Silly season, the time of year when changes in rider line-ups and team plans are rumored, denied, confirmed, etc., is in full force this weekend at Road Atlanta. Saturday, Erion Honda confirmed its 2006 plans, to race Formula Xtreme and Superstock with Josh Hayes and Aaron Gobert and with more involvement by American Honda. This news came following recent announcements that Aaron Yates would continue with Yoshimura Suzuki in 2006, that Neil Hodgson would return to the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin AMA team next season, that Jamie Hacking would continue with Yamaha and that Marty Craggill will again be employed by Mat Mladin Motorsports Suzuki. There are several issues left to settle, however. It is believed that Yamaha, which plans to run factory teams in Superstock on the new YZF-R1 Limited Edition and in Formula Xtreme on the all-new YZF-R6, will field a third rider. The hot rumor at Road Atlanta is that Eric Bostrom is considering taking that seat rather than stay on the Ducati Austin 999, but Bostrom has also told some reporters that he will be racing a Superbike in 2006. Bostrom’s manager Norm Viano told Roadracingworld.com, “Whatever you are hearing, nothing is definite.” Kawasaki has not announced, or even hinted at, its 2006 racing plans or its riders, other than Tommy Hayden, who is in the middle of a multi-year contract with Team Green. It is expected that Roger Hayden will re-sign with the factory team. Ben Attard is also expected to renew his commitment to Kawasaki and ride for the Attack Kawasaki team for two more years, now that the second seat at Erion Honda (which he thought about taking) has been filled by Aaron Gobert. Who the second Attack Kawasaki rider will be is not known, but Damon Buckmaster has been made available by Yamaha. Sources within Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki have said they are looking to continue with Jason Pridmore, in Superbike and Superstock, and with Steve Rapp, in Superstock only. While Kurtis Roberts hasn’t had the most success over the past two seasons, he may replace Bostrom on the Parts Unlimited-sponsored Ducati Austin team; Roberts has been personally sponsored by Parts Unlimited for much of his career. Failing that, his services could be a great asset to a support-level team (his manager Jimmy Filice has been talking to M4 EMGO Suzuki), or his management team could try to gather sponsorship and run a Superbike team for Roberts. At VIR and Road Atlanta, Roberts’ Honda has sported a custom swingarm and rear suspension linkage made for him by his father’s Team Roberts race shop. These rumors could be confirmed or denied in the coming weeks as the motorcycle manufacturers hold their annual dealer meetings and finalize their racing programs. A new factor in various programs could be AMA Pro Racing plans to add events at various venues, which would increase team costs and could affect how many riders they field. Adding four venues would increase event-related team expenses 40% over 2005 costs.