he 2004 AMA racing season will launch a new era for Michelin North America’s Two Wheel Department. While the tire maker has claimed the last 10 consecutive World Superbike Championships and 12 straight Grand Prix World Championships, Michelin has played a less prominent role in American racing. That’s about to change.

Eric Bostrom will contest the AMA Superbike Championship aboard a Michelin-equipped Ducati 999.

Thanks in part to changes in the World Superbike and World Supersport rules, Michelin will mount its most ambitious effort ever in AMA road racing, beginning with Daytona Bike Week on March 3-6, 2004. The Ducati Austin team, with Eric Bostrom, and the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki team, with riders Steve Rapp and Vincent Haskovec, will enjoy the full backing of a team of Michelin a factory technicians led by Superbike Racing Manager Jean Hérissé. For the first time ever, a dedicated Michelin tractor-trailer rig will be on site at all 11 AMA Superbike weekends.

The Michelin semi will be a familiar site at AMA road races this year.

The Michelin effort will spread across several categories. Bostrom will be aboard a factory-supported Ducati 999 in the bike’s maiden season of AMA Superbike racing; Rapp will ride a Suzuki GSX-R600 in Supersport and Haskovec will race in the revamped Formula Xtreme, with each Valvoline rider also competing in a to-be-determined second class.

This increased level of participation was, to a certain extent, made possible by a rule change limiting World Superbike and World Supersport participants to a single tire brand. That decision excluded Michelin, which before the change was announced, had already committed to re-entering World Supersport after a three-year absence. The resources freed up by the rule change, and longtime partner Ducati’s desire to enter a factory team in AMA Superbike, made possible the aggressive expansion of Michelin’s U.S. road racing program.

The teams began their on-track preparations for 2004 at a Michelin test on December 4-6, 2003, at the famed Daytona International Speedway. The tests were aimed at determining the best possible tire solution for unique demands posed by Daytona’s steep banking and sustained high speeds.

The Valvoline EMGO Suzuki team of Vincent Haskovec (shown) and
Steve Rapp will spearhead development of Michelin

“First we focus on safety and stability,” commented Jim Rhodes, Michelin North America’s road racing manager. “Then we concentrate on speed and endurance. During the test, we were able to consistently turn laps at what we consider to be competitive speeds. And even though the tires we brought for the test are a number of development stages away from what we will bring in March, our riders seem very pleased with the stability and feedback of these tires. In short, we had no dramas.”
Bostrom, in particular, was impressed with the Michelin tires, after spending his entire professional career on another brand. “The tires were easy to step onto right away,” he said. “There’s just a lot of grip. The thing that hit me straight away was the mid-corner speed. It feels like you’re riding in a rut on a dirt bike. I can’t wait to get to some real racetracks with some curves.”

While it’s too early to make any predictions, it looks like Michelin just might have to make some room in its bulging trophy case.