Hi Joe:

I thought I would give you a quick update on my season so far. We were lucky to get off to a shakey start just in time for the season opener in Homestead after a day of practice at Moroso during a Sportbike Tracktime event. I hadn't ridden a motorcycle in 3 years and needed some seat time. Our Homestead weekend did not go great results-wise, but we did manage to get some valuable points for the overall championship in Expert SuperTwins, did not finish last and did not crash the bike. Since then, Todd (Lightning Moto Sport) and I have made various performance mods along the way and have been working on our overall setup. I'm happy to say that since that first race weekend we have not finished lower than 4th place including the 4th at Daytona just after Homestead. We've not missed a race either. All of this has added up to a very strong points lead in Expert SuperTwins although still looking for that first race win of the season.

Overall, we're all very happy with where we are at. I've been riding within my limits, getting faster every weekend, no crashes yet, etc. Nothing but positives so far. This last weekend at Moroso was my best performance of the season yet and I believe that first win of the season is looming ahead soon. I finished a solid 3rd after running off the track in the final chicane trying to chase down 1st and 2nd on lap 2. There was a data entry problem with the race entries and I was left off the grid initially. They put me at the back of the grid even though I was pre-entered, oh well. I didn't mind since I told Henry that I was still healing from a dislocated shoulder (home improvement work, not racing injury).

I managed to get up to 3rd on that first lap and was pushing hard to catch Leo and John up front when I overshot the final chicane and had to shortcut through the dirt & grass. Instead of getting penalized I sat up for a second after getting on the asphalt again to let 4th catch me. It took 2 more laps to get by and retake 3rd place again. On the white flag lap I realized I was catching up to Leo again, there must have been a problem with his Ducati. Another lap and I may have caught him, maybe not. Either way, I know I ran a great race and felt stronger again and looking forward to the 2nd half of the season.

The first one is originally a shot from Lisa Theobald taken on the pit lane of Jennings GP last month. I used Photoshop to knock out the background, fix colors and create shadows.

Thanks again,
Les!

2/03/04

Hey Joe

It's Les, just wanted to let you know that it looks like I'll be racing again in 2004. At the last minute, a bunch of my old sponsors and some new ones all came together when the stars were lined up and just right and the lunar phase was helping too.

Anyway, Todd from Lightning Moto Sport is helping me campaign one of the new Aprilia RSV1000R's (Mille-R). It's the "R" model, not the factory model. Huge difference in price and the reality is that I don't need what makes up the difference in price. Jeff Gehrs from Ferodo as ALWAYS is throwing me support again even though I haven't raced in 3 seasons, what a guy. That's loyalty.

Agvsport is back on board with full support, more on that later. Respro from the UK is giving me product support. Sharkskinz used our bike to make the new Mille molds, so of course they are totally hooking us up with bodywork...of course they were able to keep our stock bodywork so it's only fair. Sakis (c'mon, everybody knows Sakis) has AGAIN helped me out in the painting department. He works for so little and gets the shaft from a lot of racers not paying him his due and he never complains about it. Super guy... Who else? RG-Racing in the UK is helping with crash protectors and stuff like that (frame sliders).

Of course, my wife Julie is always supporting me. She wants me to be happy (again). Our new 5-month old "Max", I'm sure he's thrilled and just doesn't know it yet. He's been to Daytona already for the ROC, he wasn't even 2 months old! My mother-in-law "Jean" is VERY supportive no matter how crazy it sounds, she's always been there for Julie and I. There are certainly others that are helping me on my way like John, (my Ford mechanic) getting me the super deal on the hitch receiver and working on our Expedition.

Here is a graphic of how the bike should look in a few days, the bodywork is already painted, now I just have to put on some stickers!

I'm starting a website to sell die-cuts for racers. The site will be: racebikedecals.com I figure I have the plotter (a big commercial one) and I've already created so many racing logos for cutting vinyl (I did the Prieto Racing trailer, used to sticker all of Shane Prieto's bikes too). May as well put it all to good use.

I'll see you at the track

Les Moscariello