From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

CLASSES SET FOR MOTOGP/AMA SUPERBIKE WEEKEND AT LAGUNA SECA

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Jan. 27, 2005) – Racing fans should be certain to circle the July 8-10 weekend on their calendars. Those dates will mark one of the biggest events ever in the history of motorcycle racing in America when the Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship
(MotoGP) and the AMA Superbike Championship combine to make a spectacular weekend of racing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.

The event, formally named the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, will bring Motorcycle Grand Prix back to the United States for the first time since 1994. In addition three classes of the AMA Superbike Championship will run in conjunction with MotoGP. The event promises to be the biggest weekend of motorcycle racing in America and is expected to attract over 100,000 fans. A round of the AMA Superbike Championship, the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei and the Repsol Lubricants Superstock Series will run in support of MotoGP.

“We are excited about the combined MotoGP/AMA Superbike weekend at Laguna Seca,” said Scott Hollingsworth, AMA Pro Racing’s CEO. “Bringing the premier world road racing series and the foremost national series in the world together for one magnificent weekend of racing is something AMA Pro Racing is proud to be a part of. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is an outstanding racing venue in one of the most beautiful regions of America and we’re certain the race will bring in thousands of visitors making it beneficial for the Monterey area.”

American fans will get their first opportunity to watch six-time world champion Valentino Rossi, considered to be one of the preeminent motorcycle racers of all time. In addition it will mark the return of three of American motorcycling’s favorite sons in Kenny Roberts Jr., John Hopkins and Colin Edwards, all established stars of the MotoGP circuit.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has gone through a large number of improvements since the last time the track hosted the U.S.G.P. in 1994. Highlighting the changes is a state-of-the-art paddock/garage area. Earlier this year Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA funded a number of track safety improvements.

The AMA Superbike Championship is kicking off its 30th season this year. Early superbike races held at Laguna Seca in the mid-1970s helped launch the American-born series. Superbike racing spread rapidly throughout the rest of the world and is now the predominant national series in countries around the globe. Aussie Mat Mladin is the defending AMA Championship. The Suzuki veteran is shooting to extend his record number of AMA Superbike Championships to six in 2005.

The AMA Pro Honda Supersport and Repsol Lubricants Superstock races could provide fans at Laguna Seca with some of the closest racing of the weekend. Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden is the defending Supersport champ and Aaron Gobert of Graves Yamaha is the No. 1 rider in AMA Superstock.

Tickets for the 2005 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix are on sale now on the Laguna Seca website www.laguna-seca.com or by calling 1-800-327-SECA or (831) 648-5100.

About AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the THQ AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Motocross Championship, the AMA Superbike Championship, the AMA Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com