From a press release issued by Nikon Yamaha:

Stauffer a Scratching But Shannon Set to Shine At Winton

Regretfully, the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team wishes to announce that lead rider Daniel Stauffer will not be competing in the upcoming third round of the 2004 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championships to be held at Winton Raceway (Vic) this weekend (May 14-16).

Stauffer, who currently sits in equal second place in the title chase, crashed during testing at the Winton track last week and sustained injuries that required surgery.

The crash occurred at Turn Three when the foot-peg of Daniel’s R1 caught the kerb and sent him crashing to the ground with his right shoulder taking the full impact.

The Novocastrian broke his right collarbone in the incident, separating the bones, which required an operation to pin and screw the clavicle as well as undergoing a bone graft. He also suffered a broken rib during the incident and unfortunately with the meeting just 7 days after the operation is unable to take his place in the team.

“I’m really gutted as that test was going really well,” said an understandably disappointed Stauffer. “The season started out so promising too when I won the first two races but from then on a bit of bad luck has crept in. It was a foot-peg that let me down at Eastern Creek then at Wakefield I crashed. That one was my fault as I was pushing too hard on cold tyres but this one I can’t explain and it’s a damn foot-peg again!

“It was my third lap out in that session after changing a few things and running the bikes in so it was really only my second fast lap. I thought I was on the same line as the previous lap but before I knew it I was on the deck.

“Hopefully the others wont get too many points lead on me and I will still be in the hunt for the title in the remaining four rounds but this crash has certainly made it extra difficult for me.”

While Stauffer may be a frustrated absentee this weekend there is no doubt that the newcomer to the Yamaha Factory Racing Team in 2004, Shannon Johnson, will be at the forefront of the battle for the supremacy on the weekend.

Johnson – the 2002 Australian Supersport Champion – has finally found his feet and is now fully comfortable with the new Yamaha R1 rocket and Dunlop tyres – both of which he never had experienced before this season commenced.

Shannon – who replaced multi-Australian champion Kevin Curtain – has been improving at every outing and scored his first podium in the championship for his new team when he finished third in the opening Superbike race at Wakefield Park last month.

Although Winton is in his home state, the 23-year-old doesn’t consider the challenging circuit his home track. “It’s in Victoria but that’s about it. I don’t hate it but I don’t love it either. Winton’s been kind to me in the past so hopefully it can also be kind to me this weekend.

“The test we did last week was perfect. I’ve settled into the bike and the team now. I was just missing time on the bike but we had a really positive test there. I managed to get a few more things sorted out and explain a few things to the team that’s enabled us to move forward.

“I want to keep the momentum going and hopefully the results will come.

The Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team is also competing in the Supersport Championship with Brendan Clarke in the saddle. So far, 2004 hasn’t be too much of a year to remember for the 20-year-old as he battles different characteristics of the Yamaha R6 and has had difficulty in his race setup. Hopefully after the team’s test last week the worst is behind him and he manages to recapture his competitiveness from last year.

“I think we’ve turned the corner, so with a bit of luck I will be able to score some much better results. Like the other guys I gained a lot from the test a Winton last week so hopefully we will have a good setup to start with for the meeting. I’ve done okay there in the past so hopefully this is the weekend where my year changes.”