From a press release:

Event 3, 2003 Yamaha Formula Xtreme TT Series
Winton Motor Raceway, Victoria

Event Preview #2

FORMULA XTREME MOTORCYCLE RACING ACTION INVADES WINTON RACEWAY THIS WEEKEND

Once a year Victorians get the opportunity to experience Australia’s largest and most successful motorcycle road racing series when the Yamaha Formula Xtreme TT Series comes to town. A top class field of entries will descend on Winton Raceway this coming weekend to do battle to decide who will lead the various championship classes at the mid point of the Xtreme TT series. Winton proved to be a major turning point in the series last year as the demanding track tested the skills of the racers from NSW and Queensland. The northern hordes invade the sleepy little Victorian track each year to test their skills against the local Victorian stars. Last year it was nearly a clean sweep for the northern invaders, will the locals take the spoils of victory this year? No matter who wins on the track the spectators will end up being the true winners when they see first hand the greatest road racing action in Australia today.

Winton Motor Raceway, which lies approximately 190km north of Melbourne and is ringed by the nearby towns of Benalla, Wangaratta and Shepparton. Fans from further a field such as Albury, Wagga, Canberra and capital cities Sydney and Melbourne will be making the pilgrimage to a circuit that offers spectators one of the best on-track viewing opportunities to watch motorsport in the country.

A feature aimed at maximizing the live spectacle of the racing action at each of the Yamaha Formula Xtreme TT series rounds is the giant Superscreen, which is placed in a location where the fans in the main viewing area can witness first hand all of the action as well as live post race interviews and the latest news from the pit area.

The Victorian round of the series offers fans a unique opportunity to witness some of Australia’s best riders in action, which will be highlighted by battles between the very competitive contingent of Victorians up against their interstate rivals, as well as the battle of the brands. Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki all have a lot at stake as the series receives the largest and most impressive national free to air TV coverage of any two wheel series in Australia. The old adage of what wins on Sundays sells on Mondays makes sure the brands have a huge vested interest in the outcome of the on track action.

In the premier Xtreme class, veteran Stephen Tozer (Stafford Yamaha) will lead the Victorian assault and will be ably supported by a long list of talented youngsters. These include Nicholas Barton (SCR Engines Yamaha), Cameron Donald (Gary O’Brien Yamaha), Shepparton teenager Nick Henderson (.id.auracing Honda) and the strong Honda CBR954RR Fireblade mounted Team Brown Gouge Nova Racing pair of Scott Charlton and Brent George.

They will have their hands full as they go up against the very strong Queensland based Nikon Yamaha Racing Team that includes current Xtreme points leader Daniel Stauffer, four-times Xtreme champion Kevin Curtain and former 500GP rider Brendan Clarke. And as if they aren’t strong enough, they will be joined by fellow Yamaha YZF R1 riders Benn Archibald and Ben Attard racing under the Aluma-Lite Racing colours.

Leading the Suzuki GSX-R1000 attack is young David Butler (Gulf Western Oils) who has come into his own this year has graced the top ten on a number of occasions and only just finished off the podium at Oran Park after holding down a strong second place for most of the race. Butler was a strong performer at last years corresponding round and is looking forward to returning to the tight and twisty Victorian circuit.

The action will not be left to the Xtreme class only as they will be ably supported by a number of equally competitive classes such as Supersport, NakedBike, Pro-Twins, Xtreme Ultra Lites, Formula Oz and Formula X Unlimited)

With Daniel Stauffer leading the Xtreme points table, teammate Kevin Curtain has an unblemished record in the Supersport class, having won all eight races held this season aboard his Nikon Racing Yamaha YZF R6. Teammate Brendan Clarke has got further to grips with the R6 that he is riding for the first time this year and is posing to be a strong threat to Curtain’s unbeaten run.

The FX Pro-Twins class has seen defending champion, Wagga’s Craig McMartin struggle with bike problems and injury this year. The Ducati Sydney rider suffered a broken wrist and ribs at the opening round and ahs found it a little harder than expected in setting up of his new Ducati 999S. He finds himself well down on the points table as the dominance shown by Ducati in the class in recent years appears to have been broken by a new breed of Aprilia RSV riders, led by Aprilia Racings diminutive Shaun Geronimi. He along with Zac Davies (Belray / Australian Security Concepts) and John Allen (Aluma-Lite Racing) have jumped into prominence as has Roland Kruck on the Doin’ Bikes Honda SP1 in the big-bore twins class

The NakedBikes have been equally competitive as defending champion Craig Trinder (Nikon Racing Yamaha FZ1) has come under a huge amount of pressure from fellow Yamaha riders Graeme Wilshaw (Procycles) and Matthew Waldron mycontrolroom.com.au) and the Aprilia Tuono of John Allen. Wilshaw and Allen have taken victories from Trinder already this season and that could well be on the cards again this weekend.

One class that has flourished this season has been the Xtreme Ultra Lites. Appearing on the program for the first time, they have provided huge grid sizes with equally good race quality. Sydney’s Jai Curtis (Caringbah M/C / Staintune) leads the points table aboard his Honda CBR400, but has had strong opposition from Caleb Stalder (Gold Coast Aprilia and Taree M/C) who heads the list of 2-stroke competitors in the class aboard his Aprilia RS250 and sits second on the points table.

With 24-race scheduled over the two days, race fans are certain not to be spared any of the close hard fought action that Australia’s best road racers have to offer.

The Yamaha Formula Xtreme TT Series includes:
– Yamaha Xtreme
– Yamaha Supersport & Superstock
– EXEL Aprilia FX Pro-Twins & B.E.A.R’s F1
– Aluma-Lite Racing Formula Oz, 250/125 GPs & Clubsport 600
– NakedBike, Streetfighter NK Lites, Forgotten Era 4-Stroke
– Australian Security Concepts Xtreme Ultra Lites
– Formula X Unlimited


TRACK FACTS – Winton Motor Raceway
Location: Fox St, Winton, Victoria
Situated approx 190km north of Melbourne.
Circuit length: 3.00km
Direction: Clockwise


ON TRACK
Saturday, Qualifying commences at 09:00am,
with racing from approx 12:30pm. (8 Races)
Sunday, Races begin from 10:00am (16 Races)


WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT A FORMULA XTREME TT SERIES EVENT
The 2003 Yamaha Formula Xtreme TT Series again will provide a number of new and valued additions to their racing program that benefit both the racers and the fans.

To enable fans to get as much of the action as possible, the addition of a giant Screen Co Superscreen located in front of the main spectator viewing areas at each venue. You won’t miss any of the action around the circuit or post-race presentations and interviews.

To further enhance to viewing and listening opportunities at a Yamaha Formula Xtreme TT Series round is the exciting new addition of Xtreme TV and Xtreme Radio. For those racers and fans that may not be able to see the Superscreen or hear the PA system, all you need now is a UHF TV or a FM Radio and you won’t miss any of the action.

Xtreme Merchandise is also available at each round of the series. The Xtreme Merchandise van has a vast array of supporters merchandise available at each round. Items include T-Shirts, polo’s, caps, women’s lycra tops, bucket hats, flags and more.

Rider safety is of paramount concern in motorcycle sport and thanks to the initiatives for Formula Xtreme Promotions, each round of this year’s series will see the strategic location of protective Air Fence to offer any rider added safety in the case of an accident. Air Fence is used at most major international events. Formula Xtreme Promotions is the only promoter of a series to take advantage of this safety barrier at all of its events in Australia.

With all of the attractions at each event, all that remains now is for you to sit back and enjoy all of the on-track action that has no fewer than 24 action-packed races.