JENSEN, STOKES AND CAYLOR GET WINS DURING WERA NATIONAL AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK; VESRAH WINS ENDURANCE LEEDS, Ala. As expected, the racing during round nine of the WERA National Series at Barber Motorsports Park last weekend was some of the best of the season, with the top amateur riders in the nation going head-to-head with AMA privateers. Forty-four teams took the green flag during Saturday’s WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance Series race. Rain fell during the final seven minutes of the four hour race, but nothing could stop Vesrah Suzuki from taking another overall win. Mark Junge, Tray Batey and Lee Acree shared the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000, winning the Heavyweight Superbike class as well as overall. ARNCHU Racing earned the Heavyweight Superstock win with their finish of second overall. Randy Sherman, Nathan Dressman, Rick Knuckles and Mark Crozier formed the roster for the team, who rode a Suzuki GSX-R1000. Third overall and second in Heavyweight Superstock went to 5150 Racing, with Justin Marm, Phil Caudill, Tony Palarie and Charlie Coleman on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. A fifth-place finish for Dalke Motorsports’ Gio Rojas and Keith Marshall put the team at the front of the Mediumweight Superstock class. Even after four hours of racing, their Suzuki GSX-R600 crossed the finish line less than three seconds ahead of second-place TVRII. Ed Bargy Racing Endurance got their first Mediumweight Superbike win of the season. Jeff Selbert, Skip Salenius, Blake Jones and Ryan Clay shared the Suzuki GSX-R600. In the Lightweight Superbike class, Ghetto Customs rode to a three-lap margin of victory on their Suzuki SV650. Russell Stoddard, Chris Parrish, Cale Swiger and Tim Brewer were the riders responsible for the win. Sunday’s WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series action featured an impressive display of speed from Robert Jensen, who won Open Superstock, 600 Superstock and 750 Superstock in the expert division. Other expert winners included Brian Stokes, who beat Jensen to the line in Formula 1 by a third of a second. Opie Caylor started from the back in 600 and 750 Superbike, but by the end of each race he was at the front of the field. Tray Batey left the field behind in Heavyweight Twins Superstock, as did Brad Duncan in Formula 2. Jeff Walker had a tougher battle in Lightweight Twins Superstock, but he still came out at the top. In the novice division, Seth Starnes continued to impress, winning 600 and 750 Superstock, and 600 and 750 Superbike. Jason Eure won Open Superstock novice, and Jerry Reeves won Heavyweight Twins Superstock by less than one second. Brett Sassaman took a dominant victory in Lightweight Twins Superstock, and Jesse Stevens won Formula 2. Stevens also won both Mini 80 races, while Christopher Halbrooks won both Mini 50 events. The WERA Grand National Finals will feature the tenth and final round of the WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance Series and the WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series this season. The showcase event begins on Wednesday, October 11 and lasts until Sunday, October 15. More information about WERA can be found online at www.WERA.com. More, from a press release issued by Dalke Motorsports: DALKE MOTORSPORTS COMES FROM BEHIND FOR A CLASS WIN AND 5TH OVERALL Dalke Motorsports came to round 9 of the WERA National Endurance at Barber Motorsports Park with a refuse to lose attitude and left Saturday evening taking the win with the closest margin of victory of the season. This weekend really started several weeks back when team owner Brian Dalke decided to field both Suzuki’s in the last 2 rounds. His reasoning was simple, because of the tight point race between the top 3 teams, a second team could steal valuable points away from the competition. Due to ever changing weather conditions Friday, not much happened on track for Dalke. The team used the time to change some suspension components and solve a plaguing brake chatter problem that began at Summit Point. Both bikes started practice Saturday morning but unfortunately the 2nd team bike coasted in after just 3laps with a probable mechanical failure which left the team with one bike to focus on for the race. Keith Marshall, a 2005 team rider rejoined to finish this season and was selected to start the Barber race. Starting from the 3rd row, Keith battled hard to keep the bike in the top 6. He was given instructions to go fast but easy enough to conserve the Pirelli tires as the strategy was to use one set for the whole 4hr race. Giovanni jump on after a quick fuel stop and continued to hammer the pace. Rojas was able add to Keith’s lead when the first of 3 red flags came out eliminating a 30 second lead. Gio restarted and kept the lead while other teams tried different pit strategies which included tire changes. Dalke stuck to their plan and on the last stop measured the refill for just enough fuel to finish the race. Marshall jumped on the bike for a 35min sprint to the end. With rain clouds threatening Marshall maintained the pace holding the gap behind first place to less than a pit stop. With just 15min left in the race Marshall closed the gap to less than 3 seconds when the leading bike came in for a splash & go. What happened next was nothing short of an ESPN top ten moment. Marshall put his head down, closed the gap and took the lead for good just as the skies began spit rain. In the closing 3 minutes Marshall was actually stretching the lead as the rain began to fall harder. As Keith brought the bike in after the checker the skies opened up for a 10 minute downpour. Less than 10 points now separates Dalke and TVR2 from the class championship. With a class win paying 10 bonus points it all comes down to the final round at Road Atlanta. More, from a press release issued by Team Motorrad: BMW TEAM MOTORRAD COMPLETED FIRST ENDURANCE TEST AT BARBER IN PREPARATION FOR MOTO-ST SERIES BMW Endurance Racing Team, Team Motorrad, successfully completed their first test at Barber Motorsports Park over this past weekend. The team is preparing their BMW R1200S for the inaugural MOTO-ST event at Daytona in October. Team Motorrad campaigned their BMW R1200S in the 4-hour WERA National Endurance Series event at Barber, finishing 6th out of 13 bikes in the Middleweight Superbike class, and 22nd overall out of 45 entries. Commenting on their results, team owner Ivan Messina was enthusiastic. “Barber was a great test for us, and we are very happy with our results. The bike is basically stock, including the brakes, exhaust system, engine, almost everything. The only things we were able to change in time for this test were the spring rates on our shocks, thanks to Cogent Dynamics, and the addition of a dry-break fuel system and some race bodywork. To finish mid-pack against 600 Superbikes tells us that we are on the right track in preparation for MOTO-ST at Daytona.” According to Ivan, the team will complete one more test before Daytona, at Road Atlanta. “By then we should have new components from Wunderlich in Germany to test, including a full exhaust system and a fuel injection controller. It is getting down to the wire, but with some luck and hard work, everything will come together in time.” For more information on Team Motorrad visit www.teammotorrad.com More, from a press release issued by ARNCHU Racing: ARNCHU Racing Wins Class and Climbs Overall Ranking Yet Again at Barber 4-Hour This past weekend at the WERA 4-hour endurance race at Barber Motorsports Park, ARNCHU Racing won the Heavyweight Superstock class aboard their Michelin DOT-shod Suzuki GSX-R1000. The team took second overall and is now second in the overall championship points battle. ARNCHU riders Mark Crozier, Nathan Dressman and Randy Sherman rode in that order, with Crozier taking the second fastest team lap of 1:32.258. Three red flags interrupted Dressman’s stint, allowing him multiple attempts to get the ARNCHU bike off the line quickly. Only ARNCHU and one other team were on the lead lap until Dressman pitted for fuel and a rear tire. Sherman resumed the race as clouds loomed in the distance. Crozier took bike across the finish line on one wheel in a downpour that started with six minutes left. Rain continued to disrupt the practice sessions on Sunday, though all three ARNCHU riders performed into the top 10, with Crozier placing second in 600cc Superbike on a Triumph 675. ARNCHU novice, Allan Pett, worked hard to learn the new track and secured multiple podium positions. Consistent podium finishes have allowed the team build a points cushion for first place in the endurance class championship. ARNCHU travels to Road Atlanta for the WERA Grand National Finals for the final 4-hour and sprints on October 13th. Pictures from past rounds and information about the team can be found at arnchu.net.

One week is remaining for the drawing held by Safety First Suzuki to give two people a chance to attend the final MotoGP in Valencia, Spain. To qualify, surf over to Safety First Suzuki’s website: ~http://www.safetyfirstracing.com~. Every purchase on the website of Safety First Suzuki team inspired casual wear and/or Komodo riding gear will be an automatic entry into the drawing. Purchases greater than $20 will result in additional entries for every $20 increment. The grand prize for the winner and a guest will include round trip airfare from the continental United States, two tickets to the MotoGP race weekend held on October 29th 2006, lodging, transfers from the hotel to the track and a personal tour of the Suzuki MotoGP garage with a chance to meet Suzuki MotoGP riders John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen. See www.safetyfirstracing.com for complete details. Safety First Suzuki was formed in 2004 by police officer/racer, Kevin Hanson, based out of Chicago, IL. For 2006, Safety First Suzuki is competing in the AMA Superbike series in the Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes. The bikes are prepared by Jim Rashid and the team at 4&6 Racing in Skokie, IL. Checkout www.SAFETYFIRSTRACING.com to see the new Safety First/Suzuki/Komodo line of riding apparel and casual wear. Kevin Hanson continues to educate elementary school aged children nationwide about the importance of helmet usage.

The wild-card riders who will race in the Superbike and Supersport World Championships rounds scheduled on the circuit of Imola on October 1st next, are the following : SUPERBIKE Number/Rider/Team/Nomination 12 Ivan Goi (ITA-Honda CBR 1000RR) Emmebi Team FMI 26 Stefan Nebel (GER-Kawasaki ZX 10R) Kawasaki Docshop Racing FIM 40 Christophe Cogan (FRA-Kawasaki ZX 10R) Motosport Courneuvien 93 FIM 66 Norino Brignola (ITA-Ducati 999RS) Team Guandalini FMI SUPERSPORT Number/Rider/Team/Nomination 24 Stefano Cruciani (ITA-Honda CBR 600RR) Passione Moto FMI 69 Gianluca Nanelli (ITA-Ducati 749 R) Team Manila Grace SC FMI Maximum number and nomination of wild-cards riders: Superbike: 4 nominated by the FMNR (Organising Federation); 2 nominated by the FIM. Supersport: 2 nominated by the FMNR (Organising Federation). Superstock: 2 nominated by the FMNR (Organising Federation). – A compulsory briefing will be held for all the riders who will be participating for the first time in the current Championship, at 17h00 on the day preceding the day scheduled for the first practice session.

MOONS CYCLE II CAPTURES CONSECUTIVE TEAM CHALLENGE TITLES For the first time in ASRA Team Challenge history, the top four machines Overall were the winners of the four classes competing in Round 7 of the 2006 Championships. Moon’s Cycle II, Team Allstars.com, Fast Lane Racing GTU and Dafan Zhang all won their individual classes and were the top four on the overall rundown after a 20 minute red flag delay shortened the event from 67 laps to 61 for the winners. Just like they had it scripted, Moon’s Cycle II jumped out to an early lead in the GTO and Overall classes and left the entire field struggling to keep the pace. Unlike earlier events though, Moon’s plans were challenged early and often by the Fast Lane GTU Team and the eventual GTL winner Team Allstars.com. Both teams were able to keep the defending champions in sight and the pressure on. After one red flag and 2 hours of competition, five machines finished 61 laps to keep the outcome in doubt until the checkered flag flew over the new GTO and Overall Champions Moon’s Cycle II with Calvin Martinez and Scott Harwood. MSC II finished 4 laps ahead of the second place GTO team Mid-Illini/NFC Racing with Mitchell Stein, Matt Flowers, Lonnie Michaels and Paul Gilchrest aboard. The GTU winner and 2006 National GTU Champion, Fast Lane GTU with Rick Beggs and Kevin Tate aboard finished just ahead of the fast Bad Monkey Racing Team, ridden by Ray Silika and Brian McClain. Silika and McClain came back from being a lap down to finish on the lead lap but ran out of time before they could improve their position. Bad Monkey Racing got caught in the pits when the red flag came out at lap 26 and spent the remaining 32 revolutions trying to make up the deficit. The GTL class winner Team Allstars.com, captained by Sean Marston and co-ridden by Arnie Hastings, hung in there to give Moon’s Cycle II some company on the podium, finishing second overall and winning their class by 2 laps over Bill Davenport’s Mighty Lumina Racing Team. Mighty Lumina is taking the GTL Championship fight to Daytona and the final round trailing the LMB Racing team of Neil Frank, Sean O’Sullivan and Max Grant by a mere 3 points for the 2006 ASRA GTL title. In the A&J Recognition Solo Challenge, Dafan Zhang took his first national win in convincing fashion by more than a lap over FLC Solo rider Travis McNerny and newly crowned Solo Champion Rob Lombardi, who finished second and third respectively. Only at Daytona have we seen a A&J Solo rider finish in contention for the Overall win so Dafan Zhang’s performance at VIR was one for the record books. With more than $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, the 2006 ASRA Team Challenge Series wraps up it’s season at the World’s Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway on October 20, 2006, opening the competition for the 23rd Annual Race of Champions. For complete VIR Team Challenge results and information, go to www.ccsracing.us. More, from a press release issued by DafanZ Racing: DAFAN ZHANG WINS ASRA SOLO CHALLENGE AT VIR Fresh on the comeback trail, Dafan Zhang returned to the beautiful Virginia International Raceway on Sept 24, 2006 to compete in the American Sportbike Racing Association’s Team Challenge Event. The race pits teams and solo riders together for a 69-lap or 2-hour long race. It was a challenge indeed. Under a cloudy sky and threats for rain, Dafan completed 61 grueling laps and emerged as the clear Solo Challenge winner, one lap up on 2nd place solo rider and 3rd overall among all the team and solo entries while remaining on the lead lap the entire race. This was a special victory as it was the first victory for Dafan since his near life-ending crash and resulting injuries at Summit Point in 2003. The subsequent semi-retirement has given Dafan time to improve his fitness and his riding, and ultimately allowing this comeback to racing to take place. Dafan would like to extend a special thank you to Team Pro-Motion, and specifically Glen Goldman, the president of TPM. A personal friend and great mentor, Glen has been a strong supporter of Dafan since the first day he turned a wheel on the track, and the support continued through the dark hours and hard times. It was fortunate that Dafan could receive the support he needed to continue pursuing his racing dreams. For more information about Dafan Zhang and his racing pursuits, please visit www.dafanz.com.

CMRA RIDERS DOMINATE 2006 AMA GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AT MID-OHIO Riders from the CMRA (Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association) dominated both days of competition at the 2006 AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, September 23-24. A total of 16 CMRA members raced in a variety of classes against riders from across the country. The designated CMRA three-rider team of Cory Burleson, Dustin Dominguez and Chase Vivion won the 2006 AMA Sports Road Race Club Challenge Championship, with strong rides from all three riders. Their best results were combined, giving them the win over strong regional teams from CCS and WERA. Burleson had raced at Mid-Ohio in 2005, but Dominguez and Vivion were first-timers that overcame ever-changing weather conditions to post great results. On top of the Team Challenge Championship, Cory Burleson, 28, from Harrison, Arkansas, was presented the prestigious AMA Road Racing Horizon Award for 2006. The Horizon Award is presented to riders in different AMA Sports disciplines, and is determined on a rider’s on-track performance, sportsmanship and personality. Cory won the Horizon Award among a tight field of Expert-level competitors, only a year after winning the 2005 Top Novice Award with nine wins. In addition to the riders listed above, the CMRA was also represented by Bill Drake, Bryan Edmonson, Danny Kelsey, Chris Kutalek, B.J. LeMaire, Tyler McDonald, Kent Moffitt, Tony Moore, Larry Myers, Ryan O’Donnell, Joe Raley, Scott Thompson and Derek Wagnon. Thanks to the CMRA Board of Directors, staff and membership for their encouragement and support. More, from a press release issued by Racing Performance Services: BURLESON, DRAKE, AND KELSEY LEAD RPS AT MID-OHIO Cory Burleson, Bill Drake, and Danny Kelsey lead the list of RPS sponsored riders and customers that participated in the AMA Sports Road Race Grand National Championships held at Mid Ohio. This year marked the fourth consecutive year that Racing Performance Services has attended the event in support of its riders. Not only were Burleson, Drake, and Kelsey ready to race, but several other sponsored riders and customers made the long haul form the South Central region. This event also marked the unveiling of Racing Performance Services “Supersport v3.0″ suspension product that features Penske 20mm valve technology which Burleson and Kelsey used for impressive runs at Mid-Ohio. Burleson and RPS have been working together for 2 years and the working relationship netted over 100 wins (Including the AMA Sports “Top Novice” award) in 2005. For 2006, Burleson started the year off working in New Orleans working to rebuild the devastated city. The critical and necessary work forced the Arkansas rider to miss a bit of racing, but the small layoff didn’t seem to affect the talented rider. Burleson got up to speed very quickly during intense CMRA Superstock sprint action and was ready to assault Mid-Ohio in the same fashion he did last year. Burleson got up to speed quickly on, but experienced an almost catastrophic problem on Thursday when the reservoir hose for his shock was almost cut in two by the drive chain. Cory came in to adjust the shifter when Marcus McBain noticed suspension fluid on the rear of the swing arm. A quick repair was made Thursday night and Burleson began the domination on Friday by qualifying 2nd in 600 Superbike, 1st in 750 Superbike, 5th in 600 Superstock, and 4th in the 750 Superstock expert classes. The results were big wins in 750 Superstock & 750 Superbike classes as well as a several other top finishes. At the end of the weekend, Cory Burleson was crowned Horizon Award Winner! Bill Drake and Danny Kelsey arrived at Mid-Ohio as part of the RPS-Komodo team. Drake is a top performer in CMRA sprint action while Kelsey started the year off as a yellow-shirted provisional novice and enrolled in the RPS Pro-Rider Development program. From the onset, Drake continued to experience some front-end stability issues that have plagued him all year. A quick trip to Doug Duane at MPH for frame measurement showed that a February crash had pushed the front end in 4mm. After the geometry was corrected, Drake immediately dropped 3 seconds off of his lap times and was ready to make an assault for the winner’s position in his races. For the weekend, Bill finished 1st 1000 Superbike, 5th 1000 Superstock, and 2nd Formula One. It was a rewarding weekend for the Houston, Texas native. Danny Kelsey entered the Mid-Ohio AMA Sports event as his first ever expert event he would participate in. The former AMA Eastern Region Arenacross competitor made the move to roadracing this year after earning over a dozen top-5 finishes and being featured on Chevy Trucks commercials during his motocross career. Kelsey has quickly achieved success and speed in road racing and RPS has consequently signed him to a 2-year contract. Kelsey who hails from Georgetown, Texas started the weekend quickly learning the track and focused on the 600 superstock race which provided a chance for the top-20 finishes to compete in the 600 superstock shootout race hosted during the following AMA ProRacing weekend. Kelsey was impressive in his expert races with finishes of 5th 600 superstock, 2nd 1000 Superstock, 4th 1000 Suberbike, , 7th 750 Superstock, and 4th Formula 1000. Kelsey will compete in the AMA Sports 600 Superstock shootout October 1st during the AMA ProRacing weekend. RPS sponsored riders and customers Chris Kutalek, Joe Raley, Tony Moore, Bryan Edmonson, and Brian LeMaire put in impressive efforts in the Novice ranks.

Friday, Sept. 29 7:00am Gates Open 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 2:00pm – 2:40pm Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Group 1 2:50pm – 3:30pm Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Group 2 3:40pm – 4:20pm AMA Sports Practice Saturday, Sept. 30 7:00am Gates Open 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 7:00am Gates 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 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)

MOTO-ST.COM TO FEATURE MESSAGE BOARD AND BLOGS DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 25, 2006) The official website of the MOTO-ST endurance motorcycle racing series, MOTO-ST.com, has added message board and blog features for competitors and fans to become increasingly involved in the brand-new motorcycle series. The message board will provide a medium for fans to communicate with each other about the series, as well as voice their opinions about the racing action. The board will also give riders and team owners opportunities to advertise open seats and rider availability. The blog on MOTO-ST.com will give recent race winners, series officials and fans an area to sound off about happenings in the world of endurance motorcycle racing. To register on both the message board and blog, visit www.MOTO-ST.com to create a user name and password.

HACKING LOOKS TO MATCH AMA SUPERSPORT RECORD AT MID-OHIO PICKERINGTON, Ohio (September 25, 2006) — Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking has already clinched the 2006 Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, but he still has one more goal left to pursue. If Hacking wins the series finale at Mid-Ohio this weekend, he will tie Miguel Duhamel’s single-season record of eight straight wins. Hacking’s utter domination of the normally ultra-competitive Supersport class has been one of the big surprises of the 2006 season. Hacking took the win at California Speedway in April and never looked back. The British born North Carolinian has won every race since – seven straight. It easily could have been eight, but for the rained out race in Sonoma, Calif., where Hacking had earned the pole. “It’s hard to believe how well this season has gone,” said Hacking, who also won the Repsol Superstock Series, becoming the first to win AMA Supersport and AMA Superstock in the same season since Doug Polen in 1988. “Yamaha has given me great motorcycles and I think I’m riding better than I ever have in my career.” Duhamel dominated the championship in the mid-1990s. In 1995 he rode his factory Honda to eight straight wins. Duhamel went on to win the first two races in 1996 to set a class record of 10-straight wins. His eight consecutive victories in one season seemed to be a record that might never be touched yet now Hacking is on the verge of at least matching it. “Miguel is feisty and kind of temperamental about his records,” Hacking joked after winning Road Atlanta. “He might get kind of mean if I do it. I’m not going to jinx myself and say I’m going to tie him. I just want to carry on and have a good race at Mid-Ohio and go into the off season healthy.” While Hacking focuses on getting through Mid-Ohio cleanly, the season-long battle for second in the championship will finally be decided. Geoff May, of M4 EMGO Suzuki, holds second coming into Mid-Ohio. It’s been a breakout year for the Georgian and he would like to hold on to second in the final standings. Danny Eslick and Ben Attard are close enough to overtake May for the runner-up position and it should be a good race between them in the finale. May’s teammate Michael Barnes is the veteran of the class and he’s had a phenomenal comeback season in 2006. The only thing left for the Floridian to do to put an exclamation mark on his season would be to go out with a victory. If Barnes manages to pull off a win at Mid-Ohio it would mark the longest span between wins in the history of Supersport racing. Barnes’ only other victory in the class came in 1989. Besides Hacking, the other rider perhaps most expected to win the Mid-Ohio Supersport race is Kawasaki’s Roger Lee Hayden. Hayden won at Mid-Ohio in 2004 and again last year. He spent most of the season riding with an injured leg broken in a fall at Barber Motorsports Park in April. But Hayden’s healthy now and a win in the last race would set the tone going into the 2007 season. The Pro Honda Supersport finale is part of Mid-Ohio’s AMA Superbike Shootout. It’s the first time the AMA road racing season has concluded at the picturesque circuit in Lexington, Ohio. The Pro Honda Oils Supersport race at Mid-Ohio will be televised on SPEED will air with same-day coverage starting at 5:00 pm eastern, Oct. 1. Tickets for the AMA Superbike Shootout are available now by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or logging on to www.midohio.com.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: A tragic accident Friday afternoon September 15 has severely injured one of our up and coming AFM racers and my friend and teammate Mario Bonfante. Mario was riding his BMX bike and over jumped a rhythm section and crashed into the next set of jumps, unfortunately the crash broke his neck at C6. He was knocked unconscious in the crash, thankfully an adult was nearby who witnessed the crash and asked that none of his friends move him. This may have saved his life. He was rushed by life flight to the Spinal Clinic at Valley Med Center in San Jose, and underwent one 12 hour surgery Saturday night and another surgery September 18. I spoke with his Dad Chris, and Chris said both surgeries went well and they were able to remove the halo. He is currently classified as a quadriplegic; however there is some movement in his arms. Mario did amazing this year, his rookie year, in 600 Superbike and 600 Production, and he was putting everything he had toward his goal of next year being a break out year both in the AFM and AMA. He considered his BMX riding part of his training program for next year and took it very seriously. Mario has an absolutely amazing will and level of determination; I have rarely seen this in anyone let alone a 17 year old. This, along with his family, friends and his faith, will get him through this challenging time. Mario and his family are very strong Christians; he wanted to use his racing to share his faith with others. They know that there is a long road ahead for him and the entire family, but they also know that with God’s grace good will come from this situation. Each night at the hospital there have been upwards of 30 to 40 friends and family keeping vigil with Mario, sleeping in sleeping bags and taking turns going into see him and help lift his spirits. I saw Mario a few times this past week at the Spinal Clinic at Valley Med in San Jose. Talk about an impact this kid has on those around him, there was literally a 40 minute wait to get in to see him, as they only let two people in at a time and there were probably 30 people in line in front of me. He was joking around and making sure all of his friends were doing good, and not worrying about himself. As of yesterday morning, Mario is still spending his time getting used to sitting up in his wheelchair. He needs to be able to sit up for a required amount of time, in order to begin his therapy. We are hoping it will be this week. Mario currently has limited movement of his arms, and we know that with his amazing determination, will and faith, this will only be the start for him. Please keep Mario in your thoughts and prayers, we all wish he could be there on the line Sunday. His bike is at the front of the garage, as he and his dad were getting it ready for this weekend, and when I drive by and see the bike there, and I remember the desire and determination Mario had to succeed in road racing, I know this kid is going to be fine. There is a trust fund to help with the cost of Mario’s rehabilitation and medical expenses. If you wish to contribute to Mario’s trust fund for his rehabilitation and medical expenses the information is as follows: Washington Mutual Bank Care of Mario Bonfante Jr. # 3134238761 Please keep Mario and his family in your thoughts and prayers, Chip Jones AFM #316 Fox Racing, Inc. Morgan Hill, California