In an AMA Pro Racing Press Release dated Aug. 11, 2006, an error was made in the specifications for the 990cc-1100cc 4-stroke/air-cooled machine. Should have read: “¢ 990cc-1100cc 4-stroke air/oil-cooled 2-valve desmo twin cylinders The corrected displacement and specifications are shown below: PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and AMA Pro Racing today announced changes to the equipment eligibility list for AMA Formula Xtreme beginning with the 2007 racing season. AMA Formula Xtreme is a support class of the AMA Superbike Championship, the nation’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Beginning next year, production motorcycles featuring engines with the following displacement and specifications will be eligible for competition in the AMA Formula Xtreme class: “¢ 550cc-600cc 4-stroke liquid-cooled 4-valve four cylinders “¢ 650cc-675cc 4-stroke liquid-cooled 4-valve three cylinders “¢ 650cc-850cc 4-stroke liquid-cooled 4-valve twin cylinders “¢ 990cc-1100cc 4-stroke air/oil-cooled 2-valve desmo twin cylinders “¢ 990cc-1200cc 4-stroke air/oil-cooled 4-valve pushrod twin cylinders “¢ 900cc-1350cc 4-stroke air/oil-cooled 2-valve pushrod twin cylinders In making the announcement, AMA Pro Racing Director of Technical Development, Kevin Crowther said the changes were consistent with the intent of the Formula Xtreme class and reflective of the current motorcycle marketplace. “The goal of the Formula Xtreme class is to feature highly-modified machines from the broadest list of models,” said Crowther. “These changes are consistent with that philosophy and should lead to increased brand and rider participation in the class.” Crowther added that emphasis was placed on equipment diversity as well as competitive balance. “If it becomes apparent that a specific model or type of machine gains an unfair performance advantage, AMA Pro Racing reserves the right to implement restrictions including, but not limited to, additional weight to restore competitiveness,” said Crowther. Crowther noted that this stipulation applies to the Formula Xtreme class only. The changes to the eligible model list are the result of actions taken by the newly-formed AMA Racing Committee created earlier this year as part of a re-organization of the AMA and AMA Pro Racing. Equipment standards for the remaining classes (AMA Superbike, AMA Supersport and AMA Superstock) remain unchanged. Rules adding 1000cc motorcycles to AMA Superbike, the premier class of the championship, were announced in 2002 for the 2003 racing season and will continue at least through the 2008 racing season. Current AMA Superbike rules feature 901-1000cc four-stroke engines with two or more cylinders, exclusively.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking is in the middle of one of the best seasons in the history of the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei. The North Carolinian is riding a five-race winning streak as the series moves to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., on Sunday, Aug. 20. Not since Miguel Duhamel’s dominating performance in the series in 1995, when he won nine of 11 races, has a rider been in such command of the highly-competitive Supersport series. Hacking, 35, has won five straight coming into VIR, owns a massive 59-point lead in the standings, and gives much of the credit to his crew for his success this summer. “My bike is working great,” Hacking said after winning at Mid-Ohio. “I owe everything to my crew and everyone who has put in the long hours on that motorcycle and enabled me to do what I can do on it and that’s run off in the corners and be comfortable. I’m riding 110 percent every weekend. I’m not giving anybody any slack and I’m not backing off. I’m having to work for every one of these.” As tough as he’s been in the series Hacking is still seeking his first VIR Supersport victory this weekend. Defending VIR Supersport winner Roger Lee Hayden, of Owensboro, Ky., spent much of the first half of the season coming back from a broken leg. Now Hayden is healthy, but he’s found running with Hacking a tough assignment. “He’s running better everywhere on the track than I am right now,” Hayden admitted after finishing second to Hacking at Mid-Ohio. “This weekend we were closer [at Mid-Ohio] than we have been, so we have to build on that and move on. My leg’s not a problem on the bike, right now I just have to get better as a rider.” Hacking and Hayden are the class of the field at this point of the season, but a number of top riders are battling over third in the championship. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes, a 37-year-old veteran from Boca Raton, Fla., showed impressive speed in the last round, leading major portions of the race. He pulled a gap on Hacking and Hayden early at Mid-Ohio, only to be caught just past the halfway mark. If Barnes manages to hold his lead and win one of these races it would mark his first Supersport victory since 1989. That would be the longest time span between wins in the history of the class. While Barnes has been a crowd favorite all season for his sheer staying power, Danny Eslick has wowed fans with his backing-it-into-the-turns riding style aboard his Matsushima Performance Suzuki. Oklahoman Eslick is showing his flat track racing roots with his eye-catching style of braking. Besides Barnes there is not another rider in the field that hardcore fans would love to steal a victory in Supersport than Eslick. Australian Ben Attard has been consistent all season on the Attack Kawasaki, but is still seeking his first podium. Attard is ranked fourth in the series behind Hacking, Hayden and Eslick. Geoff May, teammate to Barnes on M4 EMGO Suzuki, rounds out the top five in the series. May, who resides in Gainesville, Ga., is trying to find consistency in his Supersport rides, where he’s finished as high as second and as far back as 24th. The VIR Supersport race will be broadcast live nationally on SPEED. The show begins at 2:00 p.m. eastern this Sunday, Aug. 20. This weekend’s Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei is 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.

Alton, Va. David Krukowski, a motorcycle racing enthusiast from Soddy Daisy, Tenn., is one lucky guy. Unbeknownst to him, his wife Michelle purchased tickets for David and his friend Sammy Maynor to attend this weekend’s Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, featuring the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, at VIRginia International Raceway. When David got a phone call from race promoter Cameron Gray of M1 Entertainment last week to inform him that he had been selected as the winner of the 2006 M1 Experience package, he was stunned. “Holy crap!” David said as Gray went down the list of what he’d won. “This is amazing! We had such a great time last year at the race. VIR is an awesome track, and we planned our return trip as soon as we got home from last year’s race. I’ve been looking forward to going for months, but this is over the top!” The M1 Experience is an unprecedented package of access and amenities to create the ultimate weekend for the avid motorcycle racing fan. In order to be eligible, a fan was required to purchase two three-day passes for the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. Fans got one chance for each two three-day passes purchased during the month of July. David and Sammy will receive the following: two event programs; two official Big Kahuna t-shirts; two sets of Speed Channel Gear; two trackside suite passes; two drink passes each; two laps of the track (if they ride their own bikes); one pace car ride for two; one hotel room at the track for Friday and Saturday night; present trophies on the podium for Saturday races; two Pit Crew Weekend Warrior Passes for the Jordan Suzuki Team; one helmet autographed by all the top racers at the Big Kahuna Nationals; and one lap on the Roadracing World two-seater Superbike with Chris Ulrich on Thursday. “As I said when we announced the M1 Experience promotion,” said Gray, “this is the ultimate. There has never been such a package of access and amenities offered to a racing fan at a Superbike race before. David and Sammy are in for the weekend of their lives, and they have Michelle to thank for it! We look forward to having them here at VIR for the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, and to watching them enjoy the M1 Experience.” “Cameron Gray and M1 Entertainment continue to push the envelope when it comes to event promotion,” said VIR general manager Josh Lief. “The M1 Experience is an unparalleled package for a fan to win, and I’m a little jealous of David and Sammy myself! We hope they enjoy their weekend at the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, and that they will continue to be regular visitors to VIR in the years to come.” 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. 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. To purchase tickets, visit www.m1event.com or www.gettix.net. Tickets ordered too late to mail will be able to be picked up at Will Call at the track. Advance tickets will be available online until 5:00 pm ET on Tuesday, August 15. After that, all ticket sales will be at the gate. 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.

After a well-earned summer break the MotoGP World Championship circus gets back on the road this week to tackle a demanding finale to the season with renewed energy. The twelfth round of the series takes place on the 20th August at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic, after which the teams and riders head out for further events in Malaysia, Australia and Japan before returning to Europe for the final two rounds. Team Fortuna Honda head to Brno with their batteries fully recharged – Marco Melandri having spent a week relaxing on a Greek island whilst Toni Elias stayed closer to home with a trip to the Costa Brava. “I was ready for a bit of time off after competing in five races over the past six weeks” commented MARCO MELANDRI, who picked up two victories early in the season before signing off for the summer with three straight podiums. “I feel good – after months of training and concentration and that nasty incident at Barcelona I’ve finally been able to kick back and charge my batteries. Just like last year I’ve taken a week off and been out to Mykonos in Greece, a place I really enjoy and find relaxing. The people are really nice there, you can have fun and it’s a good place to hang out with friends.” Back in Italy Marco celebrated his 24th birthday on the 7th August with his fan club at the Mirabilandia beach. As usual Marco took the opportunity to take the reigns as DJ for the night, providing the soundtrack for an evening of fun with his friends and members of Team Gresini. “I feel better than ever and I can’t wait to go racing again at Brno, a track I really like and have a lot of good memories from – the best being in 2002 when I took my sixth straight win on the way to the 250 title”, comments the Ravenna youngster. “The track requires a good engine so the team will have to work hard on adapting the motor of my RC211V as best as possible. I feel calm and confident after leaving Laguna with a podium and I hope to get back underway at Brno with another good result. It was a tough weekend in America and that podium was a real achievement but I like the taste of victory and I want to savour it again as soon as possible.” The holidays also came at just the right time for Toni Elias, who has tackled the last two races with a shoulder injury sustained during practice at Assen. “I needed the three weeks off to have a complete rest and allow the shoulder injury to recover 100%. My body was really worn before the break and it needed some recovery time so the last thing I wanted to do was get on an aeroplane. I spent a few days at home before heading up to the beach on the Costa Brava. Now I’m pleased to be going to the Czech Republic and to a circuit I like a lot. We did a really good job with the team in America to improve my feeling with the front end – a problem which has really hindered me this season. I’m sure we can start to gather the fruit of that work at Brno and with me back to full fitness I’ll be ready to take on the challenge of such a demanding track.” Currently lying third in the World Championship standings on 150 points, with 10 and 44-point gaps to leading HRC pair Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden respectively, Marco Melandri is continuing to compete without being distracted by the title chase. “The important thing is to work well at every race,” he says. “With a 44-point gap to Nicky I can only focus on getting the best result every weekend. Myself and Dani both have nothing to lose so the racing should be spectacular and very close. Until the maths say otherwise the championship is wide open and I will keep giving my all every Sunday.” It has been a decidedly tougher start to the season for Toni Elias, who was forced out of two races with the injury to his shoulder. Twelfth in the standings on 59 points, the Fortuna Honda rider must improve his feeling with the bike still further before aiming for his first podium in the premier class. BRNO – A DATE NOT TO BE MISSED THE TRACK :Technical and fast, Brno maintains the charm and challenge of a true race circuit – a mixture of fast corners and quick changes in direction providing a true test of both bike and rider. The main characteristic of the Czech circuit is the constant changes in elevation. As it winds its way through thick forest, the track features several down and uphill corners – plenty of them off-camber – demanding a perfect machine set-up and no shortage of rider skill. Horsepower is also a determining factor, with the MotoGP machines really unleashed at this super-fast track. MARCO MELANDRI “Brno is a complete and technical circuit, with frequent elevation changes, fast corners and a slower section – in particular the mixed section from turn six to turn ten. It’s a demanding track that really puts the bike and the rider’s ability to the test. It is fundamental to have a good setting because the bike is under a lot of stress in terms of the chassis, engine and tyres. At this track you need a delicate, smooth and clean riding style to follow the tightest possible racing line because the track is so long.It is a track I like a lot – you can use the full power of a MotoGP bike here. Along with Sepang, Brno is the only circuit where we use sixth gear twice.” REPEAT TARGET: Marco Melandri has celebrated three victories and a second place at Brno, having won there in 1998 and 1999 in the 125 class, before going from second (2001) to first (2002) in 250 – the category in which he was crowned World Champion. TONI ELIAS: “Brno is one of my favourite circuits because it is technical and fast, where you can use all the power of the engine. It is characterised by frequent elevation changes, pronounced rises and descents, fun chicanes, fast sections and some slow ones. It is one of the most complete tracks around. The final section rises steeply uphill and has two chicanes – one slow and one slightly faster leading onto the start-finish straight. My favourite part is the stadium section, the double right-hander followed by the left. The track also has good grip. It is difficult to overtake at the end of the main straight because the corner is really slow but you can start to pass from the first chicane and even in the final bend before the rise.” TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Circuit name: Brno Constructed: 1987 Latest modification: 1996 Length: 5,403m Width: 15m Pole position: Left Right corners: 6 Left corners: 8 Longest straight: 636m

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — It took 11 years for Fred Merkel’s record of 10 wins in a single AMA Superbike season to fall. Now, less than 12 months after Mat Mladin finally broke the long-standing record with his 11-win season, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies comes to Virginia International Raceway’s Big Kahuna Nationals presented by Parts Unlimited in Alton, Va., on August 18-20, with the opportunity to match or better the historic mark. Spies, 22, of Longview, Texas, leads the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited with a comfortable 45-point margin over defending champ and teammate Mladin. With five rounds remaining in the 2006 season, including the Suzuki Big Kahuna doubleheader, it appears likely that Spies will break the single season win record, but VIR fans will have the first opportunity to watch history in the making. Spies has followed AMA Superbike racing for most of his life. Legend has it that at just nine-years-old he offered two-time World Superbike champ and fellow Texan Doug Polen racing advice. So he understands the significance of breaking the all-time single-season record. “That would be a huge accomplishment,” Spies said. “Right now, the championship is the biggest thing in my mind. It has been all year long. Even in the position we’re in, what do you do, because you don’t have to be on your best day from here on out. But if the bike’s good I won’t do anything different than what you’ve been doing all year. The championship is the first thing that we’ve got to keep shooting for, and whatever comes after that’s just a bonus.” Spies has been so dominant that even six-time AMA Superbike Champion and all-time wins leader Mat Mladin seems to be looking ahead to 2007, even with five races remaining in this year’s championship. “The championship is essentially almost out of reach,” Mladin said with uncharacteristic resignation. “We need to start thinking about how we’re going to bridge the gap for next year and that’s what we’re doing in these races”¦ I’ve been in the position where you’re leading the championship with a few races to go — and he’s controlling it from the front. We’re just sort of picking up the scraps like mangy dogs. At the moment there’s nothing we can do but we’re trying hard. Next year is another year and we’re going to keep pushing this year and see if we can get in front of him.” With Mladin perhaps looking to 2007, third place Miguel Duhamel is encouraged by the progress he’s making this summer on his factory Honda CBR1000RR. The 1995 AMA Superbike champ earned consecutive podium finishes at the most recent event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, and is looking forward to Virginia. “I’ve had a lot of good success there. I’m thinking of 2004,” said Duhamel, who won both Superbike races as well as Formula Xtreme at VIR that year. “I think our bike is approaching the kind of setup that we’ve been looking for for a little while now. Obviously, this doesn’t hurt the old confidence, and it’s going to doubly boost my chances to go harder. I think the team will be motivated, and I’m motivated. So yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I’m really, really excited about the rest of this season. Hopefully we can get a little closer to Ben and have a shot at winning it.” Duhamel will try to match or better Mladin’s record of three Superbike wins at VIR. The scenic 2.25-mile circuit has hosted AMA Superbike races since 2001. Mladin and Duhamel are the only former VIR winners in the field. Britain’s Neil Hodgson and his Parts Unlimited Ducati teammate Ben Bostrom are still hoping to give the Italian maker its first victory this season. At times the two have been very competitive with Hodgson scoring a podium finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Bostrom leading laps at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. Yet Ducati remains winless since Hodgson’s excellent ride in the rain at Road America in June of 2005. A win at VIR would give the team a big boost. Kawasaki has also shown promise in its first season back in Superbike since 2002. Eric Bostrom put a Kawasaki atop the winners’ podium three years ago. Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden will both try to win their first AMA Superbike race, and at the same time giving Kawasaki a victory in its return to the premier road racing championship in America. Jason Pridmore heads up an impressive list of riders from independent teams in the series. Pridmore rides for the Jordan Suzuki squad and has the simple goal at VIR of running with, and maybe ahead of, a few of the factory teams. The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals will be televised on SPEED. Saturday’s race is live at 4:00 p.m. eastern, while Sunday’s race will be shown on a same day tape-delayed basis starting at 6:00 p.m. eastern. For additional information call 434.822.7700 or visit the website www.virclub.com. WHAT: The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals presented by Parts Unlimited, rounds 15 and 16 of the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. WHERE: VIR is located in Alton, Va., about 12 miles east of Danville, and about an hour drive from Greensboro or Raleigh on the North Carolina state line. WHEN: August 18-20, 2006. COURSE: Virginia International Raceway’s 2.25-mile, 17-turn North Course. SCHEDULE: Friday, Aug. 18 Practice begins 8:30 a.m., qualifying at 2:00 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 19 Practice begin at 8:30 a.m., Superbike race one at 4:00 p.m., Formula Xtreme final at 5:15 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 20 – Practice begins at 9:00 a.m., Superstock final at 11:50 a.m., Supersport final at 2:00 p.m., Superbike race two at 3:15 p.m. TICKETS: Call 866-443-8849 Toll Free or on the web at www.M1Event.com.

Bridgestone Motorsport is aiming for a return to winning ways as the final leg of the 2006 championship gets underway at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic this weekend. The Brno event kick-starts a string of races where Bridgestone has previous success in its short four-year MotoGP history. The Czech Republic race precedes a trio of intercontinental Grands Prix in Malaysia, Australia and Japan where the Japanese tyre manufacturer has demonstrated its podium and race winning capabilities over the last few years. Brno is also a favoured track for the Bridgestone-shod Ducati Corse team who will be looking to maintain their run of successive top five finishes at the circuit and to improve on Loris Capirossi’s scintillating second place at last year’s event. The city of Brno is part of motorcycle racing legend with the first ever Brno Grand Prix dating back 41 years to 1965 when it was held around a mammoth 13.94km road course. Ultimately deemed too dangerous for technologically-advancing premier-class machines, championship racing at Brno endured a decade-long cessation from 1977 until its revival on a newly-built racing circuit in 1987. At 5.403km, the modern-day Brno track is second only to Malaysia in length and comprises six left and eight right-hand turns. The smooth asphalt offers medium-high levels of grip, a circuit trait that tends to benefit Bridgestone’s range of MotoGP tyres. Bridgestone engineers have put the three-week summer break to good use by developing new compounds especially for the Brno race. Bridgestone is aware of the importance of this weekend’s race, which could set the trend for the remaining six races of this closely-fought 2006 season. Hiroshi Yamada – Bridgestone Motorsport – Motorcycle Racing Manager “One of the highlights of our 2005 season was Loris’s second place at Brno and I have equally high hopes for this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix. The circuit is quite technical with many flowing corners, significant elevation changes and a high average speed over a long lap. That said, it is not one of the toughest circuits on the calendar for tyre durability or grip, but we pay close attention to front cornering (particularly through the downhill turns) as well as traction grip at corner exit. There is no such thing as a break in racing, so we have utilised the time we have had since Laguna Seca to develop our next generation of tyres for the final races of the season. In fact we have created a new family of compounds which we will debut in Brno. These tyres have been produced based on the positive results we collated at our last test session in mid-June and will form the base of our campaign for the rest of the year. I am hoping to build up some momentum over the next four races in Brno, Sepang, Philip Island and Motegi, all tracks where we know Bridgestone can be strong and can challenge for the podium.” Bridgestone’s 2005 Czech Republic GP Race Results Pos. Rider Motorcycle Race Time Gap P2 Loris Capirossi Ducati 43m58.376s +1.837s P8 Carlos Checa Ducati 44m15.870s +19.331s P11 Kenny Roberts Suzuki 44m24.223s +27.684s P12 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki 44m24.342s +27.803s P13 John Hopkins Suzuki 44m24.817s +28.278s P15 Alex Hofmann Kawasaki 44m26.307s +29.768s P16 Nobuatsu Aoki Suzuki 44m38.317s +41.778s

The wild-card riders who will race in the Czech Grand Prix, scheduled on the circuit of Brno on August 20 next, are the following: Number/Rider/Team/Nomination 125cc class 68 Thomas Mayer (GER-Aprilia) Mayer-Racing Passau ACCR 69 Michal Sembera (CZE-Honda) Sembera Küja Racing ACCR 70 Michal Prasek (CZE-Honda) Roha’c & Festa ACCR 78 Hugo van den Berg (NED-Aprilia) Varenhof Racing Team FIM 81 Robert Andrej Muresan (ROM-Aprilia) Team Toth FIM 250cc class 6 Alex Debon (SPA-Aprilia) Aprilia Racing MSMA 45 Dan Linfoot (GBR-Honda) Winona Racing FIM 75 Luke Lawrence (GBR-Yamaha) BM Groundworks FIM 82 Michal Filla (CZE-Yamaha) Sramec Racing Promotion ACCR 83 Jiri Mayer (CZE-Honda) Klub Racing Team Mayer ACCR 84 Kenni Aggerholm (DEN-Yamaha) Danish Road Racing ACCR Maximum number and nomination of wild-cards riders: 125cc: 3 nominated by the FMNR (Organising Federation); 2 nominated by the FIM. 250cc: 3 nominated by the FMNR (Organising Federation); 1 nominated by MSMA (Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers’ Association); 2 nominated by the FIM. MotoGP : 1 nominated by MSMA, 1 nominated by the FIM/Dorna. – 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.