Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

According to F-USA and CCS Road Race Operations Manager Kevin Elliott, American Honda has notified Clear Channel Entertainment–Motor Sports that it will not continue to sponsor the F-USA Sportbike class but will post contingency in 2003.

“Honda just called and said they would be putting contingency up for both the F-USA and the CCS Series,” said Elliott from his office in Ft. Worth Monday. “They wanted to make sure we knew it since they have declined to come back in and sponsor the Grand National (combined road racing and dirt track series) and the Sportbike class.”

Asked how losing the Honda sponsorship would affect the Sportbike class, Elliott said “It makes it tougher for us, because now we have to find an additional seven or eight associate sponsors or seach for a class sponsor when everybody has already spent their budget.

“The purses will remain the same. The Sportbike points fund is fine. The team owner program will remain the same. We had hoped to build it up with some points funds for the other classes, and now that’s in question.”