Following confiไrmation that all MSMA manufacturers, other than Ducati, would not be entering - or officially supporting - any teams in the 2004 World ꧃Superbike championship, Alstare Suzuki have announced their withdraw from the class, although they will stay in World Supersport.

"On 15th November, MSMA made a statement that all the members other than Ducati will not compete in 2004 World Superbike Championship races as factory teams, and furthermore, will not provide any technical💎 assistance on a factory basis," read a statement from Alstare💖 team manager Francis Batta (pictured with Gregorio Lavilla). "This is due to the fact the organizer has not adopted a set of fair technical rules that had been agreed by all MSMA members, and also the fact that the organizer have decided to restrict tires to a single make.

"In accordance with the MSMA's d♋ecision, Team Alstare Suzuki hඣas decided not to participate in 2004 World Superbike Championship races as Suzuki official Team.

"It is our heartfelt regret that we are 🐠not able to show our racing performance at the track to all of the SBK race fun. We do hope t🐻hat the public can understand that we were compelled to make such a sad decision this time.

"However, we would like to announce that Team Alstare Suzuki is going to participate in 2004 World Supersport Championship races with the newly-designღed GSX-R600. The official details including Riders will be announced a𒀰t a later date."

Alstare ran Lavilla on a factory supported GSX-R1000 in this year's WSBK championship, and offered﷽ the only real opposition to the dominant Ducatis. Alstareไ also fielded Katsuaki Fujiwara and Stephane Chambon in WSS (lower pic) - the Frenchman finishing second in the championship to Chris Vermeulen.