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.

LACOMBE STOPS SZOKE STREAK SHUBENACADIE, NS Kevin Lacombe ended Jordan Szoke’s dominance of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship with a victory in round 6 at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Sunday. The Granby, QC rider led all 22 laps on his Team Toyota Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 to claim his first win of the 2006 season and his third win at AMP. Defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC was second on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 while Lacombe’s Yamaha teammate Pascal Picotte of St-Cecile Milton, QC completed the podium riding another Yamaha YZF-R1. “I knew we had a good set-up,” Lacombe said. “We were working all weekend on a set-up that would go the distance. I’ve been waiting all year for this; I knew here I would have something extra.” Szoke, meanwhile, had to put his national Superbike title celebrations on hold as he failed to win for the first time this season. The Brantford, ON rider placed seventh on his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R after falling in turn 3 on lap 10. Szoke takes a 41-point series lead over Lacombe into the season finale at Shannonville Motorsport Park Sept. 3, with 56 points available at each Parts Canada Superbike series round. “Anything can happen,” said Lacombe of his championship chances. “I won now, so I will go to Shannonville trying to win again.” Lacombe started second in the 23-bike field and grabbed the lead right off the start. He was already a second ahead after two laps and was five seconds to the good by half-distance. Szoke had started from pole position but was only fifth off the start. He had worked his way up to second by lap 9 before his fall. Matt McBride of Mississauga, ON placed fourth on his Riders Choice Suzuki GSX-R1000 while Chardon, OH’s Tom Kipp was fifth on another Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R after making a late-race pass of the Z1 Cycletech Yamaha YZF-R1 of Kars, ON rider Andrew Nelson. In other action at AMP, Szoke extended his lead in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship by edging Lacombe to victory in the 18-lap race. Riding his factory Kawasaki ZX-6RR, Szoke edged the Yamaha YZF-R6 of Lacombe by 0.730 seconds. Defending class champion Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC was third on his Ruthless Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Saskatoon’s Brett McCormick kept his International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike title hopes alive with a victory aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6. Championship leader Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond, QC was second on a Honda CBR600RR and Dany Jourdain of St-Jean Richelieu, QC placed third riding a Suzuki GSX-R600. Michael Leon of Beaconsfield, QC won the Thunder (twins) feature on his Buell XB9R, edging the similar bike of series leader Darren James. Paul Glenn of Keene, ON took over the lead of the Suzuki SV650 National Cup standings with his third straight win. This weekend’s races will premiere on TSN and TSN HD on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m., and repeat on Friday, Sept. 22 at 3:30 a.m. They will also be shown on RDS, premiering Saturday, Aug. 26 at 1:00 p.m., and repeating Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 5:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 1 at 1:00 a.m. and Thursday, Sept. 7 at 10:30 a.m. For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com Results from Sunday’s sixth round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown, motorcycle and laps completed: 1.Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 21 laps; 2. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 21; 3. Pascal Picotte, St-Cecile Milton, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 21; 4. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 21; 5. Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21; 6. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 21; 7. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21; 8. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21; 9. Jeremy Burgess, Hammonds Plains, NS, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 21; 10. Jean Paul Tache, North Bay, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 21; 11. Stephane Chabot, Oshawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 21; 12. Todd Scott, Bedford, NS, Suzuki GSX-R600, 21; 13. Sean Heydorn, Aurora, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 21; 14. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 21; 15. Adam Roberts, Hammonds Plains, NS, Yamaha YZF-R6, 20; 16. Eric Stanley, Halifax, NS, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 20; 17. Terry Steeves, Bathurst, NB, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 20 Did Not Finish: Andrew Dunlap, Truro, NS, Honda CBR600RR, 19 laps; Malcolm Mackay, Eastern Passage, NS, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 10; Larry Orde, Lakefield, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 4; Clint McBain, Cochrane, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1 Did Not Start: Jesse Sherstan, Stoney Plain, AB, Honda CBR600RR; Rick Langille, Nauwigewauk, NB, Honda CBR600RR Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings after Sunday’s sixth round of the series at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS, showing position, rider name and point total: 1.Jordan Szoke, 296; 2. Kevin Lacombe, 255; 3. Pascal Picotte, 206; 4. Tom Kipp, 185; 5. Francis Martin, 157; 6. Andrew Nelson, 145; 7. Frank Trombino, 130; 8. Jean-Paul Tache, 122; 9. Erick Beausejour, 119; 10. Clint McBain, 110; 11. Matt McBride, 88; 12. Larry Orde, 70; 13. Zenon Nelson, 62; 14. Jeremy Burgess, 61; 15. Sean Heydorn, 52; 16. Csaba Werner, 49; 17. Jeff Williams, 46; 18. Elie Daccache, 27; 19. Todd Scott, 21; 20. Chris Murray Audain, 20; 21. Stephane Chabot, 17; 21 (tie). Jeff Gaynor, 17; 23. Shawn Jones, 13; 24. Yanick Beauregard, 12; 24 (tie). Matthew Bushe, 12; 26. Adam Roberts, 10; 27. Eric Stanley, 8; 28. Terry Steeves, 7; 29. Andrew Dunlap, 6; 30. Alain Campagna, 4 More, from a press release issued by Misti Hurst: MISTI HURST MAKES HISTORY WITH A 6TH PLACE FINISH IN THE PARTS CANADA AM 600 NATIONALS SHUBENACADIE, NS – Misti Hurst makes history by finishing 6th in the extremely competitive Parts Canada AM 600 Sport Bike Race during round 6 at Atlantic Motorsport Park on Sunday, August 13th. The outstanding result marks the first time a woman has ever finished in the top 6 during a national race. The Lions Bay, BC rider, aboard her Turn 2 Racing and Honda Canada supported CBR 600RR qualified 10th during Saturday”s timed qualifying session after only a day and a half on the eastern Canadian track. “It was my first time at Shubie so there was a lot to learn in a short period of time.” said Hurst. “The track is very technical, physically trying, bumpy and challenging but also a heck of a lot of fun. Once I had the layout somewhat figured out, I worked with my awesome team Turn 2 Racing and tuner George Budacki to get the Honda working better. The Traxxion Dynamics front end and the Elka shock worked great in the bumps and I also had some great help from the Pirelli tire guys who really helped me to understand more about how to get the tires working the best. I learned a lot and everything worked great!” Starting from 10th place on the third row of the grid, Hurst shot off the line and into 6th position going into turn one and then made a daring pass going into turn 2 that put her into 5th position right on the tail of the lead riders. Off the bumpy back straight she raced up the fast right hander only to see her teammate Ross Millson sliding along the grass to the left of her. “I thought, oh no, there”s Ross and then I realized that he was sliding away from the track but his bike was sliding right into my path. When the bike hit the track it launched up into the air and was coming straight for me. I had to duck and veer to the outside of the track to avoid being hit by a flying Suzuki. It was crazy.” A red flag stopped the race and a complete restart was granted with Milson rejoining the grid on a borrowed bike. Hurst managed another outstanding start and this time was 6th going into turn 2 right behind teammate Millson who was having trouble managing the unfamiliar bike that had old tires and lacked a steering damper. Hurst struggled to get by Millson for the first lap as the lead 4 riders pulled away and finally managed a close pass on the end of the front straightaway. In 5th place Hurst trailed the lead pack with incredibly consistent times, all in the mid 1:13″s, which was a full second faster than her previous best practice time. A close race for 5th place ensued with Hurst holding off Suzuki rider Mark Carmichael for the first 8 laps as he tried several times in turn 2 and 3 to make a pass. “Every time I went by the front straight my pit crew was giving me the signal that someone was right on my tail,” said Hurst. “I could hear the bike so close in turn 2 and I tried so hard to hold him off.” On lap 8 of the 14 lap race Carmichael squeaked by and pulled a small gap, leaving Hurst to finish up the race in a safe 6th place. “It was a tough race and I rode my heart out,” beamed Hurst after the race, “It was so much fun, and I’m extremely happy about my results this weekend.” Misti Hurst is currently ranked 12h place overall in the Championship points standings. For more information please visit www.mistihurst.com or www.turn2racing.ca The weekend’s races will premiere on TSN and TSN HD on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m., and repeat on Friday, Sept. 22 at 3:30 a.m. They will also be shown on RDS, premiering Saturday, Aug. 26 at 1:00 p.m., and repeating Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 5:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 1 at 1:00 a.m. and Thursday, Sept. 7 at 10:30 a.m.