After a three-week summer vacation period, the MotoGP paddock reconvened today at the Central European city of Brno in the Czech Republic, the first of six races remaining in the seventeen event MotoGP World Championship calendar. Despite cooler conditions earlier on this week, the sun was shining and temperatures were on the up as summer returned to the area for the eagerly awaited Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske republiky. Leading the way as the series enters the home stretch is American rider Nicky Hayden, who arrives at the circuit with a 34-point cushion over team-mate Dani Pedrosa. Hayden is in fine form after he beat the young Spaniard into second place at the last round. After that successful home race at Laguna Seca, the Kentucky Kid knows that he will face a full-on attack from several quarters, with his closest challengers – Pedrosa, Marco Melandri and Valentino Rossi – all having won at the circuit in the past. A selection of visiting and home riders paid a trip to a local brewery for a pre-event activity ahead of tomorrow’s practice sessions. MotoGP riders Shinya Nakano and James Ellison were accompanied by local stars Jakub Smrz and Lukas Pesek in learning about the different stages of the brewing process at the Starobrno factory, which has roots in a nearby 14th Century monastry and is just a small part of the nation’s proud brewing heritage. The customary press conference was attended by the key players in the title race, with Hayden, Pedrosa, Rossi, Melandri and Loris Capirossi all giving their pre-race opinions to the gathered media. In two notable developments of the day, it was announced that both Sete Gibernau and Yuki Takahashi would be absent from proceedings at Brno. Gibernau, still recovering from a second operation on his collarbone, will be replaced at Ducati by Alex Hofmann as happened earlier on in the season, with Hofmann’s place in the Pramac D’Antin team being occupied once again by Ivan Silva. Takahashi meanwhile has chosen against riding in Sunday’s 250cc race, instead deciding to await further recovery from his broken arm. MotoGP Nicky Hayden: I’m just having fun now in the races, riding better than I ever have and remaining consistent. We’re coming up to some tracks which I really like and I have to stay focused, because I’ve been dreaming about the title since I was three years old and there is still a long way to go yet. It’s not one of my best tracks but I enjoy it, the elevation, the smoothness and the overtaking opportunities are my favourite aspects. Dani Pedrosa: Last year was a great race for me in 250cc, and I have to repeat that in MotoGP, which is always the case. Here will be different for me than last year, something that I’ve had to get used to. I am happy to be second in the championship at the moment, I can be proud of that. Marco Melandri: It was a nice holiday, but now it is good to get back on the bike and I can’t wait to ride again at 100%. I like the track but have never had a good race here. Now I just want to do my best and not think about the championship, in which there is quite a large gap. Valentino Rossi: The last few races have been difficult. The situation was better before Laguna, 51 points is a big step up, and my M1 has never been at 100%. Nothing is impossible, but to win six in a row seems too difficult for me. The important thing now is not to start from 10th and to finish on the podium at every race. I’ve won a lot of times here in Brno, but it’s not one of my favourite tracks. Loris Capirossi: The break was for the best, I’m back at 100% and there are some good tracks ahead for Ducati. I think the championship is a little bit too far away for me, but we can think about the future, and we are definitely performing better than last year. GRAND PRIX STATISTICS NICKY HAYDEN HITS TOP FORM After his debut victory at the U.S. Grand Prix last year, Nicky Hayden has performed consistently at a high level, challenging at least for a podium result at most races even when he has not qualified particularly well. This is illustrated by some statistics from the last 21 races since his maiden Grand Prix victory: Hayden has only failed to score points once in the last 21 races, at the British GP last year when he crashed out in the very wet conditions on lap 3. The only two races at which he has finished lower than 5th during this period are the 2005 Japanese GP and the British GP earlier this season; he was 7th on both occasions. He has finished on the podium 15 times in this period, including 3 race victories. Hayden has scored a total of 340 points since winning the 2005 U.S. GP, exactly the same number of points as reigning world champion Valentino Rossi. If Hayden finishes in the top four at the Czech GP he will have scored more points in the first 12 races of 2006 than he did throughout 2005. 7 of his 9 podium finishes this year have come after he has failed to qualify on the front row of the grid. YOUNGSTERS IMPRESS IN MOTOGP The influx of new young riders into the MotoGP class who have started to challenge regularly at the front have had a significant effect on the age profile of the podium finishers this year. As shown in the following table the average age of the podium finishers in the premier-class has been fluctuating marginally over the past five years from a low of 27.3 in 2001 to a high of 29.5 in 2004. This year there has been a significant drop to an average age of just 25.8 years. Further evidence of the young riders taking over in the class is that only one rider over the age of 30 has won in 2006; Loris Capirossi at the first race of the year in Jerez. At the end of 2005, six of the riders who finished in the top ten in the Championship standings were over the age of 30, while in the current standings only three riders from the top ten are over the age of 30. At the same time, the age profile of the podium finishers in the 125cc and 250cc class has stabilised around the 21 year mark, after both seeing a considerable reduction between 2001 and 2004. AVERAGE AGE OF GRAND PRIX PODIUM FINISHERS Year/MotoGP/250cc/125cc 2001 27.3 25.8 23.7 2002 28.1 22.7 23.6 2003 28.6 22.5 22 2004 29.5 22.2 20.4 2005 28.4 21.0 21.2 2006 (after USA GP) 25.8 21.3 21.8 Official statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines MOTOGP FACTS & FIGURES – Honda riders have won the premierclass race at the current Brno circuit on 10 occasions, Yamaha on 7 and Suzuki just once with Kevin Schwantz in 1989. – Nicky Hayden’s 5th place last year at Brno is his best result at this circuit. Hayden has been the first Honda rider across the line 5 times in the first 11 races of 2006. – Dani Pedrosa has been on the podium for the last 4 years racing in the smaller classes at the Czech GP, including 2 victories; the 125cc race in 2003 and last year in the 250cc class. After just 11 rounds of the championship Pedrosa has scored 160 points, the highest total by a Rookie in the premier-class since Rossi scored 209 points throughout the 2000 season. – Marco Melandri made his GP debut at the Czech GP in 1997 shortly after his 15th birthday to become the youngest ever rider to compete in a Grand Prix at that time. Melandri is a three-time winner at Brno having taken victory in the 125cc race in both 1998 and 1999 and the 250cc race in 2002. Melandri’s 3rd place finish at Laguna Seca means he has finished on the podium at 3 successive races for the first time in the premier-class. – Valentino Rossi scored his very first win in GP racing at Brno in 1996 in the 125cc class, after starting from pole for the first time in his GP career Since then he has had 4 more victories at Brno; the 250cc race in 1999 and the premier-class in 2001, 2003 and last year. – Loris Capirossi has had 6 top five finishes at Brno, including podium places in 2001 and last year. Capirossi’s 2nd place at Brno in 2005 is the best ever result for a Ducati rider at this circuit and the first podium finish at Brno for a rider using Bridgestone tyres. – Casey Stoner’s 3rd place last year in the 250cc race was his first podium at the Brno circuit. VALENTINO ROSSI’S TEN YEARS OF GRAND PRIX SUCCESS The Czech Grand Prix will be the 10th anniversary of Valentino Rossi’s first win in Grand Prix racing, in the 125cc class at Brno on the 18th August, 1996. If he should win this year at Brno he will become the 22nd rider in the 58 year history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing to have a winning career lasting over a ten year period. The other riders who have achieved this are shown in the following list, which is topped by Angel Nieto, who won a total of 13 world tiles in the 125cc and 50cc classes. Second is Loris Capirossi, who would move to the top of this list on next winning a Grand Prix. RIDER/FIRST GP WIN/LAST GP WIN/LENGTH OF WINNING GP CAREER/YEARS 1Angel Nieto 50cc/E. Germany/1969 80cc/France/1985 16.02 2 Loris Capirossi 125cc/GB/1990 MotoGP/Spain/2006 15.64 3 Phil Read 350cc/GB/1961 500cc/Czech/1975 14.19 4 Loris Reggiani 125cc/GB/1980 250cc/Czech/1993 13.03 5 Max Biaggi 250cc/South Africa/1992 MotoGP/Germany/2004 11.87 6 Toni Mang 125cc/W. Germany/1976 250cc/Japan/1988 11.58 7 Alex Barros 500cc/FIM/1993 MotoGP/Portugal/2005 11.56 8 Luigi Taveri 125cc/Spain/1955 125cc/Italy/1966 11.36 9 Giacomo Agostini 350cc/W. Germany/1965 500cc/W. Germany/1976 11.34 10 Alex Criville 125cc/Australia/1989 500cc/France/2000 11.10 11 Barry Smith 50cc/IOM TT/1968 125cc/Belgium/1979 11.06 12 Tarquinio Provini 125cc/Spain/1954 250cc/Italy/1965 10.92 13 Bruno Kneubühler 350cc/Spain/1972 125cc/Sweden/1983 10.87 14 Tommy Robb 250cc/Ulster/1962 125cc/IOM TT/1973 10.82 15 Pierpaolo Bianchi 125cc/Austria/1976 80cc/San Marino/1986 10.31 16 Jorge Martine 80cc/Dutch TT/1984 125cc/Argentina/1994 10.24 17 Noboru Ueda 125cc/Japan/1991 125cc/Italy/2001 10.19 18 Barry Sheene 125cc/Belgium/1971 500cc/Sweden/1981 10.12 19 Luca Cadalora 125cc/W. Germany/1986 500cc/W. Germany/1996 10.11 20 Carlo Ubbiali 125cc/Ulster/1950 250cc/Italy/1960 10.06 21 Eugenio Lazzarini 125cc/Dutch TT/1973 125cc/Belgium/1983 10.02 22 Valentino Rossi 125cc/Czech/1996 MotoGP/Germany/2006 9.91 USA GO ABOVE GERMANY Nicky Hayden’s success at Laguna Seca was the 172nd victory by a rider from the USA in all solo classes of Grand Prix racing. This is one more victory than achieved by riders from Germany (including the former East Germany). As shown in the following table only three other nations have scored more Grand Prix wins; Italy, Great Britain and Spain. GRAND PRIX VICTORIES BY NATION Total/MotoGP-500cc/350cc/250cc/125cc/80cc/50cc 1 Italy 669 192 66 183 207 3 18 2 Great Britain* 381 138 85 96 52 1 9 3 Spain 279 29 1 60 119 27 43 4 USA 172 153 19 5 Germany 171 1 11 81 44 6 28 6 Japan 162 12 8 61 75 6 7 Australia 132 84 14 21 10 3 8 Rhodesia 70 12 31 23 4 9 Switzerland 65 1 1 7 30 9 17 10 France 62 3 9 34 16 * Includes riders from Northern Ireland – Colin Edwards’ 9th place finish at Laguna Seca was the 32nd successive race at which he has scored points. The only rider with a longer sequence of successive point scoring finishes is Mick Doohan, with a run of 37. – Kenny Roberts has had a single podium appearance at Brno, in 1999 when he finished 3rd riding a Suzuki. This was the last time that a Suzuki rider finished on the podium at Brno. – John Hopkin’s 74 points total after 11 races is the most points he has scored in a single season since entering GP racing in 2002. – Shinya Nakano, who won the 250cc GP at Brno in 2000, has not had a top ten finish at the Czech GP since moving up to the premier-class. For the last 2 years Nakano has been the first Kawasaki rider across the line in 12th place. – Toni Elias finished on the podium on 3 occasions at Brno while racing in the smaller Grand Prix classes, including a 125cc GP win in 2001. – Sete Gibernau has started from pole for the last two years at Brno and won the race in 2004. Gibernau has now gone 16 races, since the German GP last year, without having finished on the podium. – Chris Vermeulen finished 3rd in the second race of the World Superbike event held at Brno last year. Vermeulen’s 5th place finish at Laguna Seca, after leading for more than half of the race, is his best result so far in his debut season on MotoGP. JORGE LORENZO AND ANDREA DOVIZIOSO BATTLE FOR 250CC HONOURS Since moving to the 250cc class at the start of 2005 Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso have continued a rivalry that had started in the 125cc class in 2004 when they finished together on the podium on 5 occasions. The following statistics show that since joining the 250cc class they have each finished on the podium 13 times, with Lorenzo having been victorious on 5 occasions while Dovizioso has stood on the top step once. However, Dovizioso has been a more consistent finisher with 21 top six finishes and scoring more points over his 250cc career than Lorenzo. Lorenzo has started one less 250cc race after missing the 2005 Malaysian GP, due to being suspended for his part in a collision with Alex de Angelis on the final lap at the previous race in Japan. STARTS/WINS/PODIUM/FINISHES/TOP 6 FINISHES/POLE POSITIONS/TOTAL POINTS AVERAGE Dovizioso 26 1 13 21 2 361 13.88 Lorenzo 25 5 13 17 11 341 13.64 LUKAS PESEK REVIVES THE FORTUNE OF CZECH RIDERS Derbi factory rider Lukas Pesek has revived the fortunes of riders from the Czech Republic with a number of impressive qualifying and race performances during 2006. He has set a number of new records and milestones with respect to Czech riders: At the opening race of the year at Jerez, Pesek became the first ever Czech rider to finish on the podium in a 125cc GP. This second place finish at Jerez also gave him the record of being the youngest ever Czech rider to finish on a Grand Prix podium. This podium at Jerez was also the first top three result for a Czech rider in any class since Bohumil Stasa was second in the 350cc race at the Czech GP in 1971 riding a Jawa-CZ. At the Italian Grand Prix Pesek became the first Czech rider on record to have qualified on pole position. Pesek’s current score of 102 points is already the greatest number of points accumulated by a Czech rider in a single season of Grand Prix racing. CLOSE RACING ONCE AGAIN IN THE 125CC CLASS The climax to the 125cc race in Germany was once again incredibly close, with Lukas Pesek the third placed rider just 0.111 sec behind the winner, making this the 5th closest podium finish in 125cc history. This was the 5th time this year that all three podium finishers have been covered by less than half a second, 3 of which feature in the following table showing the top 10 closest podium finishes of all time in the 125cc class (only races that have gone full distance are included). CLOSEST PODIUM FINISHES EVER IN THE 125cc CLASS Race/Time Covering Podium Finishers 1. Australia/1998/Philip Island 0.044 sec 2. Italy/2006/Mugello 0.052 sec 3. European GP/1993/Catalunya 0.085 sec 4. Catalunya/1998/Catalunya 0.096 sec 5. Germany/2006/Sachsenring 0.111 sec 6. Spain/1996/Jerez 0.116 sec 7. Great Britain/1979/Silverstone 0.120 sec 8. Australia/2004/Phillip Island 0.123 sec 9. Dutch TT/2006/Assen 0.128 sec 10. Spain/1999/Jerez 0.129 sec – Carlos Checa has scored points at all 18 races since he finished 8th at the Czech GP last year. Checa’s 7th place finish at Laguna Seca was the best result in the premier-class for a rider using Dunlop tyres since John Hopkins finished 7th on a Dunlop shod Yamaha at the Dutch TT in 2002. – Randy de Puniet twice finished on the podium in the 250cc class at Brno, including a victory in 2003.50cc facts & figures – Aprilia have won the 250cc race at Brno 7 times in the last ten years, while Honda have had just 2 wins in this period, with Biaggi in 1997 and Pedrosa last year. Nakano’s triumph in 2001 was the second at this circuit for Yamaha in the 250cc class. – Jorge Lorenzo, who won the 125cc GP at Brno in 2004, finished 2nd in the 250cc race last year after qualifying on pole position and leading for the majority of the race. – The two riders heading the current championship classification, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso had a great battle for the victory in the 125cc race at Brno in 2004, which was won by Lorenzo by just 0.036 sec after passing Dovizioso at the final corner. – Alex de Angelis and Jorge Lorenzo have both finished on the podium at the last 5 successive races. – Yuki Takahashi has only finished on the podium twice this year, but on each occasion has won the race. -Only 3 riders have scored points at each of the 10 250cc GP races this year; Andrea Dovizioso, Yuki Takahashi and Roberto Locatelli. -Roberto Locatelli took the 125cc race at Brno in 2000 on his way to winning the world title. GRAND PRIX RACING NUMBERS 51 Valentino Rossi is currently 51 points behind championship leader Nicky Hayden. Only one rider has ever gone on to win the premier-class title after being so far back, Wayne Rainey in 1992 when he trailed Mick Doohan by 65 points with five races of the year remaining, but went on to claim the title after Doohan suffered serious injuries which resulted in him missing several GPs. 36 The total number of Grand Prix events held at Brno. Eighteen were held on the previous closed road circuit and eighteen on the current circuit, which was first used in 1987. 12 The number of times Alex de Angelis has finished on the podium in the 250cc class without having tasted victory. Only one rider has had more podium finishes in the 250cc class without winning a race, Heinz Rosner, who finshed in the top three 13 times in the mid 1960’s riding MZ factory machines. 7 Max Biaggi is the most successful Grand Prix rider at the current Brno circuit, having won on 7 occasions; 5 times in the 250cc class and 3 in the premier-class. THIS WEEK IN HISTORY 13 years ago Czech GP/Brno/1993/500cc Three times world champion Wayne Rainey scored the last of his 24 Grand Prix victories with team-mate Luca Cadalora following home in second place, the last time that Team Roberts scored a one-two result in Grand Prix racing. Two weeks after this race Rainey crashed at the Italian GP at Misano and sustained injuries that ended his career. 18 years ago Czech GP/Brno/1988 Jorge Martinez won both the 125cc and 80cc races on his way to taking the world titles in both classes. This was the last ever occasion that a rider has won two Grand Prix races on the same day. 19 years ago Czech GP/Brno/1987 The first Grand Prix event to be held at the current Brno circuit following a four year gap without a Czech Grand Prix, after the old road circuit that had held the races up until 1982 was considered too dangerous. 25 years ago Swedish GP/Anderstorp/1981/500cc Barry Sheene’s last Grand Prix victory and the last occasion on which a British rider has won in the premier-class. This was the 300th GP to be held in the premier-class, of which riders from Great Britain had won 138. Since then there have been 356 races in the premier-class without a British rider being victorious. 26 years ago West German GP/Nurburgring/1980/350cc One of the greatest title deciding races of all time with the two protagonists Jon Ekerold and Toni Mang level on points going into the last race of the year. The race was run at record pace with a fastest lap by race winner Ekerold taking an incredible 14 seconds off the previous lap record; a time faster than Kenny Roberts had achieved to qualify in second place on the grid for the 500cc race. 30 years ago Czech GP/Brno/1976/500cc Twenty-four year old British rider John Newbold, riding a Suzuki, scored the only Grand Prix victory of his career and the first ever victory at Brno in the premier-class by a two-stroke machine. 32 years ago Czech GP/Brno/1974/500cc Phil Read riding an MV-Agusta won the race from team mate Franco Bonera. This was the last time that four-stroke machines achieved a one-two finish in the 500cc class. 52 years ago Swiss GP/Berne/1954 This was the last GP to be held in Switzerland prior to the country banning motorcycle racing. Switzerland held a Grand Prix for the first six years of the World Championship series with five of the events being at Berne and one, in 1950, being held at Geneva.

HODGSON AND BOSTROM RETURN TO ACTION IN VIRGINIA FOR PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI Alton (Virginia): Neil Hodgson and Ben Bostrom of the Parts Unlimited Ducati Team will race the AMA Superbike doubleheader at Virginia International Raceway this weekend. The experienced Ducati 999 pilots will compete against the rest of the AMA Superbike field at the 2.25-mile (3.22-kilometer) circuit in Saturday and Sunday’s National Championship races. Both riders will look to rebound after a trying Mid-Ohio race weekend. Neil Hodgson is currently fourth in AMA Superbike points with just five races to go. The former World Superbike champion coming off a top-five finish at Mid-Ohio says Virginia is a challenging track for the riders. “I’m looking forward to the race at Virginia,” says Hodgson. “It’s one of the better circuits in my opinion and I quite like the track. It’s a technical track but safe and it emphasizes having a good setup.” Ben Bostrom is feeling no ill effects from his Sunday crash at Mid-Ohio, one that saw him fighting for position in the top five of Sunday’s race before crashing at the Keyhole turn. Bostrom has seen his pace increase at recent events, but bad luck in the races has Ben wanting more in Virginia. “We’ve upped the pace in the middle of the season, but haven’t had things go our way so far,” says Bostrom. “I love the Ducati 999. It’s really fun to ride and makes you want to ride it hard. We want to win one of these badly and the team has been working hard to make it happen. My confidence is up and we’ll do our best in Virginia to try to give the Ducati fans something to cheer about.” The Circuit: After the scenic Virginia International Raceway fell into a decades-long racing hiatus, the facility was revamped and AMA racing returned for the 2001 season. Available for use in numerous configurations, AMA Superbike races take place on the North Course, officially rated at 17 turns and 2.25 miles (3.22 kilometers). Racers regard VIR as a tight and technical circuit that requires a good front-end suspension setting from the machine. Signature turns are the “Roller Coaster” and the “Hog Pen” turn that leads onto the front straight and the finish line. Points Standings (after 14 races): 1. Ben Spies, Suzuki 501 2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki 456 3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda 387 4. Neil Hodgson, Parts Unlimited Ducati 358 5. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki 354 6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki 335 7. Jake Zemke, Honda 325 8. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki 285 9. Ben Bostrom, Parts Unlimited Ducati 284 10. Larry Pegram, Honda 260

Another new force-10 gale has blown into MotoGP this year, Rizla Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen. He’s already taken two stunning pole positions and put on a superb display of front running at Laguna in his rookie full MotoGP season. He now downloads his thoughts and expresses his feelings about what it was like to run up front for so long, in the biggest motorcycle competition there is. “I knew it was going to be a long old race and it’s quite a difficult track to pass on, so I knew how important the pole position slot and a good launch would be. I got off quite well and thought I was leading it up the hill because I didn’t see anyone else – until Kenny Roberts Junior came past on the inside”¦ pretty fast. Towards the end of the lap, as we went round the last right-hander I got good drive out just as Kenny spun a little, and I thought, “Why not? I’ve started pole so I might as well lead it over the first lap”¦” I was fast into the last hairpin, outbraked him – and then just got my head down. From there on I realised I would have to try hard, but not ride at 110% – not be loose everywhere, looking after my tyres.” In the early stages, the plan was perfect with Vermeulen pushing on and on. “The first full lap in the lead my board read +0.5, then out to +0.8, then I thought to myself, “Jeez, either they’re all making mistakes, or we’re going too fast for them!” It kind of felt like a couple of years ago when I was racing in the lead on a Superbike at Laguna. It was smooth, my lead just kept going up and up and eventually it was two seconds.” In the broiling California heat, with the Laguna track surface deteriorating, even from what had started out as a difficult patchwork of bumpy asphalt, the laws of thermodynamics finally had an influence. “My lap times started to slow a few tenths as the tyre just got very hot, because the track temperature was so high. Even when I had +2 on the board I never knew that I was guaranteed to have a podium, I just wasn’t thinking about it, I was just concentrating on going as fast as I could.” Vermeulen’s cool head and necessary emotional detachment were much in evidence at this difficult stage, despite the imminent prospect of losing out on his first MotoGP class win – surely yet another degree of separation that the best racers enjoy over the rest of the human race? “Nicky was pulling me back a few tenths of a second a lap. I wasn’t too worried. I knew that even if he – or they – did catch me then they would still have to pass. With my board at +0 at half distance, coming into turn three I braked slightly later and I lost the front – while the bike was straight-up-and down! That’s the first time I knew I had a problem. I let go of the brake a little, had to let the bike run wide, and that is when Nicky came past. Even then I didn’t worry too much because I know he is fast there, so I just wanted to tag onto the back of him and then try to re-pass him later.” Even after eventual winner Hayden had run away to a clear lead, Vermeulen only started thinking about a possibility of a podium with eight laps left. “The point of the race where I thought I was going to be in for a podium at least was when Pedrosa had been behind for four or five laps, and my board still said +0. He either couldn’t or wouldn’t pass me. I knew there wasn’t much to go in the race, and I figured I could fight my way to the podium. I knew that after him there was a gap back to Valentino at that stage, somewhere around three seconds. I realised there was a chance for a second place, not just a podium of third. And if Nicky had made a mistake, then we could still be in for a win.” It didn’t work out that way, as technical issues pushed their way to the fore, losing Vermeulen his ultimate podium chances. Heartbreaking for him to deal with? Apparently, for Vermeulen anyway, just a fact of racing life, even after a week or two had elapsed since his Laguna experiences. “At Laguna there was no difference in my head about the prospect of winning or setting pole position, even now that I am in MotoGP. It’s obviously harder to win races in MotoGP, of course. Ever since I had my first experience of leading and then winning other World Championship races, I realised that when you’re on the track – while you are racing – it’s no different.”

Defending ASRA Sportbike and Superbike Champion Jeff Wood will race his Arclight Suzuki GSX-R600 in the Pro Honda Oils AMA Supersport races at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) and at Road Atlanta. “I want to see if it opens any doors,” said Wood, when asked why he was racing the two AMA rounds. “And the Road Atlanta round will get me ready for the Suzuki Cup Finals in October.” Wood, who clinched the 2006 ASRA Superbike Championship (two rounds early) August 13 at Barber Motorsports Park, is no stranger to AMA racing. He finished seventh in the AMA Formula Xtreme race at Daytona International Speedway, and prior to that he finished on the AMA 250cc GP podium in three successive years at New Hampshire International Speedway, his home track. Wood’s team, Arclight Suzuki, also has AMA experience. It has fielded several riders in AMA competition over the last 10 years and nearly won the 2002 AMA Superstock Championship with rider Lee Acree, who won two races that season even though his focus was on the Formula USA Championship. Jeff Wood is the younger brother of Hooters Helpmeride.com Suzuki’s Eric Wood, an AMA race winner.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (August 16, 2006) Formula Xtreme series leader Jason DiSalvo may have said it best. “Formula Xtreme is the most entertaining class in the championship this year.” His point is hard to argue. As the AMA Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series rolls into Virginia International Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 19, a mere four points separate the top three riders. Whoever wins between DiSalvo, Josh Hayes and Eric Bostrom at VIR is likely to grab the series lead. Each of the three leading riders has blazed different paths to the top of the Formula Xtreme standings and that is part of the reason the series has been particularly entertaining. Yamaha’s DiSalvo started the season on fire with a slew of podium finishes including a victory at Barber Motorsports Park in April. Erion Honda’s Hayes has been steady Eddie in his route to championship contender. Hayes looked early on to be merely a good bet for a podium finish, but that was before he proved himself a potential winner at any given race by putting his Honda on top at the race in Utah in June. The most spectacular path in his bid for the 2006 Formula Xtreme title has been Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom. After a fourth and 22nd-place finishes in the first two rounds, Bostrom found himself mired in ninth in the standings with little hope of catching DiSalvo and Hayes. In round three at California Speedway things began to click for Bostrom. He was victorious and rapidly made his way up the standings ladder by winning five of the last six Formula Xtreme rounds. Along the way Bostrom, the 1998 Formula Xtreme titlist, has become the all-time Formula Xtreme wins leader passing two-time series champ Miguel Duhamel. “I feel really good about our bike,” said Bostrom after winning the most recent round in Lexington, Ohio. “We started the season far from where we are now and we had a lot of ground to make up. Now it seems like everyone in this class is running good. You look at qualifying and it’s just amazing with the top five being within 2-10ths of one another.” Bostrom was also pleased to become the all-time Formula Xtreme wins leader at Mid-Ohio with 14-career victories. “Anytime you can pass Miguel Duhamel in anything you’re doing something right,” Bostrom added. Erion Honda’s Aaron Gobert is the only former VIR Formula Xtreme winner in the field this weekend. Graves Motorsports Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking has opened a bit of breathing room over AMA Repsol Lubricants Superstock Series rival Aaron Yates. At round five of the 11-race series Yates scored a victory in Elkhart Lake, Wis., and pulled to within nine points of Hacking. It appeared at that juncture that the series would be a battle to the final lap, but with his recent win at Mid-Ohio, Hacking has now won three straight and opened up his lead over Yates to 27 points. “I hate to see that points gap getting larger,” said Yates, who is the defending and two-time champion of the Superstock class. “I’m riding the best I can and that’s all I can do. We’ll go to VIR and try to back up our win there from last year.” Hacking is in a position where he doesn’t have to win at VIR, but he still approaches the races with victory in mind. “It’s nice to be in a position where you can relax a bit,” Hacking admitted. “My crew has given me a bike that makes it comfortable to run up front. Until I get to a point where I don’t feel comfortable on the bike I don’t see any reason to back down.” Hacking is trying to become only the second rider to win both the AMA Supersport and Superstock titles in the same year. Doug Polen accomplished just that in 1988, the first year of AMA Superstock competition (then called 750 Supersport). The VIR Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme and Repsol Superstock races will be broadcast nationally on SPEED. The Formula Xtreme/Superstock races will air at 5:00 p.m. eastern on Tuesday, Aug. 22. This weekend’s Formula Xtreme and Superstock races are part of Virginia International Raceway’s Big Kahuna Nationals presented by Parts Unlimited in Alton, Va., on August 18-20. For additional information call 434.822.7700 or visit the website www.virclub.com.

Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris Capirossi returns to action at Brno after MotoGP’s four-week summer break partnered by Alex Hofmann. Capirossi’s full-time team-mate Sete Gibernau isn’t fit to contest the Czech GP following further surgery to the collarbone he broke at June’s Catalan GP. Gibernau had his left collarbone plated two days after his Catalunya accident and returned to action at the German GP in mid-July, but he struggled there and at the US GP, after which his surgeon decided that the plate was too weak, requiring another operation. Following that surgery, the Spaniard underwent a final scan today, on Wednesday August 16, when his surgeon decided that it would be too risky for him to race at Brno, so Gibernau and the team decided he should continue his convalescence and return fully fit at the Malaysian GP on September 10. D’Antin Ducati rider Hofmann will once again take Gibernau’s place on his Desmosedici GP6s, having already subbed for him at the Dutch and British GPs. SETE GIBERNAU, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 13th overall, 58 points “Together with the team and my surgeon we decided that the best way forward is for me to continue my recovery, because the most important thing is that I return to racing in the best possible condition, rather than just to make up the numbers. So now I will work to prepare myself to contest the last part of the championship with even more vitality and determination. Once again I want to thank my team because they have treated me like family since I first joined them, which is something I appreciate very much, especially during difficult moments like these.” ALEX HOFMANN, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 16th overall, 21 points “I am very happy to have the chance to contest another GP with the factory Ducati squad and I would like to thank Ducati, Pramac, D’Antin and all our sponsors for giving me this opportunity. Obviously, I feel very sorry for Sete because he’s going through a difficult time. I wish him a speedy and full recovery.” LORIS CAPIROSSI, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 5th overall, 126 points “It is a real shame that Sete will miss this race but I hope he will be able to return in good shape for the final few races of the season. After Laguna Ingrid and I spent a few days in Miami, then in Sardinia and then home to Monaco. So now I am rested, relaxed and ready to race again. I am really looking forward to this race because I adore Brno. It’s an old-style track, with fast corners and many up and down sections, much more enjoyable than some of the slow, tight circuits we go to. Also, Brno is very good for our tyres, last year it was the start of a good run of races for us and for Bridgestone and I hope it will be the same this year. Like all tracks you need a very well balanced bike for Brno because some corners you have positive camber, other corners you have negative camber. You also need a very strong engine because there are some big straights, several of them uphill.” LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP project manager “We go to Brno with mixed feelings. On the one hand we’re sad that Sete cannot ride because we didn’t expect him to have more problems with the shoulder but we must listen to the surgeons who say it’s better that he doesn’t ride for a few weeks. However, Sete is very determined and we are sure he will return in great shape in Malaysia, ready to turn around a difficult season. “On the other hand we are optimistic and confident because we think we are ready to race up front again, as we did before Barcelona where Loris also got injured while he was leading the championship, because we had good form at these tracks last year. In 2005 we got two victories, one second place and two thirds at Brno, Sepang, Phillip Island and Motegi. We are also happy because Bridgestone enjoyed extraordinary success in last month’s Suzuka Eight Hour race, monopolising the podium. That was a great result which proves their amazing technical capacity and I’m sure it will be a great stimulus for us all during these last few races.” THE TRACK Brno is a masterpiece of a motorcycle racing circuit. Constructed in the mid-eighties it eschews the modern fashion of tight turns and hairpins for a mighty mix of fast sweepers and undulating corners that test rider talent and machine performance to the limit. Most riders love the place because it’s challenging and also because it’s pretty fast. But Brno’s most significant characteristic is its constant changes of elevation – the circuit weaves its way across forested hillsides outside the Czech Republic’s second city – which means that many of the turns are steeply cambered. Dealing with negative-camber corners requires a perfectly set-up machine, deft riding skills and especially crucial input from tyre engineers. Horsepower is also a major consideration at Brno because this is one racetrack where MotoGP bikes, usually caged in by slower venues, really get moving. Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 1m 58.787s (163.745kmh/101/746mph) Pole position 2005: Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1m 57.504s DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS LORIS CAPIROSSI Age: 33 (born April 4, 1973) Lives: Monaco Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 GP starts: 242 (72xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125) GP victories: 26 (4xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125) First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125) First GP: Japan, 1990 (125) Pole positions: 40 (7xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125) First pole: Australia, 1991 (125) World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998) Brno 2005 results: Grid: 3rd. Race: 2nd ALEX HOFMANN Age: 26 (born May 25 1980) Lives: Switzerland Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 GP starts: 85 (43xMotoGP, 41×250, 1×125) First GP: Germany, 1997 (125) Brno 2005 results: Grid: 14th. Race: 15th

Alton, Va. (August 16) What may well be the most-anticipated race during this weekend’s Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, featuring the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, at VIRginia International Raceway will take place on VIR’s state-of-the-art Plantation Valley Kart Track on Thursday afternoon. The field has been set for the second annual Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge, which will pit 12 of the best motorcycle racers in the sport against media personalities, staff members from VIR, AMA, event promoter M1 Entertainment and event sponsors and 12 lucky fans in equally-prepared racing karts. Twelve teams, each consisting of a Superbike racer, a media celebrity, a staffer and a fan, will take the green flag at 4:30 pm on Thursday. Each driver will get seven laps of the 5/8-mile, 24-foot-wide circuit that features 30 feet of elevation change and electronic timing and scoring before handing off to a teammate. Each driver’s fastest lap will be recorded, and the team with the lowest combined elapsed time will be declared the winner. The winning team will receive trophies and a guaranteed entry in next year’s race, and the winning fan will receive a three-day pass to next year’s Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. The racing stars signed up to compete include Ben Spies (Yoshimura Suzuki); Miguel Duhamel (Honda Racing); Tommy Hayden (Team Kawasaki); Roger Lee Hayden (Team Kawasaki); Eric Bostrom (Graves Yamaha); Ben Bostrom (Parts Unlimited Ducati); Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki); Jamie Hacking (Graves Yamaha); Neil Hodgson (Parts Unlimited Ducati); Jason DiSalvo (Team Yamaha); Josh Hayes (Erion Honda); and defending event winner Jessica Zalusky (Kawasaki Team Green). The media contingent includes Speed Channel personalities Ralph Sheheen and Greg White; RoadRacing World associate editor David Swarts; Todd Lamb, publisher of 2Wheel Tuner; Mark Mitchell, director of speedtv.com; Lindsay West, representing Cycle News; Laurel Allen, representing Road Racer X; Bill King, representing motorsport.com; Jeff Manhart, producer for Chet Burks Productions/Speed Channel; Jack Carbone, director for Chet Burks Productions/Speed Channel; and event announcer Danny Walker. Staff members competing include Mike “Rooster” Cassada, Bert Howerton and Mike Allen, representing VIR; Cameron Gray, Dave Monseu and Cali Matthews, representing M1 Entertainment; Ron Barrick and Ken Rogers, representing AMA Pro Racing; Kevin Schwantz, representing Suzuki; Jamie James, representing Ohlins; and event announcers Scott Russell and Dave Sadowski. The lucky fans who will compete include last year’s winner, Matt Boike of Charlotte, N.C.; plus Debbie Ulrich of Tampa, Fla.; Darren Combs of Clemmons, N.C.; David Eanes of Mebane, N.C.; Randy Iculey of Pamplin, Va.; Dereck Martin of Shipers, Ky.; Joshua Powell of Lynchburg, Va.; Donald Raynor of Cumberland, Va.; Jason Reed of Woodbridge, Va.; Mark Atwood of Sparta, N.C.; Doug Wiese of Virginia Beach, Va.; and Laura Dicello of Hardy, Va. The competing fans were chosen from all those who purchased event tickets by August 7. “We have an awesome field of competitors for this year’s Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge,” said race promoter Cameron Gray of M1 Entertainment. “Last year’s event was such a big hit, all of the sport’s superstars wanted in on the fun this year. Some of the ‘staff’ competitors look suspiciously like former motorcycle racing champions, but that just makes it better for those of us who will be standing on the podium at the end of the race. We expect a very hotly contested race, and it will be nice to have bragging rights over the best in the business for a whole year. There has been a lot of trash-talking about the race, but it’s time to stop talking and start racing!” “The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge is one of the most fun parts of a fun-filled weekend,” said VIR general manager Josh Lief. “Everyone jokes around before the green flag drops, but once the race starts it’s all business. It’s a great opportunity for the average fan to race with and against the biggest names in professional motorcycle racing, and the 12 fans competing in the race will go home with the memory of a lifetime. We’re very proud of our VIR contingent, who earned the right to race through a series of intra-company qualifying races, and we expect to see them on the podium. We always enjoy the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge, and plan on it being a long-standing tradition here at VIR.” The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals offers a variety of ticket packages designed to fit every budget, including standard general-admissions tickets, Big Kahuna Super Tickets, Big Dog Hospitality Passes, Little Dog Hospitality Passes, Pit Walk Passes, car parking passes and camping passes. Tickets will be available at the gate. All current military personnel will receive a 30-percent discount and free parking by presenting their ID card at the gate. Similarly, college students will be eligible for a 15-percent discount by presenting their ID card at the gate. Groups of 20 or more will also be eligible for a 15-percent discount, providing the order is paid for with one credit card. Discounts do not apply to Trackside VIP Suite and Big Kahuna Super Tickets, or to Big Dog Hospitality Passes or Pit Walk Passes. Children aged 12 and under will receive free admission, provided they are accompanied by a paid adult, but must have a Little Dog Hospitality Pass to enter the Big Dog Hospitality area. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8-mile paved karting circuit; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room trackside hotel; the new VIR Paddock Suites and Garages, with 18 dual-purpose hospitality/ lodging units and garages; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. For more information on VIRginia International Raceway, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700. For more information on M1 Entertainment, visit their website at www.m1event.com or contact them via telephone at 303-377-3278. For more information on the AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited, visit their website at www.amasuperbike.com.