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Team Yamaha YZF Previews The Australian Round Of The Superbike World Championship

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The development goes on After Shinichi Nakatomi earned his first points in Qatar last weekend, the Team YZF Yamaha continues in Phillip Island to develop the R1. For the second race of the year, the goal in to make the motorcycle better and better. The 2007 Yamaha R1 has excellent possibilities the team is working on. Shinichi Nakatomi: “I like the Phillip Island circuit. I have a good feeling with the bike, with the help of the Kayaba suspensions. We did little testing over the winter (two days at Valencia) and we progress step by step. I hope here to have my best result of the season so far and to earn some more points.” Martial Garcia: “We are satisfied with the chassis and we keep on working on this brand new engine of which we start the development. The motorcycle is well born and the chassis is very promising. There is a great evolution on this bike compared to last year. We are very happy to work with the Kayaba people for the suspension and Harry for the date recording.” 1999 record to be beaten? Troy Corser has been the fastest man on the race distance since 1999, with 34.24’167 for the 22 laps. That day he finished first, only 0.005 seconds in front of his factory team mate Carl Fogarty. To compare the times, Corser won the race 1 last year in 34:33.545 and Bayliss the race 2 in 34:33.803. Phillip Island Back in the twenties, the roads around Philip Island were very popular with local speed freaks. In 1928, the first Australian car Grand Prix was held at the Island on a 6.5 miles/10.4585 km course. 1931 was the year motorcycles first raced at the Island, for an event that was a lot like the Isle of Man TT on a 12 mile/19.308 km course. The permanent racing facility was opened in 1956. Philip Island is a varied and demanding 4.445 kms with everything from hairpins (minimum radius 23 m) to fast turns (maximum radius 207 m). Right-hand turns are scarce with only two such corners, Honda and Turn 10. In the fastest of left-handers, like turn 12 (the last turn before the start/finish straight), tyre temperatures go above normal. Standard running temperature for a rear slick is between 80 and 110°C but at Phillip Island, they often go beyond 130°C. January 13, 14 & 15 tests: 1-Bayliss (Ducati) 1:30.7; 2-Lanzi (Ducati) 1:31.2; 3-Toseland (Honda) 1:31.7; 4-Corser (Yamaha) 1:32.2; 5-Laconi (Kawasaki) 1:32.2; 6-Kagayama (Suzuki) 1:32.3; 7-Nieto (Kawasaki) 1:32.3; 8-Biaggi (Suzuki) 1:32.4; 9-Haga (Yamaha) 1:32.8; 10-Rolfo (Honda) 1:33.2 World Championship standings: 1-Toseland (Honda) and Biaggi (Suzuki) 45 points, 3-Lanzi (Ducati) 25, 4-Corser (Yamaha) and Kagayama (Suzuki) 23… 15-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 4 Phillip Island stats Practice record (2006): 1:32.081 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 173.782 kph (second free practice session) Lap record (best race time 2006): 1:32.402 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 173.180 kph 2006 Yamaha Motor France practice times: Nakatomi: 1:35.039 / 24th; Abe: 1:34.269 / 17th, Gimbert: 1:34.666 / 21st Race 1 results 2006: 1-Corser (Suzuki), 2-Barros (Honda), 3-Toseland (Honda), 4-Haga (Yamaha), 5-Rolfo (Ducati) 2006 Yamaha Motor France race 1 results: Nakatomi: DNF, Abe: 17th, Gimbert: DNF Race 2 results 2006: 1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Toseland (Honda), 3- Barros (Honda), 4- Haga (Yamaha), 5-Pitt (Yamaha) 2006 Yamaha Motor France race 2 results: Nakatomi: 19th; Abe: 12th, Gimbert: 20th 3rd round of the Superbike World Championship: April 1st at Donington (United Kingdom)

AHRMA Releases Daytona Bike Week Schedule Of Events

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What’ll it be for you? Vintage roadracing on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway? Vintage off-road competition at Hardrock Cycle Park? Barnstorming the Southeast with a caravan of vintage dirt trackers? All that and more is part of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association’s (AHRMA) annual Bike Week experience. For 2007, the action goes from March 2 to March 7, with a full menu of racing. Read on to find out what’s in store. Honoring handshifters… AHRMA will honor handshift motorcycles at Daytona ’07. About 20 Australian handshift machines are expected to attend, and there will be a parade of bikes and national flags during the lunch break on Monday. Overseas riders are encouraged to bring along their nation’s flag. …Vintage Battle of the Twins… On Tuesday, March 5, the men and machines that ushered in the era of twins racing will be honored with parade laps at the lunch break. Reno Leoni, Malcome Tunstall and Will Harding already have committed to participate. …and Great Men too The Great Men program is back, sponsored by Top Oil, Motion Pro and A&A. Dick Mann and other racing legends, including; Jay Springsteen, Gary Nixon, Bobby Hill, Bill Tuman, Jim Filice, Dick Klamforth, Nobby Clark, Tommy McDermott, Ronnie Rall, Jeff Smith, Eddie Mulder, Bob McKeever will be available for autographs, photos and bench racing during the March 3 registration and tech day at Volusia County Fairgrounds, plus the following two days at Daytona International Speedway. Check ahrma.org for more on vintage racing events taking place during Bike Week 2007. Daytona Bike Week Events Schedule Friday, March 2 Cross Country at Hardrock Cycle Park. Gates open 7 a.m.; sign up 7:30 a.m., sighting lap 8:30 a.m., vintage race 9 a.m., post-vintage race 11 a. m. The park is located at the north end of Ocala, Fla. on C-25A, 3/4 mile south off SR326 (Exit 358 from I-75). Call 352-732-6697 for track info. Trials at Hardrock Cycle Park. Sign-up at 10 a.m., start 1 p.m. Saturday, March 3 Vintage and Premier/Classic motocross at Hardrock Cycle Park. Gates open at 7 a.m.; sign-up 7:30 a.m., practice 9 a.m., racing 10 a.m. (See above for directions.) Dirt Track returns to Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, Fla.. Racing on the famed venue that hosts the AMA pros. Gates open at 8 a.m., sign up 9 a.m., practice 11 a.m. From I-95: Take I-95 to 92 West. Continue on 92 West for 2 miles to LPGA Blvd. Make a right on LPGA Blvd. and continue for 2 miles and the stadium is located on right-hand side. Sunday, March 4 Post-Vintage motocross at Hardrock Cycle Park. Gates open at 7 a.m.; sign-up 7:30 a.m., practice 9 a.m., first race 10 a.m.; (See above for directions.) Roadrace registration and tech inspection at Volusia County Fairgrounds, Intersection of I-4 and Route 44. Monday, March 5 Roadracing at Daytona International Speedway. Gates open 6:30 a.m.; practice 8 a.m., racing at noon; Handshifter parade during lunch break. International Speedway Boulevard about a mile east of I-95. Must be out of track both nights by 6 p.m.! Tuesday, March 6 Roadracing at Daytona International Speedway Gates open 7 a.m.; practice at 8 a.m., racing at noon; Vintage BOTT (Battle of the Twins) parade during lunch break. (See above for directions) Wednesday, March 7 Dirt Track on the short track at Volusia Speedway Park (formerly Volusia County Speedway) in Barberville, Fla. Sign up is at 9 a.m., practice at 11a.m. The park is 15 miles west of Daytona Beach on State Route 40. More, from another press release issued by AHRMA: Ducati does Daytona. Italian Valter Bartolini will ride the factory NCR Milona in the Battle of Twins and Sound of Thunder classes at Daytona. The Milona is a hand-built production racer powered by Ducati’s 1000DS engine and weighing in at just 295 pounds. In addition, journalist-racer Nick Ienatsch will be competing in BOT on NCR Ducati “New Blue” 01. Long-time pro Larry Pegram also may race on another Ducati New Blue. The Ducati New Blue celebrates the 1977 Daytona-winning “Old Blue” Ducati 750SS ridden by Cycle magazine editor Cook Neilson. To create New Blue (above), NCR started with a new Ducati Sport 1000S, shaving off 84 pounds and adding 30 horsepower.

Wasserman Media Group To Manage Global Marketing Of MotoGP

Dorna Sports, the exclusive holder of the MotoGP World Championship commercial and television rights, has appointed Wasserman Media Group (WMG) to manage global marketing opportunities for its marquee racing events. Through the agreement, WMG will offer preferred brands an opportunity to partner with MotoGP, the world’s most popular and prestigious motorcycle racing series, for the first time ever. Led by WMG Marketing President, Jeff Knapple, Wasserman Media Group will represent Dorna and its MotoGP proposition to marketers on a global basis. Jeff Slack, Executive Vice President, European Sales will front the efforts in that territory. “For marketers and audiences alike, MotoGP is categorically one of world’s most valuable yet untapped global platforms. It is a privilege to partner with Dorna to strategically identify and align appropriate marketing partners with this unique motorsports experience,” commented Knapple. “We are delighted to reach this special agreement with WMG,” added Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “The popularity of MotoGP is booming in all corners of the globe and we are constantly working to embrace the new commercial opportunities this presents. We are sure that WMG can help us towards this aim and we are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with them in the future.” MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, with events held in four continents every season and 58 years of illustrious history. MotoGP is hugely popular and in 2006 the sport’s global audience figures reached over 5.2 billion. The series will have 18 races, across 15 countries in 2007. Television viewers from more than 200 countries enjoy Grand Prix action every year, with an average of over 304 million viewers per race. The global reach of this exciting sport offers marketers the ability to reach their customer through television broadcasts, on-site signage, on-line, hospitality and promotions. The appeal throughout the world of MotoGP to adults 18-34, provides marketers with a compelling opportunity to reach this elusive demographic in a meaningful way. Dorna Sports has been the exclusive holder of the commercial and television rights relating to the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP) since 1992. About Dorna Dorna Sports was established in 1988 as an international sports management and marketing company. Headquarters are in Madrid, with offices in Barcelona, London and Tokyo and over 150 dedicated staff. Dorna is owned by Bridgepoint Capital and its management. Dorna’s focus involves a 360° event management philosophy with direct involvement in all areas of the MotoGP World Championship: sporting (Relations with the FIM the championship’s rights owners, local promoters, supervision of technical rules and relations with manufacturers and teams), media (TV production, TV coverage rights and all communications issues of the Championship) and commercial (commercial, licensing and corporate hospitality rights). Dorna also has involvement in other top motorcycling events such as the Spanish National Championship (CEV) and the British Superbike Championship (BSB) About Wasserman Media Group Wasserman Media Group, LLC (www.wmgllc.com) is a leading global sports and entertainment company, and its Management, Marketing and Content divisions collectively represent the industries’ most recognized athletes and brands. As the number one sports talent agency in basketball, baseball, soccer and action sports, WMG Management represents over 400 clients throughout the world. Recognized as the foremost naming rights expert, WMG Marketing also handles consulting, endorsement and sponsorship programs for the world’s most prominent sports and entertainment properties and consumer brands. WMG Content creates and distributes digital, televised and live programming for consumers. Within WMG Content is Studio411, the largest and most acclaimed action sports studio, as well as WMG Events, which produces and promotes large-scale live events. Wasserman Media Group is also the holding company for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League. WMG has worldwide offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Washington D.C., Carlsbad and Charlotte.

Young Gun Elena Myers Lands Kawasaki Team Green Deal

KAWASAKI TEAM GREEN SPONSORS TEEN ROADRACING PHENOMENON ELENA MYERS The Sky is the Limit for this Model Student Most 13-year-old girls spend their non-school hours talking about clothes, last weekend, and yes, boys. And while most are committed to educational pursuits, it’s rare to find someone””boy or girl””who is disappointed with a 3.85 GPA, especially since the less-than-perfect average is the result of a “B” in PE. Now, combine this academic excellence with the ability to tilt a motorcycle into a 120mph race track corner, and the resulting profile is that of Elena Myers, a Discovery Bay, Calif. teen who is making noise on the amateur roadracing circuit. The Kawasaki Team Green™ student-racer has a new pair of Kawasaki Ninja® 650R sportbikes tucked into her garage, but they don’t spend much time there. Elena is a regular competitor and past winner in the WERA West roadracing series, where she’ll be racing the Formula Two and Lightweight Superbike classes. She’ll also be racing her Ninja 650Rs in AFM 650 Twins and Formula Four competition during the 2007 season. When she’s not racing, Elena enjoys listening to music, riding her Supermoto bike and hanging out with friends. Elena rode her first minibike in 2002 at age seven. After learning to ride on dirt with her family, she moved into asphalt racing on a pocket bike. Elena showed tremendous promise as a new rider and quickly started concentrating on her roadracing skills. After joining a mini roadrace club, Elena began roadracing a specially modified 85cc dirtbike. In 2004, Elena won an endurance race, three club racing championships, and became the youngest female roadracer in U.S. history to win an 80cc Expert roadracing title. Elena received a 125cc grand prix racing motorcycle for the 2005 season and started attending track days at full-size race tracks. After a bit of practice, she journeyed to Portland International Raceway in Oregon to try out for her OMRRA roadracing license. That weekend at age 11, Elena won her first 125cc roadrace against adult experts and became the club’s youngest ever expert license holder. Elena continued to focus on 125cc roadracing in 2006, catching the attention of the www.roadracingworld.com “Kids Don’t Smoke!” program and several Kawasaki staff members, along with training at a few Supermoto races and traveling to various racetracks throughout the United States. The www.roadracingworld.com ‘Kids Don’t Smoke!’ program was founded in 1996 with racer Chris Ulrich. It was Elena’s association with Kids Don’t Smoke, along with her stellar on-track performance and winning attitude that resulted in the official support offer from Kawasaki Team Green. “It’s so awesome to be able to work with Kawasaki Team Green. They have brought up so many talented riders and it’s really cool to get the same chance that they had!” said Myers. “It feels really special to be given this opportunity at such a young age. Kawasaki is putting a lot of faith in me by doing what they’re doing and I’m ecstatic about being a part of their program! I would like to thank Roadracing World and team “Kid’s Don’t Smoke” racing for helping to put this deal together.” Once she turns 16, Elena will be eligible to compete in AMA Professional roadracing events. If she continues to demonstrate the amazing talent, professionalism and beyond-her-years maturity, Elena can look forward to a successful career as a professional racer. That is of course, if she doesn’t decide to be an Astronaut or President of the United States first. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft and utility vehicles through a network of more than 1,500 independent retailers, with an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 2,400 people in the United States, with 400 of them located at the Irvine, California headquarters. Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.™”, is recognized worldwide and the brand has become synonymous with powerful, stylish motorcycles for over four decades. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of recreational products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.

Zemke And Duhamel In Daytona Website Interview

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“2 Minutes With”¦” Honda’s Jake Zemke, Miguel Duhamel Daytona 200 riders talk prized possessions, television and food DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. In an exclusive interview at Daytona International Speedway, the two most recent Daytona 200 by Honda champions Jake Zemke and Miguel Duhamel have a candid conversation about everything from hotels, to television to magazines. In a special “2 Minutes With “¦” a feature found on http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/kickstandcity, find out what 2006 Daytona 200 Champion Jake Zemke watches on television and where his worst hotel experience took place. Also on the site, find out what five-time Daytona 200 by Honda Champion Miguel Duhamel has prominently displayed in his home and whether he prefers surf or turf. “2 Minutes With “¦” goes behind the scenes each month to reveal information even the most rabid race fanatics might not know. Fans can watch video clips of riders, sports personalities, drivers and VIPs that visit the “World Center of Racing” who sit down with the DIS staff in the special segment. To purchase tickets to the Daytona 200 Week By Honda to see if Duhamel will have something else to prominently display in his home, go online to http://www.racetickets.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Ducati Village Scheduled At Daytona

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DUCATI NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES “30th ANNIVERSARY” DAYTONA EVENT SCHEDULE Cupertino, California – Ducati North America announces an exciting series of events surrounding the 2007 edition of Daytona Bike Week. This year Ducati is making the Daytona experience better than ever, with a four day celebration of the company’s culture and roadracing heritage. From Wednesday, March 7 through Saturday, March 10, Ducati will transform the area located directly beneath Daytona International Speedway’s Nextel Tower Grandstand into “Ducati Village” – featuring Desmo-only parking, hospitality, live TV feeds, the 2007 Ducati model range and a place to meet fellow Ducatisti. On Friday, March 9, the Village will host non-stop entertainment as Ducati.net presents the annual DucatiDayDaytona party (DDD). DDD 2007 will feature favorites such as the Concorso DucatiDayDaytona; the longest running Ducati-only motorcycle concours in North America, a contest for the best sounding Ducati and two rounds of the exciting Fashion Show. This year’s event also marks the 30th Anniversary of Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling’s historic 1977 Daytona Superbike win on a Ducati. To commemorate this occasion, Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling will once again return to the Speedway. On Friday they will attend DDD to meet fans and celebrate their legendary success at Daytona. Another special guest of the festivities is Gianandrea Fabbro, the Senior Designer of the new 1098 Superbike. Gianandrea is making a special trip from Italy to attend DDD on Friday afternoon where fans can learn first hand about the development of the 1098 during a special presentation. Gianandrea will be available at the event for the duration of the day to answer questions, sign autographs and enjoy all that bike week has to offer. Full details of the week’s events, including a complete schedule, can be found at www.ducatidaydaytona.com and www.ducatiusa.com. Founded in 1926 Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in six market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster, Sport Touring, Multistrada and the new SportClassic. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fifteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at www.ducatiusa.com.

In This Girl Vs. Girl Battle At Daytona, We Gotta Put Our Money On Melissa…

High Speed Skills and Sheer Grit

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A weekend of wheel-to-wheel combat, high speed skills and sheer grit awaits race fans when Round 1 of the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series swings into action at Daytona International Speedway, March 3-4.

The kick off event for the famed Daytona 200 Week by Honda, the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series features three classes; The Buell Motorcycle Company SuperSport class (SST) which includes motorcycles producing between 90-118 horsepower, the BMW Grand Sport Twins class (GST) covering motorcycles producing 75-90 horsepower and Sport Twins (ST) for machines under 75 horsepower.

The first race of the season is always truly exciting. It is the one time of the year, when everyone shares the exact same opportunity. No one has any points. Every team is on equal footing. Riders don’t have to worry about catching up, so they can use all their energy to run in front to try grab as many points as possible.

Two riders extremely eager to excel in this first race of the year are Nicole Hoffman of Palm Coast, Fla., co-riding with Robert Fisher for Team RightsforBikers.com and Melissa Berkoff of Washington, D.C., co-riding with Brian Kcraget for Team Speedwerks.com.

In her first year of team racing, Hoffman, who works as manager of interactive marketing at NASCAR, showed fans just how good she and her teammates were by taking top ST honors in the inaugural SunTrust MOTO-ST 8 Hours At Daytona.

“I’m really excited about this upcoming season,” she says with obvious enthusiasm. “Coming off of our ST class win in October is a huge momentum builder for this upcoming weekend. We definitely want to pull off another victory and keep on winning throughout the year.”

Equally as determined is Berkoff who, in 2004, earned the distinction of being the first female to take home a national endurance podium finish, in fact, she actually took home three that year. Currently working as a computer programmer and technician, Berkoff was a prior BMW mechanic and graduated at the top of her class at AMI.

“This is a great new series,” says Berkoff, who also competed in the inaugural race. “I’m really pleased to be part of it and our team is looking forward to a successful season.”

And not only are Hoffman and Berkoff determined to win, but so are a full field of top riders from all over the United States, Europe, Canada and South America. There is no doubt that the action will be fast and furious when the Green Flag signals the start of this highly contested 500 K season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

To date, this year’s SunTrust MOTO-ST Series will include the 500K season opener, March 3-4 at Daytona International Speedway, the Homestead 500K, April 13-14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the VIR 500K, April 27-29 at Virginia International Raceway, the Road America 500K, July 7-8 at Road America, the Iowa Speedway 500K at Iowa Speedway July 12-13, 2007 and the 8 Hours At Daytona Finale, October 19-20 at Daytona International Speedway.

MOTO-ST is organized and sanctioned by Professional Motorsports Productions (PMP) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the Grand American Road Racing Association, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., provides the series with administrative and commercial support. The MOTO-ST advisory board features some of the most respected individuals in the world of motorsports, including Hall of Fame members, respected motorcycle racing journalists and renowned officials from various forms of road racing. Learn more about MOTO-ST at www.moto-st.com.

Tickets to Round 1 of the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series may be purchased at the gate.

More On SPEED Channel’s Planned Coverage Of Bike Week At Daytona

DESPAIN TO LEAD ‘HALL OF FAME’ DAYTONA BIKE WEEK COVERAGE FOR SPEED ‘SPEED CAM’ TO GIVE VIEWERS UNIQUE SUPERCROSS PERSPECTIVE WORLD CHAMPIONS SPENCER, EMIG PART OF TEAM SPEED Dave Despain, inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, will lead nine of the most experienced motorcycle on-air personalities on television, including five members of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, as SPEED rolls into Daytona for its sixth consecutive year of extended coverage from iconic Bike Week, beginning March 8 at 2:30 p.m. ET. Billed as the “World’s Largest Motorcycle Event,” Bike Week is celebrating its 66th Anniversary in 2007 and Despain has been around for a lot of them in one capacity or another, first attending in 1972 as an AMA public relations assistant. “Bike Week completely changed my life,” said Despain, host of Wind Tunnel and Inside Nextel Cup on SPEED. “It was my first opportunity to cover racing on TV, but even if that hadn’t happened, I’d still be there every year. Thirty-five years ago, Bike Week was all about racing. Now, when you say “Bike Week” most people think of the party. That’s cool, but for me it’s still all about the racing “¦ and I’m happy to work for a network that feels the same way.” Despain will host SPEED’s sport bike racing coverage, with Ralph Sheheen providing play-by-play, Hall of Fame world champion and former Daytona 200 winner Freddie Spencer providing analysis and Greg White reporting from the pits. Sheheen also will lead SPEED’s on-air team for coverage of the Daytona Supercross by Honda, with Hall of Fame world champion Jeff Emig providing analysis and Erin Bates reporting from the pits. For the Supercross race, SPEED will add a special “SPEED Cam,” a dedicated hand-held camera riding at race speed on the famed Daytona International Speedway tri-oval apron, taping the Supercross riders as they maneuver through vicious stutter bumps known as “whoops.” “Bike Week in Daytona is every bit as important to two-wheel racers as it is to their four-wheel cousins,” Sheheen said. “The aura of Daytona is just as mesmerizing for motorcycle racers as it is for stock car or sports car competitors. That’s because just about every form of two-wheeled competition takes place during the week somewhere in the Daytona Beach area, and all of the biggest names in motorcycling have won in there respective disciplines. Kenny Roberts, Ricky Carmichael and Chris Carr have all stood on top of the podium during this two-wheeled rite of spring. In fact, our own colleagues at Speed, Freddie Spencer and Jeff Emig have both won at motorcycling’s most prestigious week of racing. Bike Week is just one more reason why they call Daytona “The World Center of Racing.” For the AMA Flat Track events, Larry Maiers, a 2001 inductee into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, will call the play-by-play, with fellow Hall of Famer and legendary motorcycle mechanic Bill Werner providing color and Brian Drebber reporting from the pits. SPEED 2007 Daytona Bike Week broadcast schedule (subject to change): Thursday, March 8 · 2:30 p.m. ET 3.5 hours of coverage, including Daytona 200 qualifying, Supersport and AMA Superstock racing (LIVE) Friday, March 9 · 9:30 p.m. ET Daytona Supercross by Honda race (SDD) Saturday, March 10 · 11 a.m. ET AMA Superbike race presented by Parts Unlimited (LIVE) · 12:30 p.m. ET AMA Grand National Flat Track racing · 1:30 p.m. ET Daytona 200 by Honda race (LIVE) SPEED is the nation’s first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 74 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services.

Apparently There Is More Than Road Racing Happening At Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The International Master Bike Builders Show is back at Daytona International Speedway for Daytona 200 Week By Honda on March 2-10. The International Master Bike Builders Row, which will be located along Lake Lloyd in the specialty vehicle area, will be highlighted by a display of custom choppers from top custom bike builders Donnie Smith, Aaron Greene, Eddie Trotta, Matt Hotch and Jeff Clark. Trotta was the V-Twin Magazine Bike Builder of the Year in 2004 while Hotch and Greene are IMBBA Hall of Fame inductees. Smith, a 1995 inductee to the Sturgis Hall of Fame, will be inducted into the IMBBA Hall of Fame during this year’s Daytona 200 Week By Honda. Clark is a 17-year veteran in NASCAR as an engine specialist working for drivers such as Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. On Thursday, March 8, activities at the International Master Builders Row will begin at 10 a.m. and include watching a bike being built by the Chopper Chick Crew as well as a bike show where participants can have their bikes judged. Bike enthusiasts can enter the day of the show or pre-enter at www.masterbikebuilders.com The International Master Bike Builders Row and Bike Show, which made its debut at DIS last year during Fall Cycle Scene, is free and open to the public with access through the Turn 4 tunnel and will also contain numerous motorcycle vendors, concessions and merchandise. Tickets for any of the Daytona 200 Week By Honda events are available online at ~http://www.racetickets.com~ or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. More, from another press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Daytona 200 Week: The Ultimate Destination For Bikers Kickstand City To Feature Overnight Parking, Demo Rides, Displays And More DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — There will be more things to do at historic Daytona International Speedway than watching the thrilling motorcycle racing on the 2.95-mile road course. “The World Center of Racing” will once again host Kickstand City during Daytona 200 Week By Honda on March 1-10. In addition to offering a wide-variety of overnight parking packages, Daytona International Speedway will offer several must-see activities for any motorcycle enthusiast. · Free demo rides: Outside of historic Daytona International Speedway, motorcycle enthusiasts can test-ride the latest and greatest motorcycles with free manufacturer demo rides. Motorcycle enthusiasts can check out displays and demo rides from manufacturers such as Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph, Buell, Yamaha, BMW, Harley Davidson, Victory, Vespa, Boss Hoss and more. Riders must hold a valid motorcycle driver license and DOT approved helmet in order to participate in the demo rides. Demo rides will run March 3 -9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · International Master Bike Builders Row and Bike Show: The International Master Bike Builders Show returns to Daytona and will run March 2-10. The International Master Bike Builders Row, which will be located along Lake Lloyd in the specialty vehicle area, will be highlighted by a display of custom choppers from top custom bike builders Donnie Smith, Aaron Greene, Eddie Trotta, Matt Hotch and Jeff Clark. On Thursday, March 8, activities at the International Master Builders Row will begin at 10 a.m. and include watching a bike being built by the Chopper Chick Crew as well as a bike show where participants can have their bikes judged. Bike enthusiasts can enter the day of the show or pre-enter at www.masterbikebuilders.com. The International Master Bike Builders Row and Bike Show, which made its debut at DIS last year during Fall Cycle Scene, is free and open to the public with access through the Turn 4 tunnel and will also contain numerous motorcycle vendors, concessions and merchandise. · Daytona Motorcycle Marketplace: Bikers can find the nation’s top aftermarket parts, accessories and apparel companies at the Daytona Motorcycle Marketplace, which will be located in the parking lot of DAYTONA USA · Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone: Cool your pipes with two great names –Budweiser and Daytona International Speedway. Spend the day catching up with old friends at the Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone, located just outside the Speedway’s twin tunnels. Enjoy a cold Budweiser and great food next to the area’s largest vendor, display and demo ride marketplace. · Daytona Experience: On Wednesday, March 7 between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., DIS will host the Daytona Experience. For $30 per participant (rider and/or passenger), the package will include approximately two parade laps around Daytona International Speedway and two complimentary beverage tickets and live entertainment at the After Party in the NEXTEL FANZONE. Portion of proceeds generated from this event will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Daytona. Tickets can be purchased beginning March 2 through March 7 near the Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone in the Fan Walk area. · Specialty Vehicle, Overnight Parking: Specialty vehicles and overnight tent parking are available inside “The World Center of Racing.” Overnight Specialty Vehicle Parking (with electric and water hook-ups) is available for $600 per spot and overnight specialty vehicle parking (no hook-ups) is $400 per spot. Both of those packages come with two 10-day Super Infield admission tickets. Motorcycle trailer parking in the specialty vehicle area and the Orange tent camping area is $25 and overnight tent camping is free with your daily admission ticket. Outside the Speedway, West Lot camping is available for $200 per spot and motorcycling trailer parking is $100. For more information, call 1-800-PITSHOP. · Motorcycle racing: There will be loads of motorcycle racing on the historic high banks of DIS during Daytona 200 Week By Honda. The racing schedule will include amateur and expert races from Championship Cup Series, the American Sportbike Racing Association, Vintage Road Racing, the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series, American Motorcyclist Association, AMA Supercross Series and AMA Dirt Track Series (At Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium). Racing will culminate with the 66th Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday, March 10 and the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Friday night, March 9. · More information on Kickstand City, log on to www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/kickstandcity or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

March 2007

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MotoGP Mutterings: MotoGP Electronics 2007 1000cc Sportbike Shootout, Part One Homebuilt V8 Racebike My IOM Summer Coming Home To Race In America Building An SV500 Overdog Ilmor X3: Target MotoGP Spec Tires In Canada, Good Or Bad? Prepping A Racebike For Next Season The Rookie Papers, Part Three The Impossible Ride MotoGP Mutterings: And The Award Goes To… Cribs: Doug Polen Letters To The Editor Inside Info 10 Years Ago The Little Motorcycle Paddock Personality: Kevin Erion Why Do They Call You That?: Thermosman MotoGP Trivia Numbers Lidz: Chris Vermeulen New Products Kris Turner: My Life As A Red Bull Rookie Jamie Hacking: Hacker! Ask Ed Racing Schools & Track Days Road Racing & School Calendar Guide To Road Racing Organizations The Crash Page MOTO-ST Newsletter ASRA/CCS Newsletter High-Performance Parts & Services Directory Want Ads Advertisers Index And Directory Chris Ulrich: Adventures Of A Racer On The Front Cover: Three 2007 bikes, three riders, one winner. The ZX-10R, CBR1000RR and YZF-R1 at Pahrump. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Team Yamaha YZF Previews The Australian Round Of The Superbike World Championship

The development goes on After Shinichi Nakatomi earned his first points in Qatar last weekend, the Team YZF Yamaha continues in Phillip Island to develop the R1. For the second race of the year, the goal in to make the motorcycle better and better. The 2007 Yamaha R1 has excellent possibilities the team is working on. Shinichi Nakatomi: “I like the Phillip Island circuit. I have a good feeling with the bike, with the help of the Kayaba suspensions. We did little testing over the winter (two days at Valencia) and we progress step by step. I hope here to have my best result of the season so far and to earn some more points.” Martial Garcia: “We are satisfied with the chassis and we keep on working on this brand new engine of which we start the development. The motorcycle is well born and the chassis is very promising. There is a great evolution on this bike compared to last year. We are very happy to work with the Kayaba people for the suspension and Harry for the date recording.” 1999 record to be beaten? Troy Corser has been the fastest man on the race distance since 1999, with 34.24’167 for the 22 laps. That day he finished first, only 0.005 seconds in front of his factory team mate Carl Fogarty. To compare the times, Corser won the race 1 last year in 34:33.545 and Bayliss the race 2 in 34:33.803. Phillip Island Back in the twenties, the roads around Philip Island were very popular with local speed freaks. In 1928, the first Australian car Grand Prix was held at the Island on a 6.5 miles/10.4585 km course. 1931 was the year motorcycles first raced at the Island, for an event that was a lot like the Isle of Man TT on a 12 mile/19.308 km course. The permanent racing facility was opened in 1956. Philip Island is a varied and demanding 4.445 kms with everything from hairpins (minimum radius 23 m) to fast turns (maximum radius 207 m). Right-hand turns are scarce with only two such corners, Honda and Turn 10. In the fastest of left-handers, like turn 12 (the last turn before the start/finish straight), tyre temperatures go above normal. Standard running temperature for a rear slick is between 80 and 110°C but at Phillip Island, they often go beyond 130°C. January 13, 14 & 15 tests: 1-Bayliss (Ducati) 1:30.7; 2-Lanzi (Ducati) 1:31.2; 3-Toseland (Honda) 1:31.7; 4-Corser (Yamaha) 1:32.2; 5-Laconi (Kawasaki) 1:32.2; 6-Kagayama (Suzuki) 1:32.3; 7-Nieto (Kawasaki) 1:32.3; 8-Biaggi (Suzuki) 1:32.4; 9-Haga (Yamaha) 1:32.8; 10-Rolfo (Honda) 1:33.2 World Championship standings: 1-Toseland (Honda) and Biaggi (Suzuki) 45 points, 3-Lanzi (Ducati) 25, 4-Corser (Yamaha) and Kagayama (Suzuki) 23… 15-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 4 Phillip Island stats Practice record (2006): 1:32.081 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 173.782 kph (second free practice session) Lap record (best race time 2006): 1:32.402 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 173.180 kph 2006 Yamaha Motor France practice times: Nakatomi: 1:35.039 / 24th; Abe: 1:34.269 / 17th, Gimbert: 1:34.666 / 21st Race 1 results 2006: 1-Corser (Suzuki), 2-Barros (Honda), 3-Toseland (Honda), 4-Haga (Yamaha), 5-Rolfo (Ducati) 2006 Yamaha Motor France race 1 results: Nakatomi: DNF, Abe: 17th, Gimbert: DNF Race 2 results 2006: 1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Toseland (Honda), 3- Barros (Honda), 4- Haga (Yamaha), 5-Pitt (Yamaha) 2006 Yamaha Motor France race 2 results: Nakatomi: 19th; Abe: 12th, Gimbert: 20th 3rd round of the Superbike World Championship: April 1st at Donington (United Kingdom)

AHRMA Releases Daytona Bike Week Schedule Of Events

What’ll it be for you? Vintage roadracing on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway? Vintage off-road competition at Hardrock Cycle Park? Barnstorming the Southeast with a caravan of vintage dirt trackers? All that and more is part of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association’s (AHRMA) annual Bike Week experience. For 2007, the action goes from March 2 to March 7, with a full menu of racing. Read on to find out what’s in store. Honoring handshifters… AHRMA will honor handshift motorcycles at Daytona ’07. About 20 Australian handshift machines are expected to attend, and there will be a parade of bikes and national flags during the lunch break on Monday. Overseas riders are encouraged to bring along their nation’s flag. …Vintage Battle of the Twins… On Tuesday, March 5, the men and machines that ushered in the era of twins racing will be honored with parade laps at the lunch break. Reno Leoni, Malcome Tunstall and Will Harding already have committed to participate. …and Great Men too The Great Men program is back, sponsored by Top Oil, Motion Pro and A&A. Dick Mann and other racing legends, including; Jay Springsteen, Gary Nixon, Bobby Hill, Bill Tuman, Jim Filice, Dick Klamforth, Nobby Clark, Tommy McDermott, Ronnie Rall, Jeff Smith, Eddie Mulder, Bob McKeever will be available for autographs, photos and bench racing during the March 3 registration and tech day at Volusia County Fairgrounds, plus the following two days at Daytona International Speedway. Check ahrma.org for more on vintage racing events taking place during Bike Week 2007. Daytona Bike Week Events Schedule Friday, March 2 Cross Country at Hardrock Cycle Park. Gates open 7 a.m.; sign up 7:30 a.m., sighting lap 8:30 a.m., vintage race 9 a.m., post-vintage race 11 a. m. The park is located at the north end of Ocala, Fla. on C-25A, 3/4 mile south off SR326 (Exit 358 from I-75). Call 352-732-6697 for track info. Trials at Hardrock Cycle Park. Sign-up at 10 a.m., start 1 p.m. Saturday, March 3 Vintage and Premier/Classic motocross at Hardrock Cycle Park. Gates open at 7 a.m.; sign-up 7:30 a.m., practice 9 a.m., racing 10 a.m. (See above for directions.) Dirt Track returns to Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, Fla.. Racing on the famed venue that hosts the AMA pros. Gates open at 8 a.m., sign up 9 a.m., practice 11 a.m. From I-95: Take I-95 to 92 West. Continue on 92 West for 2 miles to LPGA Blvd. Make a right on LPGA Blvd. and continue for 2 miles and the stadium is located on right-hand side. Sunday, March 4 Post-Vintage motocross at Hardrock Cycle Park. Gates open at 7 a.m.; sign-up 7:30 a.m., practice 9 a.m., first race 10 a.m.; (See above for directions.) Roadrace registration and tech inspection at Volusia County Fairgrounds, Intersection of I-4 and Route 44. Monday, March 5 Roadracing at Daytona International Speedway. Gates open 6:30 a.m.; practice 8 a.m., racing at noon; Handshifter parade during lunch break. International Speedway Boulevard about a mile east of I-95. Must be out of track both nights by 6 p.m.! Tuesday, March 6 Roadracing at Daytona International Speedway Gates open 7 a.m.; practice at 8 a.m., racing at noon; Vintage BOTT (Battle of the Twins) parade during lunch break. (See above for directions) Wednesday, March 7 Dirt Track on the short track at Volusia Speedway Park (formerly Volusia County Speedway) in Barberville, Fla. Sign up is at 9 a.m., practice at 11a.m. The park is 15 miles west of Daytona Beach on State Route 40. More, from another press release issued by AHRMA: Ducati does Daytona. Italian Valter Bartolini will ride the factory NCR Milona in the Battle of Twins and Sound of Thunder classes at Daytona. The Milona is a hand-built production racer powered by Ducati’s 1000DS engine and weighing in at just 295 pounds. In addition, journalist-racer Nick Ienatsch will be competing in BOT on NCR Ducati “New Blue” 01. Long-time pro Larry Pegram also may race on another Ducati New Blue. The Ducati New Blue celebrates the 1977 Daytona-winning “Old Blue” Ducati 750SS ridden by Cycle magazine editor Cook Neilson. To create New Blue (above), NCR started with a new Ducati Sport 1000S, shaving off 84 pounds and adding 30 horsepower.

Wasserman Media Group To Manage Global Marketing Of MotoGP

Dorna Sports, the exclusive holder of the MotoGP World Championship commercial and television rights, has appointed Wasserman Media Group (WMG) to manage global marketing opportunities for its marquee racing events. Through the agreement, WMG will offer preferred brands an opportunity to partner with MotoGP, the world’s most popular and prestigious motorcycle racing series, for the first time ever. Led by WMG Marketing President, Jeff Knapple, Wasserman Media Group will represent Dorna and its MotoGP proposition to marketers on a global basis. Jeff Slack, Executive Vice President, European Sales will front the efforts in that territory. “For marketers and audiences alike, MotoGP is categorically one of world’s most valuable yet untapped global platforms. It is a privilege to partner with Dorna to strategically identify and align appropriate marketing partners with this unique motorsports experience,” commented Knapple. “We are delighted to reach this special agreement with WMG,” added Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “The popularity of MotoGP is booming in all corners of the globe and we are constantly working to embrace the new commercial opportunities this presents. We are sure that WMG can help us towards this aim and we are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with them in the future.” MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, with events held in four continents every season and 58 years of illustrious history. MotoGP is hugely popular and in 2006 the sport’s global audience figures reached over 5.2 billion. The series will have 18 races, across 15 countries in 2007. Television viewers from more than 200 countries enjoy Grand Prix action every year, with an average of over 304 million viewers per race. The global reach of this exciting sport offers marketers the ability to reach their customer through television broadcasts, on-site signage, on-line, hospitality and promotions. The appeal throughout the world of MotoGP to adults 18-34, provides marketers with a compelling opportunity to reach this elusive demographic in a meaningful way. Dorna Sports has been the exclusive holder of the commercial and television rights relating to the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP) since 1992. About Dorna Dorna Sports was established in 1988 as an international sports management and marketing company. Headquarters are in Madrid, with offices in Barcelona, London and Tokyo and over 150 dedicated staff. Dorna is owned by Bridgepoint Capital and its management. Dorna’s focus involves a 360° event management philosophy with direct involvement in all areas of the MotoGP World Championship: sporting (Relations with the FIM the championship’s rights owners, local promoters, supervision of technical rules and relations with manufacturers and teams), media (TV production, TV coverage rights and all communications issues of the Championship) and commercial (commercial, licensing and corporate hospitality rights). Dorna also has involvement in other top motorcycling events such as the Spanish National Championship (CEV) and the British Superbike Championship (BSB) About Wasserman Media Group Wasserman Media Group, LLC (www.wmgllc.com) is a leading global sports and entertainment company, and its Management, Marketing and Content divisions collectively represent the industries’ most recognized athletes and brands. As the number one sports talent agency in basketball, baseball, soccer and action sports, WMG Management represents over 400 clients throughout the world. Recognized as the foremost naming rights expert, WMG Marketing also handles consulting, endorsement and sponsorship programs for the world’s most prominent sports and entertainment properties and consumer brands. WMG Content creates and distributes digital, televised and live programming for consumers. Within WMG Content is Studio411, the largest and most acclaimed action sports studio, as well as WMG Events, which produces and promotes large-scale live events. Wasserman Media Group is also the holding company for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League. WMG has worldwide offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Washington D.C., Carlsbad and Charlotte.

Young Gun Elena Myers Lands Kawasaki Team Green Deal

KAWASAKI TEAM GREEN SPONSORS TEEN ROADRACING PHENOMENON ELENA MYERS The Sky is the Limit for this Model Student Most 13-year-old girls spend their non-school hours talking about clothes, last weekend, and yes, boys. And while most are committed to educational pursuits, it’s rare to find someone””boy or girl””who is disappointed with a 3.85 GPA, especially since the less-than-perfect average is the result of a “B” in PE. Now, combine this academic excellence with the ability to tilt a motorcycle into a 120mph race track corner, and the resulting profile is that of Elena Myers, a Discovery Bay, Calif. teen who is making noise on the amateur roadracing circuit. The Kawasaki Team Green™ student-racer has a new pair of Kawasaki Ninja® 650R sportbikes tucked into her garage, but they don’t spend much time there. Elena is a regular competitor and past winner in the WERA West roadracing series, where she’ll be racing the Formula Two and Lightweight Superbike classes. She’ll also be racing her Ninja 650Rs in AFM 650 Twins and Formula Four competition during the 2007 season. When she’s not racing, Elena enjoys listening to music, riding her Supermoto bike and hanging out with friends. Elena rode her first minibike in 2002 at age seven. After learning to ride on dirt with her family, she moved into asphalt racing on a pocket bike. Elena showed tremendous promise as a new rider and quickly started concentrating on her roadracing skills. After joining a mini roadrace club, Elena began roadracing a specially modified 85cc dirtbike. In 2004, Elena won an endurance race, three club racing championships, and became the youngest female roadracer in U.S. history to win an 80cc Expert roadracing title. Elena received a 125cc grand prix racing motorcycle for the 2005 season and started attending track days at full-size race tracks. After a bit of practice, she journeyed to Portland International Raceway in Oregon to try out for her OMRRA roadracing license. That weekend at age 11, Elena won her first 125cc roadrace against adult experts and became the club’s youngest ever expert license holder. Elena continued to focus on 125cc roadracing in 2006, catching the attention of the www.roadracingworld.com “Kids Don’t Smoke!” program and several Kawasaki staff members, along with training at a few Supermoto races and traveling to various racetracks throughout the United States. The www.roadracingworld.com ‘Kids Don’t Smoke!’ program was founded in 1996 with racer Chris Ulrich. It was Elena’s association with Kids Don’t Smoke, along with her stellar on-track performance and winning attitude that resulted in the official support offer from Kawasaki Team Green. “It’s so awesome to be able to work with Kawasaki Team Green. They have brought up so many talented riders and it’s really cool to get the same chance that they had!” said Myers. “It feels really special to be given this opportunity at such a young age. Kawasaki is putting a lot of faith in me by doing what they’re doing and I’m ecstatic about being a part of their program! I would like to thank Roadracing World and team “Kid’s Don’t Smoke” racing for helping to put this deal together.” Once she turns 16, Elena will be eligible to compete in AMA Professional roadracing events. If she continues to demonstrate the amazing talent, professionalism and beyond-her-years maturity, Elena can look forward to a successful career as a professional racer. That is of course, if she doesn’t decide to be an Astronaut or President of the United States first. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft and utility vehicles through a network of more than 1,500 independent retailers, with an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 2,400 people in the United States, with 400 of them located at the Irvine, California headquarters. Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.™”, is recognized worldwide and the brand has become synonymous with powerful, stylish motorcycles for over four decades. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of recreational products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.

Zemke And Duhamel In Daytona Website Interview

“2 Minutes With”¦” Honda’s Jake Zemke, Miguel Duhamel Daytona 200 riders talk prized possessions, television and food DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. In an exclusive interview at Daytona International Speedway, the two most recent Daytona 200 by Honda champions Jake Zemke and Miguel Duhamel have a candid conversation about everything from hotels, to television to magazines. In a special “2 Minutes With “¦” a feature found on http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/kickstandcity, find out what 2006 Daytona 200 Champion Jake Zemke watches on television and where his worst hotel experience took place. Also on the site, find out what five-time Daytona 200 by Honda Champion Miguel Duhamel has prominently displayed in his home and whether he prefers surf or turf. “2 Minutes With “¦” goes behind the scenes each month to reveal information even the most rabid race fanatics might not know. Fans can watch video clips of riders, sports personalities, drivers and VIPs that visit the “World Center of Racing” who sit down with the DIS staff in the special segment. To purchase tickets to the Daytona 200 Week By Honda to see if Duhamel will have something else to prominently display in his home, go online to http://www.racetickets.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Ducati Village Scheduled At Daytona

DUCATI NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES “30th ANNIVERSARY” DAYTONA EVENT SCHEDULE Cupertino, California – Ducati North America announces an exciting series of events surrounding the 2007 edition of Daytona Bike Week. This year Ducati is making the Daytona experience better than ever, with a four day celebration of the company’s culture and roadracing heritage. From Wednesday, March 7 through Saturday, March 10, Ducati will transform the area located directly beneath Daytona International Speedway’s Nextel Tower Grandstand into “Ducati Village” – featuring Desmo-only parking, hospitality, live TV feeds, the 2007 Ducati model range and a place to meet fellow Ducatisti. On Friday, March 9, the Village will host non-stop entertainment as Ducati.net presents the annual DucatiDayDaytona party (DDD). DDD 2007 will feature favorites such as the Concorso DucatiDayDaytona; the longest running Ducati-only motorcycle concours in North America, a contest for the best sounding Ducati and two rounds of the exciting Fashion Show. This year’s event also marks the 30th Anniversary of Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling’s historic 1977 Daytona Superbike win on a Ducati. To commemorate this occasion, Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling will once again return to the Speedway. On Friday they will attend DDD to meet fans and celebrate their legendary success at Daytona. Another special guest of the festivities is Gianandrea Fabbro, the Senior Designer of the new 1098 Superbike. Gianandrea is making a special trip from Italy to attend DDD on Friday afternoon where fans can learn first hand about the development of the 1098 during a special presentation. Gianandrea will be available at the event for the duration of the day to answer questions, sign autographs and enjoy all that bike week has to offer. Full details of the week’s events, including a complete schedule, can be found at www.ducatidaydaytona.com and www.ducatiusa.com. Founded in 1926 Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in six market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster, Sport Touring, Multistrada and the new SportClassic. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fifteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at www.ducatiusa.com.

In This Girl Vs. Girl Battle At Daytona, We Gotta Put Our Money On Melissa…

High Speed Skills and Sheer Grit

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A weekend of wheel-to-wheel combat, high speed skills and sheer grit awaits race fans when Round 1 of the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series swings into action at Daytona International Speedway, March 3-4.

The kick off event for the famed Daytona 200 Week by Honda, the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series features three classes; The Buell Motorcycle Company SuperSport class (SST) which includes motorcycles producing between 90-118 horsepower, the BMW Grand Sport Twins class (GST) covering motorcycles producing 75-90 horsepower and Sport Twins (ST) for machines under 75 horsepower.

The first race of the season is always truly exciting. It is the one time of the year, when everyone shares the exact same opportunity. No one has any points. Every team is on equal footing. Riders don’t have to worry about catching up, so they can use all their energy to run in front to try grab as many points as possible.

Two riders extremely eager to excel in this first race of the year are Nicole Hoffman of Palm Coast, Fla., co-riding with Robert Fisher for Team RightsforBikers.com and Melissa Berkoff of Washington, D.C., co-riding with Brian Kcraget for Team Speedwerks.com.

In her first year of team racing, Hoffman, who works as manager of interactive marketing at NASCAR, showed fans just how good she and her teammates were by taking top ST honors in the inaugural SunTrust MOTO-ST 8 Hours At Daytona.

“I’m really excited about this upcoming season,” she says with obvious enthusiasm. “Coming off of our ST class win in October is a huge momentum builder for this upcoming weekend. We definitely want to pull off another victory and keep on winning throughout the year.”

Equally as determined is Berkoff who, in 2004, earned the distinction of being the first female to take home a national endurance podium finish, in fact, she actually took home three that year. Currently working as a computer programmer and technician, Berkoff was a prior BMW mechanic and graduated at the top of her class at AMI.

“This is a great new series,” says Berkoff, who also competed in the inaugural race. “I’m really pleased to be part of it and our team is looking forward to a successful season.”

And not only are Hoffman and Berkoff determined to win, but so are a full field of top riders from all over the United States, Europe, Canada and South America. There is no doubt that the action will be fast and furious when the Green Flag signals the start of this highly contested 500 K season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

To date, this year’s SunTrust MOTO-ST Series will include the 500K season opener, March 3-4 at Daytona International Speedway, the Homestead 500K, April 13-14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the VIR 500K, April 27-29 at Virginia International Raceway, the Road America 500K, July 7-8 at Road America, the Iowa Speedway 500K at Iowa Speedway July 12-13, 2007 and the 8 Hours At Daytona Finale, October 19-20 at Daytona International Speedway.

MOTO-ST is organized and sanctioned by Professional Motorsports Productions (PMP) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the Grand American Road Racing Association, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., provides the series with administrative and commercial support. The MOTO-ST advisory board features some of the most respected individuals in the world of motorsports, including Hall of Fame members, respected motorcycle racing journalists and renowned officials from various forms of road racing. Learn more about MOTO-ST at www.moto-st.com.

Tickets to Round 1 of the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series may be purchased at the gate.

More On SPEED Channel’s Planned Coverage Of Bike Week At Daytona

DESPAIN TO LEAD ‘HALL OF FAME’ DAYTONA BIKE WEEK COVERAGE FOR SPEED ‘SPEED CAM’ TO GIVE VIEWERS UNIQUE SUPERCROSS PERSPECTIVE WORLD CHAMPIONS SPENCER, EMIG PART OF TEAM SPEED Dave Despain, inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, will lead nine of the most experienced motorcycle on-air personalities on television, including five members of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, as SPEED rolls into Daytona for its sixth consecutive year of extended coverage from iconic Bike Week, beginning March 8 at 2:30 p.m. ET. Billed as the “World’s Largest Motorcycle Event,” Bike Week is celebrating its 66th Anniversary in 2007 and Despain has been around for a lot of them in one capacity or another, first attending in 1972 as an AMA public relations assistant. “Bike Week completely changed my life,” said Despain, host of Wind Tunnel and Inside Nextel Cup on SPEED. “It was my first opportunity to cover racing on TV, but even if that hadn’t happened, I’d still be there every year. Thirty-five years ago, Bike Week was all about racing. Now, when you say “Bike Week” most people think of the party. That’s cool, but for me it’s still all about the racing “¦ and I’m happy to work for a network that feels the same way.” Despain will host SPEED’s sport bike racing coverage, with Ralph Sheheen providing play-by-play, Hall of Fame world champion and former Daytona 200 winner Freddie Spencer providing analysis and Greg White reporting from the pits. Sheheen also will lead SPEED’s on-air team for coverage of the Daytona Supercross by Honda, with Hall of Fame world champion Jeff Emig providing analysis and Erin Bates reporting from the pits. For the Supercross race, SPEED will add a special “SPEED Cam,” a dedicated hand-held camera riding at race speed on the famed Daytona International Speedway tri-oval apron, taping the Supercross riders as they maneuver through vicious stutter bumps known as “whoops.” “Bike Week in Daytona is every bit as important to two-wheel racers as it is to their four-wheel cousins,” Sheheen said. “The aura of Daytona is just as mesmerizing for motorcycle racers as it is for stock car or sports car competitors. That’s because just about every form of two-wheeled competition takes place during the week somewhere in the Daytona Beach area, and all of the biggest names in motorcycling have won in there respective disciplines. Kenny Roberts, Ricky Carmichael and Chris Carr have all stood on top of the podium during this two-wheeled rite of spring. In fact, our own colleagues at Speed, Freddie Spencer and Jeff Emig have both won at motorcycling’s most prestigious week of racing. Bike Week is just one more reason why they call Daytona “The World Center of Racing.” For the AMA Flat Track events, Larry Maiers, a 2001 inductee into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, will call the play-by-play, with fellow Hall of Famer and legendary motorcycle mechanic Bill Werner providing color and Brian Drebber reporting from the pits. SPEED 2007 Daytona Bike Week broadcast schedule (subject to change): Thursday, March 8 · 2:30 p.m. ET 3.5 hours of coverage, including Daytona 200 qualifying, Supersport and AMA Superstock racing (LIVE) Friday, March 9 · 9:30 p.m. ET Daytona Supercross by Honda race (SDD) Saturday, March 10 · 11 a.m. ET AMA Superbike race presented by Parts Unlimited (LIVE) · 12:30 p.m. ET AMA Grand National Flat Track racing · 1:30 p.m. ET Daytona 200 by Honda race (LIVE) SPEED is the nation’s first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 74 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services.

Apparently There Is More Than Road Racing Happening At Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The International Master Bike Builders Show is back at Daytona International Speedway for Daytona 200 Week By Honda on March 2-10. The International Master Bike Builders Row, which will be located along Lake Lloyd in the specialty vehicle area, will be highlighted by a display of custom choppers from top custom bike builders Donnie Smith, Aaron Greene, Eddie Trotta, Matt Hotch and Jeff Clark. Trotta was the V-Twin Magazine Bike Builder of the Year in 2004 while Hotch and Greene are IMBBA Hall of Fame inductees. Smith, a 1995 inductee to the Sturgis Hall of Fame, will be inducted into the IMBBA Hall of Fame during this year’s Daytona 200 Week By Honda. Clark is a 17-year veteran in NASCAR as an engine specialist working for drivers such as Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. On Thursday, March 8, activities at the International Master Builders Row will begin at 10 a.m. and include watching a bike being built by the Chopper Chick Crew as well as a bike show where participants can have their bikes judged. Bike enthusiasts can enter the day of the show or pre-enter at www.masterbikebuilders.com The International Master Bike Builders Row and Bike Show, which made its debut at DIS last year during Fall Cycle Scene, is free and open to the public with access through the Turn 4 tunnel and will also contain numerous motorcycle vendors, concessions and merchandise. Tickets for any of the Daytona 200 Week By Honda events are available online at ~http://www.racetickets.com~ or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. More, from another press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Daytona 200 Week: The Ultimate Destination For Bikers Kickstand City To Feature Overnight Parking, Demo Rides, Displays And More DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — There will be more things to do at historic Daytona International Speedway than watching the thrilling motorcycle racing on the 2.95-mile road course. “The World Center of Racing” will once again host Kickstand City during Daytona 200 Week By Honda on March 1-10. In addition to offering a wide-variety of overnight parking packages, Daytona International Speedway will offer several must-see activities for any motorcycle enthusiast. · Free demo rides: Outside of historic Daytona International Speedway, motorcycle enthusiasts can test-ride the latest and greatest motorcycles with free manufacturer demo rides. Motorcycle enthusiasts can check out displays and demo rides from manufacturers such as Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph, Buell, Yamaha, BMW, Harley Davidson, Victory, Vespa, Boss Hoss and more. Riders must hold a valid motorcycle driver license and DOT approved helmet in order to participate in the demo rides. Demo rides will run March 3 -9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · International Master Bike Builders Row and Bike Show: The International Master Bike Builders Show returns to Daytona and will run March 2-10. The International Master Bike Builders Row, which will be located along Lake Lloyd in the specialty vehicle area, will be highlighted by a display of custom choppers from top custom bike builders Donnie Smith, Aaron Greene, Eddie Trotta, Matt Hotch and Jeff Clark. On Thursday, March 8, activities at the International Master Builders Row will begin at 10 a.m. and include watching a bike being built by the Chopper Chick Crew as well as a bike show where participants can have their bikes judged. Bike enthusiasts can enter the day of the show or pre-enter at www.masterbikebuilders.com. The International Master Bike Builders Row and Bike Show, which made its debut at DIS last year during Fall Cycle Scene, is free and open to the public with access through the Turn 4 tunnel and will also contain numerous motorcycle vendors, concessions and merchandise. · Daytona Motorcycle Marketplace: Bikers can find the nation’s top aftermarket parts, accessories and apparel companies at the Daytona Motorcycle Marketplace, which will be located in the parking lot of DAYTONA USA · Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone: Cool your pipes with two great names –Budweiser and Daytona International Speedway. Spend the day catching up with old friends at the Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone, located just outside the Speedway’s twin tunnels. Enjoy a cold Budweiser and great food next to the area’s largest vendor, display and demo ride marketplace. · Daytona Experience: On Wednesday, March 7 between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., DIS will host the Daytona Experience. For $30 per participant (rider and/or passenger), the package will include approximately two parade laps around Daytona International Speedway and two complimentary beverage tickets and live entertainment at the After Party in the NEXTEL FANZONE. Portion of proceeds generated from this event will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Daytona. Tickets can be purchased beginning March 2 through March 7 near the Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone in the Fan Walk area. · Specialty Vehicle, Overnight Parking: Specialty vehicles and overnight tent parking are available inside “The World Center of Racing.” Overnight Specialty Vehicle Parking (with electric and water hook-ups) is available for $600 per spot and overnight specialty vehicle parking (no hook-ups) is $400 per spot. Both of those packages come with two 10-day Super Infield admission tickets. Motorcycle trailer parking in the specialty vehicle area and the Orange tent camping area is $25 and overnight tent camping is free with your daily admission ticket. Outside the Speedway, West Lot camping is available for $200 per spot and motorcycling trailer parking is $100. For more information, call 1-800-PITSHOP. · Motorcycle racing: There will be loads of motorcycle racing on the historic high banks of DIS during Daytona 200 Week By Honda. The racing schedule will include amateur and expert races from Championship Cup Series, the American Sportbike Racing Association, Vintage Road Racing, the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series, American Motorcyclist Association, AMA Supercross Series and AMA Dirt Track Series (At Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium). Racing will culminate with the 66th Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday, March 10 and the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Friday night, March 9. · More information on Kickstand City, log on to www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/kickstandcity or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

March 2007

MotoGP Mutterings: MotoGP Electronics 2007 1000cc Sportbike Shootout, Part One Homebuilt V8 Racebike My IOM Summer Coming Home To Race In America Building An SV500 Overdog Ilmor X3: Target MotoGP Spec Tires In Canada, Good Or Bad? Prepping A Racebike For Next Season The Rookie Papers, Part Three The Impossible Ride MotoGP Mutterings: And The Award Goes To… Cribs: Doug Polen Letters To The Editor Inside Info 10 Years Ago The Little Motorcycle Paddock Personality: Kevin Erion Why Do They Call You That?: Thermosman MotoGP Trivia Numbers Lidz: Chris Vermeulen New Products Kris Turner: My Life As A Red Bull Rookie Jamie Hacking: Hacker! Ask Ed Racing Schools & Track Days Road Racing & School Calendar Guide To Road Racing Organizations The Crash Page MOTO-ST Newsletter ASRA/CCS Newsletter High-Performance Parts & Services Directory Want Ads Advertisers Index And Directory Chris Ulrich: Adventures Of A Racer On The Front Cover: Three 2007 bikes, three riders, one winner. The ZX-10R, CBR1000RR and YZF-R1 at Pahrump. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.