Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Day two of Michelin tire testing was completed Friday at Daytona International Raceway after getting a late start due to a wet track.

Eric Bostrom with Ducati Austin and Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp and Vincent Haskovec had to wait until nearly noon to get on the track, which was wet from overnight rain.

Bostrom is still getting used to the Ducati 999, but his times steadily improved throughout the day. His best time around the Daytona road course was a 1:48.81. During the afternoon, Bostrom stopped on track with mechanical problems. Once he got back to the garage, the team got to work on repairs while Bostrom took the backup bike out for the remainder of the afternoon.

Rapp spent all of day one and most of day two riding his Supersport 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600. He tested a variety of tire compounds, and then did an 18-lap run in the afternoon on the tire combination that he had liked best. Rapp’s 600 is stock except for the suspension and bodywork, but he was still able to turn a fast time of 1:54.26 on day one of the test, running alone.

Following his long stint on the 600, Rapp tested a Superstock-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the rest of the afternoon. Rapp’s quickest time on the 1000 was a 1:50.68.

Haskovec also started Friday on a Suzuki GSX-R600, riding a 2003 model built to Formula Xtreme specs. After only an hour of testing, a mechanical problem developed and he shut the bike down on the back straight. After getting a ride back to the pits, Haskovec spent the rest of the day on a Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Haskovec’s fast time of 1:53.85 on the 600 was set on day one of the test, and on day two he set his quickest time on the 1000 with a 1:51.02.

The third and final day for the Michelin tire tests will be held Saturday.



More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Eric Bostrom Continues To Shake Down Ducati On Day 2 of Michelin Tire Test



DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., — Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom and Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp and Vince Haskovec completed a second day of Michelin tire testing on Friday at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the 63rd Daytona 200 By Arai on Saturday, March 6.

The Michelin tire test is the first time that Bostrom has ridden his new ride – the factory Ducati 999 motorcycle.

Bostrom had been competing for factory Kawasaki since 2000, but the motorcycle manufacturer pulled out of AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike competition for 2004 allowing the 27-year-old San Francisco rider to join Ducati.



After two days of testing, Bostrom says the comfortable level on the Ducati 999 continues to grow.

“The biggest difference (today) is that I’m getting more familiar with the bike,” Bostrom said. “The tires are also coming in better. We have some tires that we’re starting to get pretty happy with. That’s huge for us. This track, you have to have everything good. Probably the most important is tires. You have to be able to go 200 miles.”

If Bostrom, whose best finish in the Daytona 200 By Arai is a second in 2001, is able to deliver Ducati its first victory in the prestigious motorcycle race, it’ll come on a Saturday. In place of its traditional Sunday start, the Daytona 200 By Arai moves to Saturday, March 6.

Other changes to the Daytona 200 Week schedule include moving the Daytona Supercross By Honda from Saturday afternoon to under the lights on Friday night, March 5.

“It’s for the best,” said Bostrom about the Daytona 200 By Arai schedule change. “In the past, a lot of people are leaving and driving home on Sunday. Hopefully, the attendance will be up. I think it’s a good move.”

Michelin tire testing continues on Saturday and is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.

The three-day Dunlop tire test in preparation for the Daytona 200 By Arai is scheduled to kick off on Monday, Dec. 8 and is also free and open to the public.

Tickets for both the Daytona 200 By Arai and the Daytona Supercross By Honda are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com