From a press release issued by World Superbike:

PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

London
3 April 2003

OCTAGON MOTORSPORTS TO HOST ROUND OF THE GERMAN YAMAHA R6 CUP AT OSCHERSLEBEN

Octagon Motorsports, organiser of the FIM Superbike World Championship is pleased to announce that it will again host the Yamaha R6 Cup during the German Round of the 2003 Superbike World Championship at Oschersleben from 30 May to 1 June.

This is the third year that Yamaha Germany and the Superbike World Championship have engaged in this successful partnership.

“We are able to provide the ideal platform for Yamaha Germany and welcome the value that this race brings to the event and its fans. We look forward to the ongoing development of this partnership with Yamaha in years to come,” said SBK President Paolo Flammini.

Yamaha Motor Deutschland After Sales manager Theo Hoffmann added: “We are very pleased with this close co-operation with SBK. For our young riders, the chance to race in front of so many spectators is the highlight of their season.”

Yamaha R6 Cup riders all have the chance to see their idols in action with German stars Jörg Teuchert and Christian Kellner participating in the World Supersport event. Teuchert himself was an entrant in the Yamaha R6 Cup earlier in his career and in 2000 won the Supersport World Championship.

The organization of this special mono-mark Yamaha R6 Cup will ensure fans have increased race action on track throughout the weekend. In 2002 more than 73,000 fans attended the Oschersleben round of the Championship.

The provisional schedule for the Yamaha R6 Cup event will be as follows:

Friday 30 May17.10 – 17.30 Qualifying
Saturday 31 May18.10 – 18.30 Qualifying
Sunday 1 June14.00 – 14.35 Race

From a press release issued by Track Daze:

Track Daze announces its 2003 event Schedule.

Track Daze operates in Colorado and provides an opportunity for motorcyclist with street bikes to their ride own bikes on a closed course. Riders can practice their riding skills and explore the limits of their motorcycles performance in a controlled environment. Track Daze provides corner workers and EMR personnel for rider’s safety. Riders must be 18 years of age and have full-riding suits of leather or ballistic material, full coverage helmets, boots and gloves. Bikes must have tires in good condition, no oil leaks and in good general condition. Cost for day of riding varies from $125 to $150 depending on track location.

Track Daze: No Traffic No Gravel No Tickets.

Visit the website at trackdaze.com for more information or call 303-884-9234.

Schedule for 2003

May 16th Friday 2nd Creek Raceway

June 28th Saturday Pueblo Motor sport Park, Pueblo Colo.

July 26th Saturday Pueblo Motor sport Park, Pueblo Colo.

August 15th Friday 2nd Creek Raceway

September 14th Sunday Continental Divide Raceway (Mead)

From a press release issued by Proforma on behalf of HAS/Shogun Racing:

HAS/SHOGUN RACING READY FOR AMA FONTANA EVENT

HAS/Shogun Racing heads to California Speedway in Fontana, CA this weekend for the second round of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, ready to make up for the difficulties that they had at Daytona three weeks earlier. Noted tuner Jim Cambora has joined the team, and will be working with rider Heath Small on the new 2003 Yamaha R6 machines that have been prepared since Daytona.

“I’m looking forward to riding the 2003 R6, it looks like it does everything better than my older bike” said Heath, who had a major tumble in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport event at Daytona. “I sure got a lot of exposure out of my fall at Daytona, but not exactly the kind I wanted. Fontana should be a good event for me.”

Teammate John Haner is also looking for better results on his Suzuki GSX-R750 in the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock event. “I’m determined to make up for the bad race that I had at Daytona,” said Haner. “I’m excited to get to Fontana, it’s a new track for me and I’m looking forward to getting up to speed and running at the front.”

Both riders will also compete in the Chevy Trucks Superbike class at Fontana on their 2003 Yamaha R1s.

HAS/Shogun Racing is sponsored by Shogun Motorsports, Motion CycleSports, Pirelli Tires, Yoshimura R&D, Sharkskinz Racing Bodies, Vesrah Brakes, Vortex, Dynojet, Woodcraft, Lockhart Phillips, Helimot Leathers and HJC Helmets.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Racer John Rabasa and wife Anne Michele had a daughter, Savannah Maile Rabasa, March 14 in Mountain View, California. Racer Andrew Mueller and wife Denise had a daughter, Rhiannon Danielle Mueller, March 20 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Racer and Rausch Creek Motorsports Park General Manager Andy Stutzman and his wife Alissa had a son, Aleksandar Lukas Stutzman, March 25 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. CCS racer Matt Guilbault of Speedbike Racing and wife Kristen had a son, Benjamin Thomas Guilbault, March 26 in Averil Park, New York.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

THE DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM GUEST OF ITALIAN EMBASSY IN TOKYO

The official tests in Suzuka on March 30/31 gave the Ducati Marlboro Team a chance to visit Tokyo as guests of the Italian Embassy and meet the Japanese press and the Italian community in the land of the rising sun, among them entrepreneurs, professionals and finance and cultural operators.

His Excellency Gabriele Menegatti, the Italian Ambassador in Tokyo, opened the gates to his residence, which is one of the most beautiful mansions with gardens in the city, to about 300 guests invited to celebrate the “Reds” from Borgo Panigale just days before their MotoGP debut.

As well as the two factory riders Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi and their factory Desmosedici bikes, the Italian team was represented by the Team Director Livio Suppo and Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli who had arrived directly from Suzuka.

Japan, where Ducati has its own subsidiary, is the third most important market for the Italian manufacturer with approximately 4,000 bikes registered in 2002 out of total Ducati sales of 40,000.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Alana Cain, a message therapist and friend of Team Star Suzuki’s Hawk Mazzotta, will be offering message therapy sessions to racers during the AMA National event at California Speedway April 3-6.

Cain can be reached via e-mail at [email protected], via cell phone at (831) 402-3926 or she will be set up near the Star Suzuki trailer in the California Speedway paddock during the race weekend.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

An AHRMA National will be held at Sandia Motor Speedway in Albuquerque, New Mexico April 19-20.

The weekend’s events will include a bike show on Saturday, along with a swap meet, vendors, demo rides and a trials demonstration.

A demonstration installation of soft barriers will provided by the Roadracing World Action Fund as part of an educational program.

More information is available from Craig Murray at (505) 281-2782 or via e-mail, [email protected].

From a press release issued by Buell Motorcycle Company:

Buell Motorcycles Hosts 2003 Buell National BattleTrax Series

Series includes a 10-city tour with riders competing for a national championship

EAST TROY, Wis. – Buell Motorcycle Company invites riders to participate in the 2003 Buell National BattleTrax Series, a free motorcycle event that challenges riders to compete in a controlled environment and rewards skill and consistency. The National BattleTrax Series, which kicked off March 8 during Daytona Bike Week, showcases Buell’s latest award-winning motorcycles – the Lightning XB9S and Firebolt XB9R.

“Buell motorcycles have always emphasized the importance of mass centralization and frame rigidity, and low unsprung weight, which gives riders improved handling and agility,” says Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer. “BattleTrax is a great way to showcase these performance attributes, which provide benefits in any type of riding.”

BattleTrax is a closed-course motorcycle event involving a well-marked, circuitous route on a paved surface. The event is designed for all experience levels, giving every rider an opportunity to test their skills. Riders travel the course – one at a time – as efficiently as they can. An electronic timer monitors each rider’s performance. The course, laced with twists and turns, is guaranteed to test riders’ skills and produce ear-to-ear grins.

The winner of each regional event – determined by a timed bracket-style format – will receive a trip to Las Vegas to compete for the national championship on July 16, 2003. Buell Motorcycle Company will provide each winner with round trip airfare to Las Vegas and two nights’ hotel accommodation, along with a special Buell prize. The national champion will receive the Buell National BattleTrax Series Championship trophy and bragging rights for a lifetime.

Scott Berry of Arlington, Mass., was crowned the winner of the first regional event at Daytona. “I was really looking forward to the BattleTrax event at Daytona,” said Berry. “I liked the bracket format. I was counting the time down in my head and trying to be smooth on the course. I am pumped to go to Vegas for the finale.”

The 10-event national series continues this spring and summer giving riders the chance to test their motorcycles and themselves.

“BattleTrax is a fun skills course intended for riders of all experience levels,” says Paul James, communications manager. “Riders set their own bracket time, and ride within their own limits to match it, which makes for an even playing field and rewards smoothness and consistency.”

Participants need to bring their motorcycle, full-face helmet, appropriate riding gear and a valid motorcycle driver’s license. Riders must be at least 21 years of age to participate. See the following schedule or visit www.battletrax.com for a complete list of Buell National BattleTrax cities and event details.

To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. Call 1-800-490-9635 for the Buell dealer nearest you. Or pull into www.buell.com.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

NEW RULES HELP LEVEL PLAYING FIELD IN AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — 2003 marks the first major rule change in 20 years in the AMA U.S. Superbike Championship. Now 1000cc four-cylinder machines can compete alongside the traditional 1000cc V-Twins and 750cc four-cylinder machines in the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. Daytona served as a great example of how the new rules helped privateer riders and teams close the gap on the factory squads.

Privateer Brian Livengood of Nellville, Ga., the pilot of a new Suzuki GSX-R1000 and the 2002 AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year, is looking forward to a new season of racing and a new bike. In 2002, Livengood qualified a Superstock-spec GSX-R750 for the Daytona 200 at 1:57.034. This year on a GSX-R1000, his best qualifying lap was almost three-and-a-half seconds faster at 1:53.698. “We are hoping to be more competitive this season,” states Livengood. “Having the power of the 1000 should help us stay up with the factory teams.”

Livengood is one of many riders who are privately funded and competing in the AMA U.S. Superbike Championship. Check out a sampling of other privateer Daytona qualifying times from last year as compared to this year: Leading privateer qualifier Michael Barnes went over two seconds faster (1:53.854 to 1:51.695) on his Suzuki; veteran rider Rick Shaw went from 1:58.686 to 1:57.057 on a new GSX-R1000; and perennial top privateer Andy Deatherage was nearly 3 seconds faster, going from 1:56.048 last season to 1:53.272 this year.

“The new Superbike rules allow 1000cc four-cylinder bikes with an increased minimum weight and limited modifications. This gives non-factory supported riders the ability to build machines that are closer in performance to the equipment fielded by the top teams,” stated Ron Barrick, AMA Pro Racing Road Race Manager. “Even at the first event of the season the large number of entries conforming to the new Superbike formula was great to see,” continued Barrick. “The competition is going to be closer than ever this year.”

Privateer Michael Barnes of Boca Raton, Fla., rider of the No. 34 Suzuki GSX-R1000, feels the rule change will help the lone bike men of the AMA Superbikes. “By far it has definitely allowed us to get easy, cheap horsepower by just getting a different model of motorcycle,” said Barnes. “We spent a lot of money to trying to get horsepower (from the 750s) near where the 1000s are and now with minor modifications we are well above that.”

The numbers dramatically confirm Barnes’ statement. In 2002 the spread between the pole winner and the 20th-place qualifier was 9.2 seconds. In other words, Nicky Hayden was nearly a full 10 seconds per lap faster than Marco Martinez. This year the spread was only 5.2 seconds between pole setter Ben Bostrom and 20th qualifier Eric Wood.

Another notable change at Daytona was the qualifying times of the positions 20th through 40th, the bracket of top privateers. In 2002 the 20th place rider qualified at 1:56.373, this year 1:53.598. Also, last year the 40th-place qualifier clocked in at 1:57.965 as compared to 1:56.243 this year. With such a dramatic decrease in lap times for the privateers at Daytona, it’s clear that the new rules have had the intended effect. A privateer has not finished on the podium of an AMA Superbike race in seven years. With the new rules chances are better than ever that a non-factory rider could make that exhilarating walk up to the box.