Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown Fact Sheet
John Cardinale (707) 933-3907 Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown Fact Sheet, April 30-May 2 WHAT: Infineon Raceway will host the top motorcycle pavement road-racers in the country April 30-May 2 for the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown. The weekend, which is presented by Cycle Gear, will feature two main events in the Chevrolet Superbike Championship division, one on Saturday, May 1, and the other on Sunday, May 2 (Supercuts Superbike Challenge). There will also be racing in the following divisions: Pro Honda Oils Supersport; Repsol Superstock Series; and Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme. WHEN: April 30-May 2. This is the third stop on the 18-race 2004 schedule. WHERE: Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, Calif., 95476 (800-870-RACE or www.infineonraceway.com <http://www.infineonraceway.com/> ) MOTORCYCLES: The AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship continues to evolve with the growing and ever-changing motorcycle marketplace. New for 2004, the class is based on 1000cc four-cylinder and twin engines, with fewer modifications allowed than in years past, with the goal of making the racing as affordable and competitive as possible. WHAT'S NEW? Increased runoff has been created at Turns 1 and 6 on the road course, which should make the circuit much safer. There is now more than 120 feet of runoff at Turn 1, compared with 30 feet prior, and an additional 80 feet of runoff at Turn 6. Moreover, the bridge at Turn 1 has been replaced, while the Turn 6 bridge has been removed. The circuit was also repaved in August. WHAT TO EXPECT: It was the Mat Mladin (Suzuki) show at Infineon Raceway in 2003 as the Australian native dominated both ends of the Chevrolet Superbike doubleheader. Mladin went on to win an AMA-record fourth Superbike championship. In all, he posted 10 wins on the season, also a single-season AMA record. He is now tied for second place in career Superbike wins at Infineon Raceway with Fred Merkel at three. Honda's Miguel Duhamel owns the record for career Superbike wins at Infineon Raceway (four). ... Mladin started off the 2004 season in fine fashion with a win in Daytona and a doubleheader sweep at California Speedway. It was his third-career Superbike win in Daytona. ... Aaron Yates, Mladin's teammate, placed second behind Mladin in both Superbike features at Infineon Raceway in 2003, and he also placed second for the championship. He won his only Superbike title at Infineon Raceway in 1996. ... Brothers Eric Bostrom (Ducati) and Ben Bostrom (Honda) should be in the hunt, as well. Ben reached the podium with a third-place effort in the second feature at Infineon Raceway last year, while Eric was fourth in the first 28-lap feature. ... In Pro Honda Oils Supersport, Yamaha's Jamie Hacking led wire-to-wire in 2003. SUPERMOTO: In addition to the excitement of AMA Pro Racing, the weekend will also feature two days of the latest rage, Supermoto, a blend of on- and- off-road racing. The events will take place on a makeshift course utilizing Turns 4-8 on the road course. The course will feature pavement and dirt, with a flat-track corner, table-top jump and two berm corners. The 1.2-mile 15-turn course is designed to test every aspect of Supermoto and present riders with a technically challenging and high-speed circuit. Competition will be held in 450cc, 250cc, Open Expert and Novice classes. Main events will be held on Saturday and Sunday of race weekend at approximately 6 p.m. AMA QUALIFYING: FRIDAY: Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme - 3 p.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown - 4:20 p.m. SATURDAY: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown - 10:30 a.m.; Pro Honda Oils Supersport - 1 p.m. AMA MAIN EVENTS: SATURDAY: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, Race 1 - 2:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Repsol Superstock - noon; Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship - 1 p.m.; Supercuts Superbike Challenge - 2 p.m. ADVANCE TICKETS: FRIDAY - $10; SATURDAY - $30; SUNDAY - $30; WEEKEND TICKET - $55. Children 12 and under free. Call 800-870-RACE, or visit www.infineonraceway.com <http://www.infineonraceway.com/> or www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com/> . ### --------------------------- John Cardinale VP of Media/Community Relations Infineon Raceway Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476 wk: 707-933-3907 cell: 707-334-9805