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Well, with silly season
about complete here in the good ol USA I thought I might give you a
rundown on who’s doing what at the moment and whom I think will be the
contenders for next year. (Sticking my neck out here).
Superbike
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Mat Mladin Suzuki
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Aaron Yates Suzuki
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Ben Bostrom Honda
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Miguel Du Hamel Honda
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Jake Zemke Honda
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Ducati Eric Bostrom
There were strong rumors
that Haga may have been coming or British champ Shane Byrne to ride the
Ducati, although the word last year was that anyone from Doug Polen to
Eddie Lawson was going to ride that bike.
In short, Mladin has the
points on the board and a very large target on his back, foreigner who
has smacked bums all round the states for years (something no one does
to the USA) will be hard to beat again. Even though the GSX-R1000 has
been slowed down by the new regulations, the results and records don’t
lie.
Aaron Yates will be there
annoying everyone with his hard charging riding, but hasn’t done it in
the last maybe 7 years as Mladin's team mate. If everything’s right
though will be there at the end of the year.
B.B (as opposed to EB). When I first came to America three odd years ago
I’d only heard and read about Ben Bostrom, I then seen him win at the
Laguna Seca WSB round, and while I thought this guys obviously pretty
good I have learnt many times over the years that certain riders on
certain equipment on certain circuits with certain tyres are always
going to shine, a good American rider at Laguna on a Factory Ducati with
Dunlop tires in 2001! Anybody would have trouble beating that. Then I
watched Ben ride this year and he did not impress me at all, on the best
bike the big H could provide he didn’t do much apart from Daytona, which
by the way due to it’s nature does not give you a fair indication of
who’s doing the job. With a new bike, Hondas best equipment and his
consistency, he will be a serious contender.
Miguel Du Hamel, maybe Honda America’s favourite son, has not threatened
for the Superbike championship for some years, but you can count on him
winning a few races if he can stay on. He’s a funny little guy who’s
been around for years, could be the American version of Rob Phillis
(except he’s Canadian) but maybe not quite as devious. Look out for him
at Daytona, Road America and Brainerd, very good on the fast tracks.
Jake Zemke while new to the premier class is a very experienced and
competent rider in the AMA series. Has the dream Honda factory ride with
two very experienced team mates and I think if he can just take his time
and not toss it away to much will bring in some good results this year
and next, should be looking at 2005 if he’s smart.
EB (Brother of BB) Eric has it all for 2004, good rider, on the most
successful Superbike in history, and with what most of the world will
say, the best tyres. He also has close to a dozen people working solely
for him. Forget all the bullshit going on with Michelin and Ducati
having to find their way in US series this year, they are putting their
best resources that have bought them all the results in recent World
Superbike history here in the USA, if they don’t win this year it won’t
be the bike or the tyres, and they may never get a better chance.
The Bostrom brothers look to be the biggest threat to Mladin in 2004.
Don’t read too much into Daytona as it has become a race of survival and
may mean little in terms of the championship. Honda as usual will
produce something special there, but as we saw last year their 1,2,3
result didn’t mean much as far as the championship went.
On to the Supersport class and as usual it will be tight. Yamaha petty
much dominated this class last year and will be hard to beat again with
a big four rider effort again for 2004. Jamie Hacking and Damon
Buckmaster will be hard to beat, and Aaron Gobert has been riding real
well here for the last couple of years with only injuries holding back
his results.
Our own team has Aaron
Yates and Ben Spies on the new GSX-R600 and it would be a brave person
to bet against these guys taking out the series. The new GSX-R600 is
much improved over the old model and these guys ride the Supersport
bikes real good. Yates can ride a 600 better than anyone here if he puts
his mind to it, and Spies is the best young rider in the country at the
moment.
The Kawasaki boys have Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden (yes both Nicky’s
brothers) Tommy really got going at the end of the year and I hear the
bike will be better for 2004, does not appear that they have the package
to win the title over Suzuki and Yamaha, but will be right there.
By the way Honda have wimped it in the Supersport class as according to
most their bike is not really competitive under these rules, I guess the
CBR needs the Jenny Craig influence. Anyway they have pulled out of
Supersport and entered the Formula Xtreme class which is a mini
Superbike class for 600cc machines.
On to the new and much anticipated Superstock class, which I believe
will also run in Australia, very similar to Supersport but with full
1000cc machines. These machines will be around 200 kilos with a full
tank of gas and are already doing 300kph at Daytona. (And we haven’t
raced them yet as the class is new) Again Suzuki and Yamaha should
battle out this series. Yamaha have a four rider team entered against
Suzuki’s Ben Spies but I think if Ben is fit when the season starts
he’ll shake’em up. Bucky should be the favourite in this class. Honda
don’t have a factory entry with the new CBR, and I guess that’s because
HRC have not made one yet or the fact that under Superstock rules the
bike is like the Supersport bike (a nugget). The Kawasaki hasn’t
impressed anyone here yet and does not appear to be a threat at the
moment.
As far as the Aussies go this year they should again be in contention
for a couple of championships. Mat of course, champion four of the last
five years, Bucky’s a chance for two titles, Supersport and Superstock.
Aaron Gobert could also be a chance if he stays injury free. Alex Gobert
has improved a lot the last two years here, but we’ll have to see how
competitive his machines will be in his classes.
We have lost a couple of Aussie riders this year with two names standing
out, Marty Craggill and Jamie Stauffer. Both these guys have did enough
to deserve a ride again this year in the AMA but with some teams
disappearing, cutbacks and the fact that they are not American put paid
to there chances. Jamie had a tough year here with not knowing the
tracks and had a crash where he broke a bone in his wrist toward the end
of the season, despite this he had some good rides and would have been
far more competitive in 2004 had the chance arisen. I remember Sears
Point where it rained (this is a track where we don’t ride in the rain
as it’s to dangerous) and he had no practice except for the warm up. So
you can relate to this that would be like going to Oran Park and getting
four laps on Sunday morning and racing in the Australian Supersport
championship without ever having seen the track before ”not very nice”.
Anyway if Jamie keeps working at it I’m sure will see him back here
again. Marty was with a small private team here this year and they have
folded up leaving him without a ride.
We are just starting our pre season testing with Sepang first up
followed by Fontana here in LA then its off to Daytona for the first
race. I will bring you up to date after Daytona.
I also want to thank all the people who have given their support to my
family after out recent tragedy. Our four year old daughter has passed
away after a long fight with the disorder Metachromatic Leukodystrophy,
or MLD. We have received many cards, flowers and emails and we thank you
all. We request that in lieu of flowers that a donation is made in
Savannahs memory for research into MLD. It can be sent to
United Leukodystrophy Foundation
2304 Highland drive
Sycamore Illinois 60178
USA
Please state for research into MLD.
Talk to you soon.
PD |
