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Melandri Undergoes Surgery On His Left Arm

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As he had announced after the last race in Valencia, Marco Melandri underwent today a surgery on a niggling injury in his left arm. Around noon the Honda Gresini rider was operated by Doctor Gondolini at Villa Serena in Forli (Italy). The surgery run smoothly and Marco tomorrow will leave the hospital. Now Marco will need to rest for at least two weeks before getting on the new Honda 800 at the end of November in Jerez. Melandri didn’t go under the knife for the muscles compression in his right leg because, according to doctor Gondolini, this kind of injury request other treatments. MARCO MELANDRI: “I have struggled during the whole year because my left arm tended to stiffen up always more often. Despite the medical treatment, the situation got worse and worse with every race. After the operation, I’ll take a fortnight off, before getting on the Honda 800 cc in Jerez at the end of the month. After the test, I will take a week off for a well deserved vacation, I think in some nice place by the seaside.”

British Automobile Racing Club Takes Over Operations At Croft Circuit

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The British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Croft PromoSport Ltd. (CPS), whose principal function is the day to day operation of Croft Circuit, a part of the Croft Estate in the North of England. Dennis Carter the Chief Executive of the BARC said “The acquisition is a natural progression for the club, broadening the geographical spread of our existing circuit activities and further enhancing the club’s standing within the industry. Croft is an important facility serving a large catchment area in the North of England and complements our existing hill climb at Harewood House in the south of the region. I am pleased to say that the agreement will see both the Croft Estate and the BARC working together in to the future and will enable the further development of facilities on the site. I am also pleased to say that the existing management team and staffing arrangements at Croft are to remain in place, making the acquisition and change of ownership seamless. “ Trevor Chaytor-Norris whose family own Croft said, “We are very pleased to have entered into a long term agreement with the BARC by them taking over CPS. The BARC have formed the spine of British motorsport since their inception in 1912 and they bring a high level of expertise that will ensure the continued success of Croft as a major motor and motorcycle sport venue. Over the last twelve years, with the support of an excellent team, run by the family and Chaired by Peter Gaydon, Croft has been brought back to the forefront of British motorsport venues. Croft first hosted race meetings in the late 1940’s on the old bomber aerodrome runways. Now the purpose built venue hosts rounds of both The British Touring Car Championship and The British Superbike Championship. I am sure that the BARC will help bring about a new and exciting chapter in Croft’s illustrious history.”

Recent Births

CCS Mid-Atlantic racer Frank Servidio and his wife Susan had a son, Frank Michael Servidio, September 28 in Lakewood, New Jersey. WSMC racer Franz Volpi and his wife Tanya had a daughter, Christiana Volpi, July 27 in West Hills, California. They are now residing in Marietta, Georgia.

Ducati Teams Up With PUMA To Make Footwear

Herzogenaurach, Germany PUMA and Ducati today announce a new cooperation: in search of a suitable partner to further develop “PUMA Moto”, launched in spring 2006, PUMA has teamed up with Ducati, the world’s premier motorcycle manufacturer and one of the top Moto GP teams, to raise sustainable equity and credibility in the greater motorsport market. The new cooperation, initially lasting for three years, contains two separate agreements: first, PUMA will be the footwear official supplier of the Ducati Corse racing teams as of 2007. Second, in a licensing agreement with Ducati Motor Holding, the two companies will create and market co-branded products starting in 2007. “We aimed at teaming up with a brand that is deeply rooted in the core business of motorsport without neglecting the sportlifestyle component. Like PUMA, Ducati is known throughout the world for pushing the boundaries of both performance and style, and we believe that this partnership is a perfect way to bring innovative Moto products to our consumers”, says Jochen Zeitz, CEO of PUMA AG. With a total of 12 Riders’ and 14 Manufacturers’ World Championship titles, Ducati Corse represents an unparalleled racing team. With iconic motorcycles such as the Monster, Ducati Motor Holding is a premier, design-led brand that focuses like PUMA on the desirability of its products. Ducati Motors Holding CEO Federico Minoli: “We are extremely pleased to have PUMA as new partner and supplier. Besides the racing team, there are other parallels between PUMA and Ducati which make them an ideal team: Both brands are consumer-driven, design-led and both are thirsty for innovation and engineering newness.” The common performance and sportlifestyle collection will be launched in spring 2007 and distributed in selected Ducati and PUMA retail stores as well as in wholesale partner stores.

Recent Birth

MD Racing’s Matt Drucker and his wife Nancy had a son, Maclain Maximilian Drucker, November 1 in Moline, Illinois.

AMA Supermoto Championship Schedule Announced

PICKERINGTON, Ohio The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and AMA Pro Racing have announced the schedule for the 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. New for 2007, the series will visit venues in Columbus, Ohio, Syracuse, N.Y., and Seattle, Wash. The finale will again be at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Schedule Date – Location June/TBA – Columbus, OH June 23 – Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, UT July 8 – Waterford Hills Motorsports Track, Clarkston, MI July 15 – Downtown, Syracuse, NY August 4 – X-Games, Home Depot Center, Los Angeles, CA* September 1 – Music City Motorplex, Nashville, TN September 15 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA** September 23 – Pacific Raceway, Seattle, WA November 11 – Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA *AMA endorsed. Non AMA Supermoto Championship points-paying event. **Event to be confirmed.

Former 125cc GP World Champion To Race In Supersport World Championship

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FIRST 4 STROKE TEST FOR ARNAUD VINCENT On Monday November 6, Arnaud Vincent (125cc GP 2002 World Champion) tested for the first time a four stroke bike at Ledenon in the south of France. It was the Yamaha R6 that he will race in the 2007 Supersport World Championship with the Millet Yamaha Racing (best performing Yamaha team in the 2006 Superstock 600 European Championship). The discovery went well for Arnaud: “The weather conditions were not perfect, but my sensations were good from the beginning. Using Pirelli tyres for the first time was not a problem, the feeling was OK. I was immediately at ease on the bike: my riding position was fine and I had nothing to modify. The only trouble for me while I discovered the 4 stroke technology was the engine braking. It was not easy in the beginning. But the electronics allow you to tune it (and even to suppress it if necessary) and we shall work on that during our next testing session.” “I am happy with this test day, says team manager Jean-louis Millet. There were many riders on the track but we still managed to work properly. The beginning of our relationship with such a great champion as Arnaud Vincent was positive. Alain Michel, our technical manager (and 1990 side car World Champion) met Arnaud. Things went well between the two men. I was worrying a little bit, now I feel more secure.”

Chinese Motorcycle Manufacturer Partners With Aprilia In Europe And Devon Motorcycles In U.S.

King of Prussia, PA – Jincheng Corporation, one of China’s largest motorcycle manufacturers, today announced a strategic alliance with Europe’s largest producer of motorcycles and scooters. Devon Motorcycles, Inc. is the registered Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agent for the Jincheng Corporation. Through the agreement, Jincheng will manufacture a new line of Aprilia motorcycles and engines. Aprilia, based in Italy, is an international market leader in the motorcycle and scooter arena, earning over US$300 million annually in export business to over 29 countries. Nearly two million Aprilia motorcycles and scooters are on the road today. The company has foreign branches across Europe and North America. In 2004, Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio, Italy’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles. “This is an outstanding partnership for Jincheng, and a pivotal step towards our global expansion,” says Wang Jian, president of the Jincheng Group. “Aprilia is a world-renowned motorcycle producer, owner of the industry’s top brands, and a part of the largest motorcycle production entity in Europe. We are excited to leverage our partnership with them, and create a similar powerhouse in the U.S. with Devon Motorcycles.” Devon Motorcycles exclusively distributes Jincheng bike models in the United States. Jincheng has led China’s motorcycle industry in exports and foreign exchange income for nine consecutive years. In 2005, the company exported more than 500,000 bikes to 40 countries, and produced annual revenues over $625 million. Jincheng has been recognized by China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce as “the country’s leading brand (Beijing Review).” “Jincheng’s partnerships with Devon Motorcycles in the U.S. and Aprilia in Europe will further expand the company’s market share in the global powersports industry,” says Ruth Wu, vice president of operations for Devon Motorcycles. “The company’s momentum will continue in 2007, when Devon Motorcycles will introduce Jincheng’s 150cc Eupolo scooter to the U.S. The Eupolo features an award-winning Italian-design and will accompany our recently EPA-certified line of 150cc, 75cc, and 50cc dirt bikes. With our ever-growing representation of its bikes in America, the Jincheng brand is primed for an explosive presence in dealerships across the country.” Production of the Aprilia motorcycle line will commence in the fourth quarter of this year. Devon Motorcycles expects EPA-certification of its Eupolo 150cc and 50cc scooters in the first quarter of 2007. For more information, or to become a Devon Motorcycles dealer or distributor, please contact Bob Plotnick at 800-251-7488 or [email protected], or visit www.devonmotorcycles.com. About Devon Motorcycles, Inc. Devon Motorcycles (www.devonmotorcycles.com) is the registered Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agent for the Jincheng Corporation, China’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles. The company distributes dirt bikes in the United States, and expects EPA-certification on its line of scooters and ATVs in 2007. The company is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

2007 Endurance World Championship To Run Without Promoter, Logistics In Question

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Following the mandate given during the 2006 FIM Congress by the Management Council, the Executive Board has decided that the 2007 Endurance World Championship would be organized without promoter. The TV and commercial rights relating to the World Championship events will be returned to the respective FMNRs/Organisers. The FIM itself will play an important role in managing several aspects in connection with the organisation and coordination of all the events counting towards the Endurance World Championship. A meeting gathering representatives of the FIM and of all the FMNR/Organisers concerned by the 2007 Endurance World Championship will be held at the FIM Headquarters on Wednesday 22 November to discuss the financial and logistical conditions that will apply to this World Championship. Another meeting will be held the following day (Thursday 23 November) with representatives of the various Teams taking part in this World Championship to explain to them the terms and conditions under which the Endurance World Championship will take place. The calendar will be published as soon as possible after these meetings.

Axo Sport Re-signs As Technical Sponsor Of Superbike World Championship

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Axo Sport of Treviso, a leading manufacturer of motorcycle clothing and accessories, and FGSport, the company that owns the rights to and organises the Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and Superstock 600 European Championship are pleased to announce that they are renewing the longstanding contract between them for a further 3 years. Axo will continue as technical sponsor to the production-derived championships, which next year will take in a total of 14 different circuits all over the world. In addition to supplying materials and technical equipment to the championship’s personnel and management teams, Axo will also be installing large scale billboards at the racetracks to promote the Axo brand. Valentina Zago, Axo Sport’s vice-chairman issued the following statement to coincide with the announcement. “I am delighted and honoured to continue a great collaboration that has given us a great deal of satisfaction as well as many exciting championships over the last six years. The Superbike World Championship is followed by real motorcyclists and has thousands of fans in countries all over the world. Axo is convinced that this championship expresses the true spirit of the motorcyclists who are our main interlocutors as well as our customers. That is why we could not pass over this opportunity to renew our contract with FGSport and the Flammini bothers, with whom we have always had an excellent working relationship.” Paolo Flammini, FGSport’s CEO confirmed FGSport’s satisfaction: “By now we look on Axo Sport as one of the most important partners of the Superbike World Championship. We are therefore especially happy to confirm that Axo will be with us for another three years and that the co-operation between our two companies is destined to intensify. In fact, in addition to our sponsorship and promotional activities, FGSport and Axo Sport will be working together on a new collection of exclusive products.”

Melandri Undergoes Surgery On His Left Arm

As he had announced after the last race in Valencia, Marco Melandri underwent today a surgery on a niggling injury in his left arm. Around noon the Honda Gresini rider was operated by Doctor Gondolini at Villa Serena in Forli (Italy). The surgery run smoothly and Marco tomorrow will leave the hospital. Now Marco will need to rest for at least two weeks before getting on the new Honda 800 at the end of November in Jerez. Melandri didn’t go under the knife for the muscles compression in his right leg because, according to doctor Gondolini, this kind of injury request other treatments. MARCO MELANDRI: “I have struggled during the whole year because my left arm tended to stiffen up always more often. Despite the medical treatment, the situation got worse and worse with every race. After the operation, I’ll take a fortnight off, before getting on the Honda 800 cc in Jerez at the end of the month. After the test, I will take a week off for a well deserved vacation, I think in some nice place by the seaside.”

British Automobile Racing Club Takes Over Operations At Croft Circuit

The British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Croft PromoSport Ltd. (CPS), whose principal function is the day to day operation of Croft Circuit, a part of the Croft Estate in the North of England. Dennis Carter the Chief Executive of the BARC said “The acquisition is a natural progression for the club, broadening the geographical spread of our existing circuit activities and further enhancing the club’s standing within the industry. Croft is an important facility serving a large catchment area in the North of England and complements our existing hill climb at Harewood House in the south of the region. I am pleased to say that the agreement will see both the Croft Estate and the BARC working together in to the future and will enable the further development of facilities on the site. I am also pleased to say that the existing management team and staffing arrangements at Croft are to remain in place, making the acquisition and change of ownership seamless. “ Trevor Chaytor-Norris whose family own Croft said, “We are very pleased to have entered into a long term agreement with the BARC by them taking over CPS. The BARC have formed the spine of British motorsport since their inception in 1912 and they bring a high level of expertise that will ensure the continued success of Croft as a major motor and motorcycle sport venue. Over the last twelve years, with the support of an excellent team, run by the family and Chaired by Peter Gaydon, Croft has been brought back to the forefront of British motorsport venues. Croft first hosted race meetings in the late 1940’s on the old bomber aerodrome runways. Now the purpose built venue hosts rounds of both The British Touring Car Championship and The British Superbike Championship. I am sure that the BARC will help bring about a new and exciting chapter in Croft’s illustrious history.”

Recent Births

CCS Mid-Atlantic racer Frank Servidio and his wife Susan had a son, Frank Michael Servidio, September 28 in Lakewood, New Jersey. WSMC racer Franz Volpi and his wife Tanya had a daughter, Christiana Volpi, July 27 in West Hills, California. They are now residing in Marietta, Georgia.

Ducati Teams Up With PUMA To Make Footwear

Herzogenaurach, Germany PUMA and Ducati today announce a new cooperation: in search of a suitable partner to further develop “PUMA Moto”, launched in spring 2006, PUMA has teamed up with Ducati, the world’s premier motorcycle manufacturer and one of the top Moto GP teams, to raise sustainable equity and credibility in the greater motorsport market. The new cooperation, initially lasting for three years, contains two separate agreements: first, PUMA will be the footwear official supplier of the Ducati Corse racing teams as of 2007. Second, in a licensing agreement with Ducati Motor Holding, the two companies will create and market co-branded products starting in 2007. “We aimed at teaming up with a brand that is deeply rooted in the core business of motorsport without neglecting the sportlifestyle component. Like PUMA, Ducati is known throughout the world for pushing the boundaries of both performance and style, and we believe that this partnership is a perfect way to bring innovative Moto products to our consumers”, says Jochen Zeitz, CEO of PUMA AG. With a total of 12 Riders’ and 14 Manufacturers’ World Championship titles, Ducati Corse represents an unparalleled racing team. With iconic motorcycles such as the Monster, Ducati Motor Holding is a premier, design-led brand that focuses like PUMA on the desirability of its products. Ducati Motors Holding CEO Federico Minoli: “We are extremely pleased to have PUMA as new partner and supplier. Besides the racing team, there are other parallels between PUMA and Ducati which make them an ideal team: Both brands are consumer-driven, design-led and both are thirsty for innovation and engineering newness.” The common performance and sportlifestyle collection will be launched in spring 2007 and distributed in selected Ducati and PUMA retail stores as well as in wholesale partner stores.

Recent Birth

MD Racing’s Matt Drucker and his wife Nancy had a son, Maclain Maximilian Drucker, November 1 in Moline, Illinois.

AMA Supermoto Championship Schedule Announced

PICKERINGTON, Ohio The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and AMA Pro Racing have announced the schedule for the 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. New for 2007, the series will visit venues in Columbus, Ohio, Syracuse, N.Y., and Seattle, Wash. The finale will again be at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Schedule Date – Location June/TBA – Columbus, OH June 23 – Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, UT July 8 – Waterford Hills Motorsports Track, Clarkston, MI July 15 – Downtown, Syracuse, NY August 4 – X-Games, Home Depot Center, Los Angeles, CA* September 1 – Music City Motorplex, Nashville, TN September 15 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA** September 23 – Pacific Raceway, Seattle, WA November 11 – Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA *AMA endorsed. Non AMA Supermoto Championship points-paying event. **Event to be confirmed.

Former 125cc GP World Champion To Race In Supersport World Championship

FIRST 4 STROKE TEST FOR ARNAUD VINCENT On Monday November 6, Arnaud Vincent (125cc GP 2002 World Champion) tested for the first time a four stroke bike at Ledenon in the south of France. It was the Yamaha R6 that he will race in the 2007 Supersport World Championship with the Millet Yamaha Racing (best performing Yamaha team in the 2006 Superstock 600 European Championship). The discovery went well for Arnaud: “The weather conditions were not perfect, but my sensations were good from the beginning. Using Pirelli tyres for the first time was not a problem, the feeling was OK. I was immediately at ease on the bike: my riding position was fine and I had nothing to modify. The only trouble for me while I discovered the 4 stroke technology was the engine braking. It was not easy in the beginning. But the electronics allow you to tune it (and even to suppress it if necessary) and we shall work on that during our next testing session.” “I am happy with this test day, says team manager Jean-louis Millet. There were many riders on the track but we still managed to work properly. The beginning of our relationship with such a great champion as Arnaud Vincent was positive. Alain Michel, our technical manager (and 1990 side car World Champion) met Arnaud. Things went well between the two men. I was worrying a little bit, now I feel more secure.”

Chinese Motorcycle Manufacturer Partners With Aprilia In Europe And Devon Motorcycles In U.S.

King of Prussia, PA – Jincheng Corporation, one of China’s largest motorcycle manufacturers, today announced a strategic alliance with Europe’s largest producer of motorcycles and scooters. Devon Motorcycles, Inc. is the registered Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agent for the Jincheng Corporation. Through the agreement, Jincheng will manufacture a new line of Aprilia motorcycles and engines. Aprilia, based in Italy, is an international market leader in the motorcycle and scooter arena, earning over US$300 million annually in export business to over 29 countries. Nearly two million Aprilia motorcycles and scooters are on the road today. The company has foreign branches across Europe and North America. In 2004, Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio, Italy’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles. “This is an outstanding partnership for Jincheng, and a pivotal step towards our global expansion,” says Wang Jian, president of the Jincheng Group. “Aprilia is a world-renowned motorcycle producer, owner of the industry’s top brands, and a part of the largest motorcycle production entity in Europe. We are excited to leverage our partnership with them, and create a similar powerhouse in the U.S. with Devon Motorcycles.” Devon Motorcycles exclusively distributes Jincheng bike models in the United States. Jincheng has led China’s motorcycle industry in exports and foreign exchange income for nine consecutive years. In 2005, the company exported more than 500,000 bikes to 40 countries, and produced annual revenues over $625 million. Jincheng has been recognized by China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce as “the country’s leading brand (Beijing Review).” “Jincheng’s partnerships with Devon Motorcycles in the U.S. and Aprilia in Europe will further expand the company’s market share in the global powersports industry,” says Ruth Wu, vice president of operations for Devon Motorcycles. “The company’s momentum will continue in 2007, when Devon Motorcycles will introduce Jincheng’s 150cc Eupolo scooter to the U.S. The Eupolo features an award-winning Italian-design and will accompany our recently EPA-certified line of 150cc, 75cc, and 50cc dirt bikes. With our ever-growing representation of its bikes in America, the Jincheng brand is primed for an explosive presence in dealerships across the country.” Production of the Aprilia motorcycle line will commence in the fourth quarter of this year. Devon Motorcycles expects EPA-certification of its Eupolo 150cc and 50cc scooters in the first quarter of 2007. For more information, or to become a Devon Motorcycles dealer or distributor, please contact Bob Plotnick at 800-251-7488 or [email protected], or visit www.devonmotorcycles.com. About Devon Motorcycles, Inc. Devon Motorcycles (www.devonmotorcycles.com) is the registered Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agent for the Jincheng Corporation, China’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles. The company distributes dirt bikes in the United States, and expects EPA-certification on its line of scooters and ATVs in 2007. The company is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

2007 Endurance World Championship To Run Without Promoter, Logistics In Question

Following the mandate given during the 2006 FIM Congress by the Management Council, the Executive Board has decided that the 2007 Endurance World Championship would be organized without promoter. The TV and commercial rights relating to the World Championship events will be returned to the respective FMNRs/Organisers. The FIM itself will play an important role in managing several aspects in connection with the organisation and coordination of all the events counting towards the Endurance World Championship. A meeting gathering representatives of the FIM and of all the FMNR/Organisers concerned by the 2007 Endurance World Championship will be held at the FIM Headquarters on Wednesday 22 November to discuss the financial and logistical conditions that will apply to this World Championship. Another meeting will be held the following day (Thursday 23 November) with representatives of the various Teams taking part in this World Championship to explain to them the terms and conditions under which the Endurance World Championship will take place. The calendar will be published as soon as possible after these meetings.

Axo Sport Re-signs As Technical Sponsor Of Superbike World Championship

Axo Sport of Treviso, a leading manufacturer of motorcycle clothing and accessories, and FGSport, the company that owns the rights to and organises the Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and Superstock 600 European Championship are pleased to announce that they are renewing the longstanding contract between them for a further 3 years. Axo will continue as technical sponsor to the production-derived championships, which next year will take in a total of 14 different circuits all over the world. In addition to supplying materials and technical equipment to the championship’s personnel and management teams, Axo will also be installing large scale billboards at the racetracks to promote the Axo brand. Valentina Zago, Axo Sport’s vice-chairman issued the following statement to coincide with the announcement. “I am delighted and honoured to continue a great collaboration that has given us a great deal of satisfaction as well as many exciting championships over the last six years. The Superbike World Championship is followed by real motorcyclists and has thousands of fans in countries all over the world. Axo is convinced that this championship expresses the true spirit of the motorcyclists who are our main interlocutors as well as our customers. That is why we could not pass over this opportunity to renew our contract with FGSport and the Flammini bothers, with whom we have always had an excellent working relationship.” Paolo Flammini, FGSport’s CEO confirmed FGSport’s satisfaction: “By now we look on Axo Sport as one of the most important partners of the Superbike World Championship. We are therefore especially happy to confirm that Axo will be with us for another three years and that the co-operation between our two companies is destined to intensify. In fact, in addition to our sponsorship and promotional activities, FGSport and Axo Sport will be working together on a new collection of exclusive products.”