Professional riders who have ridden the newly-resurfaced track at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course report that the track is extremely slippery when wet and possibly too dangerous to race on in the rain. “We raced endurance here a couple of years ago, and we ran in the rain,” James Kerker, an AMA Superbike regular, told Roadracingworld.com after riding the Mid-Ohio track in the wet during the AMA Grand Championships last weekend. “We could easily run 1:45s in the rain and had plenty of grip, no real change in the surface at all, similar to what Road Atlanta is in the rain. But since they repaved it, pretty much everywhere, even off the sealer [Street Bond], is really slippery. You can’t get on the throttle at all. We were running basically 2:00-flat lap times versus 1:45s. There’s no traction anywhere.” “It was real unpredictable,” said Lester Racing/ESP’s Ben Thompson after making a wet lap of Mid-Ohio during the AMA Grand Championships. “It’s hard to tell what’s really slick and what’s not. There’s no avoiding any of the [Street Bond] spots there, and there’s a lot of walls that are really close to those really slick spots. I think it’s much too dangerous. It’s definitely the most dangerous of any track I’ve been around in the wet, and I’ve ridden some really bad tracks. Like Autobahn, that’s solid sealer through every turn, but there’s no walls.” “It’s very slippy,” said Gary Mason after riding Mid-Ohio in the wet Thursday. Mason rides for Corona Suzuki in the AMA but has spent most of his racing career in the British Superbike Championship. “If you go on the racing line where the cars go, both wheels just move offline about a foot. It’s very difficult to get a balance of how hard you can push. If you push hard into a turn and go to power out, then you go onto something [surface] different and you’ve got no grip. “We’ve got tracks this slippy in England. Donington Park, because of the new resurfacing, was as slippy as anything. So many people crashed at the British Superbike round this year it was horrendous. It’s possible [to race in the rain at Mid-Ohio], but obviously you have issues with certain walls, don’t you?” “This place is terrible in the wet,” said Jeremy McWilliams, after riding on a cold, wet track Thursday morning. “The sealer [Street Bond] seems to be the worst part. The level of traction on the sealer is so much different than any other part of the surface.”

AMA Road Race Series Director Keith Kizer Told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday that AMA Pro Racing would race in the rain this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, if needed. Reaction to the decision from AMA professional riders polled by Roadracingworld.com Thursday was mixed. “It’s hard for me to say before going out and riding on it,” said Parts Unlimited PJ1 Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes, who leads the extremely-tight AMA Formula Xtreme Championship into the season finale. “The surface will be the same for everybody. I’ll be ready either way.” “I’d like to see someone go out and test the track first, and that wouldn’t be me,” said Attack Kawasaki’s Damon Buckmaster. “I think if they tell us that’s what we’re doing, then I’ll be out there,” said Hooters Helpmeride.com Suzuki’s Eric Wood. “It’s not my favorite deal, but we’ll do what we’ve got to do. “If you look at this place compared to other places we don’t race at in the rain, the dangers aren’t as bad as Road Atlanta but other than a couple of iffy places it’s better than Elkhart Lake [Road America]. Elkhart Lake combines higher speeds with the close proximity of walls.” “I won’t race in the rain here,” said American Honda’s Jake Zemke, one of the only factory riders at Mid-Ohio Thursday morning. “It’s stupid. It’s a safety issue. We just went through this a couple of months ago. It’s the lack of run-off room, that’s the problem. It’s the same old story. We all know we slide farther and faster on wet grass. “Yeah, they had an Amateur race here last weekend, but they have Amateur races at Loudon all the time and the AMA doesn’t race at Loudon.”

Imola (Italy), Thursday 28th September: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) returns to the Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari di Imola this weekend for the penultimate round of the 2006 World Superbike Championship and another championship finale, four years on from the memorable battle with Honda’s Colin Edwards in 2002 This time round however Troy finds himself in a completely different situation, having strung together ten victories throughout the 2006 season to stamp his authority on the series. This has left him with a comfortable 87-point lead in the standings, with two rounds (Imola and Magny-Cours) and four races left to run. At Imola the 37 year-old Australian basically just needs to finish fourth or better in race 1, irrespective of how his rivals Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) or James Toseland (Honda) do, to clinch the World Superbike title for the second time. “I have been thinking about this weekend for sure, but just normally really” said Troy. “My approach is the same as everywhere. We start off tomorrow, work on the bike, try and get a good race set-up and then go for the win. There are lots of different scenarios but the most important one is that I need a fourth or better and that wraps it up, but I’m certainly not going to be riding around for fourth place. I’m looking forward to Imola, I like racing here, I went pretty good in 2002 and had a great race with Colin. This time I’m sure Nori and James are out to do whatever they can to try and stop me but it’s going to be difficult for them. Imola’s a great track, lots of character but the surface is variable especially in the wet. But the forecast is looking good and we want to see a lot of people here on Sunday”. Team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi still has a couple more opportunities to search for that vital spark that has eluded him throughout the year, performances that will enable him to repeat his sensational race-winning form of the end of 2005. Imola presents an ideal opportunity as the 24 year-old from Cesena hails from just down the road. “I am calm and relaxed even though I know that this race is going to be important for my future” declared Lorenzo. “I hope to start the weekend off well and go well, not only in qualifying but this time also in the races on Sunday. I like the Imola circuit, last year I went well in qualifying but then in the races on the wet track things were a bit more difficult. However this track is really great, all ups and downs, technical and difficult. I can undoubtedly count on some local support here; Sunday will probably be crazy at the Lorenzo Lanzi Fans Club curve, there will be a lot of them, hopefully I’ll give them something to shout about!” Troy and Lorenzo will be racing at Imola with a special emblem on the side fairing of their Ducati 999F06s in honour of a ‘twinning’ between the Friuli Aircraft Brigade, based in Bologna, and the factory Ducati Xerox Superbike Team. In addition on Sunday parachutists from the Friuli Brigade will make a spectacular jump onto the circuit between the two races. THE CIRCUIT Name: Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari di Imola Length: 4.959 km Pole Position: left Finish line length: 358 metres CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after 10 of 12 rounds): Riders – 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 357; 2. Haga (Yamaha) 270; 3. Toseland (Honda) 264; 4. Corser (Suzuki) 211; 5. Pitt (Yamaha) 210; 6. Barros (Honda) 186; 7. Kagayama (Suzuki) 177; 8. Walker (Kawasaki) 134; 9. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 133; 10. Nieto (Kawasaki) 127. Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 376; 2. Yamaha 339; 3. Honda 328; 4. Suzuki 320; 5. Kawasaki 196; 6. Petronas 19. STATISTICS: The Variante Alta has been modified and the Imola track now measures 4.959 km instead of the previous 4.933 km. 2005 RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Vermeulen (Honda); 2. Corser (Suzuki); 3. Haga (Yamaha). Race 2 cancelled.

The first annual Roadrace Southwest Classic Superbike and Vintage GP Sprint will run with the December 2, 3, CCS event at Firebird Raceway, near Phoenix, Arizona. The Classic Superbike and Vintage GP Sprint will be on Sunday, December 03, allowing for practice on both mornings. There will be a single Classic Superbike & Vintage GP race (pre-1980 equipment, GP rules), but riders may enter other racess as rules eligibility allows. The Vintage riders will be responsible for policing their own echnical eligibility rules. All Vintage bikes must pass CCS tech, including oil containment, the rules are similar to those required by AHRMA. Roadrace SW will recognize all current racing licenses as proof of racing experience. Racers who are not licensed with CCS will need to purchase a CCS license. Pre-entry is strongly preferred. Racetrack and entry information can be found at ~http://www.roadracesw.com~ Vintage class specific questions can be directed to: [email protected]

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – An additional AMA Superbike practice session has been added to Friday’s schedule at the AMA Superbike Shootout held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sept. 29 Oct. 1. This weekend’s season finale will run under a unique format using heat races and a Last Chance Qualifier instead of timed qualifying to determine the grid for Sunday’s Superbike Championship finale. Grids for the heat races will be determined by times set during Friday’s practice sessions. “Since practice sessions will determine grid position for Saturday’s heat races we felt it was in the best interest of all riders and teams to maximize those sessions. This will give competitors additional time to work on their bike set-up and strategy,” said Keith Kizer, AMA Road Race Series Director. “The heat-race format is going to add a lot of excitement to the Mid-Ohio event and we want to give riders and teams every opportunity to do their best in this season-ending race.” Superbike riders will now have two practice sessions on Friday and one on Saturday morning in preparation for Saturday afternoon’s heat races. The season finale will mark the final showdown between Yoshimura Suzuki teammates Ben Spies and Mat Mladin. Spies, a second-year Superbike rider from Longview, Texas, is trying to unseat Australian Mladin, the most dominant rider in the history of the series and the winner of six of the last seven AMA Superbike Championships. Mid-Ohio’s AMA Superbike Shootout is the culmination of an action-packed week of racing that also featured the AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships. The season finale of the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited will receive same-day national television coverage on SPEED at 6:00 p.m. eastern. Tickets for the AMA Superbike Shootout are available now by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or logging on to www.midohio.com. MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE – SEPT. 29-OCT. 1, 2006 (Revised Friday Schedule) Thursday, Sept. 28 3:00pm – 7:00pm Registration: For Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests 3:00pm – 7:30pm Tech Inspection 6:30pm Post-Entry Closed for all Classes Friday, Sept. 29 7:30am – 4:00pm Registration: For Crew, Sponsors & Guests 8:00am – 5:00pm Tech Inspection 8:30am – 9:30am Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets Practice 9:40am – 10:40am AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Practice 10:50am – 11:50am Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Practice Noon – 1:00pm Repsol Lubricants Superstock Practice 1:00pm – 2:00pm Lunch Break 1:20pm Mandatory Rider Briefing (on hot pit lane) 2:00pm – 2:30pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Practice 2:40pm – 3:20pm Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Group 1 3:30pm – 4:10pm Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Group 2 4:20pm – 5:00pm AMA Sports Practice Saturday, Sept. 30 7:30am – 3:00pm Registration: For Crew, Sponsors & Guests 8:00am – 5:00pm Tech Inspection 8:30am – 9:00am Repsol Lubricants Superstock Practice 9:10am – 9:40am Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets Practice 9:50am – 10:20am AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Practice 10:30am – 11:00am AMA Sports Practice 11:10am – 11:40am Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Practice 11:40am – 12:40pm Lunch Break – Autograph Session 12:40pm – 1:10pm Repsol Lubricants Superstock Qualifying Group 1 1:20pm – 1:50pm Repsol Lubricants Superstock Qualifying Group 2 2:00pm – 2:30pm Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets Qualifying Group 1 2:40pm – 3:10pm Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets Qualifying Group 2 3:25pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Heat Race 1 (5 laps) 3:50pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Heat Race 2 (5 laps) 4:15pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Heat Race 3 (5 laps) 4:40pm Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Race (60k – 16 laps) 5:20pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited LCQ Heat Race (5 laps) Sunday, Oct. 1 8:00am – Noon Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests 8:30am Tech Inspection Open 8:30am – 8:50am AMA Sports Practice 9:00am – 9:20am Repsol Lubricants Superstock Practice 9:30am – 9:50am Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets Practice 10:00am – 10:20am AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Practice 11:00am Repsol Lubricants Superstock Race (60k – 16 laps) 11:50am AMA Sports Race – 600 Superstock (10 laps) 12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch Break 12:45 Chapel Service (Pegram Race Team Hauler) 1:45pm Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets Race (60k – 16 laps) 3:00pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race (100k – 26 laps) 4:15pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Consolation Race (60k – 16 laps)

SONOMA, Calif. “” Six-time AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin will join more than 100 other riders on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at Infineon Raceway in a benefit for injured AMA rider Vincent Haskovec. The fund-raiser, which is being hosted by 3J’s Motorcycle Track Days, will include an open motorcycle track day over the twisting road course that will feature ample on-track time, similar to past 3J’s Motorcycle Track Days. Haskovec was injured as a result of an accident at an AMA event at Infineon Raceway in 2005 and is currently receiving care and living in Arizona. The native of Czechoslovakia is expected to attend the event, as will Mladin (Suzuki), who is the most decorated Superbike rider in AMA history with 50 wins. Mladin will pilot a GSX-R750 during the day. “I’m really looking forward to this track day and helping Vincent out in any way that I can,” said Mladin, who also holds the record for Superbike wins in a season with 11. “This is going to be a great day and I hope other AMA riders come out and support it.” In addition, the day will include a sumptuous lunch, T-shirt and raffle, with all proceeds benefiting Haskovec. Cost for the full day of riding is $290; to register visit www.3jstrackdays.com. The festivities will continue into the evening hours at Infineon Raceway with a Spaghetti Feed and Auction. Event organizers hope to obtain signed gear from top AMA riders for the evening event, as well as attract top AMA riders to the dinner. Individual seats ($100), as well as entire 10-seat tables ($1,000), are available for purchase “” cost for the dinner is separate from the on-track motorcycle day. Jere Starks, vice president of facilities at Infineon Raceway, developed the concept of 3J’s Motorcycle Days in 2003 with friends Jim Randolph and Jay Brosius. All three are avid motorcycle riders. Since then, the trio has hosted nine 3J’s Motorcycle Days at Infineon Raceway, raising more than $100,000 for qualified youth groups in Sonoma County through Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway. This marks the second fund-raiser for Haskovec “” a 3J’s event last year generated $40,000. “We’re hoping to generate as much money as we can to help Vincent,” said Starks, who has targeted a goal of $60,000. “He’s a great young man and we’re excited at the prospects of what we can raise. The motorcycle community is a very giving community and we hope they give for Vincent.” To sign-up for the on-track motorcycle day or dinner, or for more information, please visit www.3jstrackdays.com. If you cannot attend the fund-raiser but would like to contribute, make your check payable to the NEXT STEP FOUNDATION and mail c/o Jere Starks at Infineon Raceway (Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, CA. 95476).

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Herv̩ Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Mr Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), in a meeting held on September 23 at the circuit of Twin Ring Motegi, unanimously decided to introduce the following amendments to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations application as from 1st January 2007. Technical Regulations 2.9. РTyre restrictions for MotoGP 2.9.1 РWet tyres are not subject to supply restriction. A wet tyre is defined as a tyre which has a land to sea ratio of at least 20% overall, and a minimum ratio of 7% in each third of the section profile. The tyre may be moulded or hand cut, but each groove must have a minimum depth of three millimetres over 90% of its length. Any tyre with a land to sea ratio of less than 20% will be deemed a slick tyre. In case of dispute the decision of the Technical Director will be final. 2.9.2 РPrior to the start of the season (defined as the day before the start of the first IRTA MotoGP test of the current year), each team must register the brand of tyre it will be using with the Grand Prix Technical Director. Should a team choose to change its designated brand of tyre during the season it must inform the Technical Director in writing prior to the start of scrutineering at the event where the change will take place. 2.9.3 РTeams that are supplied by a tyre manufacturer that has achieved at least two MotoGP race wins in dry conditions since the first race of the 2005 season will be restricted in the quantity of slick tyres that each of the teams riders may use at a single event as follows: -During all practice sessions, warm up and the race a maximum of 31 slick tyres, specifically РFront tyres: 14 Rear tyres: 17 -When a tyre manufacturer, not subject to the limitation at the beginning of the season, achieves two MotoGP wins in dry conditions during the current season, it will become subject to the restrictions at the third event after the one where the second win was achieved. 2.9.4 РBetween 12.00 hrs. and 17.00 hrs. on the day prior to the start of official practice, the Technical Director will mark the tyres available to each entered rider. 2.9.5 РEach motorcycle entering the track fitted with slick or hand cut tyres (as defined in Art. 2.9.1) must first have its tyres checked for compliance. 2.9.6 РIn the case of an interrupted race, a rider must use tyres from his allocation of marked tyres for the restarted race. 2.9.7 РIn the unlikely event of a tyre being accidentally damaged during the fitting process it may be replaced with a tyre of the same specification with the permission of the Technical Director. Such replacement tyres will be marked and included in the allocation of the rider concerned. 2.9.8 РShould an exceptional and unpredictable safety problem arise for a manufacturer during an event, so as to prevent a team supplied with its tyres from safely competing in the race, then that manufacturer must inform and prove to the satisfaction of the Technical Director the severity of the problem. The Technical Director may then ask the Race Direction to grant an exemption. Such request must be made before 17.00 hrs. on the day of qualifying practice. The exemption if granted will apply as follows: -Each rider using tyres supplied by the manufacturer granted the exemption will be supplied with three tyres of a new specification (front and/or rear depending on the determination of the problem). Such replacement tyres will be marked by the Technical Director, and only these tyres may be used in the race. -A new provisional starting grid will be published with all of the riders supplied with the tyres of the manufacturer granted the exemption starting at the rear of the grid in the order of their qualifying positions.

AMA Pro Racing officials are making plans to race if it rains this coming weekend during the AMA Superbike Championship finale at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, in Lexington, Ohio. “I’ve told everyone to plan on racing in the rain this weekend,” Keith Kizer, AMA Road Race Series Director, told Roadracingworld.com in a telephone interview Wednesday. “I’ve called all the tires companies and told them to bring rain tires. “Our focus is to not run in the rain if we don’t have to. We may stand down and wait it [rain] out if we feel we have an opportunity to dry the track. “But we ran a race in the rain [at Mid-Ohio] last weekend without any major incidents. And we ran a very safe race. It’s not what we prefer to do, but it can be done.” At least some chance of rain is forecast for each day of this coming weekend, according to www.weather.com. On Thursday, an 80% chance of rain showers, possibly thunderstorms, is forecast along with a high temperature of 55°F. A 30% chance for morning rain showers is called for on Friday, along with a high temperature of 54°F. Saturday’s forecast calls for a 40% possibility of rain showers with a high temperature of 55° F. And Sunday’s weather is forecast as a 30% chance of occasional rain showers with a high temperature of 59°.