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Thundersprint Through-the-streets Exhibition In England Continues To Draw Entries

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Thundersprint Through-the-streets Exhibition In England Continues To Draw Entries

May 12/13 – Northwich, Cheshire, Town Centre Free Admission and Free Parking Best Ever Thundersprint Race Entry This year’s Thundersprint has attracted a fantastic entry – both in terms of riders and bikes. Leading the classic riders is six times World Champion, and six times TT winner, Jim Redman riding Clive Brooker’s 1972 Honda CR 750. Jim said: “I love riding Clive’s CR750. The bike is prepared just as well as the factory Hondas were in the ’60s – and the big, torquey motor is ideal for the tight Thundersprint track.” Backing Jim up is another Honda star – Dutchman Michael Buttinger. Mike will be out on an incredibly rare 1957 Honda Asama racer – a bike which is literally beyond value. Mike said: “If a race bike isn’t raced then it’s just a pile of old metal. I will race the CR71 just once this year – and that will be at the Thundersprint.” The Europeans will be well represented too. Norton’s racing heritage will be shown with Manx Grand Prix and TT star, Keith Heckles’, original Manx Norton. Keith noted: “A quarter of a mile around the Thundersprint track isn’t exactly the TT but I’ll still be having a big go and I can guarantee that you will see a Manx ridden hard!” The oldest bike ever to be raced at the Thundersprint will see Brian Glover in action on his 1914 350cc Douglas which should provide a very interesting spectacle getting away from the standing start. Karin Leffrang and Steffen Bauermeister are making the long trek from Germany with their ultra rare AWO production racers whilst Spanish Champion “Pepin” is bringing Austin Fernandez’s featherweight, and hard accelerating, BSA B.50 which will set the tight Thundersprint track on fire. The fastest time of day award might well be staying in England because Thundersprint specialist Jaeson Caunce, will be in action once again with his spectacular 350cc Honda K4 – a bike and rider so quick that they look set to beat all the modern Superbikes through the 440 yards of corners, curves and trees which make up a Thundersprint lap. Entries from the modern riders are incredible. Leading the pack will be British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and his HM Plant Honda team mate Jonathan Rea both in action on their Superbikes. There will also be factory representation from MSS Kawasaki and British Supersport rider, Stuart Easton and his team-mate for the weekend, American Champion Natalie Jackson. On a more light-hearted note, expect plenty of entertainment from “Top Gear” star James May, and a host of other motorcycling celebrities. Because of the support of the ACU, and Vale Royal Borough Council who control Northwich, a special dispensation is granted to the Thundersprint which allows all these venerable bikes to be run with their original silencing systems. The noise, and smell, of these mighty old warhorses doing battle makes a visit to the Thundersprint worth while in itself. Backing up the racers are a huge number of classic entries who will be strutting their stuff around Northwich town centre in a five mile lunchtime cavalcade through the streets. Another delight of the Thundersprint is that everything, except the track, has open access. There are no controlled or VIP areas and if you want to spend all day chatting to Jim Redman, or admiring factory Aermacchis, nothing will stop you. Away from the track, there is a mile of trade stands, fine food, the Spitfire aerobatic display and the inimitable Leyland Morris Men who are not a common sight at many race meetings The Thundersprint takes place in Northwich town centre on Sunday 13 May and has free admission and free parking. For more information contact the event hotline on 01928 740 498 or visit www.thundersprint.com

Motorcycle Series Implications? Michelin Sues Over Spec Tire Deal In Rally Car Series

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Motorcycle Series Implications? Michelin Sues Over Spec Tire Deal In Rally Car Series

Michelin initiates legal proceedings against the FIA Michelin initiates legal proceedings against the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) before the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris and requests that the 27 February 2007 decision of the World Motor Sport Council of the FIA granting Pirelli the exclusive supply of tyres for the 2008-2009-2010 World Rally Championships (WRC) be annulled due to irregularities in the tender process.

Updated Yet Again: Still More From Daytona

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Updated Yet Again: Still More From Daytona

Attack Kawasaki’s Rapp Wins Daytona 200 On All-New 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX™-6R DAYTONA Attack Kawasaki rider Steve Rapp captured the win in AMA Formula Extreme aboard the all-new 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R at the Daytona 200. Rapp’s win was his first-ever career win in the Daytona 200 and also signaled return to the top of podium for Kawasaki, its’ first since 1995. “The bike was fast, the tires were good, and the team pulled out some great pit stops,” said Rapp. “To win at Daytona, that’s what you need. It feels great to not only win, but to be able to reward your team for the time they invest in you. It’s a way of giving back.” Teammate Ben Attard finished a close second and marked the second time this week that Kawasaki took the top two positions, following Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Roger Hayden and Jamie Hacking’s one-two finish in AMA Supersport on Thursday. Attard also put in an impressive performance, taking advantage of quick and efficient pit stops that eventually lead him to gain four positions on the track. “I think we recorded the fastest pit time ever at Daytona in the 66 years they’ve been doing it,” said Attard about his pit stops. “It was unbelievable.” Attack Perfomance owner and team manager Richard Stamboli added, “Our team has been putting in 16-hour days preparing for this race. Everyone gave 100 percent. It was a team effort and I’m so pleased by the results.” Rapp and Attard’s finishing positions this weekend in the Daytona 200 marked the first time Kawasaki had captured the top two positions in the prestigious race. In AMA Superbike, Monster Energy Kawasaki riders Hayden and Hacking qualified fourth and 10th, respectively, but ran into some unfortunate luck in the main event. Hacking went down in turn one after tangling with another rider. A few moments later, Hayden, who was running strong in the fifth position and looking to make a move on fourth, lost the back end and was sent to the ground. Neither rider was able to continue the race but walked away uninjured from the crashes. “We really don’t know what happened out there,” said Hayden. “We can’t figure out whether I got on the gas too hard, because everything looked the same as the lap before. Whenever you crash and don’t know why, you want to figure out the mistake so it doesn’t happen again and we will.” Monster Energy Kawasaki and Attack Kawasaki will return to action on April 20 at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. AMA Superbike Championship Dayton International Speedway Daytona Beach March 10, 2007 AMA Formula Extreme 1. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI 2. BEN ATTARD, MURRIETA, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI 3. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla., Suzuki 4. Chaz Davies, Nyack, N.Y., Yamaha 5. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha 6. Joshua Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Honda 7. Pascal Picotte, Ct Cecile De Milton, QC, Suzuki 8. Ryan Elleby, Powder Springs, Ga., Honda 9. Joshua Day, Orlando, Fla., Yamaha 10. Bostjan Pintar, Slovania, Yamaha AMA Superbike 1. Ben Spies, Longview, Texas, Suzuki 2. Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, Nev., Honda 3. Jake Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda 4. AKRIA YANAGAWA, FUKUOKA, JAPAN, KAWASAKI 5. Geoff May, Gainesville, Ga., Suzuki 6. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha 7. Jake Holden, Eatonville, Wash., Suzuki 8. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki 9. James Ellison, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Honda 10. Mat Mladin, Henderson, Nev., Suzuki 24. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, Ky., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI 25. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: Pirelli Owns, Dominates, Rules, the Daytona 200 Pirelli wins the Daytona 200. Pirelli takes second in the Daytona 200. Pirelli takes third in the Daytona 200. ‘Nough said. Congratulations to Steve Rapp, Ben Attard, and Michael Barnes. Details to follow. More, from another press release issued by Pirelli: Pirelli riders ruled the day at Daytona International Speedway during the 66th Daytona 200, taking first, second and third. Topping this podium ownership was Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp, winning on a 2007 ZX-6R, 21.951 seconds in front of his teammate Ben Attard in second, with Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes finishing third on a GSX-R600, another 6.867 seconds behind. The next rider was Chaz Davies, 31.725 seconds from the race winner. This marks Pirelli’s first win in the Daytona 200. A win of unmatched performance defined by a stunning, total podium sweep. All Pirelli riders competing in the Daytona 200 qualified for the race on standard racing Diablo Superbike Slicks, rather than qualifying tires, possibly giving false hopes to the competition. For Daytona, Pirelli prepared itself with tri-compound tires to meet the unique needs of the super speedway. The compound varied for left cornering, the infield, and the banking, using the same technology as the Diablo Corsa III multi-compound street tires. These three podium-finishing Pirelli riders, Rapp, Attard, and Barnes, battled from the start in a tight pack of six bikes at the front of the field until the first pit stops. Michael Barnes led the first lap of the race, after beating the factory Hondas back to the line. Rapp, Barnes, and Attard all took turns leading the race, giving up only 21 of its 68 laps to Pirelli’s competition. This is the first time a “non-factory” rider has won the Daytona 200 since 1989. But this time it was accomplished in a field with many factory riders, none of whom made it to the podium. Other Pirelli riders finishing in the top ten include Pascal Picotte and David Anthony, respectively finishing seventh and tenth, giving Pirelli five of the top ten places. Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp said, “I wouldn’t want any other two racers up here with me. Ben’s my teammate and Barney and I go way back. I knew the race tires were good. I knew the times I could do. The team knew but no one else knew because we qualified on the same tires we raced on. The competition might not have believed that but they probably do now. With one lap to go was I hoping I don’t run out of gas. During a pit stop (team owner) Richard (Stanboli) had told me I came in too soon. So after that I was backing off on the banking to save fuel. I didn’t believe I had it until I saw the tri-oval in front of me on the last lap. “Maybe over the years I never had the right combination. I finally got on a good bike with a good team with good tires and some luck. We champed it out and made it. We did little to the bike all week. All we did was change tires during the race. We stuck to the harder tires and I knew I could run the pace I needed. The first twenty laps were tight with lots of drafting and late braking going on between a bunch of us. I saw Miguel (Duhamel) off the side of the track and knew he’d be the guy to try to run me down so that gave me a lot of room.” Second place finisher Ben Attard said, “Having Joey (Lombardi) as my crew chief and having a trainer has really made my riding come together. Winning would have been better but this is really good for the team. I can learn a lot from Steve. This track is a hard place to learn, you have to put your self in the right position. These Pirelli tires blow me away. They just keep gripping and gripping. The pit stops were so fast I couldn’t even drink any water. I think”¦ I don’t even know what I think at the moment. Kawasaki makes great bikes, the ’07 is unbelievable and with our crew it’s a great combination. Steve and I are going to battle out this championship to the end.” Third place finisher Michael Barnes said, “It’s exciting to see these tires coming this far in the few years I’ve been on them. The race started out with the pace being slow. Josh (Hayes) was being nice to his tire. I did the same, seeing who’d have the most, seeing if my crew gave me good pit stops. Towards the end I dug deep and upped my pace when I got a signal that we were battling for the podium. So I pushed hard. I had a couple of moments but it all worked out. My team did a great job.” In the Superbike race run earlier in the day, Pirelli-rider Geoff May took fifth place with his Suzuki GSX-R1000. The Team M4 EMGO Suzuki rider, May, did this at a horsepower track on a Superstock-spec bike with Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks, shocking the factory Superbike riders. It was an exciting race with former champion Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates both crashing and remounting to finish. Pirelli’s week at Daytona has resoundingly reaffirmed its commitment to racing in America and to every motorcycle enthusiast. From the Diablo Superbike slicks that just won the Daytona 200, to the all-new Diablo Corsa III dual-compound street tires available at your local Parts Unlimited dealer: We race what we sell, we sell what we race. More, from a press release issued by Attack Kawasaki: Attack Performance congratulates Steve Rapp for making history the other day and winning the 66th Daytona 200, an accomplishment that required heart, soul and a lifetime of commitment to the notion that if you desire something strongly enough and are willing to put in every ounce of effort, you can make it happen. A word of praise, too, for Ben Attard who put his head down and raced the 200 miles around Daytona with grit, determination and inspired race craft, crossing the finish line right behind his team mate. A special thanks goes out to the crew of Attack Kawasaki Racing, each of whom focused every brain cell and muscle on the task of securing the best results a team could ever wish for. Performing the fastest, most flawless pit stops, Team Attack demonstrated a level of commitment to planning and execution that simply has no rival. Of course, nothing would be possible without the dedicated support of our sponsors, both old and new, whose excellent products give our riders the edge they need when they’re hanging it all out for the world to see. Way to go, Team! More, from a press release issued by American Suzuki: Suzuki Support Rider Barnes Podiums Prestigious Daytona 200 BREA, Calif., (March 12, 2007) American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) is excited to announce that Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes captured an impressive third-place finish in the 66th running of the world-famous Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday, March 10, 2007. Barnes, 36, rode his M4 EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600 to a podium finish in the 200-mile, 68-lap Formula Extreme race after getting a good start and leading the first lap. Barnes put in a consistent ride and his crew provided two flawless pit stops. Barnes initially joined the satellite Suzuki road race team in 2005 when he stepped in to ride for injured rider, Vincent Haskovec. “To podium in the Daytona 200 is quite a thrill,” said Barnes after the race. “I’ve been on the Daytona podium a few times before in a few different classes, but this is the first time in the Formula Xtreme class and in the 200. It’s just a blast to be up here and the M4 EMGO Suzuki team is great”¦ It was just meant to be. I was supposed to be up here this weekend. This is for Vincent.” Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Barnes and the rest of the Suzuki support teams will next compete in AMA road racing at round two of the AMA Superbike Championship Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., the weekend April 20 – 22. More, from a press release issued by Safety First Suzuki: Safety First Suzuki reflects on Daytona Safety First Suzuki equaled their best finish ever in the Daytona 200 with rider Bobby Fong crossing the finish line in 12th. Teammate Scott Ryan was in 15th place with six laps to go when a mechanical issue robbed the team from placing both riders in the top fifteen. Stockton, CA resident Fong completed his first ever AMA race and was as high as 11th place, before losing out to a late race battle on the last lap to finish a very credible 12th. The quality of the Michelin tires on the Suzuki GSXR 600’s, along with very quick pit stops by the Safety First Suzuki Team played a big role in the riders steady progress through the field. Lemont, Illinois rider Scott Ryan had an up and down weekend, finishing 35th in the talent-deep Supersport race and falling mid-way through the FX 200 race, only to rapidly remount his bike and work his way back through the field and come up just a few laps short when a mechanical sidelined Ryan. Kevin Hanson- Safety First Suzuki Team Owner “What really stood out this weekend was that both riders first saw and rode this daunting track on Wednesday. I am delighted with the outcomes of their performances in both the Supersport race on Thursday and the 200 on Saturday. Bobby and Scotty both came here with virtually no Daytona experience and left with a diploma in their hand. What they learned here will certainly benefit them the rest of the year with their racecraft and both of these guys rode their hearts out.” Bobby Fong: 21st- Supersport, 12th- Formula Xtreme “Overall, it was a great learning experience. There are a lot of fast guys here. I got a chance to really try out my Komodo leathers by having several “offs” during the weekend, but I stayed on the bike when it mattered and finished 21st in Supersport and almost got a top ten for the biggest race in North America, all in my first time. The Komodo leathers and Suomy Helmets really held up to their reputations as being the highest in quality. I had a huge highside and whacked my head in the International Horseshoe and had a fast get-off in the back chicane. There were no holes or burn through in my leathers. They are ready to go for the next race!” Scott Ryan: 35th- Supersport, 42nd- Formula Xtreme (DNF) “I was able to whittle away and get to know this track during the weekend and I am looking forward to Barber, a track I have been to before. I also fell in love with my Komodo leathers and Suomy helmets as Bobby and I did some pretty intense field testing and they held up awesome!” The team was very happy with the performance of their Michelin DOT’s tires that they ran all week. “After each race and after the pit stops, the tires looked great” declared Hanson. “Ron and the guys at Michelin gave us some great tires and we were proud to be the highest Michelin team in the prestigious Daytona 200. Both riders also wanted to thank engine-builder Ed Hilton back at the Safety First Racing shop in Chicago, as he gave them some very fast bikes for this horsepower dominated track. Safety First Racing was formed in 2004 by police officer/racer, Kevin Hanson, based out of Chicago, IL. For 2007, Safety First Suzuki will be competing in the AMA Superbike series in the Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes and is proud to be partnering with American Suzuki. Checkout www.SAFETYFIRSTRACING.com to see the Safety First Suzuki line of apparel and casual wear. Kevin Hanson continues to educate elementary school aged children nationwide about the importance of helmet usage. More, from a press release issued by Corona Extra Honda Racing: CORONA EXTRA HONDA RACING ELLISON AND CBR1000RR SUPERBIKE TAKE NINTH AT DAYTONA Corona Extra Honda Racing’s James Ellison brought his CBR1000RR SuperBike home to a fine ninth place finish in his first ever AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited race here at Daytona International Speedway. Teammate Gary Mason suffered a fall in the SuperSport race putting his Corona Light CBR600RR out of the race. Ellison, just arrived from Europe after competing in MotoGP, continued to learn the famous banks of Daytona getting faster every test session and picking up tips of the trade from other riders. He qualified 14th on the grid so had to work his way through traffic after his first SuperBike start. “The whole race was about chasing those in front of me!” said Ellison. “I had to be patient out there but it was fun, especially the last lap.” During the closing laps Ellison was able to size up his competition to set up a last lap pass of multi-time SuperBike champion Mat Mladin, cementing the 9th place finish. “I wanted to pass Mat in the infield area but I figured that I should wait for the banking,” said Ellison. “Once we got onto the banking I drafted past him to take the position right at the line.” Ellison is currently ninth in the SuperBike Championship points order. Gary Mason, in his first appearance on the Corona Light Honda CBR600RR spent much of the weekend getting to know the bike and finding the right set-up for the suspension. With Daytona being the first time ever the entirely-new-for-2007 bike had been run on track it was also a learning experience for the crew. Mason qualified 19th still working on the set-up. In the race he got caught up in a first lap incident and had to take to the grass losing a whole load of places. He got back on track and was making good progress back through the field when he lost the front end in turn five. Gary held on to the bike, which was undamaged, but unfortunately a helping turn worker getting the bike off the track dropped it and broke a lever which meant he could not get back in the fray. Even with the end result Mason is looking forward to getting back on his Honda CBR600RR. “It’s a brand new bike and it’s my first time on a 600cc bike in a while,” said Mason. “The chassis on this Honda is really good and with our guys working on it we will get better and better as the season progresses. I’m already ready for the next round!” In other Daytona news, James and Gary along with the crew put in a terrific effort meeting the public during Bike Week, appearing at eight Corona bar promotions, four retail locations and the opening of the 82nd Cycle Gear Store. Additionally, they joined the Honda factory riders to sign autographs at the manufacturer display area. Daytona bike week public also got to see six Corona Extra Honda Racing CBR1000RR bikes in retail displays around the area giving tens of thousands the opportunity to see the bikes in the flesh! More, from a press release issued by Rockwall Honda: POSITIVE DAYTONA FOR ROCKWALL HONDA The first race of 2007 proved to be successful for Rockwall Honda. Ryan Elleby finished eighth in the Daytona 200, a remarkable accomplishment for the young rider. Ryan Andrews finished 12th in the hyper-competitive AMA Supersport class and ran inside the top ten for much of the day in the Daytona 200 before tangling with a slower competitor. The Rockwall, Texas-based squad boasts two young and talented riders and will contest the 2007 AMA season with support from American Honda. Ryan Elleby (23) and Ryan Andrews (19) will compete in Formula Xtreme and Supersport. “I thought it went really well,” said Elleby of his Daytona 200. “The bike and Dunlop tires and the Rockwall Honda team worked out awesome. I just went out and tried to get in a groove in the race and was able to do it. I had been working hard this off-season and hired a personal trainer, so I felt fit the whole race. It was good to be able to finish and get a good result in the season opener.” Andrews saw a great chance at a top ten in the Daytona 200 evaporate on Saturday. “Before the first pit stop, we were running strong. Things were going our way and we were in the top ten as the race began to settle down,” said Andrews, a resident of Robinson, Texas. “Then we started having an issue on the bike. It was a tough race, for sure. We were getting closer to the end and I was trying to bring it home. I was trying to pass a rider when he stood his bike up in the middle of the corner and I went down. I hit the air fence but I was okay and tried to get going again. The windscreen was broken and the handlebars were bent, and we still had our problem from before. I decided to pull it in and not get hurt any worse.” Andrews was 12th in Thursday’s Supersport race, earning a good result on his 2007 Honda CBR600RR. “The Supersport race was pretty fun. I got an okay start and the bike handled awesome. We’ll work on our bike before the next race and continue to improve the power and handling. I’m happy with where I ended up seeing as how it was only our third time on the track. We’ll be even better at Barber.” Ryan Elleby was classified by the AMA as 19th place in the Supersport race, a solid result in what was a learning experience for him, including his first race on Dunlop tires. “It was my first race on the Supersport bike,” said Elleby, a Powder Springs, Georgia native. “It was pretty much a learning experience because we’d only had a practice and qualifying session the day before the race. We’re pleased with the result, considering the circumstances, but we want more. Once we get sorted through everything, we should be right up there.” Team owner Michael Worrell said he was pleased with the weekend. “The first race of the year is always difficult. The team really worked hard to get the equipment ready for the racers and it’s a race against the clock to be ready. Ryan Andrews and Ryan Elleby both did a fine job this weekend and we’re looking forward to the next race at Barber next month.” That event will be held April 20-22 near Birmingham, AL. More, from a press release issued by Millennium/KWS Suzuki: Millennium/KWS Suzuki Finish In the Top Ten at Daytona Charleston, SC March 2007 — Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorsports had great start to the 2007 AMA Superbike season at the world famous Daytona International Speedway. John Haner picked up his first top ten of the season in Superstock and David Weber was very impressive in his first Superbike race for the team. In Superstock qualifying John Haner used the amazing grip of the new Dunlop N-Tec’s to qualify in the ninth position with time of 1:43.428. Teammate David Weber qualified right behind Haner in the twelfth position with a time of 1:44.226. In the race both riders had good starts, but unfortunately for Weber he made contact with another rider on lap one and was unable to continue the race. Haner won a hard fought top ten finish after a race long battle with several riders to finish in the tenth position. Superbike is once again the most competitive class in AMA pro racing with well over twenty teams capable of running at the front. In Superbike qualifying John Haner qualified in the nineteenth position with a time of 1:41.657 and David Weber qualified in the twenty-fifth position after having a minor mechanical issue in qualifying. In the race both riders found themselves in the middle of a chaotic battle for survival in an incident filled Superbike main event. The Millennium/KWS Suzuki riders raced hard and did a great job to conserve their equipment and finish the race with Haner in the sixteenth position and Weber in the seventeenth position. John Haner “I am very happy to be back and have the season underway. The team made a lot of really good changes in the off season and we are stronger than ever. The Dunlop tires are awesome and we are getting incredible suspension support from Penske. We got our first top ten of the season and really I want to thank the whole team for all their hard work.” David Weber “Working with a full crew and the support of Millennium/KWS Suzuki was a new experience for me. I have never had that kind of backing behind me during a race weekend and I’m very happy to be a part of the team. Even though we didn’t finish as well as I would have liked, I am confident that 2007 is going to be a fantastic year for us. The bikes are super fast and the new Penske suspension is awesome. I want to thank my mechanics Rick Matheny and Matt Hill for all their help this weekend.” Kevin Hunt (Team Owner) “We picked up our new 2007 GSX-R1000’s from Ron Ayers Motorsports only days before the event so we decided to race our proven 2006 bikes. We only had time to dyno the 2007 model and it makes a lot more power than last year’s bike. We knew that John and David were going to be down on power compared to the guys on the 2007 bikes and it says a lot about their talent and the dedication of the crew that they did so well,” said Hunt. “We are very excited about having our built 2007 bikes at Barber, the new 2007 GSX-R1000 really is that good.”

High Winds Hinder Post-race MotoGP Testing In Qatar

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High Winds Hinder Post-race MotoGP Testing In Qatar

STRONG WINDS AFFECTS THE TEST OF THE DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM IN QATAR Archived already their first ever 800cc MotoGP race, and their first success of 2007 season, The Ducati Marlboro men arrived on time at the track this morning for the scheduled one-day testing session at the Losail Circuit. Unfortunately, strong winds prevented both riders and technicians to complete the planned work. Loris Capirossi and Casey Stoner weren’t able to complete many laps because the wind was so strong that they had to stop early, being not able to work on their Desmosedici set up neither to test some new Bridgestone tyres. The MotoGP teams now move to Spain for the second round of the 2007 season which takes place at Jerez de la Frontera on March 25. Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team) “Despite my yesterday’s win I feel exactly as any other day. Obviously the atmosphere in the garage is pretty good and we’ll do our best to continue exactly in the same way. Today we had planned some tyre’s tests but the wind was really to strong. The grip of the track wasn’t actually too bad but there wasn’t the condition to provide the Bridgestone technicians with an useful feedback”. Loris Capirossi (Ducati Marlboro Team) “Today we tried put up some laps but it was so windy and we couldn’t rider without taking a lot of risks. It’s a pity because we had several things to test for Bridgestone. The yesterday crash is already behind my shoulders and I’m really looking forward to the next race at Jerez”.

More From The AMA Season-opener In Daytona

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More From The AMA Season-opener In Daytona

BARNES EARNS PODIUM IN 2007 DAYTONA 200 Team M4 EMGO Suzuki enjoyed an outstanding conclusion to the 2007 season-opening AMA weekend at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. Following up on Geoff May’s Thursday third-place ride in the AMA Superstock race, Michael Barnes finished on the podium in the 66th running of the Daytona 200 while May picked up a top-five in the AMA Superbike final. Barnes got a terrific start from the second row in the famed 68-lap contest, leading the opening lap before settling into a heated battle with the lead group as they worked towards the first pitstop. After working through both pit stops without a hitch, Barnes and his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600 proved their durability by taking the checkered flag in third place. It was ‘Barney’s’ best Daytona 200 performance in ten attempts. “I’m pretty stoked,” Barnes remarked. “We’ve been working hard and the FX class is getting really competitive. To podium in the Daytona 200 is quite a thrill. “I’ve been on the Daytona podium a few times before in a few different classes, but this is the first time in the FX class and in the 200. It’s just a blast to be up here and the M4 EMGO Suzuki team is great. Pirelli tires have shown their commitment and their hard work. I’ve been with them for about seven years now and it’s exciting to see their progress. It’s fantastic to see them sweep the podium here at Daytona.” Barnes summed his feelings up, commenting, “It was just meant to be. I was supposed to be up here this weekend. This is for Vincent Haskovec.” Having already raced in both of his regular classes earlier in the week, May was free to compete in the premier AMA Superbike class aboard his Superstock-spec GSX-R1000. Just as he had done all week long, May got the better of a number of the categories’ factory stars, pushing to a fifth place finish in the 15-lap race. “I’m happy with that,” the Georgian said. “I just wanted to go out there and show what Team M4 EMGO Suzuki and Pirelli could do and just go have some fun. My race weekend was over on Thursday and I got to hang out and watch some Supercross last night. For me there was no pressure. I rode my own race and ended up top five. It was a good day.” The second round of the 2007 AMA roadracing championships will take place at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL on April 20-22. More, from a press release issued by Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki: ULRICH HAS ‘BEST DAYTONA EVER’ IN 2007 Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki opened the 2007 AMA Superstock season with a tremendous result this week at Daytona International Speedway. Chris Ulrich was fast from the opening practice and went on to secure his best-ever AMA race results at the famed circuit in Thursday’s race. After qualifying on the second row for the 13-lap final, posting the seventh fastest time of the session at 1:42.117, Ulrich figured to get away with the leaders early aboard his 2007 Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000. An early race incident forced Chris offline, however, yet he quickly recovered and put his head down to ultimately take the checkered flag in sixth position, an outstanding result to kick off the new season. The satisfied Ulrich said, “This is the best Daytona I’ve ever been to. I’ve been coming here racing AMA since 1998. 2007 is the best year I’ve ever had. It was just a very good weekend — a confidence building weekend. “We made a lot of changes to the bike and it was just good. I’m riding hard and I’ve got some new crew guys. Everyone is working really hard and the bike has changed so much set-up wise.” Ulrich is confident the Daytona round is a sign of things to come. “I’m looking forward to a really strong season. We started out right. We should have finished fifth but we had a small vibration coming through the rear. It didn’t work out but I’ve got great faith in Pirelli and my Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki crew guys. We’re going to put this thing on the box sometime this year.” The only negative for the squad this week was the absence of second rider Robertino Pietri. The reigning Venezuelan and Latin American Superbike Champion unexpectedly encountered difficulty obtaining his visa, preventing him from racing in the AMA season opener at Daytona, the scene of last season’s seventh-place run. “It’s a bummer that ‘Tino wasn’t here,” Ulrich remarked. “Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki does everything by the book. We do it as the law says. We ran into some problems getting his visa and getting him over here. What can you do? We’re going to do everything correctly to make sure our guy is here for the long run. “We missed Robertino. I think he could have had a strong finish. He did quite well here last year. This is his track and he’s quite light and small. He likes it. We probably could have had two Team RoadRacingWorld.com Suzuki bikes in the top eight, but it didn’t work out. We’re going to try to get his visa problems sorted so he can be with us next race.” The second round of the 2007 AMA season will take place at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL on April 20-22.

More From The MotoGP Season-opener In Qatar

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More From The MotoGP Season-opener In Qatar

MICHELIN MEN ROSSI & PEDROSA ON LOSAIL PODIUM Michelin riders Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin) and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team RC212V-Michelin) took second- and third-place results in today’s season-opening Qatar GP, the first 800cc MotoGP race. Former MotoGP World Champion Rossi spent the whole race involved in an enthralling duel with Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP7) but finally had to settle for second, while Pedrosa won his contest with John Hopkins (Rizla Suzuki GSV-R) for the final place on the podium. “We are happy with how our tires worked,” said Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin’s director of motorcycle racing. “Valentino was very fast in the corners, and even with 15km/h less on the straights he was always right with Stoner, which made it an exciting race. Valentino rode aggressively, we had very good edge grip which remained consistent throughout. This was also the first race with our 16in front and everyone was happy with the tire’s handling and grip. Valentino made a very good tire choice while Dani chose slightly softer rear, a medium tire. This is normal because he puts less stress into the tires but he lost a little in the later stages.” Weber pronounced himself happy with the first MotoGP event to be run under new technical regulations which limit riders to 14 front slicks and 17 rear slicks per weekend. The new rules have a major effect on how riders, teams and tire companies work through practice and qualifying towards the race, placing a greater emphasis on strategy. “The system worked smoothly, and despite the new limitations all our riders got the tires they needed for the race,” Weber added. “But we will have to wait a little longer to see how the system works at other races, especially at tracks where we’ve not tested and where weather conditions are less predictable than they are here.” Rossi was happy enough with second, since he started last season with a 14th place result at Jerez, after being knocked down at the first turn. “My bike was very good in the corners, better than Casey’s, but we lost too much on the straights,” he said. “The pace was very fast, my bike had a very good balance and we made a great tire choice with Michelin.”

Rapp Wins Daytona 200 On Kawasaki And Pirellis

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Rapp Wins Daytona 200 On Kawasaki And Pirellis

Steve Rapp led a 1-2 finish for Attack Kawasaki and a sweep of the podium by Pirelli in winning the 66th Daytona 200 by Honda AMA Formula Xtreme race Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Rapp’s teammate Ben Attard finished second, while Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes placed third.

Rapp was part of a multi-rider battle at the beginning involving his teammate Attard, Barnes, Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes, American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel, Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo and Celtic Racing’s Chaz Davies.

As Rapp took the lead for the first time on lap 20, behind him Duhamel and Duhamel’s teammate Jake Zemke both suffered mechanical problems at exactly the same instant.

After the first round of pit stops, Rapp returned to the lead, only to relinquish the front spot again during the second round of pit stops to Davies and Attard. Hayes, Duhamel and Barnes also led at early points of the race.

Once Rapp regained the lead in the final stint he never let it go and took his first Daytona 200 victory. In spite of slightly quicker pit stops, Attard could not match his teammate on the track. Barnes fought off Davies in the final laps to hold on to third, the best-ever finish for the Floridian in the spring classic. Davies lost touch with Barnes through lapped traffic but was ecstatic with fourth place in his first Daytona 200.

DiSalvo lost ground when his second pit stop ran long and when his injured shoulder weakened in the late-going. After the other Hondas (including his teammate Aaron Gobert) apparently ran out of fuel, Hayes was forced to shorten his stints and make a costly third pit stop for a splash-and-go. Two laps behind Hayes, visiting Canadian star Pascal Picotte finished seventh on his Blackfoot/Picotte Performance Suzuki GSX-R600. Blown Away Racing’s 17-year-old Josh Day finished eighth on his Yamaha YZF-R6, 11 seconds ahead of Bostjan Pintar, of Slovenia, and Australian privateer David Anthony.

A total of 58 riders started the 68-lap race.

66th Daytona 200 by Honda Lockhart Phillips USA AMA Formula Xtreme Championship Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 10, 2007 Provisional Race Results:

1. Steve Rapp (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, 68 laps 2. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -21.951 seconds 3. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -28.817 seconds 4. Chaz Davies (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -31.725 seconds 5. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -41.935 seconds 6. Josh Hayes (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -59.782 seconds 7. Pascal Picotte (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -2 laps 8. Ryan Elleby (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -3 laps, crash 9. Josh Day (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, 5.489 seconds 10. Bostjan Pintar (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, 17.228 seconds 11. David Anthony (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, 20.936 seconds 12. Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, -3 laps, 23.050 seconds 13. Keith Marshall (Kaw ZX-6R), -3 laps, 44.435 seconds 14. Bostjan Skubic (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, 44.700 seconds 15. Jeff Tigert (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -4 laps 16. David Sadowksi, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), -4 laps, 33.968 seconds 17. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-6R), -4 laps, 48.644 seconds 18. Mark Crozier (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, -4 laps, 56.425 seconds 19. Shane Narbonne (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, -4 laps, 61.678 seconds 20. Michael Murphy (Suz GSX-R600), -4 laps, 73.658 seconds 21. Jean Paul Tache (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps 22. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, 16.049 seconds 23. Robert McLendon (Tri Daytona 675), -5 laps, 26.252 seconds 24. Michael Pearson (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, 52.150 seconds 25. Barrett Long (Duc 749), -5 laps, 57.546 seconds 26. Dean Mizdal (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, 60.642 seconds 27. C.R. Gittere (Suz GSX-R600), -5 laps, 72.562 seconds 28. Santiago Villa (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps 29. Skip Salenius (Suz GSX-R600), -6 laps, 2.289 seconds 30. Larry Pegram (Duc 749/848), -6 laps, 2.739 seconds 31. David McPherson (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, 18.307 seconds 32. John Ashmead (Suz GSX-R600), -6 laps, 28.549 seconds 33. Scotty Van Hawk (Hon CBR600RR), -6 laps, 59.937 seconds 34. Craig Montgomery (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, 65.131 seconds 35. Chad Herrmann (Suz GSX-R600), -6 laps, 86.605 seconds, crash 36. Anthony Fania (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, 92.103 seconds 37. Spencer Stuart (Yam YZF-R6), -7 laps 38. Dirk Sanchez (Suz GSX-R600), -7 laps, 30.984 seconds 39. Mark Schnettler (Yam YZF-R6), -7 laps, 62.774 seconds 40. Matt Layt (Yam YZF-R6), -8 laps 41. Stephen Breckenridge (Tri Daytona 675), -8 laps, 75.205 seconds 42. Scott Ryan (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, -9 laps 43. Eric Pinson (Yam YZF-R6), -9 laps, 102.018 seconds 44. Scott Ackerman (Yam YZF-R6), -9 laps, 114.738 seconds 45. Ryan Andrews (Hon CBR600RR), -11 laps 46. Walt Sipp (Buell XB-RR), -12 laps 47. Will Gruy (Yam YZF-R6), -16 laps 48. Jason Temme (Yam YZF-R6), -17 laps 49. Tony Meiring (Yam YZF-R6), Michelin, -27 laps, DNF, mechanical 50. Dr. Jeffrey Purk, DDS (Yam YZF-R6), -29 laps 51. Tyler McDonald (Yam YZF-R6), -43 laps 52. Marty Craggill (Duc 749R), -45 laps 53. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -46 laps, DNF, mechanical 54. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -47 laps, DNF, mechanical 55. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -47 laps, 16.388 seconds, DNF, mechanical 56. Eric Wood (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -49 laps, DNF, mechanical

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Rapp Surprise Winner Of The Daytona 200 By Honda

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Steve Rapp scored one of the biggest upset wins in the history of the Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday. The 35-year-old rider from Manhattan Beach, Calif., rode the No.15 Attack Kawasaki ZX-6R to victory over his teammate Ben Attard of Australia.

Floridian Michael Barnes, of Boca Raton, Fla., was third on a Team M4 EMGO Suzuki.

“It’s unbelievable,” said a jubilant Rapp, whose previous best result in the 200 was fifth in 1999. “I backed off so much on the last few laps. I would have never forgiven myself had I run out of gas. On the last lap I was so nervous. I feel like a different person. This is the biggest day of my life.”

Rapp first took the lead on Lap 20, and with the exception of pit sequences, held onto the point for the rest of the 68-lap event and took the checkered flag with a 21.951-second margin of victory.

It marked the first victory for Kawasaki in the prestigious race since 1995 and it’s also the first time a non-factory rider has won the Daytona 200 By Honda since John Ashmead in the 1989 motorcycle classic.

The favored factory Hondas of pole winner and five-time Daytona 200 By Honda winner Miguel Duhamel and last year’s winner Jake Zemke had fuel problems on Lap 21 before the first pit stop.

Josh Hayes, aboard the No. 1 Erion Honda and defending Formula Xtreme champion, also experienced fuel issues and finished sixth.

“It’s one of those things that we have to go back and figure out,” said Honda Road Race Manager Ron Heben. “It’s a big disappointment for us because of Honda’s success in the 200.”

Rounding out the top five were Chaz Davies aboard the Celtic Racing Yamaha and Jason DiSalvo aboard the factory Yamaha.

Daytona 200 Week By Honda has concluded. Ticket information for October’s Fall Cycle Scene, including the 8 Hours At Daytona SunTrust MOTO-ST Series race, are available at www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

More, from a press release issued on behalf of Dunlop:

Final: Dunlop Motorcycle Tires race report: 2007 AMA Superbike Series, round one, Daytona International Speedway

Daytona, Fl. — March 10, 2007 — The opening round of the 2007 AMA Superbike Series concluded at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) today after three days of exciting action in all four classes. On Thursday, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies took his first-ever win at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) on a Superstock-spec GSX-R1000 and Kawasaki Road Racing’s Roger Lee Hayden nabbed his second consecutive Supersport win at DIS on a ZX-6R. After taking a break on Friday for the AMA Supercross Series, Saturday’s exploits saw Spies successfully begin the defense of his 2006 Superbike crown with a convincing win and his first-ever Superbike victory at Daytona. In the Formula Xtreme Daytona 200, unspecified fuel problems sidelined the favored Honda Racing team and opened the door for a victory by Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp.

Superbike Race

In Superbike action, Spies put his Dunlop N-Tec™ shod Suzuki GSX-R1000 on the pole with a time of 1:37.546 on Thursday. “It’s good,” said Spies. “Just having the number one plate and coming back to the first race, and I didn’t get pole here last year, I got it this year. We’re hoping to prove that we’re not just there for a season.” Saturday’s race started in dramatic fashion as Factory Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom raced to the front while Kawasaki Road Racing’s Jamie Hacking went down in the International Horseshoe, taking Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Aaron Yates with him. Spies’ teammate, six-time Superbike champ Mat Mladin, slotted into second and Spies settled into third. Mladin took the lead on lap three but low-sided two laps later, leaving Spies with the lead after his overtaking move on Bostrom earlier. Honda Racing’s Miguel Duhamel, who started fourth, worked his way into second on lap seven and, though he pursued Spies for the remainder of the race, Spies managed his lead effectively and took the win by 3.021 seconds. Duhamel was second and his teammate Jake Zemke took third. “I just got out there and saw I got about a second and a half, and tried to go as fast as I could with keeping that gap and saving the tire,” said Spies of his 12th career Superbike win and Suzuki’s fourth in a row at DIS. “The race played out as good as it could, I just tried to stay out of all the trouble.” Dunlop dominated the top-10 finishing positions with nine overall, including the first four.

Superbike Results: Dunlop finishers in the Top 10

1. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 2. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 3. Jake Zemke (Honda) 4. Akira Yanagawa (Kawasaki)

6. Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha) 7. Jake Holden (Suzuki) 8. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 9. James Ellison (Honda) 10. Mat Mladin (Suzuki)

Formula Xtreme Race (Daytona 200)

Honda Racing’s Miguel Duhamel won the Daytona 200 pole position on his CBR600RR Thursday with a climactic last-minute performance that resulted in a time of 1:41.095. “I went out there and just put a good lap, the CBR600RR was awesome,” said Duhamel. “We came over with a new setup for that last little qualifier there, and it obviously worked pretty good.” Lining up on the grid for Saturday’s race, Dunlop riders filled the front row. Alongside Duhamel were Factory Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo, Erion Racing Honda’s Josh Hayes (the 2006 class champion) and Honda Racing’s Zemke. Dunlop riders took seven of the top 10 qualifying slots as Celtic Racing Yamaha’s Chaz Davies was sixth, Pegram Racing Ducati’s Larry Pegram was seventh and Erion Racing Honda’s Aaron Gobert was eighth. The race unfolded with an exciting battle between the top qualifiers. Running at the front of the pack were Duhamel and Hayes when, on lap 21, their Hondas (along with those of teammates Zemke and Gobert) suffered fuel problems. With only Hayes able to continue, the lead went to Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp, who was running with the leaders at the time on his ZX-6R. In his effort to rejoin the leaders, Hayes ran the fastest lap of the race on his Dunlop N-Tec tire””a 1:42.201 on lap 36″”but Rapp ran a well-paced race and would go on to win by a margin of 21.951 seconds over teammate Ben Attard, giving Kawasaki its first Daytona victory since 1995. M4 Emgo Suzuki’s Michael Barnes was third.

Formula Xtreme Results: Dunlop finishers in the Top 10

4. Chaz Davies (Yamaha) 5. Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha) 6. Josh Hayes (Honda)

8. Ryan Elleby (Honda) 9. Bostjan Pintar (Yamaha)

Next stop for Dunlop and the 2007 AMA Superbike road racing tour is Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama, April 20-22. Round two features a doubleheader for the Superbike series.

About Dunlop Tires

Dunlop Tires is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. With North American operations headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Dunlop has been making and selling high-quality tires in the U.S. since 1923. For more information, please visit www.dunlopmotorcycle.com.

With Two Laps To Go, Steve Rapp Leads Attard, Barnes in Daytona 200

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With Two Laps To Go, Steve Rapp Leads Attard, Barnes in Daytona 200

1. Steve Rapp, Kawasaki, Pirelli, 66 laps 2. Ben Attard, Kawasaki, Pirelli 3. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, Pirelli 4. Chaz Davies, Yamaha, Dunlop 5. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, Dunlop

Rapp Leads Daytona 200 At Halfway

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Rapp Leads Daytona 200 At Halfway

Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp is leading the Daytona 200 just past the halfway point, aboard a ZX-6R on Pirelli tires. Halfway: 1. Steve Rapp, Kawasaki, Pirelli, 35 laps 2. Chaz Davies, Yamaha, Dunlop, -10.481 seconds 3. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, Dunlop, -10.613 4. Ben Attard, Kawasaki, Pirelli, -14.458 5. Josh Hayes, Honda, Dunlop, -18.002 6. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, Pirelli, -18.089 Miguel Duhamel, Jake Zemke and Aaron Gobert are all out of the race, Duhamel and Zemke either running out of gas or suffering fuel pump problems before their first stops. All the factory Hondas were having problems with fuel pumps in practice.

Updated: Spies Wins Incident-filled AMA Superbike Race At Daytona

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Updated: Spies Wins Incident-filled AMA Superbike Race At Daytona

AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 10, 2007 Provisional Race Results: 1. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 15 laps 2. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -3.021 seconds 3. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -12.637 seconds 4. Akira Yanagawa (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, -24.000 seconds 5. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, -30.595 seconds 6. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, -37.453 seconds 7. Jake Holden (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -42.581 seconds, chunked tire 8. Tommy Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -43.733 seconds 9. James Ellison (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -46.397 seconds 10. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -46.580 seconds, crash 11. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -53.935 seconds, crash 12. Martin Cardenas (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, -62.399 seconds 13. Tristan Palmer (Suz GSX-R1000), -62.505 seconds 14. Doug Chandler (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -63.684 seconds 15. Scott Jensen (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, -64.455 seconds 16. John Haner (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -85.675 seconds 17. David Weber (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -94.257 seconds 18. Kurtis Roberts (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -94.269 seconds 19. Dominic Jones (Suz GSX-R1000), -99.141 seconds 20. Dean Mizdal (Suz GSX-R1000), -99.801 seconds 21. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, -1 lap, pitted, chunked tire 22. Matt Lynn (MV Agusta F4-1000R), Dunlop, -2 laps, pitted, chunked tire 23. Luca Scassa (MV Agusta F4-1000R), Dunlop, -6 laps, DNF, crash 24. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, -11 laps, DNF, crash 25. Santiago Villa (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -15 laps, DNF, mechanical 26. Jamie Hacking (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, -15 laps, DNF, crash 27. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, DNS Provisional AMA Superbike Points 1. Spies, 38 2. Duhamel, 32 3. Zemke, 29 4. Yanagawa, 27 5. May, 26 6. DiSalvo, 25 7. Holden, 24 8. T. Hayden, 23 9. Ellison, 22 10. Mladin, 21 11. Yates, 20 12. Cardenas, 19 13. Palmer, 18 14. Chandler, 17 15. Jensen, 16 16. Haner, 15 17. Weber, 14 18. Roberts, 13 19. Jones, 12 20. Mizdal, 11 21. Bostrom, 10 22. Lynn, 9 23. Scassa, 8 More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Ben Spies Takes AMA Superbike Opening Round At DIS DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies continued his winning trend at Daytona International Speedway this weekend capturing the AMA Superbike Opening Round on Sunday. On Thursday, Spies earned his first Daytona victory when he captured the 13-lap Superstock event. “Actually made a big mistake a couple laps in and had to find my way back,” Spies said. “We got back up front and charged and got right on the back of Mat (Mladin), then he made a mistake. We got out and I got a second and a half lead and just kind of saved the tire and brought it home. To do the double here that’s nice” Spies will take home the maximum amount of championship points with the Daytona Superbike victory, most laps led and the pole position as he attempts to defend his AMA Superbike title. Rounding out the podium was a pair of Hondas. Miguel Duhamel took second with Jake Zemke coming home in third. “The bike felt good right through testing,” Duhamel said. “Even here I knew I had a good bike. I just wanted to go out there and prove it. Talk is cheap. We’re going to be there all year. I really want to go out there and make a statement that we aren’t just showing up to fill the grid we’re here to win this championship.” The wild 15-lap race included several top factory riders going off track including Jamie Hacking, Aaron Yates, Roger Lee Hayden and Mladin. Daytona 200 Week By Honda concludes with the Daytona 200 By Honda later Saturday afternoon. More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki: Yoshimura Suzuki’s Spies Wins Daytona Superbike Race, Hayden & Mladin Rally after Mishaps with Top-10 Finishes Round 1 AMA Superbike Series Daytona Beach, FL Daytona International Speedway March 8-10, 2007 Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies started the 2007 AMA Superbike year with a bang by winning the AMA Superbike race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday afternoon. This victory is the defending AMA Superbike Champion’s 12th AMA Superbike career victory and it’s Suzuki’s 11th Daytona AMA Superbike win. Teammates Tommy Hayden and Mat Mladin both had troubles but made impressive recoveries and finished in eighth and 10th positions, respectively. “Winning at Daytona was a great way to start out the season,” said Spies of his first-ever Daytona Superbike victory. “It’s nice to show up with the number-one plate and get the pole position, lead the most laps and win the race.” As he mentioned, Spies picked up the pole position by posting a fastest lap time of 1:37.546. Overall, this is Spies’ eighth career pole. Teammate Mladin was hot on his heels with a lap time of 1:37.581, while Hayden followed up with a 1:38.931. In Saturday’s 15-lap AMA Superbike race, Spies got a good start and was running up front with teammate Mladin. The duo swapped spots a few times and then Spies took over the lead. The 22-year-old Texan went on to create a gap and take the win. “It was a good race,” said Spies. “We got off to a pretty good start”¦ and the race played out as good as it could. Everybody knows that Daytona is a place where you can lose a lot of points quick and you can’t win the championship here. We made good progress with the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 here. The team did great, the bike was awesome. I had to ride hard, but the bike’s working good. We just did what we could and tried to stay consistent.” Yoshimura Suzuki’s Hayden also got a good start but had an off-road excursion when riders in front of him crashed and forced him into the grass. But the two-time AMA Supersport Champion remounted, put his head down and reeled in as many competitors as possible for an eighth-place finish. “I was on the outside when two riders tangled up and forced me off the track,” said Hayden. “I got back on the track in about 23rd and it was an uphill battle from there. I tried to get as many spots as I could and salvage as many points as possible. It was a little frustrating but we got enough points to start the season out pretty good. The Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 felt good, I just need to work on qualifying a little better and get on the front row and away from that mess in the back.” Similarly, six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mladin got a good start on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and had taken the lead when, unfortunately, he went down. In true championship-winning form, however, he recovered and finished in 10th position. “We just didn’t get it done today,” said Mladin. “It’s a little disappointing but this is only the first race and it’s a long season. The Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 was working good and I just tried to pick up as many points as I could.” Yoshimura Suzuki will return for round two of the AMA Superbike Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.., the weekend of April 20 – 22, 2007. Ben Spies, Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, #1 1st Place AMA Superbike at Daytona 1st Place — Overall Championship Standings Mat Mladin, Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, #66 10th Place AMA Superbike at Daytona 10th Place Overall Championship Standings Tommy Hayden, Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, #22 8th Place AMA Superbike at Daytona 8th Place — Overall Championship Standings AMA Superbike Top 10 Finishers: 1. Ben Spies, Yoshimura Suzuki 2. Miguel Duhamel, Honda 3. Jake Zemke, Honda 4. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki 5. Geoff May, M4 EMGO Suzuki 6. Jason Disalvo, Yamaha 7. Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki 8. Tommy Hayden, Yoshimura Suzuki 9. James Ellison, Honda 10. Mat Mladin, Yoshimura Suzuki More, from a corrected press release issued by Honda: Honda’s Dominate Superbike Podium in Daytona American Honda teammates Miguel Duhamel and Jake Zemke dominated the podium in the opening round of the AMA Superbike Championship with second and third place finishes at Daytona International Speedway. “It was the best start we’ve had in several years,” team manager Ron Heben said, adding that he expects the team to be more competitive after a winter’s development on the Honda CBR1000RR. “We’ve learned an enormous amount about our motorcycle, the electronics and such. Dunlop’s got some great new tires right now. We’re putting the whole package together. The fans are going to like it. I think it’s going to be a great season.” The first of 11 rounds on the American calendar was plagued by attrition. Warm Florida sunshine, combined with the stress of the 31 degree banking, wreaked havoc on tires, specifically fronts. Six-time champion Mat Mladin (Suzuki) lost a piece of his front tire and crashed. The Australian re-mounted and was running in eighth on the final lap when he had to slow drastically, allowing two riders to pass. Eric Bostrom (Yamaha) was forced into the pits to change a failed front tire. And a number of front-runners crashed, many in front of Zemke. “I saw every incident,” Zemke said with a laugh. There was a two rider crash on lap one and another crash in the first turn on the fifth lap. Zemke was behind Mladin when he fell. “It was a bit greasy out there today. It seemed like there was a bit less grip than there’s been all week. I don’t know if it was from the fog overnight or what, but it definitely didn’t seem like we – I didn’t have grip all week, but it seemed like nobody else had grip during that race.” Duhamel was in the top three on the second lap and moved into second on lap seven of 15. From there he continued to give chase to the race leader, Suzuki’s Ben Spies, but wasn’t able to close the gap. Spies, the defending series champion, won by 3.022 seconds. Zemke didn’t start as quickly. Having qualified in 11th place, it took the Californian a few laps to join the leaders. It was on the 12th of 15 laps that he passed Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom for third, where he’d finish. Miguel Duhamel, 2nd Place “I just wanted to get a really good start, and just be up there. I didn’t want to let these guys go. I was a little worried when I saw Eric (Bostrom) started pulling away quite a bit. Then Mat (Mladin) and Ben (Spies) was there, and I’m like, “Man, these guys aren’t too worried about this, are they?” But then we reeled him in back pretty quick. It was good racing up there, for sure. I think I had the pace, and I was trying to do the best I can. It’s just great to be up there. Obviously we’re here to win, and we came up one short of it, but I’m really proud of the team. It just shows how hard these guys have been working and sweating. Big thanks to them. It was definitely a team effort. And I think we will get faster. This is just one of the ways that we evolve the bike, with the Öhlins suspension, and all the work that we’re putting together. So I’m excited. We’re not going to slower from here. We’re going to be going faster. So I’m very pleased about that.” Jake Zemke, 3rd Place” We just couldn’t ever go any quicker throughout the race, in practice or anything. Even with softer tires in qualifying, the speeds were the same. I just was at a wall in my lap times, it seemed like, and we couldn’t get any better. But the race is always different than qualifying, that’s what’s great. I’d be a much better racer than a qualifier any day of the week, and that’s the way it worked out. Luckily, a lot of guys made it a lot easier for us. It felt like we had a pretty decent pace in the beginning of the race. After the first wreck, I got kind of blocked up, and these guys were trying to split up front. I was slowly making some ground on them, and I was just getting up to Rog (Hayden), and then he highsided right in front of me for the second year in a row, and I had to kind of hold up and wait for him, because where he highsided at, coming out of Turn One, he was sliding straight down the middle of the racetrack and I had nowhere to go. So I had to wait for him to slide out of the way first. Once he did, these guys and Eric (Bostrom) were already gone. And it’s funny. I didn’t even know I was in third place until I saw Eric coming out of the pits. I was like, “I think Eric was in front of me. Hmmm. That’s interesting.” And I looked up and I just saw those two guys in front of me, and I’m like, “Wow, I’m in third place. This is a nice little gift everybody gave me today.” Ron Heben, Team Manager ” Miguel last year got us a third on the box and through the course of the week and practice we thought we were moving forward and getting closer to the front. And obviously in qualifying, we didn’t qualify where we wanted to. We made some more changes. Guys were comfortable with the bike in the this morning’s practice. Same thing, the guys got to put themselves in the front of the pack and get in there and mix it up with those guys. For Miguel, we’re really, really pleased. Jake didn’t have his best day but he was in the right place at the right time. We’re really happy moving into the second round in second and third. ” Superbike: 1. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 2. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 3. Jake Zemke (Honda) 4. Akira Yanagawa (Kawasaki) 5. Geoff May (Suzuki) 6. Jason Disalvo (Yamaha) 7. Jake Holden (Suzuki) 8. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 9. James Ellison (Honda) 10. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) Championship Standings: 1. Ben Spies (38) 2. Miguel Duhamel (32) 3. Jake Zemke (29) 4. Akira Yanagawa (27) 5. Geoff May (26) 6. Jason Disalvo (25) 7. Jake Holden (24) 8. Tommy Hayden (23) 9. James Ellison (22) 10. Mat Mladin (21)

Thundersprint Through-the-streets Exhibition In England Continues To Draw Entries

May 12/13 – Northwich, Cheshire, Town Centre Free Admission and Free Parking Best Ever Thundersprint Race Entry This year’s Thundersprint has attracted a fantastic entry – both in terms of riders and bikes. Leading the classic riders is six times World Champion, and six times TT winner, Jim Redman riding Clive Brooker’s 1972 Honda CR 750. Jim said: “I love riding Clive’s CR750. The bike is prepared just as well as the factory Hondas were in the ’60s – and the big, torquey motor is ideal for the tight Thundersprint track.” Backing Jim up is another Honda star – Dutchman Michael Buttinger. Mike will be out on an incredibly rare 1957 Honda Asama racer – a bike which is literally beyond value. Mike said: “If a race bike isn’t raced then it’s just a pile of old metal. I will race the CR71 just once this year – and that will be at the Thundersprint.” The Europeans will be well represented too. Norton’s racing heritage will be shown with Manx Grand Prix and TT star, Keith Heckles’, original Manx Norton. Keith noted: “A quarter of a mile around the Thundersprint track isn’t exactly the TT but I’ll still be having a big go and I can guarantee that you will see a Manx ridden hard!” The oldest bike ever to be raced at the Thundersprint will see Brian Glover in action on his 1914 350cc Douglas which should provide a very interesting spectacle getting away from the standing start. Karin Leffrang and Steffen Bauermeister are making the long trek from Germany with their ultra rare AWO production racers whilst Spanish Champion “Pepin” is bringing Austin Fernandez’s featherweight, and hard accelerating, BSA B.50 which will set the tight Thundersprint track on fire. The fastest time of day award might well be staying in England because Thundersprint specialist Jaeson Caunce, will be in action once again with his spectacular 350cc Honda K4 – a bike and rider so quick that they look set to beat all the modern Superbikes through the 440 yards of corners, curves and trees which make up a Thundersprint lap. Entries from the modern riders are incredible. Leading the pack will be British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and his HM Plant Honda team mate Jonathan Rea both in action on their Superbikes. There will also be factory representation from MSS Kawasaki and British Supersport rider, Stuart Easton and his team-mate for the weekend, American Champion Natalie Jackson. On a more light-hearted note, expect plenty of entertainment from “Top Gear” star James May, and a host of other motorcycling celebrities. Because of the support of the ACU, and Vale Royal Borough Council who control Northwich, a special dispensation is granted to the Thundersprint which allows all these venerable bikes to be run with their original silencing systems. The noise, and smell, of these mighty old warhorses doing battle makes a visit to the Thundersprint worth while in itself. Backing up the racers are a huge number of classic entries who will be strutting their stuff around Northwich town centre in a five mile lunchtime cavalcade through the streets. Another delight of the Thundersprint is that everything, except the track, has open access. There are no controlled or VIP areas and if you want to spend all day chatting to Jim Redman, or admiring factory Aermacchis, nothing will stop you. Away from the track, there is a mile of trade stands, fine food, the Spitfire aerobatic display and the inimitable Leyland Morris Men who are not a common sight at many race meetings The Thundersprint takes place in Northwich town centre on Sunday 13 May and has free admission and free parking. For more information contact the event hotline on 01928 740 498 or visit www.thundersprint.com

Motorcycle Series Implications? Michelin Sues Over Spec Tire Deal In Rally Car Series

Michelin initiates legal proceedings against the FIA Michelin initiates legal proceedings against the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) before the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris and requests that the 27 February 2007 decision of the World Motor Sport Council of the FIA granting Pirelli the exclusive supply of tyres for the 2008-2009-2010 World Rally Championships (WRC) be annulled due to irregularities in the tender process.

Updated Yet Again: Still More From Daytona

Attack Kawasaki’s Rapp Wins Daytona 200 On All-New 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX™-6R DAYTONA Attack Kawasaki rider Steve Rapp captured the win in AMA Formula Extreme aboard the all-new 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R at the Daytona 200. Rapp’s win was his first-ever career win in the Daytona 200 and also signaled return to the top of podium for Kawasaki, its’ first since 1995. “The bike was fast, the tires were good, and the team pulled out some great pit stops,” said Rapp. “To win at Daytona, that’s what you need. It feels great to not only win, but to be able to reward your team for the time they invest in you. It’s a way of giving back.” Teammate Ben Attard finished a close second and marked the second time this week that Kawasaki took the top two positions, following Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Roger Hayden and Jamie Hacking’s one-two finish in AMA Supersport on Thursday. Attard also put in an impressive performance, taking advantage of quick and efficient pit stops that eventually lead him to gain four positions on the track. “I think we recorded the fastest pit time ever at Daytona in the 66 years they’ve been doing it,” said Attard about his pit stops. “It was unbelievable.” Attack Perfomance owner and team manager Richard Stamboli added, “Our team has been putting in 16-hour days preparing for this race. Everyone gave 100 percent. It was a team effort and I’m so pleased by the results.” Rapp and Attard’s finishing positions this weekend in the Daytona 200 marked the first time Kawasaki had captured the top two positions in the prestigious race. In AMA Superbike, Monster Energy Kawasaki riders Hayden and Hacking qualified fourth and 10th, respectively, but ran into some unfortunate luck in the main event. Hacking went down in turn one after tangling with another rider. A few moments later, Hayden, who was running strong in the fifth position and looking to make a move on fourth, lost the back end and was sent to the ground. Neither rider was able to continue the race but walked away uninjured from the crashes. “We really don’t know what happened out there,” said Hayden. “We can’t figure out whether I got on the gas too hard, because everything looked the same as the lap before. Whenever you crash and don’t know why, you want to figure out the mistake so it doesn’t happen again and we will.” Monster Energy Kawasaki and Attack Kawasaki will return to action on April 20 at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. AMA Superbike Championship Dayton International Speedway Daytona Beach March 10, 2007 AMA Formula Extreme 1. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI 2. BEN ATTARD, MURRIETA, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI 3. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla., Suzuki 4. Chaz Davies, Nyack, N.Y., Yamaha 5. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha 6. Joshua Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Honda 7. Pascal Picotte, Ct Cecile De Milton, QC, Suzuki 8. Ryan Elleby, Powder Springs, Ga., Honda 9. Joshua Day, Orlando, Fla., Yamaha 10. Bostjan Pintar, Slovania, Yamaha AMA Superbike 1. Ben Spies, Longview, Texas, Suzuki 2. Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, Nev., Honda 3. Jake Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda 4. AKRIA YANAGAWA, FUKUOKA, JAPAN, KAWASAKI 5. Geoff May, Gainesville, Ga., Suzuki 6. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha 7. Jake Holden, Eatonville, Wash., Suzuki 8. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki 9. James Ellison, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Honda 10. Mat Mladin, Henderson, Nev., Suzuki 24. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, Ky., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI 25. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: Pirelli Owns, Dominates, Rules, the Daytona 200 Pirelli wins the Daytona 200. Pirelli takes second in the Daytona 200. Pirelli takes third in the Daytona 200. ‘Nough said. Congratulations to Steve Rapp, Ben Attard, and Michael Barnes. Details to follow. More, from another press release issued by Pirelli: Pirelli riders ruled the day at Daytona International Speedway during the 66th Daytona 200, taking first, second and third. Topping this podium ownership was Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp, winning on a 2007 ZX-6R, 21.951 seconds in front of his teammate Ben Attard in second, with Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes finishing third on a GSX-R600, another 6.867 seconds behind. The next rider was Chaz Davies, 31.725 seconds from the race winner. This marks Pirelli’s first win in the Daytona 200. A win of unmatched performance defined by a stunning, total podium sweep. All Pirelli riders competing in the Daytona 200 qualified for the race on standard racing Diablo Superbike Slicks, rather than qualifying tires, possibly giving false hopes to the competition. For Daytona, Pirelli prepared itself with tri-compound tires to meet the unique needs of the super speedway. The compound varied for left cornering, the infield, and the banking, using the same technology as the Diablo Corsa III multi-compound street tires. These three podium-finishing Pirelli riders, Rapp, Attard, and Barnes, battled from the start in a tight pack of six bikes at the front of the field until the first pit stops. Michael Barnes led the first lap of the race, after beating the factory Hondas back to the line. Rapp, Barnes, and Attard all took turns leading the race, giving up only 21 of its 68 laps to Pirelli’s competition. This is the first time a “non-factory” rider has won the Daytona 200 since 1989. But this time it was accomplished in a field with many factory riders, none of whom made it to the podium. Other Pirelli riders finishing in the top ten include Pascal Picotte and David Anthony, respectively finishing seventh and tenth, giving Pirelli five of the top ten places. Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp said, “I wouldn’t want any other two racers up here with me. Ben’s my teammate and Barney and I go way back. I knew the race tires were good. I knew the times I could do. The team knew but no one else knew because we qualified on the same tires we raced on. The competition might not have believed that but they probably do now. With one lap to go was I hoping I don’t run out of gas. During a pit stop (team owner) Richard (Stanboli) had told me I came in too soon. So after that I was backing off on the banking to save fuel. I didn’t believe I had it until I saw the tri-oval in front of me on the last lap. “Maybe over the years I never had the right combination. I finally got on a good bike with a good team with good tires and some luck. We champed it out and made it. We did little to the bike all week. All we did was change tires during the race. We stuck to the harder tires and I knew I could run the pace I needed. The first twenty laps were tight with lots of drafting and late braking going on between a bunch of us. I saw Miguel (Duhamel) off the side of the track and knew he’d be the guy to try to run me down so that gave me a lot of room.” Second place finisher Ben Attard said, “Having Joey (Lombardi) as my crew chief and having a trainer has really made my riding come together. Winning would have been better but this is really good for the team. I can learn a lot from Steve. This track is a hard place to learn, you have to put your self in the right position. These Pirelli tires blow me away. They just keep gripping and gripping. The pit stops were so fast I couldn’t even drink any water. I think”¦ I don’t even know what I think at the moment. Kawasaki makes great bikes, the ’07 is unbelievable and with our crew it’s a great combination. Steve and I are going to battle out this championship to the end.” Third place finisher Michael Barnes said, “It’s exciting to see these tires coming this far in the few years I’ve been on them. The race started out with the pace being slow. Josh (Hayes) was being nice to his tire. I did the same, seeing who’d have the most, seeing if my crew gave me good pit stops. Towards the end I dug deep and upped my pace when I got a signal that we were battling for the podium. So I pushed hard. I had a couple of moments but it all worked out. My team did a great job.” In the Superbike race run earlier in the day, Pirelli-rider Geoff May took fifth place with his Suzuki GSX-R1000. The Team M4 EMGO Suzuki rider, May, did this at a horsepower track on a Superstock-spec bike with Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks, shocking the factory Superbike riders. It was an exciting race with former champion Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates both crashing and remounting to finish. Pirelli’s week at Daytona has resoundingly reaffirmed its commitment to racing in America and to every motorcycle enthusiast. From the Diablo Superbike slicks that just won the Daytona 200, to the all-new Diablo Corsa III dual-compound street tires available at your local Parts Unlimited dealer: We race what we sell, we sell what we race. More, from a press release issued by Attack Kawasaki: Attack Performance congratulates Steve Rapp for making history the other day and winning the 66th Daytona 200, an accomplishment that required heart, soul and a lifetime of commitment to the notion that if you desire something strongly enough and are willing to put in every ounce of effort, you can make it happen. A word of praise, too, for Ben Attard who put his head down and raced the 200 miles around Daytona with grit, determination and inspired race craft, crossing the finish line right behind his team mate. A special thanks goes out to the crew of Attack Kawasaki Racing, each of whom focused every brain cell and muscle on the task of securing the best results a team could ever wish for. Performing the fastest, most flawless pit stops, Team Attack demonstrated a level of commitment to planning and execution that simply has no rival. Of course, nothing would be possible without the dedicated support of our sponsors, both old and new, whose excellent products give our riders the edge they need when they’re hanging it all out for the world to see. Way to go, Team! More, from a press release issued by American Suzuki: Suzuki Support Rider Barnes Podiums Prestigious Daytona 200 BREA, Calif., (March 12, 2007) American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) is excited to announce that Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes captured an impressive third-place finish in the 66th running of the world-famous Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday, March 10, 2007. Barnes, 36, rode his M4 EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600 to a podium finish in the 200-mile, 68-lap Formula Extreme race after getting a good start and leading the first lap. Barnes put in a consistent ride and his crew provided two flawless pit stops. Barnes initially joined the satellite Suzuki road race team in 2005 when he stepped in to ride for injured rider, Vincent Haskovec. “To podium in the Daytona 200 is quite a thrill,” said Barnes after the race. “I’ve been on the Daytona podium a few times before in a few different classes, but this is the first time in the Formula Xtreme class and in the 200. It’s just a blast to be up here and the M4 EMGO Suzuki team is great”¦ It was just meant to be. I was supposed to be up here this weekend. This is for Vincent.” Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Barnes and the rest of the Suzuki support teams will next compete in AMA road racing at round two of the AMA Superbike Championship Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., the weekend April 20 – 22. More, from a press release issued by Safety First Suzuki: Safety First Suzuki reflects on Daytona Safety First Suzuki equaled their best finish ever in the Daytona 200 with rider Bobby Fong crossing the finish line in 12th. Teammate Scott Ryan was in 15th place with six laps to go when a mechanical issue robbed the team from placing both riders in the top fifteen. Stockton, CA resident Fong completed his first ever AMA race and was as high as 11th place, before losing out to a late race battle on the last lap to finish a very credible 12th. The quality of the Michelin tires on the Suzuki GSXR 600’s, along with very quick pit stops by the Safety First Suzuki Team played a big role in the riders steady progress through the field. Lemont, Illinois rider Scott Ryan had an up and down weekend, finishing 35th in the talent-deep Supersport race and falling mid-way through the FX 200 race, only to rapidly remount his bike and work his way back through the field and come up just a few laps short when a mechanical sidelined Ryan. Kevin Hanson- Safety First Suzuki Team Owner “What really stood out this weekend was that both riders first saw and rode this daunting track on Wednesday. I am delighted with the outcomes of their performances in both the Supersport race on Thursday and the 200 on Saturday. Bobby and Scotty both came here with virtually no Daytona experience and left with a diploma in their hand. What they learned here will certainly benefit them the rest of the year with their racecraft and both of these guys rode their hearts out.” Bobby Fong: 21st- Supersport, 12th- Formula Xtreme “Overall, it was a great learning experience. There are a lot of fast guys here. I got a chance to really try out my Komodo leathers by having several “offs” during the weekend, but I stayed on the bike when it mattered and finished 21st in Supersport and almost got a top ten for the biggest race in North America, all in my first time. The Komodo leathers and Suomy Helmets really held up to their reputations as being the highest in quality. I had a huge highside and whacked my head in the International Horseshoe and had a fast get-off in the back chicane. There were no holes or burn through in my leathers. They are ready to go for the next race!” Scott Ryan: 35th- Supersport, 42nd- Formula Xtreme (DNF) “I was able to whittle away and get to know this track during the weekend and I am looking forward to Barber, a track I have been to before. I also fell in love with my Komodo leathers and Suomy helmets as Bobby and I did some pretty intense field testing and they held up awesome!” The team was very happy with the performance of their Michelin DOT’s tires that they ran all week. “After each race and after the pit stops, the tires looked great” declared Hanson. “Ron and the guys at Michelin gave us some great tires and we were proud to be the highest Michelin team in the prestigious Daytona 200. Both riders also wanted to thank engine-builder Ed Hilton back at the Safety First Racing shop in Chicago, as he gave them some very fast bikes for this horsepower dominated track. Safety First Racing was formed in 2004 by police officer/racer, Kevin Hanson, based out of Chicago, IL. For 2007, Safety First Suzuki will be competing in the AMA Superbike series in the Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes and is proud to be partnering with American Suzuki. Checkout www.SAFETYFIRSTRACING.com to see the Safety First Suzuki line of apparel and casual wear. Kevin Hanson continues to educate elementary school aged children nationwide about the importance of helmet usage. More, from a press release issued by Corona Extra Honda Racing: CORONA EXTRA HONDA RACING ELLISON AND CBR1000RR SUPERBIKE TAKE NINTH AT DAYTONA Corona Extra Honda Racing’s James Ellison brought his CBR1000RR SuperBike home to a fine ninth place finish in his first ever AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited race here at Daytona International Speedway. Teammate Gary Mason suffered a fall in the SuperSport race putting his Corona Light CBR600RR out of the race. Ellison, just arrived from Europe after competing in MotoGP, continued to learn the famous banks of Daytona getting faster every test session and picking up tips of the trade from other riders. He qualified 14th on the grid so had to work his way through traffic after his first SuperBike start. “The whole race was about chasing those in front of me!” said Ellison. “I had to be patient out there but it was fun, especially the last lap.” During the closing laps Ellison was able to size up his competition to set up a last lap pass of multi-time SuperBike champion Mat Mladin, cementing the 9th place finish. “I wanted to pass Mat in the infield area but I figured that I should wait for the banking,” said Ellison. “Once we got onto the banking I drafted past him to take the position right at the line.” Ellison is currently ninth in the SuperBike Championship points order. Gary Mason, in his first appearance on the Corona Light Honda CBR600RR spent much of the weekend getting to know the bike and finding the right set-up for the suspension. With Daytona being the first time ever the entirely-new-for-2007 bike had been run on track it was also a learning experience for the crew. Mason qualified 19th still working on the set-up. In the race he got caught up in a first lap incident and had to take to the grass losing a whole load of places. He got back on track and was making good progress back through the field when he lost the front end in turn five. Gary held on to the bike, which was undamaged, but unfortunately a helping turn worker getting the bike off the track dropped it and broke a lever which meant he could not get back in the fray. Even with the end result Mason is looking forward to getting back on his Honda CBR600RR. “It’s a brand new bike and it’s my first time on a 600cc bike in a while,” said Mason. “The chassis on this Honda is really good and with our guys working on it we will get better and better as the season progresses. I’m already ready for the next round!” In other Daytona news, James and Gary along with the crew put in a terrific effort meeting the public during Bike Week, appearing at eight Corona bar promotions, four retail locations and the opening of the 82nd Cycle Gear Store. Additionally, they joined the Honda factory riders to sign autographs at the manufacturer display area. Daytona bike week public also got to see six Corona Extra Honda Racing CBR1000RR bikes in retail displays around the area giving tens of thousands the opportunity to see the bikes in the flesh! More, from a press release issued by Rockwall Honda: POSITIVE DAYTONA FOR ROCKWALL HONDA The first race of 2007 proved to be successful for Rockwall Honda. Ryan Elleby finished eighth in the Daytona 200, a remarkable accomplishment for the young rider. Ryan Andrews finished 12th in the hyper-competitive AMA Supersport class and ran inside the top ten for much of the day in the Daytona 200 before tangling with a slower competitor. The Rockwall, Texas-based squad boasts two young and talented riders and will contest the 2007 AMA season with support from American Honda. Ryan Elleby (23) and Ryan Andrews (19) will compete in Formula Xtreme and Supersport. “I thought it went really well,” said Elleby of his Daytona 200. “The bike and Dunlop tires and the Rockwall Honda team worked out awesome. I just went out and tried to get in a groove in the race and was able to do it. I had been working hard this off-season and hired a personal trainer, so I felt fit the whole race. It was good to be able to finish and get a good result in the season opener.” Andrews saw a great chance at a top ten in the Daytona 200 evaporate on Saturday. “Before the first pit stop, we were running strong. Things were going our way and we were in the top ten as the race began to settle down,” said Andrews, a resident of Robinson, Texas. “Then we started having an issue on the bike. It was a tough race, for sure. We were getting closer to the end and I was trying to bring it home. I was trying to pass a rider when he stood his bike up in the middle of the corner and I went down. I hit the air fence but I was okay and tried to get going again. The windscreen was broken and the handlebars were bent, and we still had our problem from before. I decided to pull it in and not get hurt any worse.” Andrews was 12th in Thursday’s Supersport race, earning a good result on his 2007 Honda CBR600RR. “The Supersport race was pretty fun. I got an okay start and the bike handled awesome. We’ll work on our bike before the next race and continue to improve the power and handling. I’m happy with where I ended up seeing as how it was only our third time on the track. We’ll be even better at Barber.” Ryan Elleby was classified by the AMA as 19th place in the Supersport race, a solid result in what was a learning experience for him, including his first race on Dunlop tires. “It was my first race on the Supersport bike,” said Elleby, a Powder Springs, Georgia native. “It was pretty much a learning experience because we’d only had a practice and qualifying session the day before the race. We’re pleased with the result, considering the circumstances, but we want more. Once we get sorted through everything, we should be right up there.” Team owner Michael Worrell said he was pleased with the weekend. “The first race of the year is always difficult. The team really worked hard to get the equipment ready for the racers and it’s a race against the clock to be ready. Ryan Andrews and Ryan Elleby both did a fine job this weekend and we’re looking forward to the next race at Barber next month.” That event will be held April 20-22 near Birmingham, AL. More, from a press release issued by Millennium/KWS Suzuki: Millennium/KWS Suzuki Finish In the Top Ten at Daytona Charleston, SC March 2007 — Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorsports had great start to the 2007 AMA Superbike season at the world famous Daytona International Speedway. John Haner picked up his first top ten of the season in Superstock and David Weber was very impressive in his first Superbike race for the team. In Superstock qualifying John Haner used the amazing grip of the new Dunlop N-Tec’s to qualify in the ninth position with time of 1:43.428. Teammate David Weber qualified right behind Haner in the twelfth position with a time of 1:44.226. In the race both riders had good starts, but unfortunately for Weber he made contact with another rider on lap one and was unable to continue the race. Haner won a hard fought top ten finish after a race long battle with several riders to finish in the tenth position. Superbike is once again the most competitive class in AMA pro racing with well over twenty teams capable of running at the front. In Superbike qualifying John Haner qualified in the nineteenth position with a time of 1:41.657 and David Weber qualified in the twenty-fifth position after having a minor mechanical issue in qualifying. In the race both riders found themselves in the middle of a chaotic battle for survival in an incident filled Superbike main event. The Millennium/KWS Suzuki riders raced hard and did a great job to conserve their equipment and finish the race with Haner in the sixteenth position and Weber in the seventeenth position. John Haner “I am very happy to be back and have the season underway. The team made a lot of really good changes in the off season and we are stronger than ever. The Dunlop tires are awesome and we are getting incredible suspension support from Penske. We got our first top ten of the season and really I want to thank the whole team for all their hard work.” David Weber “Working with a full crew and the support of Millennium/KWS Suzuki was a new experience for me. I have never had that kind of backing behind me during a race weekend and I’m very happy to be a part of the team. Even though we didn’t finish as well as I would have liked, I am confident that 2007 is going to be a fantastic year for us. The bikes are super fast and the new Penske suspension is awesome. I want to thank my mechanics Rick Matheny and Matt Hill for all their help this weekend.” Kevin Hunt (Team Owner) “We picked up our new 2007 GSX-R1000’s from Ron Ayers Motorsports only days before the event so we decided to race our proven 2006 bikes. We only had time to dyno the 2007 model and it makes a lot more power than last year’s bike. We knew that John and David were going to be down on power compared to the guys on the 2007 bikes and it says a lot about their talent and the dedication of the crew that they did so well,” said Hunt. “We are very excited about having our built 2007 bikes at Barber, the new 2007 GSX-R1000 really is that good.”

High Winds Hinder Post-race MotoGP Testing In Qatar

STRONG WINDS AFFECTS THE TEST OF THE DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM IN QATAR Archived already their first ever 800cc MotoGP race, and their first success of 2007 season, The Ducati Marlboro men arrived on time at the track this morning for the scheduled one-day testing session at the Losail Circuit. Unfortunately, strong winds prevented both riders and technicians to complete the planned work. Loris Capirossi and Casey Stoner weren’t able to complete many laps because the wind was so strong that they had to stop early, being not able to work on their Desmosedici set up neither to test some new Bridgestone tyres. The MotoGP teams now move to Spain for the second round of the 2007 season which takes place at Jerez de la Frontera on March 25. Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team) “Despite my yesterday’s win I feel exactly as any other day. Obviously the atmosphere in the garage is pretty good and we’ll do our best to continue exactly in the same way. Today we had planned some tyre’s tests but the wind was really to strong. The grip of the track wasn’t actually too bad but there wasn’t the condition to provide the Bridgestone technicians with an useful feedback”. Loris Capirossi (Ducati Marlboro Team) “Today we tried put up some laps but it was so windy and we couldn’t rider without taking a lot of risks. It’s a pity because we had several things to test for Bridgestone. The yesterday crash is already behind my shoulders and I’m really looking forward to the next race at Jerez”.

More From The AMA Season-opener In Daytona

BARNES EARNS PODIUM IN 2007 DAYTONA 200 Team M4 EMGO Suzuki enjoyed an outstanding conclusion to the 2007 season-opening AMA weekend at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. Following up on Geoff May’s Thursday third-place ride in the AMA Superstock race, Michael Barnes finished on the podium in the 66th running of the Daytona 200 while May picked up a top-five in the AMA Superbike final. Barnes got a terrific start from the second row in the famed 68-lap contest, leading the opening lap before settling into a heated battle with the lead group as they worked towards the first pitstop. After working through both pit stops without a hitch, Barnes and his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600 proved their durability by taking the checkered flag in third place. It was ‘Barney’s’ best Daytona 200 performance in ten attempts. “I’m pretty stoked,” Barnes remarked. “We’ve been working hard and the FX class is getting really competitive. To podium in the Daytona 200 is quite a thrill. “I’ve been on the Daytona podium a few times before in a few different classes, but this is the first time in the FX class and in the 200. It’s just a blast to be up here and the M4 EMGO Suzuki team is great. Pirelli tires have shown their commitment and their hard work. I’ve been with them for about seven years now and it’s exciting to see their progress. It’s fantastic to see them sweep the podium here at Daytona.” Barnes summed his feelings up, commenting, “It was just meant to be. I was supposed to be up here this weekend. This is for Vincent Haskovec.” Having already raced in both of his regular classes earlier in the week, May was free to compete in the premier AMA Superbike class aboard his Superstock-spec GSX-R1000. Just as he had done all week long, May got the better of a number of the categories’ factory stars, pushing to a fifth place finish in the 15-lap race. “I’m happy with that,” the Georgian said. “I just wanted to go out there and show what Team M4 EMGO Suzuki and Pirelli could do and just go have some fun. My race weekend was over on Thursday and I got to hang out and watch some Supercross last night. For me there was no pressure. I rode my own race and ended up top five. It was a good day.” The second round of the 2007 AMA roadracing championships will take place at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL on April 20-22. More, from a press release issued by Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki: ULRICH HAS ‘BEST DAYTONA EVER’ IN 2007 Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki opened the 2007 AMA Superstock season with a tremendous result this week at Daytona International Speedway. Chris Ulrich was fast from the opening practice and went on to secure his best-ever AMA race results at the famed circuit in Thursday’s race. After qualifying on the second row for the 13-lap final, posting the seventh fastest time of the session at 1:42.117, Ulrich figured to get away with the leaders early aboard his 2007 Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000. An early race incident forced Chris offline, however, yet he quickly recovered and put his head down to ultimately take the checkered flag in sixth position, an outstanding result to kick off the new season. The satisfied Ulrich said, “This is the best Daytona I’ve ever been to. I’ve been coming here racing AMA since 1998. 2007 is the best year I’ve ever had. It was just a very good weekend — a confidence building weekend. “We made a lot of changes to the bike and it was just good. I’m riding hard and I’ve got some new crew guys. Everyone is working really hard and the bike has changed so much set-up wise.” Ulrich is confident the Daytona round is a sign of things to come. “I’m looking forward to a really strong season. We started out right. We should have finished fifth but we had a small vibration coming through the rear. It didn’t work out but I’ve got great faith in Pirelli and my Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki crew guys. We’re going to put this thing on the box sometime this year.” The only negative for the squad this week was the absence of second rider Robertino Pietri. The reigning Venezuelan and Latin American Superbike Champion unexpectedly encountered difficulty obtaining his visa, preventing him from racing in the AMA season opener at Daytona, the scene of last season’s seventh-place run. “It’s a bummer that ‘Tino wasn’t here,” Ulrich remarked. “Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki does everything by the book. We do it as the law says. We ran into some problems getting his visa and getting him over here. What can you do? We’re going to do everything correctly to make sure our guy is here for the long run. “We missed Robertino. I think he could have had a strong finish. He did quite well here last year. This is his track and he’s quite light and small. He likes it. We probably could have had two Team RoadRacingWorld.com Suzuki bikes in the top eight, but it didn’t work out. We’re going to try to get his visa problems sorted so he can be with us next race.” The second round of the 2007 AMA season will take place at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL on April 20-22.

More From The MotoGP Season-opener In Qatar

MICHELIN MEN ROSSI & PEDROSA ON LOSAIL PODIUM Michelin riders Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin) and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team RC212V-Michelin) took second- and third-place results in today’s season-opening Qatar GP, the first 800cc MotoGP race. Former MotoGP World Champion Rossi spent the whole race involved in an enthralling duel with Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP7) but finally had to settle for second, while Pedrosa won his contest with John Hopkins (Rizla Suzuki GSV-R) for the final place on the podium. “We are happy with how our tires worked,” said Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin’s director of motorcycle racing. “Valentino was very fast in the corners, and even with 15km/h less on the straights he was always right with Stoner, which made it an exciting race. Valentino rode aggressively, we had very good edge grip which remained consistent throughout. This was also the first race with our 16in front and everyone was happy with the tire’s handling and grip. Valentino made a very good tire choice while Dani chose slightly softer rear, a medium tire. This is normal because he puts less stress into the tires but he lost a little in the later stages.” Weber pronounced himself happy with the first MotoGP event to be run under new technical regulations which limit riders to 14 front slicks and 17 rear slicks per weekend. The new rules have a major effect on how riders, teams and tire companies work through practice and qualifying towards the race, placing a greater emphasis on strategy. “The system worked smoothly, and despite the new limitations all our riders got the tires they needed for the race,” Weber added. “But we will have to wait a little longer to see how the system works at other races, especially at tracks where we’ve not tested and where weather conditions are less predictable than they are here.” Rossi was happy enough with second, since he started last season with a 14th place result at Jerez, after being knocked down at the first turn. “My bike was very good in the corners, better than Casey’s, but we lost too much on the straights,” he said. “The pace was very fast, my bike had a very good balance and we made a great tire choice with Michelin.”

Rapp Wins Daytona 200 On Kawasaki And Pirellis

Steve Rapp led a 1-2 finish for Attack Kawasaki and a sweep of the podium by Pirelli in winning the 66th Daytona 200 by Honda AMA Formula Xtreme race Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Rapp’s teammate Ben Attard finished second, while Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes placed third.

Rapp was part of a multi-rider battle at the beginning involving his teammate Attard, Barnes, Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes, American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel, Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo and Celtic Racing’s Chaz Davies.

As Rapp took the lead for the first time on lap 20, behind him Duhamel and Duhamel’s teammate Jake Zemke both suffered mechanical problems at exactly the same instant.

After the first round of pit stops, Rapp returned to the lead, only to relinquish the front spot again during the second round of pit stops to Davies and Attard. Hayes, Duhamel and Barnes also led at early points of the race.

Once Rapp regained the lead in the final stint he never let it go and took his first Daytona 200 victory. In spite of slightly quicker pit stops, Attard could not match his teammate on the track. Barnes fought off Davies in the final laps to hold on to third, the best-ever finish for the Floridian in the spring classic. Davies lost touch with Barnes through lapped traffic but was ecstatic with fourth place in his first Daytona 200.

DiSalvo lost ground when his second pit stop ran long and when his injured shoulder weakened in the late-going. After the other Hondas (including his teammate Aaron Gobert) apparently ran out of fuel, Hayes was forced to shorten his stints and make a costly third pit stop for a splash-and-go. Two laps behind Hayes, visiting Canadian star Pascal Picotte finished seventh on his Blackfoot/Picotte Performance Suzuki GSX-R600. Blown Away Racing’s 17-year-old Josh Day finished eighth on his Yamaha YZF-R6, 11 seconds ahead of Bostjan Pintar, of Slovenia, and Australian privateer David Anthony.

A total of 58 riders started the 68-lap race.

66th Daytona 200 by Honda Lockhart Phillips USA AMA Formula Xtreme Championship Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 10, 2007 Provisional Race Results:

1. Steve Rapp (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, 68 laps 2. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -21.951 seconds 3. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -28.817 seconds 4. Chaz Davies (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -31.725 seconds 5. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -41.935 seconds 6. Josh Hayes (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -59.782 seconds 7. Pascal Picotte (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -2 laps 8. Ryan Elleby (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -3 laps, crash 9. Josh Day (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, 5.489 seconds 10. Bostjan Pintar (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, 17.228 seconds 11. David Anthony (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, 20.936 seconds 12. Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, -3 laps, 23.050 seconds 13. Keith Marshall (Kaw ZX-6R), -3 laps, 44.435 seconds 14. Bostjan Skubic (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, 44.700 seconds 15. Jeff Tigert (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -4 laps 16. David Sadowksi, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), -4 laps, 33.968 seconds 17. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-6R), -4 laps, 48.644 seconds 18. Mark Crozier (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, -4 laps, 56.425 seconds 19. Shane Narbonne (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, -4 laps, 61.678 seconds 20. Michael Murphy (Suz GSX-R600), -4 laps, 73.658 seconds 21. Jean Paul Tache (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps 22. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, 16.049 seconds 23. Robert McLendon (Tri Daytona 675), -5 laps, 26.252 seconds 24. Michael Pearson (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, 52.150 seconds 25. Barrett Long (Duc 749), -5 laps, 57.546 seconds 26. Dean Mizdal (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, 60.642 seconds 27. C.R. Gittere (Suz GSX-R600), -5 laps, 72.562 seconds 28. Santiago Villa (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps 29. Skip Salenius (Suz GSX-R600), -6 laps, 2.289 seconds 30. Larry Pegram (Duc 749/848), -6 laps, 2.739 seconds 31. David McPherson (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, 18.307 seconds 32. John Ashmead (Suz GSX-R600), -6 laps, 28.549 seconds 33. Scotty Van Hawk (Hon CBR600RR), -6 laps, 59.937 seconds 34. Craig Montgomery (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, 65.131 seconds 35. Chad Herrmann (Suz GSX-R600), -6 laps, 86.605 seconds, crash 36. Anthony Fania (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, 92.103 seconds 37. Spencer Stuart (Yam YZF-R6), -7 laps 38. Dirk Sanchez (Suz GSX-R600), -7 laps, 30.984 seconds 39. Mark Schnettler (Yam YZF-R6), -7 laps, 62.774 seconds 40. Matt Layt (Yam YZF-R6), -8 laps 41. Stephen Breckenridge (Tri Daytona 675), -8 laps, 75.205 seconds 42. Scott Ryan (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, -9 laps 43. Eric Pinson (Yam YZF-R6), -9 laps, 102.018 seconds 44. Scott Ackerman (Yam YZF-R6), -9 laps, 114.738 seconds 45. Ryan Andrews (Hon CBR600RR), -11 laps 46. Walt Sipp (Buell XB-RR), -12 laps 47. Will Gruy (Yam YZF-R6), -16 laps 48. Jason Temme (Yam YZF-R6), -17 laps 49. Tony Meiring (Yam YZF-R6), Michelin, -27 laps, DNF, mechanical 50. Dr. Jeffrey Purk, DDS (Yam YZF-R6), -29 laps 51. Tyler McDonald (Yam YZF-R6), -43 laps 52. Marty Craggill (Duc 749R), -45 laps 53. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -46 laps, DNF, mechanical 54. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -47 laps, DNF, mechanical 55. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -47 laps, 16.388 seconds, DNF, mechanical 56. Eric Wood (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -49 laps, DNF, mechanical

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Rapp Surprise Winner Of The Daytona 200 By Honda

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Steve Rapp scored one of the biggest upset wins in the history of the Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday. The 35-year-old rider from Manhattan Beach, Calif., rode the No.15 Attack Kawasaki ZX-6R to victory over his teammate Ben Attard of Australia.

Floridian Michael Barnes, of Boca Raton, Fla., was third on a Team M4 EMGO Suzuki.

“It’s unbelievable,” said a jubilant Rapp, whose previous best result in the 200 was fifth in 1999. “I backed off so much on the last few laps. I would have never forgiven myself had I run out of gas. On the last lap I was so nervous. I feel like a different person. This is the biggest day of my life.”

Rapp first took the lead on Lap 20, and with the exception of pit sequences, held onto the point for the rest of the 68-lap event and took the checkered flag with a 21.951-second margin of victory.

It marked the first victory for Kawasaki in the prestigious race since 1995 and it’s also the first time a non-factory rider has won the Daytona 200 By Honda since John Ashmead in the 1989 motorcycle classic.

The favored factory Hondas of pole winner and five-time Daytona 200 By Honda winner Miguel Duhamel and last year’s winner Jake Zemke had fuel problems on Lap 21 before the first pit stop.

Josh Hayes, aboard the No. 1 Erion Honda and defending Formula Xtreme champion, also experienced fuel issues and finished sixth.

“It’s one of those things that we have to go back and figure out,” said Honda Road Race Manager Ron Heben. “It’s a big disappointment for us because of Honda’s success in the 200.”

Rounding out the top five were Chaz Davies aboard the Celtic Racing Yamaha and Jason DiSalvo aboard the factory Yamaha.

Daytona 200 Week By Honda has concluded. Ticket information for October’s Fall Cycle Scene, including the 8 Hours At Daytona SunTrust MOTO-ST Series race, are available at www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

More, from a press release issued on behalf of Dunlop:

Final: Dunlop Motorcycle Tires race report: 2007 AMA Superbike Series, round one, Daytona International Speedway

Daytona, Fl. — March 10, 2007 — The opening round of the 2007 AMA Superbike Series concluded at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) today after three days of exciting action in all four classes. On Thursday, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies took his first-ever win at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) on a Superstock-spec GSX-R1000 and Kawasaki Road Racing’s Roger Lee Hayden nabbed his second consecutive Supersport win at DIS on a ZX-6R. After taking a break on Friday for the AMA Supercross Series, Saturday’s exploits saw Spies successfully begin the defense of his 2006 Superbike crown with a convincing win and his first-ever Superbike victory at Daytona. In the Formula Xtreme Daytona 200, unspecified fuel problems sidelined the favored Honda Racing team and opened the door for a victory by Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp.

Superbike Race

In Superbike action, Spies put his Dunlop N-Tec™ shod Suzuki GSX-R1000 on the pole with a time of 1:37.546 on Thursday. “It’s good,” said Spies. “Just having the number one plate and coming back to the first race, and I didn’t get pole here last year, I got it this year. We’re hoping to prove that we’re not just there for a season.” Saturday’s race started in dramatic fashion as Factory Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom raced to the front while Kawasaki Road Racing’s Jamie Hacking went down in the International Horseshoe, taking Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Aaron Yates with him. Spies’ teammate, six-time Superbike champ Mat Mladin, slotted into second and Spies settled into third. Mladin took the lead on lap three but low-sided two laps later, leaving Spies with the lead after his overtaking move on Bostrom earlier. Honda Racing’s Miguel Duhamel, who started fourth, worked his way into second on lap seven and, though he pursued Spies for the remainder of the race, Spies managed his lead effectively and took the win by 3.021 seconds. Duhamel was second and his teammate Jake Zemke took third. “I just got out there and saw I got about a second and a half, and tried to go as fast as I could with keeping that gap and saving the tire,” said Spies of his 12th career Superbike win and Suzuki’s fourth in a row at DIS. “The race played out as good as it could, I just tried to stay out of all the trouble.” Dunlop dominated the top-10 finishing positions with nine overall, including the first four.

Superbike Results: Dunlop finishers in the Top 10

1. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 2. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 3. Jake Zemke (Honda) 4. Akira Yanagawa (Kawasaki)

6. Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha) 7. Jake Holden (Suzuki) 8. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 9. James Ellison (Honda) 10. Mat Mladin (Suzuki)

Formula Xtreme Race (Daytona 200)

Honda Racing’s Miguel Duhamel won the Daytona 200 pole position on his CBR600RR Thursday with a climactic last-minute performance that resulted in a time of 1:41.095. “I went out there and just put a good lap, the CBR600RR was awesome,” said Duhamel. “We came over with a new setup for that last little qualifier there, and it obviously worked pretty good.” Lining up on the grid for Saturday’s race, Dunlop riders filled the front row. Alongside Duhamel were Factory Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo, Erion Racing Honda’s Josh Hayes (the 2006 class champion) and Honda Racing’s Zemke. Dunlop riders took seven of the top 10 qualifying slots as Celtic Racing Yamaha’s Chaz Davies was sixth, Pegram Racing Ducati’s Larry Pegram was seventh and Erion Racing Honda’s Aaron Gobert was eighth. The race unfolded with an exciting battle between the top qualifiers. Running at the front of the pack were Duhamel and Hayes when, on lap 21, their Hondas (along with those of teammates Zemke and Gobert) suffered fuel problems. With only Hayes able to continue, the lead went to Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp, who was running with the leaders at the time on his ZX-6R. In his effort to rejoin the leaders, Hayes ran the fastest lap of the race on his Dunlop N-Tec tire””a 1:42.201 on lap 36″”but Rapp ran a well-paced race and would go on to win by a margin of 21.951 seconds over teammate Ben Attard, giving Kawasaki its first Daytona victory since 1995. M4 Emgo Suzuki’s Michael Barnes was third.

Formula Xtreme Results: Dunlop finishers in the Top 10

4. Chaz Davies (Yamaha) 5. Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha) 6. Josh Hayes (Honda)

8. Ryan Elleby (Honda) 9. Bostjan Pintar (Yamaha)

Next stop for Dunlop and the 2007 AMA Superbike road racing tour is Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama, April 20-22. Round two features a doubleheader for the Superbike series.

About Dunlop Tires

Dunlop Tires is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. With North American operations headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Dunlop has been making and selling high-quality tires in the U.S. since 1923. For more information, please visit www.dunlopmotorcycle.com.

With Two Laps To Go, Steve Rapp Leads Attard, Barnes in Daytona 200

1. Steve Rapp, Kawasaki, Pirelli, 66 laps 2. Ben Attard, Kawasaki, Pirelli 3. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, Pirelli 4. Chaz Davies, Yamaha, Dunlop 5. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, Dunlop

Rapp Leads Daytona 200 At Halfway

Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp is leading the Daytona 200 just past the halfway point, aboard a ZX-6R on Pirelli tires. Halfway: 1. Steve Rapp, Kawasaki, Pirelli, 35 laps 2. Chaz Davies, Yamaha, Dunlop, -10.481 seconds 3. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, Dunlop, -10.613 4. Ben Attard, Kawasaki, Pirelli, -14.458 5. Josh Hayes, Honda, Dunlop, -18.002 6. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, Pirelli, -18.089 Miguel Duhamel, Jake Zemke and Aaron Gobert are all out of the race, Duhamel and Zemke either running out of gas or suffering fuel pump problems before their first stops. All the factory Hondas were having problems with fuel pumps in practice.

Updated: Spies Wins Incident-filled AMA Superbike Race At Daytona

AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 10, 2007 Provisional Race Results: 1. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 15 laps 2. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -3.021 seconds 3. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -12.637 seconds 4. Akira Yanagawa (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, -24.000 seconds 5. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, -30.595 seconds 6. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, -37.453 seconds 7. Jake Holden (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -42.581 seconds, chunked tire 8. Tommy Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -43.733 seconds 9. James Ellison (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -46.397 seconds 10. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -46.580 seconds, crash 11. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -53.935 seconds, crash 12. Martin Cardenas (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, -62.399 seconds 13. Tristan Palmer (Suz GSX-R1000), -62.505 seconds 14. Doug Chandler (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -63.684 seconds 15. Scott Jensen (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, -64.455 seconds 16. John Haner (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -85.675 seconds 17. David Weber (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -94.257 seconds 18. Kurtis Roberts (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, -94.269 seconds 19. Dominic Jones (Suz GSX-R1000), -99.141 seconds 20. Dean Mizdal (Suz GSX-R1000), -99.801 seconds 21. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, -1 lap, pitted, chunked tire 22. Matt Lynn (MV Agusta F4-1000R), Dunlop, -2 laps, pitted, chunked tire 23. Luca Scassa (MV Agusta F4-1000R), Dunlop, -6 laps, DNF, crash 24. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, -11 laps, DNF, crash 25. Santiago Villa (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, -15 laps, DNF, mechanical 26. Jamie Hacking (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, -15 laps, DNF, crash 27. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, DNS Provisional AMA Superbike Points 1. Spies, 38 2. Duhamel, 32 3. Zemke, 29 4. Yanagawa, 27 5. May, 26 6. DiSalvo, 25 7. Holden, 24 8. T. Hayden, 23 9. Ellison, 22 10. Mladin, 21 11. Yates, 20 12. Cardenas, 19 13. Palmer, 18 14. Chandler, 17 15. Jensen, 16 16. Haner, 15 17. Weber, 14 18. Roberts, 13 19. Jones, 12 20. Mizdal, 11 21. Bostrom, 10 22. Lynn, 9 23. Scassa, 8 More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Ben Spies Takes AMA Superbike Opening Round At DIS DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies continued his winning trend at Daytona International Speedway this weekend capturing the AMA Superbike Opening Round on Sunday. On Thursday, Spies earned his first Daytona victory when he captured the 13-lap Superstock event. “Actually made a big mistake a couple laps in and had to find my way back,” Spies said. “We got back up front and charged and got right on the back of Mat (Mladin), then he made a mistake. We got out and I got a second and a half lead and just kind of saved the tire and brought it home. To do the double here that’s nice” Spies will take home the maximum amount of championship points with the Daytona Superbike victory, most laps led and the pole position as he attempts to defend his AMA Superbike title. Rounding out the podium was a pair of Hondas. Miguel Duhamel took second with Jake Zemke coming home in third. “The bike felt good right through testing,” Duhamel said. “Even here I knew I had a good bike. I just wanted to go out there and prove it. Talk is cheap. We’re going to be there all year. I really want to go out there and make a statement that we aren’t just showing up to fill the grid we’re here to win this championship.” The wild 15-lap race included several top factory riders going off track including Jamie Hacking, Aaron Yates, Roger Lee Hayden and Mladin. Daytona 200 Week By Honda concludes with the Daytona 200 By Honda later Saturday afternoon. More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki: Yoshimura Suzuki’s Spies Wins Daytona Superbike Race, Hayden & Mladin Rally after Mishaps with Top-10 Finishes Round 1 AMA Superbike Series Daytona Beach, FL Daytona International Speedway March 8-10, 2007 Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies started the 2007 AMA Superbike year with a bang by winning the AMA Superbike race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday afternoon. This victory is the defending AMA Superbike Champion’s 12th AMA Superbike career victory and it’s Suzuki’s 11th Daytona AMA Superbike win. Teammates Tommy Hayden and Mat Mladin both had troubles but made impressive recoveries and finished in eighth and 10th positions, respectively. “Winning at Daytona was a great way to start out the season,” said Spies of his first-ever Daytona Superbike victory. “It’s nice to show up with the number-one plate and get the pole position, lead the most laps and win the race.” As he mentioned, Spies picked up the pole position by posting a fastest lap time of 1:37.546. Overall, this is Spies’ eighth career pole. Teammate Mladin was hot on his heels with a lap time of 1:37.581, while Hayden followed up with a 1:38.931. In Saturday’s 15-lap AMA Superbike race, Spies got a good start and was running up front with teammate Mladin. The duo swapped spots a few times and then Spies took over the lead. The 22-year-old Texan went on to create a gap and take the win. “It was a good race,” said Spies. “We got off to a pretty good start”¦ and the race played out as good as it could. Everybody knows that Daytona is a place where you can lose a lot of points quick and you can’t win the championship here. We made good progress with the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 here. The team did great, the bike was awesome. I had to ride hard, but the bike’s working good. We just did what we could and tried to stay consistent.” Yoshimura Suzuki’s Hayden also got a good start but had an off-road excursion when riders in front of him crashed and forced him into the grass. But the two-time AMA Supersport Champion remounted, put his head down and reeled in as many competitors as possible for an eighth-place finish. “I was on the outside when two riders tangled up and forced me off the track,” said Hayden. “I got back on the track in about 23rd and it was an uphill battle from there. I tried to get as many spots as I could and salvage as many points as possible. It was a little frustrating but we got enough points to start the season out pretty good. The Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 felt good, I just need to work on qualifying a little better and get on the front row and away from that mess in the back.” Similarly, six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mladin got a good start on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and had taken the lead when, unfortunately, he went down. In true championship-winning form, however, he recovered and finished in 10th position. “We just didn’t get it done today,” said Mladin. “It’s a little disappointing but this is only the first race and it’s a long season. The Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 was working good and I just tried to pick up as many points as I could.” Yoshimura Suzuki will return for round two of the AMA Superbike Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.., the weekend of April 20 – 22, 2007. Ben Spies, Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, #1 1st Place AMA Superbike at Daytona 1st Place — Overall Championship Standings Mat Mladin, Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, #66 10th Place AMA Superbike at Daytona 10th Place Overall Championship Standings Tommy Hayden, Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, #22 8th Place AMA Superbike at Daytona 8th Place — Overall Championship Standings AMA Superbike Top 10 Finishers: 1. Ben Spies, Yoshimura Suzuki 2. Miguel Duhamel, Honda 3. Jake Zemke, Honda 4. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki 5. Geoff May, M4 EMGO Suzuki 6. Jason Disalvo, Yamaha 7. Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki 8. Tommy Hayden, Yoshimura Suzuki 9. James Ellison, Honda 10. Mat Mladin, Yoshimura Suzuki More, from a corrected press release issued by Honda: Honda’s Dominate Superbike Podium in Daytona American Honda teammates Miguel Duhamel and Jake Zemke dominated the podium in the opening round of the AMA Superbike Championship with second and third place finishes at Daytona International Speedway. “It was the best start we’ve had in several years,” team manager Ron Heben said, adding that he expects the team to be more competitive after a winter’s development on the Honda CBR1000RR. “We’ve learned an enormous amount about our motorcycle, the electronics and such. Dunlop’s got some great new tires right now. We’re putting the whole package together. The fans are going to like it. I think it’s going to be a great season.” The first of 11 rounds on the American calendar was plagued by attrition. Warm Florida sunshine, combined with the stress of the 31 degree banking, wreaked havoc on tires, specifically fronts. Six-time champion Mat Mladin (Suzuki) lost a piece of his front tire and crashed. The Australian re-mounted and was running in eighth on the final lap when he had to slow drastically, allowing two riders to pass. Eric Bostrom (Yamaha) was forced into the pits to change a failed front tire. And a number of front-runners crashed, many in front of Zemke. “I saw every incident,” Zemke said with a laugh. There was a two rider crash on lap one and another crash in the first turn on the fifth lap. Zemke was behind Mladin when he fell. “It was a bit greasy out there today. It seemed like there was a bit less grip than there’s been all week. I don’t know if it was from the fog overnight or what, but it definitely didn’t seem like we – I didn’t have grip all week, but it seemed like nobody else had grip during that race.” Duhamel was in the top three on the second lap and moved into second on lap seven of 15. From there he continued to give chase to the race leader, Suzuki’s Ben Spies, but wasn’t able to close the gap. Spies, the defending series champion, won by 3.022 seconds. Zemke didn’t start as quickly. Having qualified in 11th place, it took the Californian a few laps to join the leaders. It was on the 12th of 15 laps that he passed Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom for third, where he’d finish. Miguel Duhamel, 2nd Place “I just wanted to get a really good start, and just be up there. I didn’t want to let these guys go. I was a little worried when I saw Eric (Bostrom) started pulling away quite a bit. Then Mat (Mladin) and Ben (Spies) was there, and I’m like, “Man, these guys aren’t too worried about this, are they?” But then we reeled him in back pretty quick. It was good racing up there, for sure. I think I had the pace, and I was trying to do the best I can. It’s just great to be up there. Obviously we’re here to win, and we came up one short of it, but I’m really proud of the team. It just shows how hard these guys have been working and sweating. Big thanks to them. It was definitely a team effort. And I think we will get faster. This is just one of the ways that we evolve the bike, with the Öhlins suspension, and all the work that we’re putting together. So I’m excited. We’re not going to slower from here. We’re going to be going faster. So I’m very pleased about that.” Jake Zemke, 3rd Place” We just couldn’t ever go any quicker throughout the race, in practice or anything. Even with softer tires in qualifying, the speeds were the same. I just was at a wall in my lap times, it seemed like, and we couldn’t get any better. But the race is always different than qualifying, that’s what’s great. I’d be a much better racer than a qualifier any day of the week, and that’s the way it worked out. Luckily, a lot of guys made it a lot easier for us. It felt like we had a pretty decent pace in the beginning of the race. After the first wreck, I got kind of blocked up, and these guys were trying to split up front. I was slowly making some ground on them, and I was just getting up to Rog (Hayden), and then he highsided right in front of me for the second year in a row, and I had to kind of hold up and wait for him, because where he highsided at, coming out of Turn One, he was sliding straight down the middle of the racetrack and I had nowhere to go. So I had to wait for him to slide out of the way first. Once he did, these guys and Eric (Bostrom) were already gone. And it’s funny. I didn’t even know I was in third place until I saw Eric coming out of the pits. I was like, “I think Eric was in front of me. Hmmm. That’s interesting.” And I looked up and I just saw those two guys in front of me, and I’m like, “Wow, I’m in third place. This is a nice little gift everybody gave me today.” Ron Heben, Team Manager ” Miguel last year got us a third on the box and through the course of the week and practice we thought we were moving forward and getting closer to the front. And obviously in qualifying, we didn’t qualify where we wanted to. We made some more changes. Guys were comfortable with the bike in the this morning’s practice. Same thing, the guys got to put themselves in the front of the pack and get in there and mix it up with those guys. For Miguel, we’re really, really pleased. Jake didn’t have his best day but he was in the right place at the right time. We’re really happy moving into the second round in second and third. ” Superbike: 1. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 2. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 3. Jake Zemke (Honda) 4. Akira Yanagawa (Kawasaki) 5. Geoff May (Suzuki) 6. Jason Disalvo (Yamaha) 7. Jake Holden (Suzuki) 8. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 9. James Ellison (Honda) 10. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) Championship Standings: 1. Ben Spies (38) 2. Miguel Duhamel (32) 3. Jake Zemke (29) 4. Akira Yanagawa (27) 5. Geoff May (26) 6. Jason Disalvo (25) 7. Jake Holden (24) 8. Tommy Hayden (23) 9. James Ellison (22) 10. Mat Mladin (21)

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