FIRST PERSON/OPINION By John Ulrich All I need to know about the book “The Bostrom Conspiracy” is contained in this passage from pages 278 and 279, because it demonstrates that author Kevin Kurt Lynch (using the pen name J.Y. Johnny based on his nickname, Junk Yard Johnny) has a total lack of understanding of the subject matter and failed to do any meaningful research, and never mind the incorrect punctuation: “Hell where was the owner of the magazine? Why didn’t he step up to buy the ROC when he saw the ad in his magazine. I heard he’s a racer. His son is a racer as well and what club racer wouldn’t love to own a ROC after reading the ad in their own magazine. They or their friends would have been the first ones to call”¦” The classified ad in question appeared in the August 1996 issue of Roadracing World and offered a 1992 ROC-framed, screamer-engined V4 Yamaha YZR500 racebike for $39,500. Apparently I was supposed to buy it for my son, who at the time was a teenager racing a Honda RS125. Or I was supposed to buy it for myself, when I was also racing a Honda RS125–for fun–because I didn’t want to ride any of the really serious GSX-R1100-based racebikes I owned at the time. And apparently I had $39,500 lying around to blow on an obsolete racebike. This is all news to me. But did author Lynch ask me any questions about this before writing his book? No. Instead, he made a leap and an assumption based on faulty reasoning, and used it to bolster a wild conspiracy theory. Which sums up the book. Leaps and assumptions based on faulty reasoning, conspiracy theories and reckless disregard for the truth. A key premise is, no private party should have possession of a ROC Yamaha YZR500, which is an ultra exotic motorcycle that belongs in a museum. Tell it to former 500cc Grand Prix team owner Bob MacLean, who has one in his barn in Wyoming. Peter Clifford, who ran the WCM Yamaha team with MacLean, also has one. Rocky Stargel has one, too, and he only owns an AMA team. As Roadracing World Grand Prix Editor Mat Oxley explains, “They raced them for four or five years, there were quite a few made. I know a mechanic who’s not rich who has one. He’s an ex-GP mechanic. They’re not factory bikes. They weren’t in any way museum pieces.” Beyond that, the book never makes the case to support promotional blurbs seeking to tie Ben and Eric Bostrom to alleged crimes, or linking alleged crimes to the rise of the Bostroms. I was there. I witnessed it as the Bostrom brothers progressed from riding 883 Harley-Davidsons to Supersport bikes to Superbikes in AMA competition, earning rides with professional teams based on their ability to ride motorcycles. The book is printed to order by what used to be called a vanity publisher; it’s a pay to publish scheme where the author of a book nobody else wants to publish, pays to have it published. In this case, it is no wonder nobody wanted to publish it without being paid to do so, because when it comes to motorcycle racing, the book fails even the most cursory reality check. I’m not sure if Lynch, age 44, who lives at 2400 Countryside Dr. in Placerville, California, can keep himself out of court based on the people he’s smearing being public figures or not. But if ever there was a book that deserved to bankrupt its author through long and arduous litigation, this is it. Here’s hoping justice is served. And now, some reader reaction: FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: A friend of mine who was in the Grand Prix paddock for many years, later with Racing Radios has a 1996 Yam 500cc GP bike. Harris frame, cf brakes, was raced in GP and at IOM by Nigel Davies I believe #6 finisher that year in one class. His name is Gary Coleman. The bike is is Whitesville GA (pop about 750) in a garage with lots of ex racers wired helmets–Rossi, Barros, Abe, Biaggi and Creville to name a few. The bike has not been ridden since it was bought in the mid 90s. Just thought you’d might like to know about it. Kith Burkingstock Newnan, Georgia

Veteran road race mechanic Dennis Zickrick was seriously injured Tuesday morning in a crash on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Zickrick, who has worked with dozens of professional riders over a 30-year time period, was injured when the Lakester he was driving flipped. His injuries include two broken bones, broken ribs and a broken vertebra in his neck. According to his wife, Sandy, Zickrick has not suffered spinal cord damage; he will undergo surgery to plate compound fractures in the bones of one arm later today. Zickrick has been working at AMA Pro races with M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Beck this season. When not at the racetrack, Zickrick owns and runs SuperTech in Windsor, Colorado.

KAWASAKI TEAMMATES SET FOR MAJOR CONTEST IN VIR SUPERSPORT RACE PICKERINGTON, Ohio (August 14, 2007) Monster Energy Kawasaki teammates Roger Hayden and Jamie Hacking are primary candidates to win the 2007 Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei. At Virginia International Raceway this Sunday, Aug. 19, Hayden and Hacking will suit up and go about the business of trying to win the coveted title. VIR is perhaps the perfect neutral ground for both Hayden and Hacking. Both riders have scored Supersport victories at the picturesque, flowing circuit in Alton, Va. Hacking is the defending VIR winner and Hayden won the race in 2005. Hayden is trying to score his first AMA national road racing championship, while Hacking is shooting for a third AMA Supersport title. “It should be a great race at VIR,” Hayden said. “I know me and Jamie have a lot at stake at the race and now Josh [Hayes] feels like he has nothing to lose and will be looking to go out winning races. And that’s just the top three guys. On any given weekend there’s three or four other guys who could step up and challenge for the win. So many things could happen, but I’m just focused on doing what it takes to win this championship. It’s important to me and the team.” Hacking sees this race as one of the most important of the year. “I’m 13 points down to Rog so the equation is simple for me,” Hacking said. “I need to win the race, it’s that simple. I had a great race at VIR last year, but there really wasn’t much pressure on since I nearly had the championship wrapped up. Now it’s a different story. It’s all on the line there, as far as getting close enough to have a shot at the championship, but as a racer you’ve got to like those kinds of challenges.” Hacking took the win last year after a race long battle with M4 EMGO Suzuki teammates Geoff May and Michael Barnes. A crash at Laguna Seca last month took Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes from the Supersport series lead to a distant third. While he joked in a press conference that the Laguna crash may have cost him the price of a new home in California, he said it frees him to think about nothing but winning races. “I know that mathematically, for sure, you always have a shot in a championship, but if I do my job and Roger and Jamie do their job, I really don’t have a shot at that championship, so I’m not going to think about that,” Hayes said. “I’m going to try to win races. If I can put enough pressure on them to force a mistake on their part, and get myself back in the championship, that’s great. If not, I want to win races for Honda and show the world they have a great motorcycle. I think that’s the best thing I can do for myself right now.” Hayes could earn the distinction this Sunday of giving Honda its first VIR Supersport win. Other riders such as M4 EMGO Suzuki’s May and Martin Cardenas, Celtic Racing’s Chaz Davies, Erion Honda’s Aaron Gobert, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden and Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp and Ben Attard all have real shots at winning this weekend’s race. This Sunday’s Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei is part of the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. The race will be televised nationally on SPEED with special same-day coverage starting at 4:00 pm Eastern this Sunday, Aug. 19. Tickets are available by visiting www.m1event.com or call 770-965-4565 or 770-965-4566.

Roger Lyle’s Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days announces a new date on the classic Summit Point Raceway! Make plans to join us Thursday, September 6, before the ASRA/CCS race weekend. Share the love and tell your friends. We know it is short notice but a lot of our riders requested more track days before the season ends. Special thanks to Summit Point Raceway for providing us with this day on the classic 2 mile circuit. Legendary starter Al Wilcox, along with Roger, Joan, and the crew will be there for another fun and exciting day dedicated to speed! Improve your riding skills with help from our instructors and control riders. Photos will be taken, so clean that scooter and riding gear! We have photos for sale from all of the 2007 Motorcycle Xcitement Track Day events. We have Spidi leather suits with body armor and back protectors for rent too! (You might even spot Elvis hanging out in the pits.) To reserve your spot or to get more info, contact Roger Lyle at 301-933-2599 or [email protected]. The web site should be online any day. Check out www.motorcyclexcitement.com. Ride fast. Ride safe. Ride with us.

Czech Grand Prix at Brno 17, 18 and 19 August 2007 PEDROSA READY TO FIGHT WITH SEVEN ROUNDS TO GO This MotoGP season has so far delivered high-octane entertainment on track and a steady increase in off-track tension as new talent in the premier class upsets the old order. With seven rounds of this 18-race series still to run, the first of these ‘second half’ races of the season here at Brno this weekend, there is plenty of action and intrigue still to come. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) currently lies third overall in the World Championship points standings, 66 points adrift of series leader Casey Stoner (Ducati) and just 27 points shy of current second-place holder Valentino Rossi (Yamaha). But the 21-year-old Spaniard, in only his second season of MotoGP, has by no means abandoned a Championship challenge. He has seen first hand the pressure a points leader can feel as a season draws to its conclusion during his 125 and 250 days, and then witnessing his team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) fend off Rossi’s late challenge for the title last year. He will be watching with interest as Stoner faces the same threat as Hayden this year. But if Dani is to capitalise on any errors made by either Stoner or Rossi, he knows he has to put together a better end of season run than he did at the end of 2006. After posting two wins in the first half of last season Dani could only manage two third places in the last six rounds (one of those coming here at Brno). He needs nothing less than wins from here on if he is to stand a chance of reeling in Stoner and Rossi. His team-mate Nicky, the defending World Champion, has endured a difficult season, but the American has bounced back from adversity with two third places from his last three starts. A rested and refreshed Hayden will be a force as the season reaches a conclusion. For Marco Melandri (Gresini Honda RC212V) these next seven races represent an opportunity for the Italian ace to build on his third place at Laguna last month while his team-mate Toni Elias (Gresini Honda RC212V) makes a brave return from injury after breaking a leg at Assen in late June. The likes of Carlos Checa (LCR Honda RC212V), Shinya Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda RC212V) and Kurtis Roberts (Roberts KR212V) have struggled to get on terms with the new 800cc machines this season and Brno will not make things any easier for them but a raft of new HRC parts should lighten their loads. Brno is a track where no rider can afford to make a mistake at this stage of the season. This imposing circuit lies 200km south-east of Prague and the area is steeped in the rich history of Grand Prix racing. Races were run on a fearsome closed roads course before the dedicated circuit was built in 1987. The 5.403km track is a spectacular environment for motorcycle racing and its plunging turns and a power-sapping climb demand a maximum from riders and machines. The track drops 74m from its highest to its lowest point and this gradient is felt chiefly by way of downhill corner entries that make huge demands on the front tyre. Some of these tricky entries are compounded by negative camber that further increases the need for dependable front-end grip. And from turn four to turn 11 it’s all downhill. There are fast chicanes requiring a chassis set up for rapid changes of direction. Precise steering is a must here even though the track is exceptionally wide at 15m. Without accurate turn-in at the high sustained speeds achieved here, not even this super-wide circuit can accommodate wayward exits resulting from inaccurate turn-in. Another factor is the huge, enthusiastic crowd, The Czechs love their motorcycle racing and tens of thousands flock to Brno where the viewing facilities are excellent. The event won’t quite attract the crowds of 250,000 who used to watch in the 1970s, but Brno, like the best tracks, always has a charged atmosphere. Dani Pedrosa said: “I’m really looking forward to Brno because I feel in good condition and ready to go for it again. I’ve taken some holiday on the beach and spent time relaxing both the mind and the body, and then I got back into training as normal. I hope that we can find a strong package for Brno and that everything is correct and we can do a good job. I’m not thinking about the Championship really because our priority is to make sure we have a competitive package at every race and can challenge at the front. Only then could I be thinking about the Championship.” MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden said: “Well, it’s time to pack the bags back up and hit the road again which is good news for me. It’s been a nice few weeks off and maybe just what I needed, but the truth is I’m glad the holidays are over because I’m definitely ready to get back on the bike. Brno is a track I quite like I think most of the guys do because it’s pretty exciting with climbs and downhill sections, and even though the surface is getting pretty used it’s still got good grip. It’s also a track where horsepower is your friend with some big uphill sections and pretty long straights. So it will be exciting to see what HRC brings back to the party this weekend.” Melandri said: “After further medical tests we found a fracture to my left ankle, I have some pain there but it’s better than in Laguna so I will do my best again in Brno. The bike is working really well and after that podium in Laguna I’m really motivated for this second part of the Championship.” His team-mate Elias said: “When I crashed at Assen my target was to be back for Brno and I’m really happy to be able to be here. I won’t be 100% fit, maybe only 60% but I’m very motivated. The recovery was very painful but I think it was worth it.” Checa said: “Now it’s time to face the rest of the season and I like Brno even if it’s very fast and we’re still a bit short on engine power. Anyway HRC will support us with some new exhaust pipes and a new state of tune for the engine. Those changes should be good for the engine set-up because Melandri and the other Honda riders already tried them with positive results. We have to work hard on the tyres because Bridgestone is very competitive now.” Nakano said: “Before the summer break we were making some steady improvements in a number of areas so that’s a base from which we can move forward. I’ve enjoyed some rest back home in Japan so now I’m looking forward to the next race here in the Czech Republic. It’s a track I enjoy very much despite my previous results there not being my best. We should also have some new parts which makes the second part of the season very exciting for us.” For Kurtis Roberts, Brno represents another chance to get the KR chassis further dialled in after its Laguna debut. “The new chassis is definitely the right way to go. We were more competitive from the go at Laguna and it felt better too. We’ll do a back-to-back test with the old chassis and then move on from there here in Brno and continue to close the gap on the others.” The 250cc World Championship is a three-way struggle for the crown now with Jorge Lorenzo ahead of Alex de Angelis (both Aprilia) with 191 to the Italian’s 171 and with Andrea Dovizioso (Scot Honda RS250RW) shadowing them in third with 166 points. The next best placed Honda man is Julian Simon (Repsol Honda RS125R) who holds ninth place in the series standings on 61 points. Dovizioso said: “I’m back from the United States holidays positive and fighting. The Brno track is very fast so for this reason it’s always been a little bit difficult for us and it will not be easy to limit our opponents’ attacks. But, as ever, we’ll give it our best and try to recover points. I’m just looking forward to riding again.” Simon said of Brno: “The circuit of Brno is quite a difficult one, I think that it is one of the most difficult in the championship. The holidays have helped us rest a little, but we now have to work hard. I will tackle the Czech Republic GP with a lot of enthusiasm, do my best, and work hard to get a good result.” The 125cc title race currently looks like a two-way fight between Gabor Talmacsi and Hector Faubel (both Aprilia) on 156 and 154 points. But Tommy Koyama (KTM) lies third on 118 points and having notched a win and two second places so far this season, the Japanese rider can be relied on to continue his challenge. Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R), who currently lies seventh overall in the World Championship standings, said: “The hand and chipped tibia have healed well and the foot that took a bit of a bashing in Germany should be 100% for Brno which is fantastic. I’ve been training very hard on the pushbike and even took it on holiday with me. I crashed at Brno last year and also missed our test there earlier in the year but it should be no problem. It’s a great circuit and I can’t wait to start racing again.” More, from a press release issued by Gresini Honda: A HOPEFUL RETURN FOR TEAM GRESINI AT BRNO PREVIEW GP BRNO The MotoGP World Championship circus returns from its summer break this weekend with the teams and riders ready to tackle what promises to be a demanding second half of the season with renewed energy. This Sunday marks the now traditional return to action at the Czech Republic Grand Prix, the twelfth round of the season, at the Brno circuit. Two weeks later the chase for honours continues in Italy at the Misano circuit. Team Honda Gresini’s riders both have extra reason to look forward to Brno with added motivation for this latest challenge. For Toni Elias the race represents his first competitive action in two months, since breaking his left femur at Assen. As well as forcing him to miss the race in Holland, the injury also ruled him out of the final two races before the summer break in Germany and the USA. Marco Melandri has also spent the summer in recuperation following a practice crash at Laguna Seca, where he battled through intense pain to finish on the podium in third place. After the race, it was discovered that Marco had actually fractured his left astragalo bone (ankle) in the accident but after a three-week break he is now in better shape to tackle Brno. After getting the green light from doctors, on Monday the Team Gresini pair made a 2 hours test on CBR 600 machines at Misano in order to make a final check on their fitness before returning to competitive action and also to assess the most comfortable riding position. Melandri needed just ten laps before returning with positive news: “The foot is still painful but the situation is much better than Laguna.” Elias rode for longer with a special carbon fiber protector for his leg: “I am happy with my feeling on the bike and today I made the final checks with Dr. Costa.” MARCO MELANDRI: “After the race in the US I stayed on for a holiday in California with some friends. The ankle was still hurting me so I went for further medical checks and they found a fracture in my left astragalo. I returned to Italy and began my rehab therapy. It is still not quite right but I’ll go to Brno and try for a top result. Because of the characteristics of the Honda it could be that the Czech circuit is not as favourable to us as Sachsenring and Laguna Seca but I am calm. To get back on the podium at Laguna Seca after a difficult weekend with the crash was really important to me – it was a third place that felt like a win. Our bike is working well now, I have a good feeling and I want to produce a really strong finish to the season. I want to give some more good memories to Fausto Gresini and the whole team. They have given me so much and even during difficult times they always worked to their maximum and stayed close to me. I’m going to Brno with lots of motivation and will to work hard for a top result.” TONI ELIAS: “When I crashed at Assen I set myself the target of returning at Brno and I think I can do it. Of course I won’t be 100%, you could say I’ll be more like 60%, but now is the time for me to go back to work – to get out on the bike and ride again. The corners at Brno could prove difficult for my leg but I want to try. I’ve gone through so much rehab in Spain and I think it has done the job. It has been a painful process trying to get fit again but sometimes in this job you have to deal with pain.”

Bridgestone GP Briefing Round 12: Czech Republic Tuesday 14 August 2007 After almost one month since the previous race of the season at Laguna Seca, Bridgestone Motorsport aims to maintain its competitive streak returning this weekend to the scene of one of four victories on its tyres during the 2006 season, the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic. Loris Capirossi and the Ducati team dominated proceedings on Bridgestone tyres in last year’s race winning from second on the grid to claim their second victory of the season. Ducati has scored four consecutive top five results around the undulating Brno track. Capirossi also scored a second place finish on Bridgestone tyres in 2005 before claiming his scintillating Czech victory twelve months ago. Following on from the double-header at the Sachsenring and Laguna Seca, the two shortest tracks on the 2007 calendar, teams and riders this weekend face the second longest lap of the season at Brno, which, at 5.403km, is just marginally eclipsed by the 5.548km long Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Bridgestone-shod Ducati rider Casey Stoner leads the MotoGP championship heading into this weekend’s Czech Republic GP with a 44 point margin over second-placed Valentino Rossi. Tyre Talk with Hiroshi Yamada Bridgestone Motorsport Manager, Motorcycle Sport Unit Q: How do the technical characteristics of the track influence tyre performance at Brno? “The Automotodrom in Brno is quite an abrasive track and a lit tle bit bumpy, but it does not pose as many technical demands on tyres as some other tracks on the calendar. There is quite an even dispersion of corners with six left and eight right-handers around the 5.4km layout. There are no long high speed corners and no slow speed hairpins which means that the edge of the tyres are not placed under as much pressure. However, the weather can be quite variable. Some years, we have quite hot track temperatures, like we did last year, but other years it can be quite cool, so we have to think about bringing tyres with a wider performance window.” Q: How has Bridgestone used the short summer break to prepare for Brno and the remaining events of the season? “Initially, we have worked on adjusting our range of compounds to best suit the Brno track both in terms of grip level and degradation over the 22 laps. With significant elevation changes and flowing corners, Brno is a track that requires careful attention to the set-up of the bike, so our teams will also have a lot of work during the important practice sessions. We have also developed a new range of constructions and compounds which we intend to evaluate in the official post-race test session next week, which will form the basis of our campaign for the rest of the season.” Q: What are Bridgestone’s aims for this weekend? “Loris Capirossi and the Ducati team had a very competitive weekend on our tyres last season and were able to win the race in convincing fashion. Brno is one of just four circuits on the calendar at which a rider on our tyres won last year. Seven of the eleven races so far this season have been won using our tyres, the most ever in a single season for Bridgestone, so we definitely hope to keep up momentum, but with competition as closely fought as it is this season, we cannot take anything for granted.” Riding Perspective with Loris Capirossi (Ducati Corse): “Brno is a great track, very fast but also quite complicated with a lot of elevation changes over the lap. It is important to have a well balanced bike because some corners you have positive camber, other corners you have negative camber and it is important to have confidence with the machine. Brno has usually been a good track for our Bridgestone tyres as well, as our victory last year proved, and I am sure this will also be the case again this year. A strong engine is very important because there are some big straights and some uphill parts which are key to a quick lap. I am looking forward to continuing the positive direction we have found in the last couple of races and to getting another good result in Brno this weekend.” 2006 Flashback Race Winner and Top Rider on Bridgestone Loris Capirossi Ducati 43m40.145s Qualifying Pole Position Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1m56.191s Top Rider on Bridgestone Loris Capirossi Ducati 1m56.441s (+0.250s)

Triumph Motorcycles Adds Rocket III Gear Give-Away to “Fuel Your Adventure” Summer Open House NEWNAN, Georgia August 14, 2007 Triumph Motorcycles is pleased to announce that it has added even more purchase incentives to customers at its ‘Fuel Your Adventure” Summer Open House. Triumph’s Summer Open House runs from August 21-25. Participating dealers around the country will be showcasing Triumph’s entire line of distinctive motorcycles and each store is planning a unique schedule of events, entertainment, and activities. Keeping with the “Fuel Your Adventure” theme, Triumph is offering 55 gallons of free fuel* to every customer who purchases a motorcycle during the event. We’re adding an additional incentive for Rocket III customers by throwing in free gear with any Rocket III bought during the event. All buyers of Rocket IIIs or Rocket III Classics receive a FREE Men’s Rocket III Leather Jacket and a FREE set of Leather Saddlebags. Rocket III Classic Tourer buyers get a FREE Men’s Rocket III Leather Jacket and a FREE Ladies Melina Leather Jacket. All motorcycle enthusiasts are encouraged to stop by their local participating Triumph dealer for great deals, free stuff, and a whole lot of fun. A list of participating dealers and complete details on the Gas and Gear incentives can be found at www.TriumphMotorcycles.com/usa * Free fuel awarded as a pre-paid cash card.

MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES MOTORCYCLE AND SCOOTER TIRE PRICE INCREASES GREENVILLE, S.C. (Aug. 14, 2007) Effective Jan. 1, 2008, Michelin North America is increasing prices on Michelin® motorcycle and scooter replacement tires sold in the United States and Canada by up to 8 percent. All tires delivered after Jan. 1, 2008 will be invoiced at the new price. Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelin-us.com) employs more than 22,000 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.

MLADIN AIMING FOR 60TH AMA SUPERBIKE WIN AT VIR PICKERINGTON, Ohio (August 14, 2007) Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin could reach a major milestone this weekend when the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited comes to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Va., on Aug. 17-19 for the AMA Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. Mladin, the six-time AMA Superbike Champion from Australia, has the opportunity to score his 60th-career AMA Superbike victory. Legendary Motorcycle Hall of Famer Fred Merkel set the standard in the mid-1980s when he tallied 20 AMA Superbike victories. In 1998 Miguel Duhamel eclipsed Merkel’s mark to become the all-time wins leader. In 2004 Mladin passed Duhamel to take over the title of all-time AMA Superbike wins leader and in the last three years Mladin has racked up an amazing 59 wins and now sits on the verge of cracking the 60-win barrier. Mladin closed to within 17 points of series leader and defending champ Ben Spies with a double victory in the most recent rounds at Mid-Ohio Sports Car. Even though the championship is very much up for grabs as the series moves to VIR, Mladin says he’s focused simply on winning races. “Honestly I’m not thinking about the points,” Mladin said. “If I win this championship, then we’ve done a really good job. We’ve given a lot of points away this year. At Daytona, and Utah, I made a silly mistake and crashed out of the lead. So we’ve given up a few this year. So to be in the position we’re in is very good, anyway. To win the next five races would honestly mean a lot more to me than winning the championship. To win 13 races in a year, that’d be pretty cool. It’d be one of my better years, that’s for sure, that I’ve ever had, and being 35 and over the hill, not too bad.” If history is any indication the championship could draw even tighter at VIR. Mladin has swept VIR’s Big Kahuna Doubleheader the last two years and calls the Virginia circuit one of his favorites. Spies is still the series leader, but he realizes that his Yoshimura Suzuki teammate is on a roll and he needs to step it up at VIR. “It’s going to be tough,” Spies said. “At Virginia last year before I smashed my hand up, we had some pretty good speed there. It’s going to come down to crash or win. That’s got to happen. I obviously don’t want to crash, but it’s got to be put on the line. If we’re going to win this title, I’ve got to win a couple races. We’ve still got the points lead. It’s not as big as we would like, but it’s good for right now.” Honda’s Miguel Duhamel, who swept the VIR doubleheader in 2004, will likely miss this year’s race after suffering injuries in a crash while testing at Road Atlanta on Aug. 8. Duhamel is ranked third in the standings. With Duhamel out, the only former VIR Superbike winner in the field other than Mladin is Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom. Bostrom is ranked ninth coming into VIR, but he has scored a couple of podium finishes in Yamaha’s first season back in Superbike after a five year absence. Bostrom and teammate Jason DiSalvo will try to give Yamaha its first Superbike win at VIR. North Carolinian Jamie Hacking hopes to break through with another strong Superbike race this weekend on the Monster Energy Kawasaki. Hacking scored his second AMA Superbike podium of the season at Mid-Ohio. “Going to VIR, we had a very good test there, the guys are pumped up,” Hacking said. “I’m pumped up now. We know we can run up front. I’ve just got to be more patient.” This will be the seventh time the AMA Superbike Championship has visited VIR. The 50-year-old track was revamped in 2000 and began hosting the series in 2001. In that time the scenic track has quickly become one of the favorites of fans and racers alike. Fans will witness a full weekend of racing, stunt shows, fan parties, kids area, jumbo screen viewing, a new expanded vendor area, and much more. There’s something for everyone at the Big Kahuna. The Superbikes will do battle on VIR’s challenging 2.25-mile North Course. Tickets are available by visiting www.m1event.com or call 770-965-4565 or 770-965-4566. Both races of the VIR doubleheader will air on SPEED on Sunday, Aug. 19. Saturday’s race will be shown starting at 3:00 pm and Sunday’s race will have same-day coverage starting at 5:00 pm Eastern. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports: JORDAN SUZUKI AIMS FOR PODIUM AT VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY Aurora, IL (August 14, 2007) Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki riders Aaron Yates and Jake Holden return to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Virginia, August 17-19, 2007 for the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. The riders will compete on the challenging 2.25 mile North Course in both the AMA Superbike Doubleheader and in the AMA Superstock race. For Holden, VIR is his first chance to race in AMA Superstock competition since late June. With the abbreviated race schedule in July and the weather related cancellation of the last scheduled Superstock event at Mid-Ohio Car Course, Holden is eager to get back on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. “It’s sad I couldn’t race two weeks ago,” said Holden. “I qualified second and felt really good about the weekend. I can’t wait to get back on the bike and race at VIR.” At last year’s event at VIR, with a qualifying time of 1:25.228, Holden earned a fourth place start and quickly moved into third place on lap one before crashing out during an aggressive pass for second. With only three Superstock races left in this season, Holden hopes this is the weekend he earns his third podium finish for his Jordan Suzuki crew and proves he is still a contender in the AMA Superstock Championship. Yates, who is coming off several exciting race weekends, moved into sixth in overall points in the AMA Superbike Championship after he earned back-to-back fourth place finishes in the Mid-Ohio doubleheader. At the 2006 Suzuki Big Kahuna National event, Yates earned a second and a fifth place finish in AMA Superbike races and qualified his GSX-R1000 for a front row start with a time of 1:25.208. In addition to his AMA Superbike and Superstock race duties, Yates will also compete in Thursday’s Enduro Kart Challenge. Featuring four person teams each including an AMA star such as Yates, the Enduro challenges teams to record best aggregate times on brand new 270cc Stratus karts. Racing in heats, each team member has only seven laps to set an individual best time. At the end of the competition, the team members’ best times are added together, with the quickest total time winning the competition. Yates, who frequently races his Dodge Dart at his local drag strip in Georgia, returns to VIR Karting action for the third year. For more information on the Jordan Suzuki team, visit the race team website at www.23race.com. To learn more about Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, visit www.virclub.com/vir. Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry.