Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Superbike teams are beginning to make plans to run in the World Superbike round held in conjunction with the AMA Superbike event July 10-13 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California.

“We plan to run Eric Bostrom for sure,” said Kawasaki Racing Team Manager Michael Preston Friday at Pikes Peak. “The process has basically started, but we probably won’t know until two weeks before the race.”

Preston said that although Eric Bostrom was technically considered a World Superbike regular last season, he would have to enter this year’s Laguna Seca race as a wild card. Preston hopes that the fact Bostrom earned points in last year’s World Superbike Championship would help him get a wild card before other AMA hopefuls.

“Right now all three guys want to ride it,” said American Honda Team Coordinator Ray Plumb. “Honda hasn’t said anything official to me. After this weekend, we’ll make the decisions.”

“We’re looking forward to getting the bike dialed in over the next couple of rounds, because I want to win Laguna,” said Ducati Austin’s Anthony Gobert. “We’re confident if we can get our bike sorted we’ll be able to give them a run. I’ve won at Laguna every time I’ve raced in World Superbike there. I’m hoping to do the same this year.”

“At this point, yes,” said Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Don Sakakura, confirming his team’s intention to enter both Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates in the Laguna Seca World Superbike races. “We’re hoping there will be enough rides. According to Ron Barrick, there’s a minimum of four rides.”

Asked if his team had done any testing with the FIM-mandated air restrictors and unleaded race fuel, Sakakura said the team had not. Sakakura then pointed out that the Yoshimura Suzuki team would have access to all of Alstare Corona Suzuki’s data. Alstare Corona Suzuki runs Gregorio Lavilla on a GSX-R1000 in World Supebike, and like Yoshimura Suzuki, uses Dunlop tires and Elf race fuel.

Sakakura said if both Mladin and Yates get wild-card entries, his team will test with the required air restrictors and unleaded fuel at Virginia International Raceway in June.

According to AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick, the AMA can nominate four wild card entries for Laguna Seca and the FIM can award two more wild cards for a total of six. As it stands right now, there are seven AMA Superbike riders interested in doing the race.

Dream Team Ducati’s Larry Pegram said he did not have any plans to run the World Superbike race.