From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Bostrom hoping visit to Pikes Peak will spark revival

Ducati ace is four-time winner at PPIR

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (May 18, 2004) -There are few tracks where Eric Bostrom is more comfortable. This Sunday, May 23, the Ducati Austin rider hopes to find the magic once again on the twisty and challenging 1.3-mile Pikes Peak International Raceway road course in Fountain, Colo. This weekend’s round eight of the 18-race AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship is part of the AMA Superbike Weekend presented by Honda Motorcycles and 2nd Annual “Gravity Check” Extreme Games.

It’s only natural that Bostrom feels at home at PPIR. The track in a former incarnation was a mile horse racing track that once hosted an AMA Grand National Flat Track race in the 1970s. The circuit still features some of the characteristics of a big mile oval in its sweeping long left hand turn at the south end of the course. For Bostrom, a 27-year-old Californian, the track plays right into his racing background.

“Pikes Peak is a real kick,” said Bostrom, the defending and four-time winner of the race. “It’s a track that takes a great deal of throttle control and a lot of nerve. It’s not a super high-speed circuit, but it’s a place where you never get a moment’s rest. It’s tough on tires and it really works you.”

Bostrom could use a fifth win at Pikes Peak. So far his 2004 season has been less than hoped for. After promising winter test outings many pegged Bostrom a pre-season favorite to win the title. Unfortunately, things haven’t quite gone according to plan for the twice runner-up in AMA Superbike. A rock punctured his factory Ducati’s oil cooler at the Daytona opener. He then rallied to score a pair of runner-up finishes at California Speedway only to suffer a crash a few weeks later at Infineon Raceway. Bostrom comes into Pikes Peak ranked fifth in the series. A victory this Sunday could begin a serious turnaround for Bostrom and Ducati Austin.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mathew Mladin leads the series as it rolls into the thin, high-altitude air of Pikes Peak International Raceway. Pikes is one of only two AMA racing circuits that Mladin has not been victorious — the other being Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway. Last year the Aussie racing veteran experienced a rear tire problem on his Suzuki and was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop and finished an uncharacteristic ninth. Mladin, the only four-time AMA Superbike champion, would enjoy adding a Pikes Peak winner’s prize to his bulging trophy case.

Team Honda’s Miguel Duhamel sits in second place in the championship and joins Eric Bostrom as a former Pikes Peak winner. The well-liked French Canadian, who now calls Las Vegas home, won the inaugural AMA Superbike race at PPIR in 1997. Since then Duhamel has scored no better than fifth in the race. Duhamel is hoping to get back atop the Pikes winner’s rostrum for the first time in eight years. If he does so he would tie Mladin as the all-time wins leader in the history of AMA Superbike racing. Duhamel is coming off a win at Barber Motorsports Park and would love to continue his momentum at Pikes Peak.

Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke looks to Pikes Peak as yet another opportunity to win his first AMA Superbike race. Zemke has been agonizingly close to earning his first win in the last three rounds only to lose leads late in the races. Like Bostrom, Zemke is a former flat track racer and should be a natural at Pikes Peak.

Team Prieto Racing Suzuki’s Geoff May continues his impressive run among the Superbike elite. Last year’s AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year comes into Sunday’s race ranked fourth –remarkable for a rider on a privateer team. The Georgian is looking for his seventh straight top-10 Superbike finish this season.

The Pikes Peak International Raceway event will be shown live on SPEED Channel. For additional information on the AMA Superbike Weekend presented by Honda Motorcycles and 2nd Annual “Gravity Check” Extreme Games call (805) 256-2475 or visit www.ppir.com

Friday, May 21

3:00 – 7:00 – Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guest

3:00 – 7:30 – Tech Inspection

6:30 – Post-Entry Closed for all Classes


Saturday, May 22

7:30 – 4:00 – Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

8:00 – 5:00 – Tech Inspection

8:30 – 9:10 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport

9:20 – 10:00 – AMA Repsol Superstock

10:10 – 10:50 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme

11:00 – 12:00 – Chevrolet Superbike Practice

12:00 – 12:50 – Lunch Break

12:20 – Rider Briefing

12:50 – 1:10 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Qualifying, Group 1

1:20 – 1:40 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Qualifying, Group 2

1:50 – 2:10 – AMA Repsol Superstock Qualifying, Group 1

2:20 – 2:40 – AMA Repsol Superstock Qualifying, Group 2

2:50 – 3:10 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, Group 1

3:20 – 3:40 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, Group 2

3:50 – 4:20 – Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 1

4:30 – 5:00 – Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 2


Sunday, May 23

8:30 – 12:00 – Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

8:30 – Tech Inspection Opens

8:30 – 9:00 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport

9:10 – 9:40 – AMA Repsol Superstock

9:50 – 10:20 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme

10:30 – 11:00 – Chevrolet Superbike

11:20 – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets (60k – 29 laps)

12:00 – Lunch Break

12:20 – Nondenominational Chapel Service

1:00 – AMA Repsol Superstock (60k – 29 laps)

2:00 – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme (60k – 29 laps)

3:30 – **Chevrolet Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited (100k – 48 laps)

** LIVE TV