Campeonato de España de Velocidad Valencia (4ª prueba) FUERTES SE QUEDA A LAS PUERTAS DEL PODIUM La cuarta cita del Campeonato de España de Velocidad se ha celebrado hoy en el circuito de la Comunidad Valenciana Ricardo Tormo. Bajo un sol abrasador Sergio Fuertes ha deleitado a los más de “¦ aficionados que han abarrotado las tribunas de boxes para ver las carreras en las categorías de Fórmula Extreme, 125 GP y Supersport. En Fórmula Extreme el semáforo verde ha tenido que abrirse hasta en tres ocasiones, como consecuencia de varias caídas. En la puesta en marcha definitiva Kenny Noyes se ha aupado hasta la cuarta posición, lugar que ha mantenido hasta que se ha visto superado por su compañero Sergio Fuertes, que en su casa ha puesto todo su arrojo para colocarse en la tercera posición, tras superar a Josep Sardá. Esta situación no ha durado mucho, pues el valenciano se ha colado en una curva, cediendo dos puestos. A partir de ese momento Fuertes se ha aplicado al máximo por seguir la rueda de Sardá, tercero ya tras la caída de Carmelo Morales cuando marchaba segundo. Aunque ha intentado superarlo, no ha sido posible, terminando en la cuarta posición de carrera. En la provisional del campeonato Fuertes es quinto a tan sólo 5 puntos de Josep Sardá. Por su parte Kenny Noyes ha protagonizado una muy buena carrera, con una magistral salida que le ha posibilitado estar en los puestos de cabeza, pero que con el transcurso de las vueltas y el desgaste de los neumáticos le ha obligado a bajar el ritmo. A pesar de todo, el resultado ha sido satisfactorio, pues los registros logrados han estado muy cerca de los del grupo de cabeza, lo que devuelve la confianza a Noyes y le anima a seguir trabajando en esa dirección para luchar por los puestos de cabeza. En Supersport, jornada complicada para David Bonache, que con ésta ya lleva tres carreras por los suelos por culpa ajena, y lo ha hecho cuando se encontraba en la tercera posición durante el trascurso de la primera vuelta. La caída, en la que se han visto involucrados más pilotos, ha obligado a paralizar la carrera, por lo que los mecánicos se han puesto manos a la obra y en un tiempo record han conseguido dejarla preparada para la nueva salida, aunque ha tenido que hacerse desde el pit lane. Esta situación ha obligado a Bonache a remontar desde la última posición hasta la decimocuarta, lo que le permite entrar en los puntos. Tras acabar el piloto murciano se ha pasado por la enfermería del circuito donde le han detectado una fisura de un dedo del pie derecho, como consecuencia de la caída. Ahora el CEV se toma un merecido respiro hasta el próximo 7 de octubre, con la celebración de la quinta cita en el circuito de Albacete. # 16 Sergio Fuertes. Tiempo 1’36″356 4º clasificado “Una carrera un poco fea por las caídas que ha habido. En la salida definitiva he salido mal y me he quedado atrás. He remontado rápido y en la tercera vuelta ya iba cuarto. Me he encontrado bien, he adelantado sin problemas, aguantando el ritmo de Sardá que iba delante de mí. En el séptimo giro lo he adelantado y he intentado apretar el ritmo, pero no me he podido deshacer de él. Intentando tirar más me he colado en Nieto y Sardá y Del Amor me han pasado. He querido entonces aguantar detrás, con la idea de superar más adelante a Sardá. Con la caída de Carmelo he visto el podium más cerca y he intentado ir a por él, pero unos doblados me lo han impedido. Llevamos una progresión buena y he de estar satisfecho, por mí y por el equipo, que están trabajando mucho. Nos falta sólo un poco más para poder llegar a luchar siempre por el podium”. # 35 Kenny Noyes. Tiempo 1’37″759 8º Clasificado “He salido bien las tres veces y en la que contaba me he colocado tercero en la primera vuelta, pero sabía que lo tendría difícil para aguantar el ritmo del primer grupo. Me ha superado Fuertes y con él dos pilotos más, pero no me ha preocupado porque sabía que mi ritmo no era el de ellos y no debía forzar. Sabía que tenía opciones para rodar con los pilotos que venían detrás, pero he cometido varios errores y me he quedado atrasado. Al final he hecho la carrera con Silva. Me ha adelantado, pero no me ha preocupado porque sabía que podía pasarle en las últimas vueltas, y así ha sido. La moto ha funciona bien, al igual que los Dunlop. Ahora tenemos que trabajar para encontrar los settings que nos permitan estar un paso más adelante”. # 22 David Bonache. Tiempo 1’40″609 14º Clasificado “Después del fin de semana manteniendo buenos resultados para estar siempre en cabeza, aunque no conseguimos una vuelta rápida sí teníamos ritmo de carrera. Estaba confiado de poder hacerlo bien, he conseguido realizar una buena salida poniéndome tercero hasta que ha llegado el piloto italiano Giugliano y me ha llevado por delante. Entonces han parado la carrera y aunque la moto estaba muy destrozada el equipo ha conseguido ponerla a punto, aunque hemos tenido que salir desde el Pit Lane porque se ha pasado el tiempo. Quiero dar las gracias al equipo por este gran esfuerzo realizado, pues sin ellos no habría podido acabar la carrera”. More, from a press release issued by Damian Cudlin: ENGINE FAILURE ENDS CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES Australia’s Damian Cudlin suffered another set back in his 2007 World Endurance Campaign with an engine failure at Suzuka in Japan on the weekend. Teamed alongside Igor Jerman and fellow Aussie Steve Martin for the event, Cudlin showed great promise in practice and qualifying, being consistently fastest of the YART line up in race conditions, only to be relegated down the order in the race when an oil cooler broke on his Yamaha R1. After climbing to 4th in the SBK class and 15th outright in the first 3 hours of racing, Cudlin and the YART squad looked set for a solid result until Martin returned to the pits early with an overheating engine. After changing to Jerman, the team was forced to pit again 2 laps later to change the broken oil cooler and radiator, losing 25 minutes in the process. “I don’t know what to say.” said a disappointed Cudlin. “I was riding really well on the weekend, our team had good speed and a strong result was certainly on the cards, but we suffered from the same bad luck we’ve had all season when the bike broke down. It’s a real shame as our championship hopes are pretty well over now.” The team soldiered on to the finish well down the order, 12th in SBK and 35th outright. They now lie 5th in the World Championship standings. “It’s been a tough year even though we’ve consistently been one of the fastest teams on the track. The main thing is that the results aren’t coming because we are too slow, we’ve just been unlucky. We’ve got to put it behind us now and move on to Oschersleben with a fresh plan of attack. I still think we can still win a race this year and with nothing to lose we’ll be going all out at Osch.” Cudlin warned. The next round of the World Endurance Championship will be held at Oschersleben in Germany on the 11/12th of August.

JORDAN SUZUKI GEARED UP FOR MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE Aurora, IL Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki rider Aaron Yates, who earned the team’s first AMA Superbike podium finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca two weeks ago, looks to continue the momentum and revisit the podium when the Jordan Suzuki team travels to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, August 3-5, 2007. Of the four races remaining in the 2007 AMA Superbike championship, Yates recently said, “They’re all tracks I go really well at. The bikes have been getting better every weekend and hopefully, we can progress from here and finish up in the top three. Since we’re a privateer team, we get no support from factories. So we’re not stuck with parts from Japan to put on the bike (like the factory teams) and I really like that a lot. The Gemini crew is doing a great job in developing the bike. The neat thing about it is that we are open to try different variables. We have lots of options. The GSX-R1000 is an awesome motorcycle. I’m proud to be there, especially representing Michael Jordan’s racing team. It’s been a lot of fun this year.” Yates’ Jordan Suzuki teammate Jake Holden is also hoping for a podium finish. At Mid-Ohio in 2006, Holden earned two top-10 finishes in AMA Superbike, fifth place in AMA Superstock and won the Superbike consolation race in the season finale Superbike Shootout. He has earned two second place finishes this year and is currently 11th in AMA Superstock points. Additionally, Holden competes on his Superstock spec race bike in the AMA Superbike class, where he is 14th in overall points. “I’ve set a goal to win a race this year,” stated Holden. “I just need to put my head down and make it happen.” With two Superbike races and a Superstock race scheduled this weekend, both riders have the opportunity to reach the podium three times during their visit to Lexington, Ohio. Superbike race winners earn 36 valuable points toward the championship. Yates is currently seventh in overall points and only 34 points from the top three. He is also third in Superstock points, with three podium finishes, including the first win for his crew. The Mid-Ohio races will be broadcast on Speedtv.com. 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. More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing: HAYES LOOKING TO BECOME MID-OHIO FORMULA XTREME REPEAT WINNER PICKERINGTON, Ohio (August 1, 2007) Josh Hayes could turn a rare feat this Saturday, Aug. 4, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Hayes has the chance to become only the second rider to win back-to-back Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series presented by HMR races at the Lexington, Ohio circuit. After over a month break both the Formula Xtreme and AMA Superstock Series, riders will return to the track this weekend. Hayes, the defending Formula Xtreme champ who rides for Erion Honda, leads that championship comfortably over Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp. Hayes, of Gulfport, Miss., clinched last year’s Formula Xtreme Series title with a victory in the October season finale at Mid-Ohio. He returns to the track this year with a 34-point lead in the series. He knows that having such a big lead can often lead to complacency and he doesn’t want that to happen to him. “A 34-point lead sounds like a lot, but it can go up in smoke in a single race,” Hayes said. “I’m still riding to win races.” Rapp comes into Mid-Ohio ranked second, but he’s feeling the heat from another Erion Honda rider, Aaron Gobert. Gobert took victory in the most recent round in Utah and moved to within 18 points of Rapp in the standings. Gobert became the third rider to win in Formula Xtreme this year, joining Hayes and Rapp. Ohio’s own Larry Pegram is a leading contender in Formula Xtreme. The rider from Pataskala is ranked fourth in the series and already has a podium finish to his credit. He thinks his factory Ducati 749R is perfect for the twisty Mid-Ohio circuit. “I’m going to Mid-Ohio to win, simple as that,” Pegram said boldly. If Pegram holds true to his promise it would mark his first Formula Xtreme victory and the first for Ducati. Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, who made his pro debut at Mid-Ohio back in 2000, also has a solid series lead in AMA Superstock Series presented by Dynojet ahead of Graves Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom. Spies, has been nearly unbeatable in AMA Superstock competition this year aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. He comes into Mid-Ohio carrying a four-race winning streak in Superstock. The last time a rider won five in a row was in 1999 when Tom Kipp won five straight in the class then known as 750 Supersport. “I’m putting a lot of effort into winning Superbike so at most of the races I don’t have the time on my Superstock bike that I’d like to have,” Spies said. “The bike is working really well right now so it’s making it a lot easier to go out and do well. I know it’s going to be tough to keep winning with the way guys like Geoff [May], Aaron [Yates] and Ben [Bostrom] are riding. Spies tied the legendary Fred Merkel for seventh on the all-time AMA Superstock wins list at Utah. He could take sole possession of that spot with a victory this weekend. Bostrom took over second place in the standings with a runner up finish in Utah. “I’m going to keep plugging away,” Bostrom said. “My Yamaha R1 is incredible and we keep getting better each race, but it seems like Spies keeps stepping it up every time out as well.” Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates will be another rider to watch at Mid-Ohio. He’s won the race twice before and is feeling especially confident after his outstanding Superbike performance at Laguna Seca. The Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme and AMA Superstock races are part of Mid-Ohio’s Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire. This is the 25th edition of the popular race and it draws fans from all across the Midwest. The AMA Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series presented by HMR and AMA Superstock Series presented by Dynojet races will be televised on Speed TV on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 1:00 pm eastern. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or go online to purchase them at www.midohio.com. More, from a press release issued by Team Hayes Racing: Taylor Knapp to race Team Hayes Racing Yamaha R6 at Mid Ohio Nineteen year old AMA regular Taylor Knapp will race a Yamaha YZF-R6 for Team Hayes Racing in the Formula Xtreme event at the Mid Ohio AMA National on 3-4 August 2007. Taylor scored a 12th place in the last round of the Formula Xtreme Championship at Miller Motorsports Park riding a Supersport spec Kawasaki ZX-6R and is looking forward to riding the full Formula Xtreme spec R6. Team Hayes Racing acquired the R6 from the Yamaha factory last month and this was one of the R6’s raced by the Yamaha team in the 2006 AMA Formula Xtreme championship. Taylor will be running 16.5” Pirelli tires on the motorcycle and will be supported by Ray C’s Extreme and Hotbodies Racing. Taylor scored a 10th place in AMA Supersport at last year’s Mid Ohio event and is looking forward to racing the FX bike at his favorite circuit. He will also be contesting the AMA Supersport event on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. For more information on Team Hayes Racing and the sponsors who support the team check out www.teamhayesracing.com

MOTO-ST boss Roger Edmondson sent the following answer in response to an e-mail from a racer regarding the MOTO-ST race at Iowa Speedway as well as rumors that MOTO-ST will create a road racing class for power cruisers. A copy of Edmondson’s e-mail found its way into the Roadracingworld.com inbox: I suspect that while we may disagree on some items, we are probably in full accord on many more. My purpose in this e-mail is to help you understand some of my views and at the same time see if I can clear up any misunderstandings or misconceptions that may have come from things I have done or said. First, I want you to know that Brian Parriott is a fine young man who made the absolute right decision for himself. He was only fined for his intemperate remarks to the press regarding Iowa Speedway and his efforts to encourage a rider boycott. All riders are free to make their own decisions about riding or not riding, and that is something that no sanctioning body, sponsor, teammate, promoter, or anyone else should attempt to influence or pressure. The sanctioning body certainly has responsibility to make every effort to minimize the danger at each and every track. No question about that. Once they have done all that can be done, however, it then falls to the rider to make his or her individual decision. If the event had gone to the checker without incident it would not have been proper then to have said that Brian made the wrong decision. As I stated above, his decision was absolutely correct for himself. You chose to ride, based upon not only your views of the track, which perhaps were telling you not to ride, but also based upon your sense of obligation to your teammates. Either way, after considering every issue you chose to ride. This does not make you right and Brian wrong. The crash does not make Brian right and you wrong. In my opinion, you were both right. At Iowa Speedway, we fully expected to be using the track that had specifically been paved for motorcycle racing and that did not use the banking. Upon our arrival it was clear that the scoring loop was not yet installed and that the pavement had a significant dip that would have created a completely different hazard to the riders. After several riders and the race staff walked the track and discussed the options, they determined that the least objectionable choice was to run the track that included the shallow banking in Turns One and Two. Based upon input from riders who had visited the facility, we were able to get CCS to bring their Airfence units to Iowa. The added expense was not an issue once we determined that it was logistically possible. Upon arrival, Eric Kelcher from CCS and our race staff completed a survey of locations that could benefit from the placement of Airfence and placed them accordingly. Since the track looks different from a golf cart, rental car, or scooter than it does from a racebike at speed, we rely upon input from the riders to modify or add to our original set-up. I am unaware of any suggestions or comments to that effect. We had additional Airfence modules on the premises and could have added to the ones placed around the track had such a request been made. During the race I did see one rider miss the very end of the Airfence placed on riders’ right at the entrance to the infield. Luckily, even though he contacted the tire wall, he was uninjured. Placement of these units is still an art form and sometimes we don’t get it right. Riders cannot be allowed to boycott spectator events nor can sanctioning bodies blindly assume that any track is acceptable. Based upon suggestions, we will appoint a track survey committee made up of riders currently participating in the series and use their experience and views to help us determine where we can expect to run successfully. Their input regarding barrier protection will also prove to be a valuable resource. Further, we have determined that the risk associated with shallow banked tracks cannot be minimized to an acceptable level and will eschew their inclusion in our future schedules. We have also learned that the current level of medical insurance coverage is not sufficient to deal with the incredible costs of medical care that can arise from racing accidents. We are undergoing a study to see what is possible. As to the cruiser class……it is our belief that around 50% of the people buying motorcycles have little or no interest in watching sport bike racing. Therefore, we are working on a motorsports product that will feature the popular cruiser models and (get this) 24 paid riders. This series, once it is announced, will not be open to the general racing paddock population, but will involve motorcycles we own and riders who are paid a salary plus expenses to ride them. Hopefully by creating a TV show that appeals to the industry and cruiser riders, as well as a spectator experience that may actually attract spectators and allow for profitable race promoters, purses in all of our programs will be increased to levels that will be respectable and sustainable. While all of our riders are considered our athletes, this particular group will enjoy a unique relationship with the sanctioning body that I can’t recall seeing elsewhere during my career, other than the Monster Truck performers who work with Clear Channel. A question has been raised regarding Brian Kcraget’s accident. Our scoring records show that he crossed the start/finish line 21 seconds after Shawn Higbee. By then the double yellow was displayed by the starter, the yellow lights were flashing on all emergency vehicles and on the track fences around the facility. Further, the Buell was burning like crazy in the middle of the track. The video feed from our TV producer shows two bikes going past the burning bike, then the pace car, then five more bikes behind the pace car, and then……Brian comes into the picture, already laying down his bike in an effort to avoid the burning Buell. Our audio feed shows a call for the red flag just about the exact time his bike impacted the rear wheel of the burning bike. At least I think it was the rear wheel. Fire obscured the motorcycle so we really can’t be sure. I am not sure why he did not see any of the yellow lights, yellow flags, pace car lights, other motorcycles, or burning bike, but it is clear that he did not. I know that when fully concentrated on your riding, it is possible to miss these things and that is another reason that we feel the use of the radio systems can be so valuable. At Road America, a radio call to Chris Ulrich may have very well prevented a significant accident when his bike blew up on the front straight. No one knows for sure, but what we do know is that he was able to get it stopped prior to the first turn and that he did so as a result of a warning on his radio. I hope this gives you some insight into our thinking and some peace of mind that we are not insensitive to the needs of you or your fellow riders. Our roles requires that we balance the needs of the promoter, sponsor, TV producer, riders, manufacturers, spectators, and ourselves. Sometimes we get it wrong. The spectators at Iowa were enthused and loved it all–until the crash. Hopefully we can return to run the motorcycle track and give them a show with a little less drama and certainly one where everyone walks away. I hope you can continue to support this program, but again, the decision is yours to make. If you decide to continue, I hope you will introduce yourself to me at Daytona and feel free to discuss any other areas of concern you may have. Best regards, Roger Edmondson MOTO-ST Daytona Beach, Florida

HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s James Toseland enters his final home race of the season at Brands Hatch this weekend with a 43-point advantage over his title rivals. The Isle of Man resident is hoping to extend his lead even further as the 2007 World Superbike Championship reaches the final stages. The Brands Hatch round is one of the most popular races of the season and attracts a huge crowd to the 4.33km Kent race track. With Toseland leading the championship at such a crucial stage – and with his sights set firmly on a double podium result – this year is set to be bigger than ever. Team-mate Roberto Rolfo put in his strongest performances of the year so far at Brno. He fought off a convincing attack from current World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss to clinch two fifth place finishes. The Italian rider is hoping to improve on these results at Brands Hatch, which is one of his favourite circuits on the World Superbike calendar. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “Brands Hatch is always a special race – it attracts the biggest crowd of the season and it is even more special to race there with James Toseland. James can handle the pressure very well and it only motivates him to push harder. The British races haven’t brought us what we were hoping for so far, so we are really hoping for James and all his fans that he can get some solid results this weekend. “Roberto’s riding is definitely improving. We are hoping he can do well on a twisty track like Brands Hatch. The circuit is actually one of his favourite tracks so we are looking forward to a good result from him too. With regard to the machinery, we have steadily developed the electronic system and after Brno, I think we have got it all back on track again.” James Toseland: “I’m 43 points in the lead now and, to be honest, after Misano I would have questioned the reality of that happening. The team has worked really hard and the package is great. I can’t wait to get to Brands Hatch and do the same as I did in Brno, if not one better!” Roberto Rolfo: “Brands Hatch is a very special track. It’s only my second year at the circuit and I’m happy to go back there. At the moment, I’m still training to prepare for this important event because I want to do my best. Following Brno, I feel confident because my mental and physical condition is good. The team works well together and this is very important at a difficult track like Brands Hatch. I am hoping for good weather for the weekend so we see a big crowd at the circuit.”