PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 4, 2006) The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and AMA Pro Racing announced today that Keith Kizer has been appointed to the newly-created position of Road Race Series Director. Kizer who currently oversees the AMA Prostar Drag Racing Series will now direct AMA professional and amateur road race championships and will relocate to AMA’s Pickerington, Ohio headquarters. The appointment is effective immediately. “Keith has done an admirable job in building the AMA Prostar Drag Racing Series and we’re looking forward to bringing his experience and management expertise to road racing,” said Patricia DiPietro, AMA CEO. DiPietro added that the creation of this new position is part of the ongoing organizational changes implemented by the AMA beginning in January. “The AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited is one of our highest profile racing disciplines and one that has the most potential for continued growth,” commented DiPietro. “Similarly, we have some ambitious objectives for amateur road racing including the development of an amateur-to-pro progression plan. The addition of Keith provides us with another valuable resource to work towards the future.” “I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping AMA-sanctioned road racing expand,” said Kizer. “I’ve enjoyed my tenure at Prostar and have developed a wealth of experience that will help me in this new position.” Kizer added that he will remain committed to Prostar until a successor is named. “As a founder and co-owner of Prostar I want to ensure a smooth transition. I will attend the remaining three events on the 2006 calendar and do everything I can to help the organization. I want fans and competitors alike to know that my departure doesn’t mean the end of Prostar.” Kizer will attend this weekend’s AMA Superbike Championship event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. AMA Pro Racing Road Race Series Manager, Ron Barrick will continue to manage race operations. About AMA Pro Racing AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com.

FIM Supersport World Championship Brands Hatch, England August 4 Provisional Qualifying: 1. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 1:28.634 2. Kevin CURTAIN (Yam YZF-R6), 1:28.674 3. Sebastien CHARPENTIER (Hon CBR600RR), 1:28.739 4. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Hon CBR600RR), 1:28.792 5. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:28.948 6. Leon CAMIER (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.083 7. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:29.183 8. Stephane CHAMBON (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:29.302 9. Yoann TIBERIO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.427 10. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.546 11. Gianluca NANNELLI (Duc 749R), 1:29.666 12. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Yam YZF-R6), 1:29.732 13. Simone SANNA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.778 14. Mauro SANCHINI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:29.863 15. Maxime BERGER (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:29.899 16. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.978 17. Johan STIGEFELT (Hon CBR600RR), 1:30.060 18. Javier FORES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:30.132 19. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:30.226 20. Kai Borre ANDERSEN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:30.413 31. Chris PERIS (Yam YZF-R6), 1:31.797 More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: SOFUOGLU AND CHARPENTIER STRONG IN FIRST QUALIFYING Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) continued his recent run of sparkling form to post the fastest time in the opening qualifying session at Brands Hatch, with World Championship leader Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) proving he is back to near full fitness, by setting the third fastest lap of the first day. Sofuoglu was less than three tenths away from the previous best Supersport lap at Brands Hatch, as he goes for his first pole position performance in his rookie season of full-time World Supersport competition. Charpentier, still recovering from pelvic and collarbone injuries has nonetheless impressive at one of his favourite circuits, and is only 0.105 seconds from his younger team-mate’s best lap. Each Winston Ten Kate rider will have one more chance to improve their times still further, in the final qualifying session on Saturday afternoon. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “A very good start of the weekend for us in Supersport, and it is particularly nice to see Kenan on top of the sheets. It shows that he is picking up his form now, and although we are still in the first days, it is good that he is in the front already. For Sebastien, we are really moving forwards, and we say thanks to his leather supplier Spidi, who made a new suit for him here, which allows him more freedom to move his midsection. He feels a lot more comfortable on the bike and is building up more speed lap-by-lap. We are aiming for good grid positions tomorrow.” Kenan Sofuoglu Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider “It has been a great first day, very good for the team. It will be enough on this weekend to finish on the front row after qualifying, but of course I would prefer to be on pole. From the front row we will be ready for the race on Sunday. I am still learning the track on the 600, and it is a little bit strange for me right now but it feels good and I am really ready for this weekend.” Sebastien Charpentier Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider “For the first day it’s not bad and everyone is really close. It has been very quick, immediately, for everyone in the top five. The bike is not really set-up perfectly at the moment, but we will keep working after the session to start off tomorrow with the bike in even better condition. I am happy with the tyres we have used and the weather is not too hot. I’m OK, I just have a little bit of a problem in the left-hand corners still, but it is loosening up with every lap.”

FIM Superbike World Championship Brands Hatch, England August 4 Practice Times: 1. Troy BAYLISS(Duc 999F06), 1:26.681 2. Troy CORSER (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:27.091 3. James TOSELAND (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:27.291 4. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.329 5. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:27.531 6. Regis LACONI (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:27.547 7. Lorenzo LANZI (Duc 999F06), 1:27.561 8. Andrew PITT (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.578 9. Tommy HILL (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.683 10. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.040 11. Chris WALKER (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:28.049 12. Ivan CLEMENTI (Duc 999RS), 1:28.067 13. Fonsi NIETO (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:28.144 14. Michel FABRIZIO (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.400 15. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yam YZF-R1), 1:28.403 16. Ruben XAUS (Duc 999F05), 1:28.445 17. Marco BORCIANI (Duc 999F05), 1:28.449 18. Steve MARTIN (Foggy Petronas FP1), 1:28.714 19. Pierfrancesco CHILI (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.778 20. Roberto ROLFO (Duc 999F05), 1:28.849 21. Alex BARROS (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:29.013 22. Craig JONES (Foggy Petronas FP1), 1:29.130 23. Vittorio IANNUZZO (Sux GSX-R1000), 1:29.210 24. Norick ABE (Yam YZF-R1), 1:29.388 25. Josh BROOKES (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:29.425 26. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yam YZF-R1), 1:30.022

FIM Supersport World Championship Brands Hatch, England August 4 Practice Times: 1. Kevin CURTAIN (Yam YZF-R6), 1:29.621 2. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.637 3. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.797 4. Sebastien CHARPENTIER (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.816 5. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:29.916 6. Stephane CHAMBON (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:30.076 7. Yoann TIBERIO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:30.127 8. Leon CAMIER (Hon CBR600RR), 1:30.187 9. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:30.237 10. Simone SANNA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:30.593 11. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:30.632 12. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Yam YZF-R6), 1:30.637 13. Johan STIGEFELT (Hon CBR600RR), 1:30.710 14. Maxime BERGER (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:30.846 15. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:30.939 16. Javier FORES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:30.983 17. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Hon CBR600RR), 1:30.990 18. William DE ANGELIS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:31.048 19. Mauro SANCHINI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:31.122 20. Kai Borre ANDERSEN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:31.346 35. Chris PERIS (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.427

The start of Pro Honda Oils AMA Supersport practice Friday morning at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been delayed for an oil clean up. Oil was spread around the entire 2.4-mile, 15-turn road course by a jet dryer being used to dry the track surface Friday morning. The problem was found during an inspection of the track prior to the 8:30 a.m. scheduled practice start time. At post time, 9:50 a.m. local time, the oil clean up was ongoing. Originally, it was reported to Roadracingworld.com by AMA officials that the oil was residue from an engine failure during promoter practice late Thursday afternoon.

For years Mid-Ohio Sport Car Course has been a favorite track of riders on the AMA Superbike calendar. The Mid-Ohio event draws tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans every year, and riders find the 2.4-mile, 15-turn road course fun yet challenging, due in part to bumps, tall curbing and rough transitions onto and off of concrete patches in many of the corners. During the off-season, Mid-Ohio completely resurfaced the road course, removing the concrete patches from the corners, adding new curbing and even increasing the run-off area in fast turn one. The renovation work, however, was found to be less than a complete success by top AMA riders who tested at the Ohio racetrack earlier this summer. The feedback they gave Roadracingworld.com was the new surface was smooth and grippy when dry, resulting in much faster lap times, but the brand new pavement already had patches of sealer in corners, which did not provide the same level of dry grip and were extremely slippery when wet with rain or even morning dew. In addition, the new curbs were said to be unusually shaped, rising sharply from the track at an abrupt, almost vertical angle. And the curbs were said to be tall enough to contact the brake levers of bikes leaned over in the corners. At the request of the AMA riders, Mid-Ohio reshaped all of the curbs around the track within the last few weeks. The factory riders who tested at Mid-Ohio won’t get a second look at the track until Friday morning, but most non-factory riders got to experience the new Mid-Ohio surface for the first time during Thursday’s promoter practice. And most liked what they saw. “I like it. It’s good,” said Attack Kawasaki’s Damon Buckmaster after a stint on his Dunlop-equipped ZX-10R Superstock bike. “I think the sealer patches are fine. They have plenty of grip. It’s good to see they got the curbings graded down. They look a little course, but at least the grooves run with the grain (flow) of the track. The only thing is we don’t know what the sealer patches will be like in the wet.” “It’s great. The surface is awesome,” said Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Geoff May, who rode both a Supersport GSX-R600 and a Superstock GSX-R1000 on Pirelli tires Thursday. “Even with the sealer patches, when it’s clean and dry, the grip is consistent everywhere. I’m glad to see they brought the curbs down to a normal height, but they need to smooth them out. Right now they are like lava rock, and they grab at my knee pucks. I drag my elbows some times, and I’m worried about snagging them on the curbs.” “It’s perfectly smooth, but the sealer is the big problem,” said Leo Vince/Pegram Racing Honda’s Larry Pegram, after sampling the track on his Michelin-fitted CBR1000RR Superbike. “There’s no grip on the sealer patches, especially in the Keyhole and the Carousel. Anywhere there’s sealer it’s squirmy. It feels like a slick garage floor. And the curbs are a little rough and grab at your pucks. Overall, it’s way better than it used to be. I just wish they wouldn’t have put the sealer down.”

Three community newspaper reporters had their eyes opened to motorcycle road racing Thursday when Team Roadracingworld.com’s Chris Ulrich took them for a few laps around the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on the back of his 180-horsepower, two-seat GSX-R1000 AMA Superstock racebike. Only two of the reporters had ever been on a motorcycle and none of the three had seen motorcycle road racing before, but after two laps of the 2.4-mile, 15-turn Mid-Ohio road course with Ulrich, a former AMA Superstock race winner at Mid-Ohio, the reporters had a whole new understanding for motorcycles and motorcycle road racing. “That was very cool! I could feel my whole face going backwards. It was really fast. Whenever he accelerated I had to really hold on tight,” said Laura Mazur, a reporter with the Community Post, a weekly newspaper in Minster, Ohio, after her 140-mph ride with Ulrich. “You’re reaching out to us to get things out to the rest of the world, and we can definitely reach out with this. You get the full experience of it by doing it with them.” “That was better than sex, and it lasts longer, too,” laughed Jane Ernsberger, a reporter with the Shelby Daily Globe, a daily newspaper in Shelby, Ohio. “It’s just awesome because you guys gave regular reporters a chance to get out and do something we normally don’t do, and with our ability to write, we can share that with everybody who can’t get on the bike with Chris.” “That was amazing,” said John Peck, a reporter with the Communicator News, a weekly newspaper in Columbus, Ohio. “It amazes how fast they go, how often they have to brake, the knowledge they have to acquire before getting on the track, actually knowing the track, where the curves are, when to slow down — it’s just amazing. I have a different perspective of motorcycle racing now, a lot different. Now, this weekend, I’m thinking about coming here when I had absolutely no intention of making it here before.” Ulrich’s teammate Robertino Pietri rode his GSX-R1000 Superstock racebike in close proximity to the two-seater machine during the journalists’ rides to give them a better perspective of actually racing with other motorcycles on the track. The rides were conducted during a regularly-scheduled break in Thursday’s promoter practice. Ulrich’s team has been doing media rides using two-seat racebikes for about five years.

Michael’s Team to Meet Mayor of Mansfield – Michael Jordan Motorsports-Jordan Suzuki team members will be appearing Thursday, August 3 at Renegade Classics in Mansfield, Ohio as part of the 8th round of AMA Superbike racing action being held at Mid-Ohio Sport’s Car Course, August 4-6, 2006. The independently owned Renegade Classics will be hosting “Bike Night” on Thursday from 6:00 to 10:00pm at their newly opened store located in the Appleseed Center at 1438 Lexington Avenue. Jordan Suzuki riders and team general manager Ken Abbott will be on hand from 7:00 to 8:00pm to sign autographs, greet fans and participate in an interview with The Fox radio 102.3 which will be aired Friday during Jeffro’s Morning Jam. Bike Night will also include live music from 8:00 to10:00pm, food and Honda Super Cycle event ticket give-a-ways as well as a special appearance by the Mayor of Mansfield, Honorable Lydia J. Reid. For additional information on “Bike Night” contact Renegade Classics at 419-756-BIKE (2453). Information regarding Jordan Suzuki is available at www.23race.com.

IN CELEBRATION OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES EPIC ACTION ADVENTURE SUPERMAN RETURNS, WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS, ON BEHALF OF DC COMICS, ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH DUCATI AND SUOMY DURING WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP UPCOMING RACE Milan, August 3, 2006 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Ducati Corse and Suomy S.p.a. announce that they will jointly promote the September 1st launch of Warner Bros. Pictures? epic-action adventure, Superman Returns by fielding a motorcycle themed to the film during the World Superbike Championship race in Brands Hatch (UK), on the 6th of August 2006. The Ducati Xerox Team 999F06 machines, being ridden by Australian Troy Bayliss and Italian Lorenzo Lanzi, along with the riders, leathers and helmets, will feature imagery based on the eagerly-awaited feature film. The riders? helmets have been produced by Suomy, an official Superman Returns licensee producing motorcycle riding gear, apparel and accessories. Mr. Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Superbike director, said, “We are very pleased to be partnering with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Suomy to celebrate the launch of Superman Returns within the incredibly popular sport of Superbike. With Troy Bayliss winning eight races already this season, who better to bear the colors of Superman in World Superbike?” “Being part of the World Superbike Championship and bringing Superman to the race with the Ducati Xerox Team?s champions and Suomy gives worldwide visibility to this much-loved Super Hero and to the new film,” says Pilar Zulueta, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Warner Bros. Consumer Products – Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We are thrilled to link Superman to a sporting event that has such a high level of visibility and one that is characterized by a spectacular show and top performances.” Warner Bros. Consumer Products has extended its partnership with Suomy, the Italian leader for motorcycle helmets and gear, to launch an all new product line inspired by the World?s Greatest Super Hero, Superman. The new products will feature artwork from Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming action adventure Superman Returns, as well as artwork from the classic Superman character known from DC Comics’ comic books. They are provided with protections and are designed with all technical details are perfect for riders who want to travel safely and distinguish themselves from other riders. The Superman collection also includes t-shirts, sweatshirts and jeans that are perfectly in line with riders? free lifestyle. About Superman Returns Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world?s most beloved Super Heroes. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman (Brandon Routh) faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman’s bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space. Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures, presents a Jon Peters Production in association with Bad Hat Harry Productions, a Bryan Singer film, Superman Returns, starring newcomer Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth (Beyond the Sea, Blue Crush), James Marsden (X2: X-Men United, The Notebook), Frank Langella (HBO’s Unscripted), Academy Award-winner Eva Marie Saint (North By Northwest), Parker Posey (Best in Show), Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) Sam Huntington (Detroit Rock City), and Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey (Beyond the Sea, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects). Directed by Bryan Singer (X2: X-Men United, X-Men, The Usual Suspects), the film is produced by Jon Peters, Bryan Singer and Gilbert Adler. The executive producer is Chris Lee. The screenplay is by Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris, and the story is by Bryan Singer & Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris. The director of photography is Newton Thomas Sigel A.S.C.; the production designer is Guy Dyas; the film is edited by John Ottman and Elliot Graham; the costume designer is Louise Mingenbach; and the music is by John Ottman. The film is based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics www.supermanreturns.it About Warner Bros. Consumer Products: Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world. About DC Comics: DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com. SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and DC Comics. About Ducati: Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in six market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster, Sport Touring, Multistrada and the new SportClassic. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. The Ducati Xerox Team are the factory Superbike team of Ducati, who this year are competing in their nineteenth season of World Superbike Championship racing, having dominated the sport in recent years. Ducati’s pedigree since the start of the championship in 1988 is an impressive one; the Italian manufacturer winning 11 Riders? and 13 Manufacturers’ titles and more individual races than all the other manufacturers combined. About Suomy S.p.a. Safety is a mental expression, a need that is closely associated with speed, racing and the pure adrenaline of riding. It is with this philosophy that Suomy is the leading company in the field and from here it creates a clothing line imbued with technical safety features.