Rizla Suzuki completed its penultimate pre-season outing at the Albacete circuit in Spain with Chris Walker heading today’s time sheets and Cal Crutchlow close behind in third place – good enough for third and fourth places over all three days of the test. Stalker spent much of the day working on his Ohlins forks and clutch settings. In the last session after completing his test programme, he tried a Dunlop qualifying tyre and set a blistering pace of 1:30.070 to record the fastest time on the day and third overall. Crutchlow put effort into tuning his rear shock and carried out tests to his clutch and forks. His quickest lap was 1:30.768 and good enough for third on the day and fourth overall. Both Rizla Suzuki riders enjoyed excellent weather conditions and were on track for four 55-minute sessions at the 3.53km challenging circuit. The team returns to the UK in time for the official British Superbike Test at Snetterton next weekend, March 24-25th. The British Superbike Championship starts at Brands Hatch GP circuit in Kent on Bank Holiday Easter Monday, April 9th. Stalker: “It’s nice to head the timesheets today but in the grand scheme that is not as important as the amount of data and work we have got through in this test. We have learnt a huge amount about what affects our Rizla Suzuki Superbike, what works and what doesn’t. “If we apply what we have learned here then we will be quicker next time we are on track and that has always been my aim. The whole team is putting in immense amounts of effort to make the GSX-R1000 as competitive as possible for the first round of the season. Rizla Suzuki is stepping up to the mark.” Crutchlow: “It’s been another very good positive test and I have proved that I can run up at the front with the best riders in British Superbikes – despite the fact they all have much more experience on Superbikes than me and this being my first visit to Albacete. “In reality I am a couple of 10ths down on Chris but I am not far behind and within touching distance. The Rizla Suzuki is good and we still have work to do to find a better shock setting. I am really pleased, I can’t ask for any more and thank my crew for all their hard work. We’ll go to the Snetterton test in good spirits and ready to make more progress.” Simon Buckmaster – Team Manager: “We have intensively tested the clutch settings, slipper clutch, Ohlins forks, Ohlins TTX shock and quite a few Dunlop tyres. We have achieved exactly what we wanted from this test and finishing first and third on qualifiers today was the icing on the cake. “Perhaps most encouraging is not our times on qualifying tyres, but on race rubber. We finished third and fourth on race tyres, with both riders only a fraction behind the Ducatis. That shows we are capable of running with one of our main title rivals for race distance. “Well done to the team, it’s been a tough work-load but we are in good shape. I am looking forward to our final test next weekend and then getting down to the racing, we’re going to be as ready as we possibly can for the opening event at Brands Hatch.” Unofficial Test Times for all three days: 1: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 1:29.800 2: Leon Haslam (Ducati) 1:29.900 3: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) 1:30.070 4: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 1:30.768 5: Karl Harris (Honda) 1:30.778 6: Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) 1:31.635

BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX) HEADS DAY 1 OF OFFICIAL SUPERBIKE TEST IN VALENCIA Valencia (Spain), 18th March : Troy Bayliss was the front-runner for the factory Ducati Xerox Team in the first of two days testing for the World Superbike Championship regulars, excluding Honda Ten Kate, at Valencia. In glorious sunshine, the Australian rider was fastest throughout the day, recording his best lap of 1m34.482s in the cooler morning session. Team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi was second-quickest in the morning, but had a crash in the afternoon and dropped a place as Troy Corser (Yamaha) moved up to split the two Ducatis. “I did a lot of laps today in the two sessions” declared Troy, “and this morning we did really good on the race tyre and I was quite happy. This afternoon it was quite windy and the track wasn’t in such a good condition but we did a long-run anyway. The performance was better than the race last year but we weren’t completely happy with it. We’ll test a couple more tyres tomorrow to get a better idea, play with the setting a bit but overall the bike is working well. I did a 33m7s here last year and maybe I can go better than that tomorrow morning. We’ll have to wait and see but for the moment everything’s going well and it’s a nice little freshen-up for Donington.” “I set the third quickest time of the day, and the fourth in the afternoon” commented Lorenzo. “It’s not bad but to be honest I expected a bit more seeing as I had been really quick here in November. I’m still some way off those times I set then but today we tried a lot of different solutions. I had a crash at the hairpin turn 2, but it had no serious consequences. In the afternoon there was a lot of wind and we only began to lap well again towards the end of the session. Valencia is always the same, early in the afternoon the track is always a disaster!” DAY 1 TIMES : 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m34.482s; 2. Corser (Yamaha) 1m34.895s; 3. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 1m35.128s; 4. Biaggi (Suzuki) 1m35.203s; 5. Haga (Yamaha) 1m35.593s; 6. Nieto (Kawasaki) 1m35.607s; 7. Xaus (Ducati) 1m35.627s; 8. Polita (Suzuki) 1m35.769s; 9. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m35.785s; 10. Laconi (Kawasaki) 1m35.785s. More, from a press release issued by FG Sport Group: BAYLISS THE MASTER BLASTER ON DAY ONE – AUSSIE RIDERS ON TOP AFTER FIRST DAY The first day of official Valencia FGSport tests was dominated from the start by the awesome combination of 2006 World Champion Troy Bayliss and his 999F07 Ducati Xerox machine. He beat the 2004 track best record with a strong 1’34.482 and was followed into the 1’34 bracket only by 2005 champ Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia), who set a 1’34.895. The fabulous weather conditions that blessed the test allowed all 22 entered riders to push hard from the morning to the afternoon session, with one more day of good weather expected. TOP SIX FEATURES TOP TALENT Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) continued his good testing from with a third best lap of the opening day, while Qatar race winner Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) worked as hard as usual to gain the fourth fastest single lap time. Perennial SBK hard charger Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) was fifth in the rankings, closely followed by the Kawasaki of local hero Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse). XAUS FAST AT HOME WITH POLITA ON THE MOVE Spanish privateer rider Ruben Xaus (Team Sterilgarda Ducati 999F06) ran out seventh fastest rider at Valencia, only two days after his wedding. A sterling performance from 22-year-old Alessandro Polita (Celani Suzuki) saw the 2006 Superstock 1000 champion end up a highly respectable eighth. Despite great pain from a recently damaged shoulder, Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) was ninth fastest, with the second factory Kawasaki of Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) tenth, some 1.303 seconds down on Bayliss. SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Fabien Foret (GIL Kawasaki), winner of the most recent Phillip Island race, continued his rich seam of pace at Valencia by scoring fastest time of the first day, a 1’37.556. In the morning session the clear leader was rejuvenated Honda star Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda) but his overall second place was forced on him by the sheer speed of Foret. Misano race winner in 2006, Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia) was an assured third fastest, with Foret’s team-mate Pere Riba fourth, only just over half a second from Foret. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha SSP Racing) was fifth across both sessions, with his team-mate Broc Parkes just behind. Riding a 2006-spec machine, Lorenzo Alfonsi was an impressive seventh. Barry Veneman proved to be quickest Suzuki rider on day one, 12th from 24 riders, on his Pioneer Hoegee Racing GSX-R). ONE MORE DAY TO MAKE PREPARATIONS Only a single day of testing remains for the top SBK and WSS riders to make their final machine changes and set-up decisions in readiness for the next round of the championship, at Donington Park, England, on April 1. More, from a press release issued by Steve Martin’s publicist: Steve Martin Forced to Sit Out Official WSBK Test Steve Martin was forced to miss this weekend’s official WSBK test in Valencia following the DFX Honda team’s decision to pull out at the last minute. With all World Superbike teams present, Steve was eager to return to the Spanish circuit for the two day official test in order to make further in-roads to the improvements achieved with his Honda’s set-up at Phillip Island, and also prior to going into the first European round at Donington at the end of the month. Steve commented, “I’m not 100% sure of the exact reason DFX decided at last minute to not attend the test, but whatever the reason, it’s not good that we weren’t there this weekend. Partly because we really do need more testing time as we’ve still got a lot of work to do with the bike, but also, because testing along with all the other teams and riders is one of the best indicators of competitiveness and improvements in the field. We’ve now missed out on both of these opportunities which can only be a hindrance to mine and the team’s performance.” Steve returned to his European home base in Switzerland last week, where he will now continue with his training programme before travelling to the UK in nine days time for the third round of the championship. Speaking about the next round at Donington, Steve said, “I’m looking forward to going to Donington as since Phillip Island we’ve really had our thinking caps on and know the areas where we need to improve, and how to achieve that. If all those elements come online I know I’ll be able to be even closer to the front runners. “Donington is a bit like Phillip Island and it’s a great track with a lot of character. The circuit layout is good and it’s a great bike track, but also, it’s one of those circuits where you get a lot of spectators and you can really feel the support of the Brits behind you, which all adds up to making it a good race weekend. We’ve not raced there since 2001 so it will be good to go back.”

AMA RACING ADDS FOUR EVENTS TO SUPERMOTO SERIES PICKERINGTON, Ohio AMA Racing announced today that four supermoto venues have been added to the upcoming race season schedule, bringing to a total of ten rounds that will make up the 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship Series. Beginning with the new season opener on May 19 at St. Louis’ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, an event in which AMA Racing’s Supercross Series partner Live Nation will promote, the AMA Supermoto Championship will also feature new events at Raceway Park (Englishtown, N.J.) and MotoTown USA (New England), along with the series’ return to Denver, Colo. “From top to bottom this is for sure the most solid AMA Supermoto Championship schedule we’ve put together in the five-year history of the series,” said Joel Grover, director of supermoto for AMA Racing. “St. Louis is a very motorsports-friendly region, the east coast will get its first AMA Supermoto round in New Jersey, the strong New England motocross and road race contingent will be excited about the Connecticut round, and we’re very pleased to be returning to Denver for another double header located in the heart of action sports central Colorado.” Here’s a quick breakdown on the new events for the 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship schedule: “¢ The St. Louis opener at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (May 19) will include a first-ever Friday night concert to kick off the weekend race event, which includes pro racing on Saturday and amateur racing on Sunday. “¢ Raceway Park (Englishtown, N.J.), home of the popular “Kawasaki Race of Champions” motocross event and only 30 minutes from Manhattan, will bring AMA championship supermoto to its established facility for the first time. The combination motorcycle/auto complex, already boasting an established amateur supermoto race scene, is sure to be one of the highest-attended events of the season. “¢ New England’s MotoTown USA (Hartford, Conn.) is another state-of-the-art facility that includes an interesting hitch: For the first time ever AMA Supermoto will race a portion of the event indoors, cutting through the 120,000 square foot building’s motocross track floor. “¢ Denver, Colo., returns to the AMA Supermoto Championship Series with a double header scheduled for July 14 and 15. The downtown race will be part of the Suzuki CycleFest this year and will offer impressive motorcycle displays and even exciting street demo rides for the bold race fan. Note: Previously announced events in Columbus, Ohio, Syracuse, N.Y., and Monterey, Calif., have been removed from the schedule, and the Seattle event has been moved up a week. With the four new rounds the 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship schedule is as follows: Date City/State Venue 5/19 – St. Louis, Mo. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 6/3 – Englishtown, N.J. Raceway Park 6/23 – Salt Lake City, Utah Miller Motorsports Park 7/8 – Detroit, Mich. Waterford Hills Road Race Course 7/14-15 – Denver, Colo. Downtown (Doubleheader) 8/18 – Hartford, Conn. MotoTown USA 9/1 – Nashville, Tenn. Music City Motorplex 9/15 – Seattle, Wash. Pacific Grand Prix 11/11 – Long Beach, Calif. Queen Mary About AMA Racing AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.

Police in Florida have arrested the Dunlop racing tire sub-distributor for Florida, Ken Bebout, after raiding his house and finding a motorcycle chop shop. Police were led to the house by a stolen motorcycle equipped with a LoJack anti-theft homing system. According to local TV news reports, police have found frames from stolen motorcycles dumped in a canal behind the house. In news reports, Bebout’s name was spelled “Behout” but according to CCS Florida boss Henry DeGouw his business cards list his name as being spelled “Bebout.” Bebout has been fired by Race Tire Service, the Dunlop racing tire distributor for events east of the Mississippi River. A substitute crew assigned by RTS is selling and mounting Dunlop tires at this weekend’s CCS Florida event, at Moroso Motorsports Park. Debout handled Dunlop sales at Florida tracks for about two years prior to his arrest. He had been arrested for vehicle theft prior to starting to work for RTS, but was not convicted. Read about it here: ~http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5420015,00.html~

Vesrah Suzuki’s Lee Acree, Tray Batey and John Jacobi completed 188 laps on their Pirelli-shod, 2006-model GSX-R1000 to take the overall win at the opening round of the 2007 WERA/AMA National Endurance series, a four-hour race held at Roebling Road Raceway, located near Faukville, Georgia. The win was Vesrah Suzuki’s 50th overall endurance race victory. 5150/Motoheaven’s Phil Caudill and Justin Marm finished second overall, three laps behind Vesrah Suzuki, but won the Heavyweight Superstock class aboard a Dunlop-shod MV Agusta F4-1000R. Third overall and second in Heavyweight Superstock went to Team Velocity Racing’s Chuck Ivey, Josh Day and James Stroud, who rode a Yamaha YZF-R1. Wikle Racing, the father-and-son team of Russell and Luther Wikle, placed fifth overall and took the Middleweight Superbike class win on a Suzuki GSX-R600. L.O.C. Endurance’s James Vanderhaar, Dan Carr and Scott Layman finished seventh overall and first in Middleweight Superstock on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Ghetto Customs took 19th overall but beat Touring Sport Ducati by nearly 50 seconds to win in the Lightweight Superbike division. The race was held under sunny but cool conditions and ran without any major incidents or race stoppages. WERA/AMA Bridgestone National Endurance Series Overall Results: 1. Vesrah Suzuki (Suz GSX-R1000), Heavyweight Superbike, 188 laps 2. 5150/Motoheaven (MV Agusta F4-1000R 312), Heavyweight Superstock, 185 laps 3. Team Velocity Racing (Yam YZF-R1), Heavyweight Superstock, 183 laps 4. Team Maxxis Racing (Suz GSX-R1000), Heavyweight Superbike, 181 laps 5. Wikle Racing (Suz GSX-R600), Middleweight Superbike, 181 laps 6. Velocity Crew Racing (Suz GSX-R600), Middleweight Superbike, 181 laps 7. LOC Endurance (Yam YZF-R6), Middleweight Superstock, 180 laps 8. Faith on Wheels Racing (Suz GSX-R600), Middleweight Superbike, 178 laps 9. Team Westby (Kaw ZX-6RR), Middleweight Superstock, 178 laps 10. BP Concepts (Suz GSX-R600), Middleweight Superbike, 178 laps 19. Ghetto Customs (Suz SV650), Lightweight Superbike, 173 laps

COMPETITION BULLETIN SUBJECT: Fuel compliance As per each of the 2007 AMA Pro Racing Rulebooks, “The only allowable oxygenates are ether and alcohols, as listed and characterized for oxygen mass fraction in ASTM D4814″. The chemical Methyl Butynol is not on this list and therefore not allowed. Because of the apparent widespread use of fuels using Methyl Butynol in AMA Pro Racing paddocks, and the fact that AMA Pro Racing and its competitors could not have foreseen these circumstances, the following rule will be waived until April 15, 2007 regarding any fuels using Methyl Butynol, so long as they meet all other fuel specifications: “each participant agrees to abide by AMA Pro Racing’s rules and procedures. In addition, AMA Pro Racing-licensed riders are held responsible for the actions of their crew members.” AMA Pro Racing will continue to test race fuel for compliance of all other fuel specifications as stated in the AMA rulebook. After April 15, 2007 all AMA Pro Racing disciplines will be required to meet the fuel control specifications listed in the rule books. Should you have any questions concerning this information, please contact Kevin Crowther at (614)856-1900 ext1230 or [email protected].

Superstock classes make final preparations SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP Claudio Corti (Team Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) set a new best lap of the Valencia circuit on his way to becoming the fastest rider out of the 29 in attendance at this last pre-season test, improving on the previous track record by 1.5 seconds. His time of 1’37.420 was only just ahead of second fastest rider, Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta) who set a 1’37.582. The new Ducati 1098 had a happy first outing in the Superstock class, as former Superstock 600 rider Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) scored third quickest time. Another new recruit, Michele Pirro (Team Lorenzini by Leoni) was straight into the top slots in his new category; fourth fastest and the last rider within a second of Corti. Eight riders in total went faster than the previous best Superstock lap. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Frenchman Mathieu Gines (Moto1 Yamaha) set the pre-race pace in the smaller Superstock class, scoring the best time of 1’40.954 – fully one second better than last year’s best ever lap of the circuit. Domenico Colucci (Ducati Xerox Junior team) went second quickest while Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Corse Yamaha) slotted in third, leaving Andrea Antonelli (Team Italia Megabike Honda) fourth from 14 entrants. SUPERBIKE AND SUPERSPORT RIDERS TO TEST OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS World Superbike and Supersport class riders get the opportunity to make their final preparations for the next round of the championship over the next couple of days at Valencia, before heading for Donington Park for round three of each championship series. More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: SBK test Valencia Spain: 17th, 18th, 19th March 2007 Day1 The first day of the SBK official test session was dedicated to the Superstock 1000 and 600 classes. This was the first 2007 appointment for the main riders in these two classes, with new models joining the grid, new riders challenging the ‘old guard’ and also new tyres being used in each class. Pirelli has introduced each of these two Championships to the new DIABLO Supercorsa, developed in the Supersport World Championship in a record breaking fashion since its introduction in June last year. This is a tyre with a unique and stylish tread design, homologated for the street but definitely more than comfortable on the racetrack – where it came from in the first place. The Superstock riders were more than able to confirm this first time out at Valencia, and all the riders had a very good experience of the new tyre, and were able to set faster times than last year. The new DIABLO Supercorsa has really impressed since it first appearance, and in the marketplace bike enthusiasts all over the world have taken this new product to be a gift from Pirelli, with the Italian-based manufacturer now allowing them to ride on the racetrack or on the road with a tyre more than able to fulfil the expectations of even the most demanding riders. Both Superstock 1000 and Superstock 600 riders improved their past records. Superstock 1000 Rider Bike Team Race time 1 Corti Yamaha YZF-R1 Team Lorenzini by Leoni 1’37.420 2 Badovini MV Agusta F4 1000 R Biassono Unionbike 1’37.582 3 Canepa Ducati 1098S Ducati Xerox Junior Team 1’38.211 4 Pirro Yamaha YZF-R1 Team Lorenzini by Leoni 1’38.320 5 Sacchetti MV Agusta F4 1000 R InionBike Gimotorsport 1’38.616 Best lap: 2004- Vizziello 1’38.995 Superstock 600 Rider Bike Team Race time 1 Gines Yamaha YZF-R6 Moto1 1’40.954 2 Colucci Ducati 749R Ducati Xerox Junior Team 1’41.038 3 Magnoni Yamaha YZF-R6 Bevilacqua Corse 1’41.096 4 Antonelli Honda CBR600RR Team Italia Megabike AX 52 1’41.838 5 Vostarek Honda CBR600RR Intermoto Czeck Klaffi 1’42.185 Best lap: 2006- X. Simeon 1’42.094 More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Valencia tests, Saturday 17th March 2007 Circuit: 4.005 kms. Weather: Dry, mostly sunny 18 C. XAVI STARTS HIS NEW CHALLENGE Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon began his Superstock 1000 challenge at Valencia today with his new Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7. Despite the bike being virtually standard, Xavi managed to record the ninth fastest time of the tests with a lap of 1:39.027, just inside the lap record set by Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha) in 2005. Italian Claudio Corti (Yamaha) posted the day’s fastest time, with a lap of 1:37.420, followed by Ayrton Badovini (MV) and Nicola Canepa (Ducati). XAVI I am reasonably happy with my lap times today, but not happy that so many riders went quite a bit faster. But, here my bike is completely standard so perhaps my results aren’t so bad after all. We don’t have the shifter on the bike, so it means I have to change gear using the clutch every time and that costs fractions of a second every gearchange. The engine is also completely standard and once the work is done on it, I’ll be able to go faster. There is still a lot of work to be done to make our bike competitive, but unfortunately the next time I’ll be on it will be in first practice at Donington at the end of the month. But at least I’ve managed to put in a lot of laps (80 altogether!) and start getting used to the bike. We started today getting myself dialled into the bike – seating position, footpegs, handlebars and all the usual stuff. But what I can say straightaway is that this bike is very different to either the 600 Superstock or Suzuki Cup bike I rode last year. Riding this bike is much more physical and so I have to learn where, when and how to push it. In the Superstock 600 class last year, there were only three or four riders fighting for the top spots and then quite a gap before the rest of the field. Last year was my third year on a 600, so I knew the bike really well. This is my first time on a 1000 and there are probably ten to fifteen top riders in this class, so it’s going to be much harder then last year. But this is part of my learning curve and I am ready for the challenge. It’s a bit of a shame that I won’t have any more track time before Donington, but I’ll be going there to do my best – as usual. Valencia tests 1 Corti (I-Yamaha) 1:37.420, 2 Badovini (I-MV) 1:37.582, 3 Canepa (I-Ducati) 1:38.211, 4 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:38.320, 5 Sacchetti (I-MV 1:38.616, 6 Van Keymeulen (NL-Yamaha) 1:38.685, 9 XAVIER SIMEON (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:39.027,