MotoGP heads back to Europe after a six-week hiatus for the penultimate race on this year’s calendar as Estoril plays host to the Portuguese Grand Prix this weekend with the championship still wide open. Ducati’s Loris Capirossi is the highest placed Bridgestone-shod rider in the championship classification. The Italian, three times a winner in 2006, lies 31 points adrift of leader Nicky Hayden, but a mere four points from third placed Marco Melandri with a maximum of 50 points still up for grabs. A resurgent Capirossi has taken three front row starts, two victories and an additional second place over the last four races as the Ducati-Bridgestone package has proven to be a competitive force. All three of Bridgestone teams have presence within the top twelve of the championship with Capirossi’s Ducati team-mate Sete Gibernau in tenth place after a strong ride to fourth in Motegi two weeks ago. Suzuki riders John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen currently occupy ninth and eleventh positions respectively, while Kawasaki’s Shinya Nakano rounds out the top twelve in twelfth place. Portugal has been the scene of some good results for Bridgestone riders in previous seasons with Carlos Checa taking fifth place last year and Makoto Tamada scoring second place back in 2004. Bridgestone is hopeful of maintaining its recent strong form as the 2006 MotoGP season enters the final straight in Estoril this weekend. HIROSHI YAMADA – BRIDGESTONE MOTORSPORT – MOTORCYCLE RACING MANAGER “Estoril is one of the most technically demanding circuits on the MotoGP calendar with a combination of left and right-hand corners as well as a long main straight down which riders reach top speeds of over 330kmh. There is real diversity between the characteristics of the 13 corners with the four slower left-handers not quite as severe on the tyres as the higher speed right-handers and, in particular, the important final corner coming onto the 1km straight. Overall though, the track is not as hard on tyres as other venues we visit during the season, so we are confident that we have developed tyre compounds for Estoril that will allow our six riders to be competitive over the entire 4.182km lap. “This MotoGP season has seen its fair share of inclement weather, but Estoril’s coastal location usually means that the circuit is prone to unpredictable wind, rain and changeable temperatures. Last year’s race may not be a totally reliable form guide because it took place in April and in previous seasons we have raced at Estoril in September, so this year’s October date could alter temperatures. Generally we can expect track temperatures in the range of 20-30°C, depending on the ambient peak, which would permit us to run softer compounds. “We will continue to evaluate the performance of our new shape rear tyre this weekend and hope that its performance can replicate the sort of competitiveness and durability we have seen from Bridgestone tyres in the last few races. There is a lot still to play for in these final two events of the season.” BRIDGESTONE’S 2005 PORTUGUESE GP RACE RESULTS Position/Rider/Motorcycle/Race Time/Gap P5 Carlos Checa Ducati 47m43.827s +29.774s P8 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki 48m13.900s +59.847s P9 Loris Capirossi Ducati 48m21.771s +1m07.718s P12 Kenny Roberts Suzuki 48m48.104s +1m34.051s DNF John Hopkins Suzuki 26m51.387 +12 laps

The sixteenth and last but one race of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship will take place at the Estoril Circuit in Portugal, near Lisbon. More emotions and motivations for the Team PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP, ready to face the Portuguese round with much motivation. The Spanish JOSE LUIS CARDOSO, living at only a few hundredth kilometres from Lisbon, feels like at home and is dreaming about a good race in front of many sponsors and friends. The German ALEX HOFMANN would like to reach the Top Ten to confirm the last improvements. The first session of free practice will be on Friday 13th October at 10:00 a.m., local time (GMT + 1). LUIS D’ANTIN (Team Manager): “There are only two races left before the end of the season. The first this weekend in Portugal and the second at Valencia at the end of the month. We want to end this Championship in a positive way and this increase even more our motivations. It will be very important to obtain good results during these last two rounds, we will make our best to conquest more points for the general classification. Many sponsors and fans will be present and we must make the maximum to satisfy them”. ALEX HOFMANN #66: “Last year, unfortunately, I watched the race on television because, during the practice, I broke my left wrist. The ground is new this year and we will be the first ones to ride on it, the grip won’t surely be exceptional. Let’s hope that, as at Laguna Seca, we will manage to make a good job in these conditions. About the track, I like it, even if it has the slowest chicane of the season. We will see how things will go, this circuit has many changes of direction and needs a lot of grip”. JOSE LUIS CARDOSO #30: “This race is really important for me. It can be considered as one of my Home Grand Prix, which always is a very nice sensation. Seville, the city where I actually live, is only 400 km from Lisbon, so I expect to see many of my sponsors and friends. With the whole Team, we will make our best during the whole weekend to obtain the best result possible. The last time I raced here was in 2001, this track is quite mixed and I like it. Let’s hope that everybody will go in the right way. It is important for me to get a good result in front of my public”. CIRCUIT DETAILS The Estoril circuit is situated on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, 28km from capital city Lisbon, and was used as a MotoGP venue for the first time in 2000. Built in 1972 by Ferrnanda Pires da Silva, the circuit was mainly used for European F2 races and, only after major redevelopment, it staged its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1984. 4182 metres long with 13 corners (4 to the left and 9 to the right), it is one of the trickiest tracks on the MotoGP calendar. There are long, constant radius corners with heavy braking zones, bumpy straights and a difficult chicane, which was added to the back section in 1994. The geographical position of the circuit means that weather can be unpredictable, although its nature is generally warm and dry. Longest straight: 986m Wide: 14m Pole Position: left Direction: clockwise MotoGP – Circuit Record: 1’38.423 (Valentino Rossi – 2004) MotoGP – Fastest Lap: 1’37”202 (Alex Barros – 2005) 2005 MotoGP Race: 1. Alex Barros (Honda) 2. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 3. Max Biaggi (Honda)

The MotoGP circus travels to Portugal for the penultimate race of the most thrilling MotoGP season yet, the Ducati Marlboro Team confident of another impressive performance following Loris Capirossi’s superb win in last month’s Japanese Grand Prix. The Italian stormed to his third victory of the year at Motegi (his sixth win with Ducati) in awesome style while team-mate Sete Gibernau finished just 1.3 seconds outside the top three. Capirossi and Gibernau are convinced they can once again run up front at Estoril, the slowest circuit in MotoGP but nevertheless a real challenge for riders and engineers alike. Both men will be gunning for the Portuguese podium, Capirossi aiming to crown what is already the Ducati Marlboro Team’s most successful season with a fourth race win, Gibernau anxious to put his midseason injuries fully behind him by scoring his first podium of the year. Mathematically, the 2006 MotoGP World Championship is not yet out of Capirossi’s reach. The man who has scored seven podium finishes this year with wins in Spain, the Czech Republic and Japan, runner-up results in France, Italy and Malaysia and a third place in Qatar is currently fourth overall, 31 points behind series leader Nick Hayden and 19 behind the second, Valentino Rossi. LORIS CAPIROSSI, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 4th overall, 205 points “I am happy to go to these last two races because I understand our potential and I feel confident, especially after our win at Motegi. I am quite optimistic because both Estoril and Valencia could be run in cool conditions and Bridgestone have understood some important things and made some big steps forward with their cold-tyre performance. Our tyres worked very well in the cool at Phillip Island, in fact I think we had an advantage in those conditions, though we were out of luck in the race. Estoril isn’t a bad track, it’s not that interesting or that boring either, it’s in the middle really, though it does have one of the greatest corners in MotoGP. You attack Turn Five at 230km/h, it’s a lot of fun, when you get it right! As far as the championship goes, it isn’t over until it’s over. We have seen many big changes in the points situation throughout the year, which proves that anything can happen. Like at Phillip Island, going into that race (Dani) Pedrosa was second in the championship but he got only one point there and that changed everything for him.” SETE GIBERNAU, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 10th overall, 95 points “Just two races to go this season and I feel like we are very close to achieving the kind of results we have deserved for quite a while now. We were in good shape at Motegi but I lost some time during the first few laps of the race, so at Estoril we need to keep our heads down from the first lap to the last. Estoril is a strange track, very strange. It’s got a long main straight but then it’s got some really tiny corners. I have always been fast there but I’ve never clicked a really good result. The weather will be crucial because it could be quite cold, which can cause some problems through the left-handers because the track is very asymmetric (with nine right-handers and only four lefts), so it’s not easy to get a lot of heat into the left side of the tyres. But Bridgestone have been working really well recently, working towards being fully competitive at every race, in both cool and hot conditions. At Estoril you need the front to turn really well, it has to turn well and you need confidence in the front so you can really attack the little corners, but then you need confidence in the front at every track!” LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP project manager “We go to Estoril feeling very optimistic about our chances because we have been very competitive during the last few races. At the last four GPs Loris has scored two wins, a second place and a seventh at Phillip Island, where we were unlucky with the weather, which is an amazing performance, while Sete has also done pretty well considering that Sepang was his first race following a second operation to fix his broken collarbone. We are certain that both riders will be aspiring to make the podium at Estoril.” THE TRACK The contrast of very slow and very fast corners at Estoril requires certain compromises in chassis settings and it’s the same with the engine – the contrast between the fast start-finish straight and the many slow-speed corners requires maximum peak horsepower as well as gentle low-rpm performance. But perhaps the greatest concern for riders is the track’s proximity to the Atlantic. High-speed winds often whip off the ocean, blowing bikes and riders off course, and throwing dust onto the circuit, reducing grip. Estoril hosts its seventh World Championship GP this year, though this is the ninth Portuguese GP. The nation’s first two GPs were held at Spanish tracks in 1987 and 1988, because Estoril failed MotoGP’s stringent track safety standards. Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 1m 38.423s, 152.964km/h, 95.047mph (2004) Pole position 2005: Alex Barros (Honda) 1m 37.202s DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS LORIS CAPIROSSI Age: 33 (born April 4, 1973) Lives: Monaco Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 GP starts: 246 (76xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125) GP victories: 28 (6xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125) First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125) First GP: Japan, 1990 (125) Pole positions: 41 (8xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125) First pole: Australia, 1991 (125) World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998) Estoril 2005 results: Grid: 6th Race: 9th SETE GIBERNAU Age: 33 (born December 15, 1972) Lives: Switzerland Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 GP starts: 172 (77xMotoGP, 76×500, 19×250) GP victories: 9 (8xMotoGP, 1×500) First GP victory: Valencia, 2001 (500) First GP: Spain, 1993 (250) Pole positions: 13 (12xMotoGP, 1×500) First pole: South Africa, 2000 (500) Estoril 2005 results: Grid: 2nd Race: DNF

After his exciting victory in the Australian GP and a podium in Motegi, the chase for the title is back on for Marco Melandri. Currently third in the championship on 209 points, 27 behind series leader Nicky Hayden, the Fortuna Honda rider has two more races to make up the gap – a difficult but not impossible mission for the 24year-old rider, who has already shown this season that he is a winning rider, ready to tackle any situation. Thanks to the renewal of the contract with the Honda Gresini team for next season, Marco Melandri can tackle the final two races with extra motivation. “We are very pleased to announce the renewal of the contract with Marco for 2007” announced officially FAUSTO GRESINI last Saturday, the 7th of October, during the ceremony of the 35th anniversary of Honda Italy. “This was our main target and we are happy to have met it. I have always believed in Marco’s potential, and during these two seasons together he has reached great results, demonstrating to be a top rider and gaining in Honda’s estimation.” Since the start of their MotoGP alliance in fact, Melandri and the Gresini team have claimed so far 14 podiums and 5 wins. Second in the champion at his debut on the Rc211V, this season Marco has taken 3 victories and is still fighting for the championship. “I’m really happy” said MARCO MELANDRI, delighted with the contract renovation. “For me it was very important to find a team that allowed me to work at the top and at ease. Now we have all the elements to do a big step forward. After two difficult months, I’m happy to keep on working with Fausto Gresini who has always believed in me, supporting me in all situations. After two years together I look confident to next year and hope to reach important goals. I’m really happy with the team around me, we’re all working well together. Now I can focus on the two final races, trying to do my best every GP”. Estoril and Valencia promise to deliver a cliff-hanger of a season finale – two races with any number of riders ready to go for the win and challenge for the maximum points haul of 50. The 16th round of a demanding season takes place at a challenging circuit that combines tight corners and long straights. The changeable conditions always represent an added area of risk because of the circuit’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, which can provoke drastic weather changes and strong winds. MARCO MELANDRI: “Now we go to two circuits that I like – I’m ready for this final challenge. I have shown that I am competitive in all conditions and I’m ready to fight to win every Sunday. The championship has never been as open as it is this year and I’m not in a position to defend, I can take a few risks and just focus on setting the bike up to enjoy myself. It’s important at this circuit that the bike is well balanced, stable under braking and agile in the direction changes. It’s actually quite a slow circuit, characterised by one long straight and five first gear corners. Last year the race was spoilt by the rain – it was a strange race and I finished fifth. Now I feel motivated, I’m in good form and the recent good results have given me extraordinary energy.” TONI ELIAS: “Together with the team we’re doing a really good job now and we take another step forward every time. A second row start and sixth place in the race in Japan mean I can look forward to the next round with optimism. I’m determined to turn this difficult season around and I hope things can go well from the start at Estoril. I like the track, especially the uphill chicane, which is the distinctive section of the track – a really slow but technical ‘S’, probably the slowest on the calendar. The straight, which is almost a kilometre long, is fast and is followed by really hard braking into turn 1 whilst the last corner is also quite fast and is crucial to a good lap time.” ESTORIL – THE TRACK Circuit: Fernanda Pires da Silva Constructed: 1972 Latest modification: 1999 Length: 4.182 m Width: 14 m Pole position:Left Right corners: 9 Left corners: 4 Longest straight: 986 m MotoGP race: 28 laps, 117.096 km

The BMW North America-backed San Jose BMW team is convinced that MOTO-ST’s recent rules clarification banning the use of center-lift stands for the upcoming Daytona 8-Hour is part of a conspiracy aimed directly at lead rider Brian Parriott and the team’s trick new center-lift stand, built by Kosman Specialties in Windsor, California, north of Santa Rosa. MOTO-ST boss Roger Edmondson denies the charges and says the organization didn’t know anything about San Jose BMW’s center-lift stand at the time the rules were changed. Edmondson also told roadracingworld.com that BMW consultant Udo Gietl complained that the now-illegal stand cost $17,000 to build and has threatened to sue the organization for not allowing it to be used. Sandy Kosman told roadracingworld.com that while the San Jose BMW team’s total bill at his shop was $17,000 it also included prototype design and fabrication of captive wheel spacers, caliper mounts, brake lines and other parts, as well as installation of ceramic wheel bearings. “Anybody could build that stand for $1000” if they did it themselves, Kosman said, adding that Kosman Specialities had completed 186 billable hours of work on the project, plus parts. BMW North America has contributed to funding the San Jose BMW effort, including paying Gietl to consult with the team on preparing the bike and running the effort. Besides Californian Parriott, Nate Kern of New Jersey and Stephan Mertens of Belgium will ride the San Jose BMW at Daytona. In an Internet post on the issue, Edmondson wrote: “In the original September 8th letter we sent to every team who requested an entry, we made it clear that we were still fine tuning and editing the rules. We stated that the final rules would be posted on September 25th and that subsequent changes would be in the Supplemental Regulations which would be mailed to each entered team on October 10th. “The rule changes regarding the use of separate, inexpensive, and readily available stands were made on the 25th. In fact, if you look at our web site and check the Sporting Regulations, the ones listed were there since September 27th. The idea that this change represents our ‘caving’ to a manufacturer or some attitude we may have towards BMW of San Jose, other than respect, is ludicrous and offensive. It is offensive to accuse other MOTO-ST teams of lobbying for favor. It is offensive to accuse us of giving favor. Those who know me and know my record know that while I have proper respect for people, I am not a respecter of persons or powers when it comes to the rules and their enforcement. “There is quite an uproar about last minute rule changes, particularly coming from the BMW camp, but not one of those complaints revolves around the rule change we made at their request, in respect to their rear hub. This was a reasonable request, appeared to address an inequity, and was put into effect in the very same bulletin that has created so much angst. “Finally, the intent of the battery power tools rule and the stand rule is to keep the need for trick and special stuff (= cost) to a minimum. Everyone has access to battery powered tools at relatively low cost. Not everyone already has or needs air powered equipment, but if one has it, all really need it to be competitive and it adds nothing to the racing or safety. Those who think battery powered tools create too much of a fire hazard should use hand tools. They are also allowed. “The stand on the BMW was never mentioned to me until this weekend. The first person to argue the stand rule was Keith Perry and he got the same answer the BMW team is getting…..NO! “It makes no sense to me that anyone would build a stand that cost more than the motorcycle it is supporting, but it was represented to us that the stand in question cost $17,000.00. Maybe true, maybe not. If so, one must question the value judgements used to allow it to be built. If not, one must suspect every other argument brought forth by the individuals using their high investment as reasons we should say yes. “To all of you, I am pleased that you are interested enough to discuss the new series and new programs. I promise you this…..the first race will be the worst one we ever run and we will be on a program of continuous improvement. That is how businesses are supposed to serve their customers and that is our mission.” Read more about it here: ~http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=180511~ ~http://insider.speedtv.com/viewtopic.php?t=124813&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15~

The Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association closed out its 2006 season with the 10th and final round of its Championship series held at Texas World Speedway, near College Station, Texas, where newly-crowned AMA Superbike Champion (and former CMRA Champion) Ben Spies surprised the membership by competing in Saturday’s 6-hour endurance race. Spies enlisted the help of a couple of his Texas buddies, Kevin Schwantz and John Haner (also former CMRA Champs), in the Shogun Motorsports-sponsored race, as the trio teamed up with current CMRA member Randall Kienast on Kienast’s GSX-R1000. After coming from the back of the grid to take the lead during the first hour of the race, and then repeating the process during the second hour after a stripped rear sprocket put them in last place again, the “Dream Team” dropped out of contention during the final hour when their Suzuki, which was actually set up for sprint racing, gave up under Haner. “Spies told me he was coming here to do an endurance race this weekend and he asked me if I wanted to ride,” Schwantz said. “I told him, ‘naw, I don’t really like riding 1000s that much’, and so Spies goes, ‘pussy!’ And so here I am.” “This was just something to do,” added Spies. The endurance race was won by Team Ridesmart, also running a GSX-R1000, which finished a full lap ahead of second place finishers GMAN Racing on a Kawasaki ZX-10R. However, the third place-finishing team, Desert-Rats.net, riding a YZF-R1, claimed the overall CMRA Endurance Championship by taking third place at the Texas World Speedway race. Heading into the final event of the year, Northwest Honda Racing held a slight lead over Desert-Rats.net in the overall standings, however, team member Ronnie Lunsford broke his leg in a crash during practice on Friday at the speedway and then Gregg Abbott broke his pelvis and ankle in a crash during the second hour of competition, effectively putting the “Houston boys” out of contention for the overall title. The Northwest team did manage to finish 24th overall in the race, and by doing so, claimed the Formula 1 title for the year. Coincidentally, both crashes occurred in Texas World Speedway’s infamous turn eight. Village Idiots claimed the C Superbike win and the series class title with a sixth overall finish, while Faltless Racing took the Formula 2 class win and overall title by finishing 15th overall. 2Wheelz.com claimed the C Superstock series title after taking the class win with a fourth overall finish. In Sunday’s sprint racing action, Dane Westby claimed four Expert wins and Ty Howard claimed three, while Tyler McDonald and Dustin Dominguez each took two, to top all money-class winners. Westby’s wins came in the Roadracingworld.com Formula 2 Expert race; the Lightweight Twins Expert race; the South Central Race Center D Superbike Expert race; and the D Superstock Expert race. Meanwhile, Howard claimed wins in the Komodo Racing C Superstock Expert race; the Pace American Trailers Formula 1 race, which pays a $1000 purse, and the Motorcycles Unlimited C Superbike Expert race. McDonald took wins in the Racing Performance Services B Superstock Expert race, and the B Superbike race, while Dominguez took wins in the Super Motard race and the Unlimited Motard race. Other Expert-class winners included Logan Young (Sum of all Parts A Superstock Expert race), Bryan West (RaceworX A Superbike Expert race), Ronnie Hay (Heavyweight Twins), Derek Wagnon (Northwest Honda 125 GP), Pete Martins (Formula 40 Heavyweight), and Eric Falt (Avteq Formula 40 Lightweight Expert race). In Saturday’s mini sprint action, Garet Tomlinson won the Formula 4 race over Chuck Ergle and Carson Wieland, while Conner Blevins won the Formla 6 division ahead of Alan Phillips and Roger Albert. In the Formula 5 race, Derek Wagnon topped Chris Kotowski and Conner Blevins, while Roger Albert beat Alan Phillips and Jason Keene to take the Formula 7 win. Esteban Sanchez won the Junior Motard race over Brandon Altmeyer and Randall Falt. The CMRA will hand out series awards at its annual banquet which will be held on November 11th in Fort Worth.

Corser and Haga sign to race the R1 in 2007 Yamaha Motor Italia has signed Australian Troy Corser to ride alongside Noriyuki Haga in the 2007 Superbike World Championship. The spectacular line-up demonstrates Yamaha’s commitment to a series they returned to in 2005. Haga has won races on the R1 in each season ending the 2005 and 2006 campaigns third in the standings. Corser is a two-time world champion with 33 race wins to his credit. He won the series with Ducati in 1996 and became the first rider to win the world superbike championship on a 1000cc four-cylinder machine last year. The Australian has competed in 250 world superbike races, more than any other active rider, and alongside Haga will provide Yamaha with an experienced and formidable squad as they look to win their first title in the class. The first appearance of Troy Corser with the Yamaha Motor Italia squad is planned to take place in Mugello on 25th October. Troy Corser “I am extremely happy to have the chance to work with Yamaha. The team has lots of experience and is very professional. Nori and I get along well and I think together we will be strong in development and bike set up. I’m looking forward to riding the bike and I will be aiming to score my third world title on the R1.” Noriyuki Haga “I’m very happy to be staying with Yamaha Motor Italia. After two seasons together we have a very good working relationship and it was always my first choice to stay with Yamaha and continue our good work. My aim, as always, is to win the championship and I think Yamaha gives me the best chance to do it. I am looking forward to working with Troy as he has a lot of experience. We can learn a great deal from him, which will help make the bike even more competitive. We have had many great battles over the years and he is a rider for whom I have a massive amount of respect. I am sure that he will be a good team-mate – as well as one of my biggest rivals.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator Yamaha Motor Italia) “I believe this rider pairing is a dream come true for any team manager. With Noriyuki we feel that we are ready to reap the rewards of the past two years. We have learned his specific bike preparation preferences, his way of communication and his approach to races. We both share the same strong feelings and it is now time to cash in on our investments.” “Troy is a proven championship winner and known as a highly qualified developer who is obviously very experienced. We expect him to be up front from the start. It’s important for me to thank Andrew (Pitt) for all his efforts over the past two years. He did a great job, nevertheless we have chosen to go for the extra experience of Troy as a two times world champion. Particularly for his ability to set up a bike and tyre selection during the race weekend, we expect this to be a mutual benefit for both riders. We expect that Troy and Noriyuki will work together closely in the development of the 2007 bike. It’s essential to be ready from race one to go for the title with both riders”. Laurens Klein Koerkamp (Racing Manager – Yamaha Motor Europe) “To have Noriyuki and Troy as team-mates gives Yamaha a very strong base for our 2007 world title challenge. Both riders are big characters in the world of superbike, who combine experience, consistency and success with flamboyance and aggression. Noriyuki is a true Yamaha man and part of the family, having already ridden three different Yamaha models in world superbike. In the third year with R1 the only objective is to be champion. Troy brings a wealth of development and bike setting up experience, that we believe will be beneficial to the whole team. He is extremely motivated to win a third title with as many different manufacturers. All in all, I believe we will have two serious title candidates who will provide an interesting rider cocktail on track and off track.”