Segment will air on ESPN2 on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:20am EDT Aurora, IL (August 13, 2007) Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki rider Aaron Yates will make a live appearance on ESPN First Take (formerly Cold Pizza) on Tuesday, August 14 at 11:20 a.m. EDT (8:20 a.m. PDT) on ESPN2. Aaron will be interviewed live from Atlanta and will discuss the Jordan Suzuki racing team, their Superbike racing program and his transition from factory rider to privateer during the 2007 racing season. For more information on the team, visit the race team website at www.23race.com. 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.

FIAT YAMAHA READY TO COME OUT FIGHTING AT BRNO The Fiat Yamaha Team return from the MotoGP summer break this week ready for a flying re-start to the season as the World Championship resumes with round twelve of eighteen at Brno. Valentino Rossi heads into the Czech Republic Grand Prix lying second in the standings, just as he did last season when he returned from the midseason break with a 51-point gap to Nicky Hayden – a distance he cut to just five by the final round at Valencia. This year he is 44 points adrift of series leader Casey Stoner with an extra round at Misano, just 15 kilometres away from his hometown of Tavullia, to help make up the difference. It promises to be an intense finish to a demanding first season of 800cc racing, in which the new technical regulations and tyre restrictions have proved to be hugely influential in the outcome of race results. At the last two rounds, in particular, Rossi and his team-mate Colin Edwards have struggled to find a set-up and rear tyre to cope with the demands of the Sachsenring and Laguna Seca circuits and similar disappointment at Brno is an unthinkable scenario for the team’s title hopes. Engineers at Yamaha’s headquarters in Japan have been working around the clock over the summer to ensure that does not happen as they aim for improvements in engine performance at a circuit where horsepower is key, especially on the short uphill straights towards the end of the lap. Michelin’s Clermont-Ferrand factory in France has also been a hive of activity, with the tyre manufacturers eager to turn around a disappointing season in which they have taken four wins out of eleven – three of them with Rossi. This year will be the 38th occasion that a Grand Prix has been staged at Brno since it was first used back in 1965 on an original road circuit measuring almost 14km. The layout changed several times before being made temporarily redundant in 1977, with MotoGP taking a ten-year sabbatical before returning for the opening of the current incarnation in 1987. Subtle alterations were made in 1996 but the winding chicanes and dramatic elevation changes still retain much of the character of the old track, which still wanders its way through the surrounding forests. Valentino Rossi “WE WON’T GIVE UP” Valentino Rossi heads to Brno planning re-launch his title challenge at what has been one of his most successful circuits. The 28-year-old took his maiden Grand Prix win at Brno in the 125cc class and has since added to his tally with a 250cc success and three wins in MotoGP, as well as three second places in the top class. In fact, the only occasion he failed to finish in the top two at Brno in MotoGP was in 2002 and a continuation of that run is the target this weekend. “Of course Laguna was quite disappointing and it would have been nice to have been able to go into the summer break knowing we had closed the gap in the championship, but this sadly wasn’t the case,” says Rossi “Laguna made many things quite clear about the situation that we’re in this season and I know that many people at Yamaha and Michelin have been working very hard during this break in order to help us to be in better shape at the next race. Now I’m really looking forward to getting back onto the bike and doing the best we can to get back into the fight. “Of course we know that the championship is going to be difficult, but we were in a worse situation at this time last year, with less races remaining, and we still managed to come back to lead the fight. This time it will be very, very hard because Stoner is very strong and is not making mistakes, but we won’t give up. I know my team, Yamaha and Michelin will continue to give 100% and we will fight at every one of the final seven races. Brno last year was the start of a turnaround in our fortunes so let’s hope this is the case again this year!” Colin Edwards “READY TO RUN AT THE FRONT” Colin Edwards did not have to travel far to enjoy his holidays after the last round at Laguna Seca, the Texan staying on in his native USA for an extended spell with friends and family. The break has given Edwards time to reflect on a tough few races leading up to his home Grand Prix and make plans to improve on a best result of seventh place at Brno, achieved in both 2004 and 2005. “It’s been great to have a decent amount of time at home since Laguna with the family,” says Edwards. “I’m coming back feeling nicely rejuvenated and full of energy for the final couple of months. I’ve put the bad result of Laguna behind me now; obviously I was gutted not to have had a better result at my home race but there is no point dwelling on it. I’m looking forward now and my aim is to get some really good results under my belt between now and Valencia. “Everyone’s going to be back working at the maximum level and it’s going to be good to get going again in Brno. I didn’t have a great race there last year but I made some big steps forward in the test afterwards; this time I plan to do that before the race! I know that we’ll all be working hard from Friday morning and be ready to run at the front.” Davide Brivio Fiat Yamaha Team Director “WE CAN’T MAKE ANY MISTAKES” Brno is traditionally the round where the majority of factories test new parts, and even new bikes, ahead of the crucial title run-in and this season is no different. Fiat Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio has confirmed that the team are looking forward to improved engine performance from the YZR-M1 at Brno, whilst the Japanese factory will have new material available to test in a two-day session at the Czech circuit following the Grand Prix. “I think it is fair to say that nobody at Yamaha or Michelin has taken a holiday since we left Laguna Seca!” said Brivio. “I know that in Japan they have been busy working on the engine and we hope to have a small improvement for the race at Brno. We also expect to have some new parts available to test on Monday, providing the final test with them in Japan was successful. Michelin have also been pushing hard to come up with something new for this race and we have a lot of confidence in them. “As far as the championship is concerned, we are in a similar position to this stage last year in that we know that we cannot afford to make any mistakes or have a single bad race between now and the end of the season. Our competitors are very strong and it will be extremely difficult to beat them but our job is to try and to always give our best. Until the mathematics say we are beaten we will continue to fight.” Valentino Rossi : Information Age: 28 Lives: London, UK Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1 GP victories: 87 (61 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc) First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc) First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc) GP starts: 185 (125 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc) Pole positions: 49 World Championships: 7 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 4 x MotoGP) Colin Edwards: Information Age: 33 Lives: Conroe, Texas Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1 First GP: Japón, 2003 (MotoGP) GP starts: 77 x MotoGP World Championships: 2 World Superbike Brno: Lap Record L. Capirossi (Ducati) 2006, 1’58.157 Brno: Best Lap V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 1’56.191 Grand Prix Results: Brno 2006 1. L. Capirossi (Ducati) 43’40.145 2. V. Rossi (Yamaha) +4.902 3. D.Pedrosa (Honda) +8.012 10. C. Edwards (USA) Yamaha +19.435

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FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: To some, this may not seem significant. To people who have been around Ducatis as long as I have, you can pretty much bet on the fact that they WILL build all of the models noted on the underside of my 2007 1098S tank. Enzo Assainte Bergenfield, New Jersey

MotoGP action is set to recommence after a short summer break, with the riders returning to the track for the Cardion ab Grand Prix Ceské republiky on August 19th. For the MotoGP field, the return to the Automotodrom Brno is the completion of a full circle in the 800cc era, with two bikes having had their debut runouts as prototypes in last year’s post-race test. The first two out of the box included those used by MotoGP’s current top duo, World Championship leader Casey Stoner and five time former king Valentino Rossi. Stoner’s Desmosedici GP7 has been first past the checkered flag on six occasions so far this season, and an astonishingly consistent record that sees his lowest finish being fifth place has given him a 44-point lead at the top of the standings. The Australian brought an end to the MotoGP pole position hoodoo of no rider winning from the head of the grid at the last race at Laguna Seca, and is in a commanding position heading to the track where Ducati took victory last year. For Rossi, making up the gap will be a tough task, but not impossible based on last year’s comeback. The Italian clawed back a larger margin last season to lead the classification at the start of the final round at Valencia, but will need to return to the podium for the first time in three races to hit the ground running after the early-August downtime. Rossi has won three times at Brno in MotoGP, and both he and tire manufacturer Michelin have a point to prove after Bridgestone took the triumph in 2006 courtesy of Loris Capirossi. Trailing Rossi by 22 points, 66 behind former 250cc rival Stoner, Dani Pedrosa has won twice in the Czech Republic in the 125cc and 250cc categories. Victorious in Germany, the Spaniard was unable to follow up on his return to winning ways at the U.S. visit, with the 2007 title looking ever more elusive. Pedrosa was on the podium last year at Brno with a third place finish. Two rostrum finishers at the last round at Laguna Seca had an eventful time post-race. Level on 113 points so far this year, Chris Vermeulen and Marco Melandri both made announcements about their 2008 rides immediately after stepping onto the podium, with Vermeulen staying with Suzuki and Marco Melandri making a long-rumured link to Ducati. The Italian’s performance stateside was made all the more impressive by the revelation that he had been riding with an undiscovered ankle fracture, one that had made his participation in the Czech Republic uncertain. However he will ride and his Gresini Honda team-mate Toni Elias will also make a surprisingly early return after just two races away recovering from a fractured femur. John Hopkins completes the top six in the standings, the only other rider to have reached the 100 points mark. He had a disappointing home race in America, colliding with World Champion Nicky Hayden on the opening lap, and will want to rectify the situation and push his way up the table. A group of four riders rounds off the top ten, consisting of Colin Edwards, Loris Capirossi, Alex Barros and Hayden. Another rider spending August resting up has been Alex Hofmann, recovering from a broken hand suffered in practice for the previous race. One metal plate and 15 screws were used to fix the German rider’s injury in a three-hour operation, and the recovery process means that he will sit out the latest date to be replaced by Spain’s Ivan Silva. The Cardion ab Grand Prix Ceské republiky takes place on Sunday August 19th, with practice beginning on the preceding Friday. 250cc: His ascendance to MotoGP having been confirmed by Yamaha a fortnight ago, Jorge Lorenzo’s quest to bow out of the 250cc class in style continues on track. 22 points ahead of nearest rival Alex de Angelis, a repeat of his 2006 triumph would push him ever closer to retaining the quarter litre crown. Set to become a permanent fixture on the grid next season, Alex Debon makes another wild card appearance for Aprilia at Brno to act as a spoiler for team-mate Lorenzo. The consistent De Angelis, who has not finished outside the top four this year, is still chasing his first win of the season, and holds a slim advantage over Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso. Both are some way ahead of the rest of the field, with the remainder of the top six consisting of Alvaro Bautista, Hector Barbera and the level on points KTM duo of Hiroshi Aoyama and Mika Kallio. 125cc: Gabor Talmacsi leads the way in 125cc, just two points separating himself and team-mate Hector Faubel at the top of the tree. Only half of last year’s top six finishers at Brno remain in the class, with Talmacsi the highest placing of the trio. Faubel failed to reach the chequered flag in 2006, as did home rider Lukas Pesek, whilst the duo are split by a resurgent Tomoyoshi Koyama in the overall standings. Sergio Gadea and Simone Corsi complete a top six comprised entirely of 2007 race winners, in an unpredictable and competitive category. Circuit Info The world’s most famous riders have taken part in GP events in Brno since 1930, where up until 1982 they would race through the villages and western parts of the city on a road track named after the first Czechoslovak President – T.G. Masaryk. A new circuit was built during the 1980s with the aim of attracting top level motorsport to Czechoslovakia, and in 1987 it played host to the FIM Czech Grand Prix. Popular with both fans and riders, the ‘new’ circuit is built in a natural bowl which is banked in places to offer spectators an excellent view. Brno constantly changes in elevation as it sweeps across forested hillsides and its fast undulating corners test rider talent and engineering to the limit. More, from a press release issued by Gresini Honda: The Honda Gresini riders arrive in Brno with a big challenge: to be back on track despite the physical problems they suffered during the last weeks. Toni Elias will be back on track after three races off (Assen, Sachsenring and Laguna) due to the injury to the left femur in practice of Dutch TT. For Marco a fracture to the left astragalo after the crash during the practices in Laguna. Both riders tested today on a CBR600 in Misano adriatico, just 2 hours of testing to check their physical conditions on the bike. MARCO MELANDRI: “After further visits I discovered a facture to the left astragalo, I have pain but it’s better than in Laguna. I will do my best in Brno. The bike is working really well and the the podium in Laguna I’m really motivated for the second part of the championship”. TONI ELIAS: “When I crashed in Assen my target was to be back in Brno and I’m really happy to be able to be there. I won’t be 100 percent fit, maybe only 60 but I’m very motivated. The recovery was very painful but I think it was worthy”.

The Repsol Honda Team resumes its World Championship campaign this weekend fully refreshed after the summer break and ready to tackle the iconic Brno circuit at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. Round 12 of the 2007 MotoGP season follows a four-week break since the U.S. Grand Prix during which time riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa have taken the chance to recharge their batteries after the very busy mid-season schedule. Pedrosa comes to Brno lying in third place in the World Championship and aiming to close the 22-point gap to Valentino Rossi in second. The 21-year-old Spanish ace has a formidable record at the Brno circuit, having finished on the podium on his last five visits to the venue. Pedrosa has won at Brno on two previous occasions in 2003 in the 125cc class and in the 250cc series in 2005. Last year during his debut MotoGP season, Pedrosa climbed from ninth on the grid to battle with Rossi for second place, before settling for a creditable third at the flag. Hayden arrives in the Czech Republic intent on carving out a strong result at a track he likes. The World Champion is looking to maintain the recent form that has seen him finish on the podium in two of the previous three races in the Netherlands and Germany. Though a first lap incident put paid to his hopes at his home Grand Prix in July, the American who celebrated his 26th birthday during the summer break returns refreshed and fully motivated to attack the final seven races of the season. This year marks the 20th anniversary of racing at the Brno circuit in its current form, though the first World Championship race, held on a longer road-based circuit, took place outside the attractive Czech city in 1965. The 5.403km (3.357-mile) Brno track is the second longest on the MotoGP calendar, with only the 5.548km (3.447-mile) Sepang circuit in Malaysia featuring a longer lap. Due to the circuit’s fast technical nature and the venue’s place in the calendar at the end of the summer break, Brno is traditionally used by the MotoGP teams for testing following the Grand Prix. This year the Repsol Honda Team plans to remain in the Czech Republic to conduct two days of testing following Sunday’s 22-lap race, which begins at 14.00hrs local time. Dani Pedrosa World Championship Position: 3rd 155 points “I’m really looking forward to the Brno race 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 which was really good, 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. The track has been good to me and I’ve had a couple of wins there so I’m feeling confident. It’s a good challenge with high speed corners, both uphill and downhill plus it’s wide which means there’s scope to try different lines. The target for the season now is to do as good a job as possible and fight at the front for wins. 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.” Nicky Hayden World Championship Position: 10th 73 points “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. I can’t really say I’ve been doing anything too exciting during the break really just chilling out a bit and getting ready to make a start fresh and salvage what we can from the season. I have spent some time down in Florida with my trainer Aldon Baker and his other riders Ricky Carmichael and Ben Townley doing some fitness work, but not much else too exciting to report. Brno is 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.” Dani Pedrosa Racing number 26 Race machine RC212V Date of birth September 29, 1985 Birthplace Castellar del Valles – Spain Height 1.59 m Weight 52 kg Hobbies Music, Internet First race 1997 Pocket bike racing. Grand Prix debut 2001, 125cc Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka First Grand Prix win 2002, 125cc Dutch Grand Prix, Assen Total Grand Prix wins 26 8 x 125cc, 15 x 250cc, 3 x MotoGP Total Grand Prix podium places 54 17 x 125cc, 24 x 250cc, 13 x MotoGP Total Grand Prix pole positions 23 9 x 125cc, 9 x 250cc, 5 x MotoGP World championships 3 1 x 125cc, 2003 2 x 250cc in 2004 and 2005 Results at Brno 2001 8th (125cc class) 2002 2nd (125cc class) 2003 1st (125cc class) 2004 3rd (250cc class) 2005 1st (250cc class) 2006 3rd (MotoGP) Nicky Hayden Racing number 1 Race bike Honda RC212V Date of birth July 30, 1981 Birthplace Owensboro, Kentucky, USA Height 1.73m Weight 68kg Hobbies Dirt track racing, music First race 1986, dirt track Grand Prix debut 2003, MotoGP, Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka First Grand Prix win 2005, MotoGP, United States Grand Prix Laguna Seca Total Grand Prix wins 3 x MotoGP Total Grand Prix podium places 22 x MotoGP Total Grand Prix pole positions 4 x MotoGP World Championships 1 x MotoGP, 2006 Results at Brno (MotoGP): 2003 6th 2004 DNF 2005: 5th 2006: 9th