field.

Tickets are available at the front gate of Jennings GP. Practice begins on Friday, and a three-day ticket is $30. A Saturday/Sunday ticket is $20, and fans that come after 10:00 am on Sunday pay only $15.

Directions to Jennings GP can be found on their website, www.JenningsGP.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Yoshimura Suzuki spent two days testing at California Speedway March 19-20 with much of the focus placed on testing tires on the new GSX-R1000 Superbike.

“Dunlop was a little concerned with the tire wear our bikes were causing at Daytona,” Aaron Yates said Tuesday during a telephone press conference organized by California Speedway. “You may know, I guess, my two teammates (Mat Mladin, Ben Spies) had a bit of tire trouble. My bike, I’m not sure if it was a difference in the set-up or riding style or what, my tires weren’t too bad, but compared to the other brands – the Hondas and the Kawasaki – we had a little less rubber left on the tire.

“So Dunlop was a little concerned, and they just wanted to go there (California Speedway) before the race and check the tires they were planning on bringing and make sure they were going to be sufficient for us. And basically that’s pretty much what we concentrated on.

“We had a couple of little things here and there that we tried and made the bike a little more comfortable for me, so that’s always good.”

Asked by a reporter how the Fontana racetrack was in relation to tire wear, Yates said, “Well, California Speedway is not too bad. There, we pretty much run our standard tires that we run on a standard racetrack anywhere.

“The only thing about California Speedway, there’s only one, two, like two-and-a-half right-hand turns. So most of them (are) to the left. So we use up the left side a pretty good bit. But there in testing we found a couple of tires that work pretty good for us.”

Yates added that Dunlop has a “whole new batch” of Supersport and Superbike tires for 2003.

From a press release:

Saturday/Sunday 29th/30th March 2003
Derby Phoenix Club Motorcycle Races

CROFT REVS UP FOR TWO WHEELED ACTION

The 2003 season kicks off in style this weekend at Croft circuit when the opening two rounds of the Derby Phoenix Motor Cycle Club road race championships take place at the North Yorkshire track on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th March.

The club has attracted a capacity entry for the two day meeting with a host of club regulars set to mix it with a smattering of track specialists in the action which is sure to be fast and furious.

After the success of the 600cc Steel Framed championship last season, the club have introduced a new class for 2003 in the shape of F750 which will cater for the 750cc machines which are these days often outpaced by the more popular 1000cc bikes.

Scotsman Angus Mearns starts as red hot favourite to do much of the winning but one rider he’ll be keeping his eyes on is Northallerton’s Darren Grimston who makes his debut aboard the ex Ian Harrison Yamaha R1.

Practice starts on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Sunday with racing immediately afterwards on both days.

Adult admission is just £6.00 on Saturday and £12.00 on Sunday with accompanied children under 15 admitted free on both days.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

World Supersport Championship 2003 – Round Two Phillip Island Race Preview
28 to 30 March 2003

Second Chance For Honda Supersport Riders

After taking 50% of the top ten positions in the first Supersport race of the new season, Honda’s officially supported CBR600RR riders will have their second opportunity to strive for victory in this most closely contested of global racing classes, as the championship moves to the challenging Phillip Island circuit in Australia on March 30.

A record number of factory entries made the start-of-season Valencia race, on March 2, a contest which provided a desperate battle throughout the field, with many new bike and rider combinations battling for initial supremacy.

The top Honda rider in Spain proved to be Ten Kate entrant Chris Vermeulen, who scored second place in the 23-lap race, after leading for long periods. Moving to his home circuit of Phillip Island will be a major boost for Vermeulen, and his Ten Kate team-mate Karl Muggeridge, the second of a total of three Australian factory Honda riders.

Vermeulen equalled his best ever World Supersport Championship race result with his second place in Spain, but the 20-year-old knows that nothing but a win will satisfy his growing desire for success. “My second place was good, but I badly want a race win. We are confident we have a winning package and I think with the first race under our belt we’ll be even more competitive.”

Vermeulen will be particularly keen to make a good impression at home, especially as he has had some misfortune in recent World Supersport races on home tarmac. “Yeah it’s hard to work out why I have bad luck at my home race, but the Ten Kate team is so well prepared – and the 2003 CBR600RR is brilliant – so everything points to a change of fortune,” commented the rapidly developing Aussie.

Vermeulen’s teammate, Karl Muggeridge was not a happy man following Valencia. “I was angry with the way the Valencia race turned out, because I had to settle for just getting some good points for the championship. As I’ve said before, I don’t like the Valencia track that much anyway. I look forward to the next two rounds at Philip Island and Sugo, they are both good tracks for me. Riding at home in Australia is always enjoyable, especially as I am based in Europe so much.”

In addition to the Ten Kate squad, Honda fully supports the van Zon, BKM and Klaffi Honda teams, and most of the eight factory-equipped riders have already enjoyed good results on the all-new CBR600RR, a machine which apes more than just the styling touches of Valentino Rossi’s all-conquering RC211V MotoGP machine.

Unlucky to finish off the podium at Valencia was experienced Frenchman Christophe Cogan, riding for the Belgian BKM Honda team. Cogan has started a record 67 World Supersport races, including Valencia, and took his four-cylinder Honda to a battling fourth place, contesting third place almost throughout the race. His Valencia result was particularly satisfying, considering the disadvantage of his fourth row start after qualifying.

World Supersport rookie Broc Parkes (BKM Honda) acquitted himself well at the first attempt, finishing seventh, one place behind Muggeridge. Twenty-one year-old Parkes, a former World Superbike privateer, earned kudos for his professional and adversarial approach to racing in such an aggressive class.

Parkes, the third Honda supported rider in the field, said of racing at Phillip Island. “After the Valencia race I couldn’t lift my arm as the shoulder was really hurting, all due to my falls in practice. I made a couple of visits to the Clinica Mobile, so we should have it back to normal for Phillip Island, so we can get stuck in again! I know the circuit and I’m looking forward to the race and a home visit.”

The imposing figure of Robert Ulm (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) will be hoping to translate his brilliant front row start at Valencia into something more tenable than his eventual DNF. “Of course I’m disappointed about crashing at Valencia, but the positive aspect is that we are already with the fast guys so early in the season, and that gives us all great satisfaction. I have experience at Phillip Island and hopefully we can repeat our good practice performance from Valencia, then go on to challenge in the race itself.” Commented Austrian Ulm.

The home-town entrant in the Austrian Klaffi team (run by Ulm’s compatriot and 2001 World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenbock) Ulm has been a front row World Superbike qualifier in the recent past, and finds in the CBR600RR a machine which may offer him season-long consistency.

The compact dimensions of the 2003 Honda Supersport offering have thus far suited the diminutive form of Belgium’s Werner Daemen well, with the van Zon Honda rider proving to be a top ten finisher at Valencia. A tough and experienced competitor, Daemen is looking forward to his best ever season.

Daemen’s van Zon team-mate Iain Macpherson came close to winning the 1999 World Supersport Championship, and hopes to post his first points score of the season at Phillip island, after suffering a peculiar lack of top end revs at Valencia.

“I was very disappointed to have ridden so hard at Valencia and yet come away with no points. In Australia the main thing will be to score as many points as possible, by qualifying in a good position and staying with any leading group that may develop.” Said Scotsman MacPherson.

Another Honda rider, Gianluigi Scalvini (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) will be aiming to replicate his 125cc Grand Prix winning form of recent years as he recovers from his big highside crash in the opening round of the year.

The Phillip Island action gets underway with two days of qualifying, on 28 and 29 March, before the race itself takes place on Sunday 30 March.

WSS points Valencia
1 K. Fujiwara 25
2 C. Vermeulen 20
3 A. Corradi 16
4 C. Cogan 13
5 J. Teuchert 11
6 K. Muggeridge 10
7 B. Parkes 9
8 C. Kellner 8
9 J. Vd Goorbergh 7
10 W. Daemen 6
11 P. Riba 5
12 S. Sanna 4
13 M. Schulten 3
14 F. Foret 2
15 M. Lagrive 1