Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts with files from Bob Dragich

Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom adapted to the revised course at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point Raceway) in Sonoma, California better than anyone else and was fastest during a one-day test Thursday, with a lap of 1:38.05 on his ZX-7RR Superbike.

Graves Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster led Formula Xtreme riders with a 1:38.60 on his YZF-R1-based machine.

Jake Zemke posted the fastest Supersport lap time with a 1:40.19 on his Parts Unlimited PJ1 Erion Honda CBR600RR.

Universal Studios/American Honda, Erion Honda, No Limit Motorsports Honda, Bruce Transportation Group Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Graves Yamaha and Dream Team Ducati attended the shakedown, but the big news concerned alterations made to the road course over the winter.

AMA Pro Racing was so interested in reaction to the changes that staffers Ron Barrick, Merrill Vanderslice, John Farris and Kerry Graeber came to the test, and Infineon Raceway’s John Cardinale held a mid-day press conference for local media to talk with the riders.

Eric and Ben Bostrom, Miguel Duhamel and Buckmaster attended the press conference, and their feedback on the safety of the new layout was generally positive with most of their concern centered on the new turn one layout. The issue with turn one for most riders was that it is too tight with too many traffic pylons.

In addition, Doug Chandler, who did not attend the press conference, expressed dissatisfaction with the layout of the new turn 11 to reporters.

In other testing news, Bruce Transportation Group Honda’s Marty Craggill has fully recovered from recent surgery to remove a disc from his back. Craggill told reporters that he was “fine, perfect, no problems whatsoever.”

The AMA Superbike event at Infineon Raceway is scheduled for May 2-4.

Unofficial Lap Times (as supplied by teams):

1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:38.05
2. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:38.60
3. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:38.62
4. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:38.75
5. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:38.80
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:39.57
7. Ben Bostrom, Honda RC51, 1:39.64
8. Doug Chandler, Honda CBR954RR, 1:40.10
9. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.19
10. Larry Pegram, Ducati 998RS, 1:40.31
11. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:40.44
12. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR954RR, 1:41.39
13. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:41.40
14. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.42
15. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:41.46
16. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:41.73
17. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR600RR, 1:42.00
18. Jason Curtis, Honda CBR600RR, 1:42.03
19. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:42.69