CAPIROSSI VISITS ITALY’S AMERICA’S CUP SAILING TEAM On the eve of the final MotoGP race of the season at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit the Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris Capirossi paid a visit to the base of Luna Rossa Challenge, the Prada and Telecom Italia-backed team that will represent Italy in the 32nd America’s Cup sailing event at the Spanish city. Located in the America’s Cup port area, the Luna Rossa base was designed by the architect Renzo Piano and it recycles 50 sails used in the last edition of the trophy: 12 mainsails and 38 jibs make up the 485 panels that cover the external façade of the base. Around 100 people from 16 different countries are involved in the different areas of the Luna Rossa base (sailing team, design team, sail-loft, ground staff and management). Loris was greeted by Francesco de Angelis, the skipper and head of the Luna Rossa team, visited the base and went on board Luna Rossa ITA 86, one of the two 26-metre boats with which Luna Rossa will take part in the world’s oldest and most prestigious sailing trophy. “I am delighted to have been able to visit the Luna Rossa Challenge base,” said Loris. “It is really great and impeccably organised. All the members of the team are doing a fantastic job and they have been enthusiastically training for the America’s Cup for years. I was also honoured to visit the boat with Francesco De Angelis and I have to say that the level of technology is incredible. It was really exciting to be there today”. Sport in its various disciplines succeeds in uniting athletes and fans worldwide and never more so will this be evident than during the final MotoGP race of one of the most exciting GP seasons ever. Today Loris visited the base of the team that will defend Italy’s colours in the America’s Cup and on Sunday the members of Luna Rossa Challenge will be in the Valencia circuit cheering him on. More, from a press release issued by Pramac D’Antin MotoGP: THE PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP TEAM MEETS THE AMERICA’S CUP TEAM SHOSHOLOZA A particular and emotional day for ALEX HOFMANN and JOSE LUIS CARDOSO. The two riders of the Team PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP met the South African Team SHOSHOLOZA, the youngest of the twelve teams that will compete in the upcoming and prestigious AMERICA’S CUP. The SHOSHOLOZA basecamp, situated in the Valencia Port, is where HOFMANN and CARDOSO lived the great experience of sailing on the RSA 83 Yacht of the South African Team. The two riders, at Valencia for the last race of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship this weekend at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, were welcomed in an exceptional manner by Sports Director Tommaso Chieffi, who introduced them to the whole Team. Both teams exchanged their official shirts before taking part in a race simulation on the official yacht of Team SHOSHOLOZA. HOFMANN and CARDOSO both had a specific duty onboard and experienced unforgettable emotions during this race simulation. ALEX HOFMANN, who already has sailing experience and a license, took the chance to talk about technical details with the Boat Captain Tim Kroeger, the only German on the Team, in his second AMERICA’S CUP. ALEX HOFMANN: “I am very impressed! The Team welcomed us in a very nice way and it has been fascinating to watch these 17 people work on the boat. Everything is totally different from our sport : I need technicians before and after the race, but during it, I’m alone out there! Meeting these athletes, it was very interesting to share and compare details about our different sports. Besides, it also has been great and absolutely impressive how easily the boat can surf the waves. I had a lot of fun and it has been a great pleasure to get the chance to experience this”. JOSE LUIS CARDOSO : “It’s great to know that the AMERICA’S CUP will take place in Valencia next year! I’ve always wanted to come and see that whole impressive organisation and how the teams are training and sailing. Today, with Alex, we had the great opportunity to watch everything from the inside and I was very happy to meet team SHOSHOLOZA. The sailing and the race simulation were fantastic; these are sensations that I won’t forget. I want to thank the whole South African team for their invitation and their welcome”.

Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet will be looking to end the year on a high this weekend, as the Kawasaki Racing Team head for the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia for the final race of the 2006 championship season. Shinya Nakano in particular will be aiming for a strong finish in Sunday’s 30-lap Valencia Grand Prix, to end a streak of bad luck that has seen him crash out of the previous two races. But, while reaching the chequered flag on Sunday is his number one priority, the 29-year-old Japanese rider is adamant that he won’t be playing it safe this weekend. Nakano is determined to realise the true potential of the Ninja ZX-RR that he has spent all year developing, and he arrives in Valencia confident that Sunday’s race will provide him with an ideal opportunity to achieve his aim, and to finish the season on a high note. Randy de Puniet scored his best result of the season so far last time out in Estoril, finishing a creditable tenth after battling with rear grip problems throughout the race. The 25-year-old Frenchman arrives in Valencia determined to carry this momentum through into Sunday’s race, where he’ll be aiming to improve on his Estoril performance. Now the traditional host of the final race of the year, the Valencia circuit is unique in that it is the only stadium style venue that the MotoGP series visits during the course of the season. The 4 km track is surrounded by grandstands, from which spectators will enjoy an unrestricted view of Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden battling it out in the season finale, to decide who will be crowned world champion. The Spanish race fans have a reputation for being vocal in their support, and with all 225,000 tickets for this weekend sold out weeks ago, the atmosphere for Sunday’s 30-lap race promises to be very special indeed. Shinya Nakano: #56 “I’ve crashed out of the last two races, so the priority at Valencia must be to finish the final race of the season. This year has been all about developing our new engine, and I think we’ve reached the point now where, as a package, the Ninja ZX-RR is competitive. We’ve had some bad luck recently, which means we haven’t been able to realise the bike’s full potential, so it would be good to end the season with a strong result, just to show how much progress we’ve made with the Ninja ZX-RR over the past sixteen races. Valencia is a very technical track, which suits both my riding style and the characteristics of our bike, and I have won here on the 250cc machine in the past. The first corner and the hairpin at turn two are critical to a fast lap here. Last year we suffered some chattering at these two turns, but I’m confident that we won’t struggle with the same problem this time around. I’m looking forward to Sunday’s race, and I will be aiming for the best result possible to mark the end of the season.” Randy de Puniet: #17 “This is the last race of the season, and it is important for me to mark the end of my first year in the MotoGP World Championship with a good result this weekend. Last time out at Estoril I had my first top ten finish, and I hope that we can improve further here at Valencia. I like this track. I’ve been fast here in the past on the 250cc bike, and I hope I will be just as fast on the MotoGP machine. There is no respite here; you need to be completely focused on every lap. The circuit is very technical, and even as you enter one corner you must be thinking about the next, as the turns flow together. Make a mistake anywhere on the lap, and it’s almost impossible to recover the time lost. Sunday’s race is a long one, and I think consistency will be key to a good result, so that’s what we’ll be working towards during practice and qualifying.”

The Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA) has had a successful road racing program for decades. OMRRA has always had an eye for the future and how to develop safe riders regardless of age. Having been the stomping grounds for AMA champion Jimmy Moore, NASB (Superbike) Champion Keith Pinkstaff and current Jordan Motorsports rider Jake Holden, OMRRA has produced a rider or three. Under the leadership of past President Jim Kennedy, OMRRA created the first pocketbike program (~http://www.omrrapocketbikes.com~) within a major road racing organization in North America. The program has been a success, with the first batch of those junior riders having moved to mini races at local kart tracks. Those same riders have are now ready to move beyond the kart tracks. It’s time for them to make the step onto the big track with the rest of OMRRA’s riders. Starting with the 2007 season OMRRA is considering the introduction of an 85cc class intended to be a stepping stone into the full racing program of the club. The program details are still being finalized but the intention is to have 17″ wheeled GP chassis bikes such as a TZ or RS with a MX based 85cc motor. This is the same format used by clubs such as: CMRA, CMRRA, AMRA, NWMini, and SCminiGP with great success. To make sure all our riders are safe, OMRRA is working on the purchase of air fence barriers to increase the safety of Portland International Raceway. All new riders participating in the 85 class would go through the same Novice School instruction that Elena Myers went through as an 11-year old last year. OMRRA allowed her to earn her expert license while other clubs denied her request, and subsequently won her first Expert race with the club. We look forward to the future and hope to see more home grown racers follow in Jimmy and Jake’s footsteps through this new program. To learn more visit OMRRA’s forum: ~http://www.omrra.com/forums/~

(Tooele, UT) Near freezing temperatures and cross-country road trips couldn’t keep the competitors away from the spectacular Miller Motorsports Park for the final round of the USGPRU 2006 season. Riders from Europe, Asia, Canada, and all across the U.S., converged on MMP for the chance to race on the epic 4.5 mile, 23-turn full course. Thirteen-year-old, PJ Jacobson set a blistering pace during Saturday 125GP qualifying with a time of 3:08.663. Tommy Aquino clicked off a time of 3:08.812 in his final lap, to take the runner up position. Nobi Iso rode his Aprilia RS125 to a third place position, followed closely by Scott Gilbert to fill up the front row. 18-year-old Alex Welsh aboard his Infinity GP RS250 Honda dominated the Motion Pro 250GP qualifying. He threw down the gauntlet with a time of 3:02.262. Ryan Ferris, Matt Cooper, and Tommy Aquino rounded out the rest of the front row. Will Morton had a time good enough to put him in third position, but his Roland Cushway tuned Honda RS250 was disqualified when it failed to meet the minimum weight requirements. He would be forced to start from the back of the grid on Sunday. The Rising Sun Cycle 125GP main event saw a field of 29 racers all try to squeeze through turn one at the same time. Nobi Iso came out in the lead though and proceeded to try to break away. But, Tommy Aquino and PJ Jacobson wouldn’t allow him to do that without them. Half way through lap 1, Iso started having power problems with his bike, and PJ and Tommy passed him and started to walk away. Iso was forced to retire from the race as the Aprilia’s battery choked out its last few volts. PJ and Tommy swapped positions multiple times during the next lap. But a bad engine cylinder caused his motor to sieze in turn-8, forcing Tommy to watch as PJ rode off in the distance. PJ would ride the rest of the race alone with Bryce Prince and Scott Gilbert battling for the runners up spot. Elena Myers had been battling with Bryce and Scott early on, but had to pull in for a stop-and-go penalty for jumping the start of the race. She came back from the stop and slashed through the field to end up in 5th position, right behind Jon Schendel. . In the Motion Pro 250GP race, Alex Welsh pulled the trigger on his Honda RS250 and shot out into the lead right from the start. He rode the wheels off of his bike despite the fact that he had already wrapped up the championship! Fellow Canadian, Matt Cooper, tried in vain to keep up with Alex, but put in a spectacular ride none the less to finish seven seconds back in second place. Will Morton started from the back of the 33-bike grid, and rapidly worked through the mass of riders. He eventually worked his way up to claim the final podium position for the day, and his first for the season. Race results: Rising Sun Cycles 125GP 1. PJ Jacobsen Hon 2. Bryce Prince Hon 3. Scott Gilbert Hon 4. Jon Schendel Hon 5. Elena Myers Hon 6. Jesse Trayler Hon 7. John Hjelm Hon 8. Mike Orien Hon 9. Tyler Odon Hon 10. Kyle Ferris Hon 11. Jeff Lim Hon 12. Scott Smallwood Hon 13. Phillip Krenn Hon 14. Debra Kuick Hon 15. Scott McNew Hon 16. M. McDonough Hon 17. Jermiah Carlson Hon 18. Mike Santelia Hon 19. Kevin Murray Yam 20. Britt Arechiga Hon 21. Darrin Kuebler Hon 22. Bruce Lind Yam 23. Jose Lopez Hon 24. Brian Heess Hon 25. Shellie Matthews Hon 26. Don Roberts Hon 27. Tommy Aquino Hon DNF 28. Nobi Iso Apr DNF 29. Stu Aitken-Cade Hon DNF 30. Barry Gilsenan Hon DNS Motion Pro 250GP 1. Alex Welsh Hon 2. Matt Cooper Hon 3. Will Morton Hon 4. Ryan Ferris Hon 5. PJ Jacobson Hon 6. Vincent Rolleri Yam 7. Nobi Iso Apr 8. Alex White Yam 9. Jon Schendel Hon 10. Bruce Lind Yam 11. Elena Myers Hon 12. John Dempsey Yam 13. Tyler Odom Hon 14. Steve Lambrick Yam 15. Patrick Dowd Yam 16. Pete Ross Yam 17. Jeff Lim Hon 18. Jesse Trayler Hon 19. Phillip Krenn Hon 20. Kory Gill Yam 21. Daniel Qualtire Hon 22. Derek Dutt Yam 23. Don Roberts Yam 24. David Matthews Yam 25. Andrew Trace Hon 26. Mike Lytle Yam 27. Stu Aitken-Cade Hon DNF 28. Tommy Aquino Hon DNF 29. Kyle Ferris Hon DNF 30. Mark Kelly Hon DNS 31. Barry Gilsenan Hon DNS 32. Mike Santelia Hon DNS 33. Bryce Prince Hon DNS JACOBSON AND WELSH CROWNED 2006 USGPRU CHAMPIONS The USGPRU would like to formally congratulate PJ Jacobson and Alex Welsh for winning the 2006 125GP and 250GP National Championships respectively. PJ Jacobson rode a near perfect season, winning every single race he entered except one, where he took a third. While he had the national championship wrapped up going into the final at Miller Motorsports Park, he showed that he is a true champion, and rode as hard as he could to win the final round too. PJ is only 14-years-old, yet has already secured backing by the Celtic Racing team out of Nyack, NY. Alex Welsh had a very busy season racing 11 weekends in both the 125 and 250 classes. His 125GP results were very strong, enough to finish in 4th overall, but he really came to grips with the added power of the 250 bike and consistently dominated every time he rode it. Also like PJ, Alex showed the true champions spirit by not only racing, but winning in the final round of the series even though he had the championship wrapped up at Mid-Ohio a month earlier. PJ and Alex follow in the footsteps of past USGPRU champions like Garrett Carter, Josh Herrin, and Brian Kcraget. About USGPRU The USGPRU is the officially recognized Motorcycle 125 Grand Prix National Championship ® and 250 Grand Prix National Championship TM series. The USGPRU emulates true World MotoGP racing experience and serves to attract young riders to gain experience in a professional environment and provide a path to world-class motorcycle racing. The USGPRU structures events with extended length grand prix racing exclusive to the GP machines, timed qualifying and strong contingency and sponsor support. For additional details, visit www.USGPRU.net

BECK TO RACE WITH TEAM M4 EMGO SUZUKI IN 2007 Michael Beck has signed a contract to race for Team M4 EMGO Suzuki in 2007. The 18-year-old second-generation racer showed promise in his first year as an AMA pro rider in 2006 and demonstrated that he is one of the most talented young racers on the AMA scene. Beck, of Simi Valley, California, has raced motocross since he was four years old and began road racing in 2003. He competed as a privateer during the 2006 season and finished an impressive ninth in final AMA Supersport points, with his season highlight being a fifth-place finish in Utah. Beck won the WERA Sportsman C Superstock National Championship this year and also earned CCS Middleweight Supersport and Middleweight Grand Prix titles last weekend at Daytona. Also at Daytona, Beck raced 2007 teammate Geoff May for the ASRA Sportbike win, finishing a close second. “I’m stoked,” said Beck. “I can’t wait to ride for a professional team. It has been my dream and I’m really happy I’ve signed on with Team M4 EMGO Suzuki. They are a great team and have a long history in the sport. It will be different for me next year because it was mainly me and my dad worrying about everything, working on the bikes and traveling to the races. Just concentrating on my riding will be good for my development next year.” “I’m thrilled with our line-up for next year,” said Team M4 EMGO Suzuki Crew Chief Keith Perry. “Michael Beck is a rider who, along with Geoff May and Michael Barnes, gives us three legitimate shots at top-five finishes and podiums on any given race weekend. We have watched him closely all season and clearly he’s been one of the young guys to keep your eye on. He is a young rider, but he’s been very smooth in getting the impressive lap times. He also has experience on the Pirelli tires Team M4 EMGO Suzuki uses. We’re very excited to have signed Michael and can’t wait to get him on one of our bikes and see how he fares.” Team Hammer, Inc., currently competing as Team M4 EMGO Suzuki, has raced professionally for 26 consecutive seasons. During the 2006 season, the team scored 14 AMA National podium finishes. The team’s headquarters are located in Lake Elsinore, California with a race shop in Athens, Alabama.

Troy threw his leg over one of this year’s Yamaha Italia’s R1 WSBK bikes for the first time today and left Mugello at the end of the day with a smile on his face! Weather conditions were nigh on perfect at the undulating Tuscan circuit and Troy and his new team were able to start their new job together in the best possible way. At the end, Troy got down to some really good lap times – all without even pushing hard. The day went smoothly and completely without any dramas and now Troy is looking forward to the official tests in Valencia in just over two week’s time. “I can’t believe how well today went and I’m really happy with my first day on a Yamaha Superbike. I started off with one of Andrew Pitt’s bikes and worked with the crew getting a comfortable position and the usual stuff. The engine feels flatter off the bottom and is a bit peaky, but the bike is very stable under braking and the handling is pretty good also. The spin and wheelie control is very adjustable and, of course, one of the biggest differences is the suspension – which is now Ohlins. At the end of the day, I tried a few laps on one of Haga’s bikes, but it was way too hard for me! I’m happy today because it took me hardly any time getting comfortable and I was able to get down to some pretty good lap times without pushing hard at all! I had no dramas, no crashes, no running off the track or anything like that, and I am surprised how well it’s all gone today. Now I’m really looking forward to riding it at the Valencia tests and seeing how it stacks up against the rest of the boys.”

Chris Walker will race a Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the 2007 British Superbike Championship. Fans’ favourite Walker earned his seat by winning the Race of the Year at Mallory Park in Leicestershire on October 15th – and by bringing a fresh, professional and hungry-for-success approach to the team. “I am absolutely made-up to have signed on the dotted line to be a Rizla Suzuki BSB rider in 2007,” said Walker. “I think just about everyone knew how much I wanted the ride. It was number one on my wish list and I couldn’t be any happier than I am right now. “The Rizla Suzuki team was exceptional at Mallory Park providing me with the platform to win the race despite years away from the circuit and having to get used to a new bike and Dunlop tyres. The performance of the 2006 GSX-R1000 I rode was mind blowing and just made me want to be a part of the team even more. “I had a nervous week after Mallory Park waiting for the phone to ring but now it is all confirmed and it is a huge relief. My heartfelt thanks go to the team, Crescent Suzuki and to Suzuki GB in particular for their faith in me. A four-time runner-up in BSB, most recently with Suzuki in 2000, Walker knows what it will take to win in the most competitive national Superbike Championship in the world. The 34-year-old from Nottingham said: “The scale of the task before me and Rizla Suzuki is immense. I have watched the BSB Championship during the last couple of years and the competition is fierce and of extremely high quality. Given the level of riders and factory-backed machinery, I’d say it could be every bit as difficult as winning in World Superbikes. “The big difference for me is I will be with Rizla Suzuki on a factory bike and that gives me great hope. The hard work starts now in preparation for the 2007 British Superbike Championship with a test at Valencia next week. We have a new bike to develop before the season starts. “To all the ‘Stalker’ fans in the UK: I’m coming home and can’t wait to be racing in front of you. I hope you are looking forward to joining me on the next step of the adventure with Rizla Suzuki.” Walker proved his class by winning a race at Assen World Superbikes in August, but he is expecting to be pushed next year by his new Rizla Suzuki team mate Cal Crutchlow, the reigning British Supersport Champion and one of Britain’s hottest young talents. Rizla Suzuki Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Chris really wanted to race for Rizla Suzuki and his positive, hard-riding, never-give-up attitude at Mallory Park’s Race of the Year convinced us he was the right person for the job. With his experience and ability, matched with Cal’s raw enthusiasm and talent, we have what we believe is a very strong team for 2007.” Walker’s first public appearances as a Rizla Suzuki racer will be at Birmingham’s NEC Bike Show on Trade and Preview days 26-27th October, on the Suzuki stand T174, Hall 19. He will then travel to Valencia with the Rizla Suzuki Superbike team for a test alongside the MotoGP regulars on 1-2nd November before returning to the NEC Show on November 4-5th.