Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Italica Racing, the Aprilia USA-backed team slated to start racing in AMA Superbike during the 2004 season and continue through the 2005 season, has released its riders and crew members to find other work while team leaders seek funding.

That’s the word from Italica Racing Crew Chief Vic Fasola, who is at Barber Motorsports Park serving as Crew Chief for Matt Wait’s Kneedraggers.com Yamahas.

“They’re having some financial issues and haven’t been able to resolve them yet,” Fasola told Roadracingworld.com. “So they’ve basically cut everybody loose (to find) whatever we can (for work) in the interim. We’re still hoping they’ll pull something together, but right now it doesn’t look very promising.”

As for his ride with Kneedraggers.com Yamaha, Wait said, “They called me on Saturday (August 7) and asked what I was doing, asked if I wanted a ride, so here I am. I didn’t have anything else going on.

“So we’re going to do the remaining F-USA races and probably the last two AMA races. Hopefully, I can pick up where I left off and win some races.”

Wait raced for Kneedraggers.com Yamaha in the 2003 Formula USA season.