Sixth Annual Drive Kicks Off Today SONOMA, Calif. Join Infineon Raceway this holiday season in collecting non-perishable food items during the 6th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. As a gift for their generosity, participants will be rewarded with tickets to the 2007 Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, at Infineon Raceway. Infineon Raceway again partners with Mary’s Pizza Shack, Froggy 92.9 FM, Destination RKA and Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) to help ensure that needy families in Sonoma County have enough to eat this winter. Infineon Raceway and its partners have donated more than 7,000 pounds of non-perishable food items to FISH since 2000. In 2005, 2,000 pounds of food were donated to FISH, marking one of the organization’s largest single donations of the holiday season. Those who donate four or more non-perishable food items will be rewarded with a free ticket to AMA Superbike qualifying on Friday, May 18, at Infineon Raceway. Only two tickets will be allowed per family. Those who donate food at any of the satellite locations (see below), or by mail, will receive their ticket vouchers by mail. The public is encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the raceway during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) from Oct. 30 Nov. 17. The raceway is located at 29355 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476 (800-870-RACE or www.infineonraceway.com for directions). Those who cannot make the trip to Infineon Raceway can still participate in the food drive. Satellite drop-off locations will be located at: · Destination RKA in Windsor, which is located at 930 Shiloh Rd, Bldg 41-C. For directions, call (707) 836-7659 or visit www.rka-luggage.com. · Froggy 92.9 FM radio station, located at 1410 Neotomas Ave., Suite #200 in Santa Rosa. Call (707) 543-0100 or visit www.froggy929.com for directions. · Any of the 10 North Bay Mary’s Pizza Shack locations. Visit www.maryspizzashack.com for restaurant locations and directions. · Food items can also mailed to: Diana Rose, Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, CA, 95476. FISH, the beneficiary of the food drive, has been helping Sonoma Valley residents in times of need since 1970. In addition to food, FISH also aids families in need of clothes and rental assistance. For more information, call (707) 996-0111. For more information on the food drive, please contact Diana Rose at (707) 933-3918 or by e-mail at [email protected].

VERMEULEN TAKES THE HELM OF AMERICA’S CUP YACHT Rizla Suzuki MotoGP star Chris Vermeulen today visited the Port America’s Cup Marina in Valencia and spent time on the Victory Challenge yacht. Vermeulen is a keen sailor himself and owns a boat back home in Australia. He was eager to get onboard the Victory Challenge SWE63 as it was put through its paces out at the sea. Vermeulen was even given the chance to sail the yacht and help with the rigging during the two hour test. The 17 man crew welcomed him onboard with a presentation of a shirt declaring him as the 18th crewman and Vermeulen reciprocated by giving all the sailors one of his distinctive Rizla blue hats, which they then all proceeded to wear throughout the days testing. Vermeulen will be back to the more frenetic pace of motorcycling this week, as team-mate John Hopkins and he begin a two-day test on the new Suzuki 800cc bike at Valencia in Spain on Wednesday. For more details on the Victory Challenge and the America’s Cup visit http://www.americascup.com/en/ Chris Vermeulen “The Port America’s Cup Marina looks incredible – it’s great to see what they have done. I expect that by race time is going to be fantastic. I feel really lucky to be on board. Maybe now that I know these guys I might come down more often and maybe see a race next year if I get the chance. “Motorcycle racing and sailing for the America’s Cup are very different, but you can still find many similarities. It’s exactly the same principle as in bike racing, but here there are 125 people working full time for the team and that’s more than our race team, including the designers and everything. All the technology involved is amazing to see, I didn’t realise how much was involved.”

Citing personal reasons, David Lamberth has announced his resignation as executive director of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association. The 5,400-member vintage-racing organization is seeking applications for a replacement. Lamberth and his wife, Desiree, who serves as AHRMA administrative assistant, will maintain the AHRMA office and operations through December 31. He has pledged to work closely with his successor to ease the administrative succession. Lamberth was hired as Executive Director in November 2001. “We regret but fully understand Dave’s decision and want to thank him for his excellent service in advancing AHRMA during his tenure. It has been a real pleasure working with David and Desiree, and we will miss their family. We look forward to seeing them at our cross country events in the future,” commented Dave Janiec, chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. AHRMA is seeking applicants with a motorcycle sports background, plus strong business, administrative and communication skills. Resumes and cover letters should be sent by Nov. 17 to the AHRMA national office, P.O. Box 1725, Goodlettsville, TN 37070. Lamberth, 44, is an avid cross country competitor and the former president of the Mid South Winter Hare Scrambles Series. He is a CPA in the state of Tennessee.

After finishing the 2006 MotoGP season in seventh place, Shinya Nikano has left Kawasaki Racing after three-years to join Konica Minolta Honda for the 2007 season. Konica Minolta Honda ended their contract with Makoto Tamada after two GP seasons. Click here to read more: ~http://www.konicaminoltahonda.com/~.

In 2007 Fortuna will concentrate its sponsoring activity around Jorge Lorenzo who will compete in the 250 cc MotoGP championship in the team managed by Dani Amatriain with the full factory technical support of Aprilia. After a very successful 2006 season crowned by the world title of Jorge Lorenzo in the 250 category, Fortuna would like to congratulate and to thank the Gresini Honda team for its 4 victories won by Marco Melandri (Turkey, France, Australia) and Toni Elias (Portugal). Fausto Gresini has definitely proved that he had the most professional team in the MotoGP world and Fortuna is particularly proud of this fair and winning 2006 partnership.

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra news Vallelunga tests, 28-30th October 2006 Circuit: 4.085 kms. Weather: Dry, sunny (all 3 days) Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi ended three days of testing the GSX-R1000 K6 at Vallelunga, Italy today in a positive frame of mind and is already looking forward to his next outing in Valencia early next month. Although Vallelunga could be described as his ‘home circuit,’ Biaggi has not been to the 4.085 kilometre track in over 15 years. And, as a new section has only been added recently, the Italian started the tests as if he had never seen the circuit before. During the three days, he only worked with race rubber as he wanted to get the feel of the GSX-R1000 K6 and the Pirellis before even trying to make fast laps. Biaggi put in over 70 laps on each of the second and third days, run in extremely hot conditions. At the end, the team packed up and began the trek home whilst he took the opportunity to relax in Rome for a short break before returning to Monte Carlo. Max Biaggi: “It’s a little funny that everybody seems to think that this is my home circuit because I haven’t been here for a long time – maybe 15 or 16 years! There is a brand new section also, so I started off learning the track – like anybody else arriving at a new circuit. I can’t fully say if Vallelunga is a good track for testing because we had so much to do here and really I’d only be able to tell with more experience of it and also if some other riders were testing at the same time. “The main part of these days is to begin the process of learning lots of new and different things. The bike is heavier than what I have been used to for a start and that means you have to do a lot work getting a good balance and making the suspension work the way you want. Then of course, I have to learn what riding on Pirellis is like and when you change one area of the bike how it affects another area. I have been away from road racing for over a year and that means that my approach at the moment is steady rather than dramatic. “I like things to be right and I am determined to work as hard as it takes to get the bike as good as it can be. We had a few minor problems during the tests but nothing major and I’m sure that we’ll see further improvements in the next tests. I have also been getting used to working with a completely new bunch of guys and that is another thing that takes a bit of time. We are all working to a common goal and our aim is to be competitive for sure by the time the first race starts next year.”

Today, on the Ricardo Tormo circuit of Valencia, ADAM RAGA, the six times Trial World Champion, tested the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP6 “Sat.” of the PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP Team. The Spanish rider, that was dreaming about it from a lot of time, made 10 laps on the Italian bike and has been really impressed by its power and speed. The whole Team has been very happy to welcome a Champion like him. Both PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP riders, ALEX HOFMANN and JOSE LUIS CARDOSO, also met him for an exchange of ideas before and after the test. ADAM RAGA: “Everything has been really impressive. The power of this motorcycle is incredible and the sensations you feel riding on it are unbelievable. I liked it a lot! From the bike I usually use for the Trial, this one is so different, it’s imposing, the measures are completely different and the weight is double. The difficulty was to enter in the corners and lean the bike, I’m used always to remain up on the bike in the Trial, not to go down and curve. I have to say it has been a great experience and I would like to thank the whole PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP Team, PRAMAC and DUCATI for this opportunity. They welcomed me in a very nice way, I also had the occasion to have a talk with Hofmann and Cardoso, that gave me many suggestions before going on track”.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that AMA staff member Sue Mason has been elected as a Vice President of the Commission Femmes et Motocyclisme (CFM, or Commission for Women in Motorcycling) of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the international governing body for motorcycle sport and touring. Mason, an avid motorcyclist and the AMA’s FIM Coordinator, was elected during the 2006 FIM Congress, held earlier this month in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. A member of the AMA staff since 1999, Mason previously served in the Association’s Membership Services, AMA Road Riding, and AMA Sports departments. The purpose of the CFM, which held its first official meeting in Brazil, is “To create equal opportunities and treatment for all women involved in all aspects of activities related to motorcycling.” The commission is led by Beaulah Schoeman, managing director of Motorsports South Africa and president of the African Motorcycle Union, one of six FIM continental unions. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to represent the AMA, the American motorcycling community, and the unique perspective of women on this important commission,” said Mason. “The work that the AMA does at the international level, and our contribution to the process, will help shape the future of women’s role in motorcycling worldwide.” The AMA is the sole U.S affiliate of the Geneva-based FIM, which comprises more than 90 national organizations, called federations, from countries around the world. The FIM establishes and enforces rules for international motorcycle competition, and monitors motorcycling legislation and lobbying for riders’ rights. The FIM also is involved with international touring, facilitates international travel, and vintage motorcycling. Several other members of the AMA staff also serve on various FIM commissions. Through its affiliation with the FIM, the AMA licenses its riders to compete in international events and coordinates world-championship competition held in the United States. Earlier this year, the FIM was the title sponsor of the AMA/FIM International Women & Motorcycling Conference presented by Harley-Davidson & Buell, hosted by the AMA in Athens, Georgia.

Gresini Racing has today reached an agreement with Bridgestone Corporation which will see the Japanese tyre manufacturer supply tyres to Gresini Racing for the upcoming season. The team’s first test on Bridgestone tyres will be at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia on Wednesday 1 November 2006 with both Marco Melandri and Toni Elias. Gresini Racing and Bridgestone are both looking forward to working closely together in pursuit of a MotoGP championship in the future.

Robertino Pietri ran away in the opening round of the 2006 Venezuelan National Superbike Championship at Turagua Sunday, opening up a 12-second lead over defending series Champion Fernando Amantini before coasting across the line with both arms in the air. The official margin of victory after the showboat move was 8.741 seconds in the 20-lap, 35-mile race which ran at an average speed of 96.0 mph on the 1.8-mile Autodromo Internacional Pancho Pepe Croquer course located about three hours from Caracas. The victory extended Pietri´s win streak over Amantini, which started in March at Daytona and continued throughout the 2006 AMA Superstock Series. Pietri turned the fastest lap of the race at 1:05.578 on his sixth of 20 laps, setting a new motorcycle lap record. Amantini´s fastest lap was his fourth of 20, at 1:06.275. Pietri rode his Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki AMA Superstock racebike on Pirelli tires, while Amantini was on a ZX-10R backed by the Venezuelan Kawasaki distributor and running Dunlop tires. Pietri was accompanied to Venezuela by his AMA-series mechanics, James Lickwar and Scott Harwell. A single Superbike race replaced a planned double-header due to delays in the weekend schedule caused by weather. In the 600cc Supersport race, Juan Carlos Lavado, the nephew of former 250cc World Champion Carlos Lavado, won by 15 seconds on a Honda CBR600RR from Miguel Bocardo on a Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Pietri and his team will test at the track on Monday to prepare for the rest of the Venezuelan Series. Final Results Venezuelan National Superbike Series Turagua, Venezuela Sunday, October 29, 2006 1. Robertino Pietri, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 20 laps, 22:12.678 2. Fernando Amantini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -8.741 seconds 3. Cesar Tellez, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -27.882 seconds 4. Franklin Reveron, Honda CBR1000RR, -47.748 seconds 5. Ricardo Sune, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -48.502 second 6. Franco Peregrino, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -68.857 seconds 7. Armando Ferrer, Yamaha YZF-R1, -1 lap 8. Reinaldo Brito, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -2 laps 9. Claudio Torres, Honda CBR1000RR, -2 laps 10. Jose Neda, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -2 laps Final Results Venezuelan National 600cc Supersport Series Turagua, Venezuela Sunday, October 29, 2006 1. Juan Carlos Lavado, Honda CBR600RR, 18 laps, 20:54.351 2. Miguel Bocardo, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, -15.084 seconds 3. Jacquel Gonzalez, Suzuki GSX-R600, -25.889 seconds 4. Carlos Gulfo, -28.582 seconds 5. Alexander Rodriguez, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, -29.218 seconds 6. Armando Ferrer, Yamaha YZF-R6, -39.412 seconds 7. Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, -56.091 seconds 8. Victor Chirinos, Yamaha YZF-R6, -61.898 seconds 9. Marco Majica, -1 lap 10. Alberto Bagliari, Ducati 749R, -1 lap