Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Team America Grand Prix Racing’s Jason DiSalvo has offers to ride factory Supersport bikes in both the AMA and World Championships in 2003, but is only really considering his AMA offers, according to his father and team owner, Jim DiSalvo.

The DiSalvos started working toward finalizing Jason’s 2003 deal after returning from the Suzuki GSX-R World Cup races held at Magny Cours, France September 13-14. Jason DiSalvo finished third overall in the Suzuki GSX-R World Cup.

“We’ve been negotiating back and forth ever since we got here on Tuesday (September 17), every day into the evening with phone calls to the west coast trying to make a decision which way we’re going,” said Jim DiSalvo. “The offers are very good. At this point in time, nothing has been decided. We’re still in the negotiation stage, but we’re close. I would say that within a week…I’m hoping by Tuesday or Wednesday (September 24-25). That’s my hope.”

When asked what type of rides they were looking at, Jim DiSalvo said, “Good rides. AMA Supersport here and World Supersport. The European (offer) isn’t as strong as the American.”

DiSalvo’s father said the American offers were better financially and better for Jason’s career.

“American Supersport is good solid racing,” said Jim DiSalvo. “Nobody gives up the line, but they’re not out to kill somebody and World Supersport is. Right now, it is the most cut-throat sport in motorcycles.”

After winning several amateur dirt track Championships in the Northeast United States as a youth, Jason DiSalvo switched to road racing on a Honda RS125 in 1998 at age 14 and won a WERA Novice National Championship in his first season. Racing as an Expert the next year, DiSalvo won the WERA National Challenge Series 125cc GP Championship. Also in 1999, DiSalvo became the youngest American to race in a FIM Grand Prix event, racing at Rio and Argentina as a wild card at age 15, and won the AMA Road Racing Horizon Award. During 2000-2001, DiSalvo competed in several National and continental Championship series in Europe on 125cc and 250cc Hondas, to gain experience on Grand Prix tracks.

At age 18, DiSalvo returned to race in the 2002 AMA National Championships competing in 250cc Grand Prix, Superstock and Superbike. In addition to finishing as the runner-up in the AMA 250cc Championship, DiSalvo won a Superstock race and was the top finishing privateer in several AMA Superbike races, with a best finish of fifth in race two at VIR.