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Mid-Ohio Reshapes Controversial Curbs

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MID-OHIO COMPLETES TRACK IMPROVEMENTS IN ADVANCE OF AMA EVENTS PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 26, 2006) — Officials from AMA Pro Racing and Truesports Incorporated, the managing entity of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, today announced the completion of ongoing track improvements in advance of this year’s AMA and AMA Pro Racing events. The latest upgrades, primarily the reshaping of curbing, are in addition to the ongoing track enhancements performed by Mid-Ohio in conjunction with the AMA over the past two years. A complete track and pit lane resurfacing, reformation of the Turn 1 gravel trap, wall and guardrails, relocation of a permanent wall along the course’s back straight, gravel trap expansion in the Keyhole, catch fencing replacement and the addition and implementation of air module safety barriers have all been part of a comprehensive track improvement plan undertaken by Mid-Ohio. “Mid-Ohio and the AMA have enjoyed a strong partnership for decades and we appreciate the efforts that have gone into upgrading this beautiful, historic track,” said AMA CEO Patti DiPietro. “Their investment in the facility, especially in making it better for motorcycles, should be lauded by both professional and amateur road racers alike.” DiPietro noted that the AMA and AMA Pro Racing will conduct four major events at Mid-Ohio this year. Along with two AMA Superbike Championship events, including the championship finale, the venerable facility will also host the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days as well as the AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships. “2006 marks our 23rd anniversary of hosting AMA Superbike races,” confirmed Truesports, Inc., President Michelle Trueman Gajoch. “Motorcycle racing is very important to us and certainly part of our track’s heritage. Our ongoing objective has always been to invest in our facility to ensure that it remains one of the premier motorcycle road racing facilities in the United States. These latest improvements are part of that philosophy.” 2006 AMA/AMA Pro Racing Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Schedule Event /Date AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days / July 28-30 AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited / Aug. 4-6 AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships / Sept. 22-24 AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited / Sept. 30 -Oct. 1 About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. About TrueSports, Inc. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year. 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.

Former Road Racer Chris Carr Goes 300 mph At Bonneville

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Ford Quality Checked-Backed Chris Carr Breaks 300 MPH Barrier @ Bonneville Salt Flats Today! Carr pilots the BUB #7 streamliner in excess of 300 mph for the first time during the practice sessions for the upcoming FIM Motorcycle International Speed Trials by BUB FLEETWOOD, Pa., (July 26, 2006) Ford Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned backed Chris Carr, the current Twins division points leader on the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship tour, took some time off this week to stretch his legs a bit to the tune of 300-plus mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats! “It was unreal,” said Carr, the seven-time AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship champion. “It took us 2.6 miles to hit 300, then another mile and three-quarters to slow down.” Carr’s foray into the world of land speed records began earlier this summer with the BUB team, actually towing the streamliner for the first few times out at 60 mph behind a truck just to get the feel of the unique ride. Since then Carr has been back to the Salt Flats on several occasions, gradually making his way up to NASCAR-like speeds before hitting 243 mph early in July. “This week we stepped it up,” said Carr of his 300 mph effort. “The record’s 323 mph and, ultimately, this BUB streamliner has the potential to run in the 330s (mph).” For more information on the Sept. 3-7 FIM Motorcycle International Speed Trials by BUB, link to: www.speedtrialsbybub.com Carr and the Ford Quality Checked team return to action this weekend at Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, Md., for Round Ten of the 2006 AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship. The current AMA/Ford Quality Checked Flat Track champion, winningest active racer in the sport with 73 wins and seven AMA/Ford QC Flat Track championship titles, the Chris Carr legend continues. For more information on Chris Carr, visit his website at www.chriscarr.com.

Giacomo Agostini To Be Grand Marshal At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

DUBLIN, Ohio Famed Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta will be the featured marque at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2006, July 28-30 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Founded in 1945, Meccanica Verghera Agusta is known for its sophisticated, elegant Italian design and attention to performance, as well as for a long string of world championships. MV Agusta will be celebrated at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2006 with an exhibit of classic motorcycles and memorabilia with the cooperation of Cagiva USA, North America’s exclusive importer of the MV Agusta brand. The 61-year-old marque will be commemorated with special feature races and events throughout the three-day American Motorcyclist Association event, which is the largest vintage bike event in the world. The event’s Grand Marshal will be Giacomo Agostini, considered the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time. In just 17 years he won 15 World Grand Prix titles, 12 Isle of Man TT crowns, and 122 Grand Prix events. He brought unprecedented recognition to the Daytona 200 when he won the race in 1974. As motorcycling’s first superstar, Agostini was linked throughout his career with MV Agusta. He made his first telling impact in 1965 when he rode a 350cc three-cylinder machine to victory on its very first outing at the Nurburgring in Germany. The following year he became MV’s number one rider and thus began eight years of dominance by MV Agusta in the world championships. The centerpiece for MV Agusta will be the huge Marque of the Year Display tent, which will include a number of historic motorcycles and exhibits from MV’s past and present. In addition, seminars on MV history and technology will be offered throughout the weekend. In addition to these MV Agusta events, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will feature American Historic Racing Association (AHRMA) road racing, two days of AHRMA motocross, plus observed trials and dirt-track racing. The on-track competitions are expected to draw more than 1,500 competitors. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2006 will also feature three vintage bike shows, the largest motorcycle swap meet in North America, a slate of guest speakers including renowned designer Craig Vetter, an array of vendors featuring new products from top manufacturers and dealers, and the annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Auction of motorcycles and memorabilia. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be the third event on Mid-Ohio’s eight-race 2006 schedule. Still to come is the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire (August 4-6), Vintage Grand-Prix of Mid-Ohio (August 18-20), National Auto Sport Association Championships (September 15-17), AMA Road Race Grand Championships & AMA Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 22-24) and the AMA Superbike Shootout (September 30-October 1). Tickets for all events are available by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or visiting www.midohio.com. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year.

Yates, Gobert, Hayes To Ride In 4th Annual “Seattle 100” Charity Event At Pacific Raceways

2006 Renton Motorcycles Seattle 100 Saturday, July 29th Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington “One hundred riders, $100,000 dollars. That’s our goal this year, and we’re 50% there,” said Seattle 100 event Director Brian Orton of 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction (www.2-fast.org). “We’ve got the one hundred riders: now we just need to raise the money”¦ and I’m confident we will.” Orton is not just the co-owner of 2Fast, one of the nation’s most respected track day organizations, he’s also co-founder of The NephCure Foundation (www.nephcure.org), a non-profit organization he and another parent started in 1999 after his one year old son was diagnosed with kidney disease. Today, to help the NephCure Foundation raise monies in the battle against kidney disease, Orton and fellow 2Fast co-owner Mark DeGross use their track day organization and performance riding schools to support this unique charity track day event, The Seattle 100. Each rider in the event rides for free, but on one important condition: every rider who signs up for the Seattle 100 must commit to bringing $500 or more in donations. Rider’s donations are collected the day of the event, and last year’s top fundraisers Corey Rastetter and Brett Hutton, each of whom are staff members of 2Fast raised over $5,000 each. Collectively, the event grossed over $93,000 total, more than six times what it raised just three years prior in 2003 when the first annual Seattle 100 had only 15 participants. Now in its fourth year, the Seattle 100 has reached a national audience with its unique purpose, the support of many AMA road racing superstars, Northwest dealerships and even Hollywood celebs. Last year, for instance, AMA Superbike star Jake Zemke attended the event with fellow guests Jason DiSalvo of Factory Yamaha, Josh Hayes, Jake Holden, and Jimmy Moore. Greg White has televised coverage of the event two years in a row on the now defunct “Two Wheel Tuesday”, and even comedian David Alan Grier joined in at last year’s event, presiding over the auction. Jason Pridmore and Tony Meiring attended the year prior with Hayes, and while Speed TV cameras and Greg White will not be present, the guest list is again top shelf for 2006: Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates will be in attendance this Saturday, along with fellow first timer Aaron Gobert of Erion Honda. Josh Hayes of Erion Honda and teammate to Aaron Gobert will attend for the third time in three years, and Jordan Motorsport’s Jake Holden a Washington state resident – will attend for his fourth year in a row. David Alan Grier has graciously offered his comedic services once again, and will join in on the festivities as well this Saturday to the delight of guests. All are not only attending the event, but plan to ride laps with the fundraising participants of the Seattle 100. Yates said the following about his participation in this year’s Seattle 100. “I’m a parent too and though Brian has asked me to attend the past couple of years, I’ve not been able to make it. This year, as a dad to two young kids, I thought it would be a good thing to lend my support, and I’m looking forward to it. Should be a great time for a great cause.” Yates is currently the #1 plate holder in the AMA Superstock series. Brian Orton and Mark DeGross both would like to thank Renton Motorcycles, Cycle Barn, Ride Motorsports, Leo Vince USA, Skagit Powersports, Kibble & Prentice, SB Motorsports and Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association for their generous contributions to this year’s fundraiser, which takes place at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA. The event will be open to the general public from 10am until 3pm, and attendance is encouraged. Tickets are just $10 for adults, $5 for children. For more information, visit www.2-fast.org or email Brian Orton at [email protected]. Industry inquiries are welcomed.

Updated: More Press Releases From Last Weekend’s AMA Races At Laguna Seca

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ULRICH AND PIETRI BATTLE RIVALS, HEAT AT LAGUNA SECA Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki performed admirably in front of a three-day crowd of more than 140,000 fans who braved the intense heat at Laguna Seca to attend the U.S. Grand Prix race weekend. Chris Ulrich scored a pair of top-15 results while his Venezuelan teammate, Robertino Pietri, did a fine job learning the racetrack and increasing in speed throughout the weekend without making any critical errors along the way. Ulrich gave the team their best finish of the weekend in the premier AMA Superbike class. The Californian, who qualified 18th fastest at 1:28.948, circulated near his qualifying best at the end of the grueling 28-lap race aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000, allowing him to fight up to 14th by the flag. On Sunday, Ulrich took 15th in the Superstock final, one position ahead of his starting position after qualifying in 16th at 1: 29.217. Chris summed up his weekend, commenting, “I think the Superbike race went better than the Superstock race for me. I struggled a little bit for the first two laps of the Superstock race. The front was pushing so we just had to chill out and wait for that to come in. It came in about the third lap and I ran some low 1:29s and a few high 1:28s, and I felt like I was reeling in the group ahead of me. Unfortunately, they were too far ahead. “As far as Superbike, I rode a good race. I ran my fastest lap a few laps from the end so I’m good and strong,” said Ulrich. With a month’s layoff to mend following the previous round in Utah, Pietri was feeling healthier as his broken right leg has continued to heal. He steadily worked up his speed and confidence at the notoriously difficult to master Laguna Seca circuit in what was his first visit to the track. Despite his inexperience at Laguna Seca, Pietri was once again the fastest South American over the course of the weekend. He qualified 19th in Superstock at 1:30.337 and 25th in Superbike at 1:30.158. He fared even better in the races, claiming 17th in the Superstock final and 20th in Superbike. Reflecting on the weekend, Robertino said, “Laguna Seca is a very tricky track. It was my first time here and I’m happy because I went through the weekend safe, clear, and with no crashes or stupid mistakes. I was lapping in the low 1:30s at a track that is difficult to learn so that was good. “On Friday, we struggled a lot with the bike. We didn’t have a good set-up for here and I wasn’t feeling I was riding a strongly as I needed to. On Saturday, we made progress. In the Superstock race on Sunday we finished 17th after qualifying 19th so we gained a couple spots, which is good. I was riding well at the start and was right behind my teammate Chris and some other fast riders. I made a mistake in the Corkscrew and they got away. But I’m happy — we made it through and I feel we got some good data for the upcoming rounds. “Also I’m happy because my leg is healing. It’s not bothering me at all when I ride,” said Pietri. “I’ve been cycling a lot, which has helped a lot with the circulation. The bone is 80% but it’s not bothering me at all when I’m on the bike.” Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki will be back in action in two week’s time at the next AMA round, which takes place at Mid-Ohio on August 4-6. Ulrich won the AMA Superstock race at the venue in 2002 and expects to put in another strong ride this season. “I’m very excited about Mid-Ohio,” he commented. “I’m a little nervous about the new surface. I’m confident in my abilities and I’m confident that I’m pretty quick. I think we’ll get a top ten there — that’s the goal.” More, from a press release issued by Safety First Suzuki: SAFETY FIRST SUZUKI RACING BEATS THE HEAT AT LAGUNA Team Safety First beat the heat at Mazda Raceway, as temperatures under the canopy easily exceeded 108 degrees throughout the race weekend. The heat, however, took its toll on the track, the riders and the spectators. Komodo, the team sponsor and leather supplier, is based out of Texas and has ample R&D regarding warm/hot weather riding. As a result the team riders, Tony “The Tiger” Meiring and Chris “Opie” Caylor were able to deal with the oppressive heat conditions. The Formula Xtreme race posed the biggest challenge for the team and Tony Meiring to date. A mechanical issue during the sighting lap forced the Tracy, CA rider to start from the pit lane a half-lap down after the green light. A run through the field ended up gaining Meiring valuable 17th place points for his perseverance. The following day, Meiring upped the ante and battled for 9th place throughout the Supersport race. “I was very happy with the bikes performance this weekend. I can definitely tell some good development work went into them since Miller” quoted Meiring. Chris “Opie” Caylor stated “even with the poor track surface after the repaving and with the expansive time spans between very brief on-track sessions, the team was able to dial in really good suspension settings. The guys from GP Suspension were able to bring us a new set of forks to try. It came at the perfect time, soaking up the big bumps that developed on the track surface. I came away with 11th place in the FX and 14th in the Supersport and some valuable points. I am now tied with my friend Blake Young for 8th overall in FX”. Wayne Wilder and Lee Schwartzentraub from Komodo were on hand at Laguna Seca as part of the Safety First Racing effort and were available all weekend to address questions from race attendees regarding the Komodo Gear line of riding apparel. Team Owner Kevin Hanson noted, “We have 100% finishing rate for both bikes in all of our races this seasons. Our competitors can’t say that. The work and prep that the guys on the team and back at 4& 6 Racing are doing this year speaks volumes of what the Suzuki GSXR 600’s are capable of. We have both riders in the top 10 for Formula Xtreme and 8th and 12th for the highly competitive Supersport class.” More, from a press release issued by Team Stargel Castrol: TEAM STARGEL CASTROL MAKES RETURN TO AMA COMPETITION Since the Barber round in April, Team Stargel Castrol has been absent from the AMA paddock due to health reasons. Needless to say, the team was ecstatic to be returning to action for the combined AMA / MotoGP event at Laguna Seca on July 21st-23rd. It would prove as always to be challenging and full of the unexpected. The Friday schedule made no concessions to the fact that the crew had not worked as a unit in months. With scorching heat and very little track time, practice for both Formula Xtreme and Superbike came and went with little problems, but both lap times and setup discovering were less than stellar. In Formula Xtreme qualifying, rider Brian Stokes suffered a setback. Following Jason DiSalvo, Stokes crashed at speed in turn 9. This ended his qualifying session prematurely and gave the team a new list of work for Friday evening. When Saturday dawned, it was quickly obvious that the heat would continue to punish everyone during the day. In both Formula Xtreme and Superbike practice, the team tried various compounds of Michelin tires, hoping to find a combination that would survive the abrasive track surface as well as the heat. They also learned that the repairs made to their Yamaha R6 were sound and successful. At the start of the Formula Xtreme race, the bikes and riders were running at a fever pitch – literally. While waiting for a delayed start, many of the motorcycles began to overheat and were boiling over. Stokes made an excellent start and began to work himself forward from his 16th place grid position. Finally gaining more track knowledge, Stokes steadily lowered his lap times like clockwork as the race progressed. At the end, Stokes crossed the line in 9th position, just behind Jeremy McWilliams on the factory Buell. On his white flag lap, Stokes turned his fastest lap of the race carving well over two seconds and his aborted qualifying session. When asked how this was possible at the end of a race in 100 degree heat, Stokes responded thusly, “The Michelin tires were amazing, I had so much grip that I can’t remember a single slide during the entire race…just incredible!” Many times in racing, just when you think you have a firm grasp on something, it slips through your fingers. This would be the case in the Superbike race. Stokes got a good start and had passed 4 to 5 other riders. For the first two laps, he was moving forward, then fate decided that this would not be his race. A known, tested component decided that it did not want to perform as it had previously in the weekend. Stokes was forced to slow his pace 3-5 seconds a lap, but soldiered on for 28 laps in the brutal heat to finish the race. It was a tough day at the office. Despite missing the last four months from the AMA, Team Stargel Castrol picked right up where they left off in Formula Xtreme. Their 9th place finish at Laguna carries over from their 8th place finish at Barber in April. While suffering a problem in Superbike at Laguna, the team is proud of the fact that they have completed every race they have started this year. Finally, everyone at Team Stargel Castrol would like to extend a warm thank you to all of their sponsors. The support and friendship they have shown through a period of serious health crisis will not be forgotten. We will work diligently to represent you and your products with honesty, class, and professionalism. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS SUZUKI LEAVES LAGUNA SECA WITH TWO TOP-10 FINISHES MONTEREY, Calif., Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore and Steve Rapp brought home two impressive top-10 finishes in the AMA Superbike race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., on Saturday afternoon. Saturday morning, the Jordan Suzuki team had a strong showing in Superbike qualifying, with Pridmore (1:27.136) posting the fastest lap time for the 10th spot on the grid. Jake Holden (1:27.203) qualified in the eleventh spot, while Rapp (1:27.624) was gridded in 14th position. The 28-lap Superbike race saw all three riders get a good start until a turn-one crash caused a red flag. In the re-start, Pridmore again got a good start and charged hard on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 to finish in ninth position. “This was the best race we’ve had all season,” said Pridmore. “I got killer starts. I think I was fourth or fifth in the first start and then somewhere around sixth in the second start. I actually got to ride with the factory guys today. We made some changes to the Jordan Suzuki this weekend that really give us hope for the remaining races. We’re just hoping to carry that over into the next four rounds.” Teammate Rapp also got a good start on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 and rode a consistent race to bring home 10th place. “The race was good,” said Rapp. “I got a pretty good start and after a couple of laps I was catching up to the front-runners. Then I just put my head down and tried to stay in front of the guys behind me. But the Jordan Suzuki was running well and the tires were good.” The Jordan Suzuki team will next compete in the eighth round of AMA Superbike at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Aug. 4 – 6, 2006. Jason Pridmore, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #43 9th Place AMA Superbike Race 1 9th Place Overall Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #59 29th Place AMA Superbike Race 1 12th Place Overall Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #15 10th AMA Superbike Race 1 10th Overall Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. For more information on the team, visit the race team website at www.23RACE.com and the Jumpman website at www.Jumpman23.com. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing: KAWASAKI RACING TEAM THRILLS FANS AT LAGUNA SECA Tommy Hayden earns first Superbike podium of his career Monterey, Calif. Kawasaki Racing Team rider, Tommy Hayden, put in a thrilling performance as AMA Superbike racing came to Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif., this weekend. At the start of the 28-lap feature, Tommy left the grid in fourth but the race was red flagged immediately following due to a crash. At the re-start, Tommy launched his ZX-10R into fourth and quickly began making a charge for the front. As the laps clicked away, Tommy made his move just over a third of the way into the race. He first took out Miguel Duhamel for third-place with a gritty outside pass under braking while heading into Turn 2 on lap 12. He then captured second-place from Ben Bostrom a few laps later with an inside pass in the same corner and held his position for the remainder. Tommy’s second-place result was the first Superbike podium of his career. Tommy’s brother, Roger, who was making his return to Superbike action at Laguna Seca, started in seventh and eventually crossed the stripe in 11th. Roger also contested in Supersport on Sunday and found himself in third position at the start of the 17-lap feature. The 23-year-old Kentucky native rode incredibly fast throughout the duration of the event while holding off four other riders to score a runner-up finish aboard his Kawasaki ZX™-6RR. Attack Kawasaki rider, Ben Attard, finished in fourth and his teammate, Damon Buckmaster, unfortunately pulled out of the race with electrical problems. In AMA Superstock Action, Attard and Buckmaster both put in respectable rides aboard their Kawasaki ZX-10Rs. Attard advanced from a 14th place start to finish 12th. Buckmaster started in sixth and was unfortunately shuffled back into 12th four laps into the race. He then slipped further back to 14th due to mechanical problems. Racing resumes when the teams head to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Aug. 46, for a Superbike doubleheader. More, from a press release issued by JasonDiSalvo.com: DISALVO INCREASES CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD Jason DiSalvo of Stafford, New York and Las Vegas, Nevada participated in the AMA Superbike Championship at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Salinas, CA. The AMA race was run in conjunction with the Moto GP World Championship race. With the schedule being very tight due to the combined races a shortened version for practice and qualifying was implemented. In the Formula Xtreme class Jason extended his continuous pole positions to 6 giving him a front row start for the race. With a good start Jason and his teammate pulled a fast get away extending their lead to 6 seconds with Jason finishing second. He extended his point lead in the Formula Xtreme Championship to 6 points. In the 1000cc Superstock class Jason experienced set up gremlins in qualifying, starting fourth on the outside of row one. With a good start Jason got bottled up in turn two ending up 7th after the first lap, ultimately finishing 4th which keeps him in third place for the Superstock Championship. Jason will be leaving for Japan on Monday, July 24, 2006 to participate in the World Championship Endurance Suzuka 8-Hour event being held on July 30, 2006. Jason returns on July 31st for round 8 of the AMA Championship on August 4, through August 6, 2006 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. You will be able to watch Jason in the 1000cc Superstock race on Tuesday, 7/25/06 at 3PM on the Speed Channel. More, from another press release issued by Jordan Suzuki: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS SUZUKI’S RAPP PICKS UP BEST SUPERSTOCK FINISH OF SEASON AT LAGUNA SECA MONTEREY, Calif., Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Steve Rapp captured his best finish of the AMA Repsol Superstock season at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif., on Sunday, finishing in fifth position. Teammate Jake Holden was right behind in sixth, while Jason Pridmore brought home a solid eighth-place finish. In Saturday’s qualifying, the Jordan Suzuki team was gridded together. Rapp posted the team’s fastest lap time (1:27.453) for seventh position, while teammate Holden (1:27.582) was next to him in eighth, with Pridmore (1:27.650) in ninth. Immediately, Rapp got a good start on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 and slotted into sixth position. By the second lap he’d moved up into fifth, where he wound up finishing. “I’m really happy with the weekend,” said Rapp. “I have to thank the Jordan Suzuki team for putting in so much time and effort and for giving me such a good bike in the GSX-R1000.” Holden also got a good start and was in seventh position by the end of lap one. The consistent rider stayed put until a last-minute pass saw him finish in sixth place. “Everything went really well, especially considering how little track time we had,” said Holden. “The race was good and the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 was great. I wish I’d been able to stay up there with the top group but I was happy that I was able to catch Jeff (May) in the last corner on the last lap to take sixth.” “It was a good race weekend,” summed up Pridmore. “We made definite progress for the whole team. As a team, we seem to be seeing a surge in the right direction. For me, we made some changes to the Jordan Suzuki Superstock bike that allowed me to be much more competitive.” The Jordan Suzuki team will next compete in the eighth round of AMA Repsol Superstock at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Aug. 4 – 6, 2006. Jason Pridmore, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #43 8th AMA Repsol Superstock 9th Place Overall Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #59 6th Place AMA Repsol Superstock 10th Place Overall Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #15 5th Place AMA Repsol Superstock 6th Place Overall Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. For more information on the team, visit the race team website at www.23RACE.com and the Jumpman website at www.Jumpman23.com. More, from a press release issued by Team Millennium/KWS Suzuki: MILLENNIUM/KWS SUZUKI BATTLE THE HEAT AT LAGUNA SECA FOR SOLID FINISHES Team Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorsports battled record temperatures and minimal track time to record another round of solid finishes at Laguna Seca Raceway. This particular round of the AMA Superbike Series is held in conjunction with the World Championship MotoGP Series and presents a unique event that saw 140,000 motorcycle race fans brave the heat to see the best riders on a world stage. However with the MotoGP series headlining the event, the AMA Superbike series was only allowed approximately one-third the track time it normally enjoys. This, along with temperatures measuring over 100 degrees for most of the weekend, found the team challenged to get the most out of their equipment and themselves. In Superbike qualifying, Matt Lynn and John Haner pushed the limits of their Pirelli shod Suzuki GSX-R1000’s and their bodies to arrive on the forth and fifth rows. Haner qualified in the fifteenth position with a time of 1:27.037 and Lynn qualified in the nineteenth position with a time of 1:29.267. The Superbike race started with a bang as both riders got excellent starts, each moving up at least a full row before turn one. Unfortunately, Matt Lynn was contacted by another rider which caused a four rider incident in turn two and brought out the red flag stopping the race. Luckily, Matt was unhurt and was able to make it back to the pits and jump on his back-up bike for the restart. Although Lynn had to start from the back of the grid in the twenty-fifth position, he once again got an excellent start and turned some of his fastest laps of the weekend to ultimately finish in the fifteenth position. Haner got a great start as well but retired early with brake problems on lap four. “I had two moments with the brakes and I decided it would be safer for everybody out there if I just came in,” said Haner. “We had a great bike and the Pirelli tires worked great even with the crazy heat, but everybody’s safety is more important.” In Superstock both riders qualified their Suzuki GSX-R1000’s on the forth row. Lynn qualified in the thirteenth position with a time of 1:28.850 and Haner qualified in the fifteenth position with a time of 1:29.035. Both riders got good starts and rode hard races despite the oppressive heat. Lynn finished just outside the top ten in the eleventh position and Haner finished in the sixteenth position. With his safe finish, Lynn was able to move up into the seventh position in overall Superstock points. Matt Lynn “Laguna Seca should be commended for the safety improvements they made to the track, but the changes made to the surface made learning the track difficult. Overall the weekend was good and we moved up in the points, which is really important. I really want to thank my mechanics Brian Stricker and Rick Matheny as well as my Dad and Grant for working so hard in the heat.” John Haner “My shoulder is feeling much better and I am really looking forward to the last four races. We made a lot of progress with the chassis even though the results don’t show it. I really want to thank my sponsors for coming out this weekend, Rock Star Energy Drink as well as Komodo Leathers and HJC. I also want to thank everybody with the team. Those guys worked so hard through the heat and limited track time and I can’t thank them enough. Kevin Hunt “The team did really well this weekend through a lot of adversity. Record heat, limited track time, and a new surface all contributed to a long weekend for everybody. Matt and John put in a 100% effort and the crew; Chip, Michael, Owen, Rick, and Brian worked really hard and I want to thank them for it.”

Arai Offers To Repair Helmets With Loose Trim-Strips And Extend Affected-Helmet Warranties

(Bethlehem, PA) – Arai Helmets has announced a voluntary program to repair those helmets that have experienced a loosening of the flexible trim strip around the helmet’s lower perimeter. (The loosening was traced to a limited number of helmets in a production run some time ago, and has since been corrected.) Arai will also extend its standard five-year warranty by an additional two years to give all affected consumers time to respond and be covered. “We want to accommodate everybody and make all our customers happy,” said Brian M. Weston, Director of Operations. “Our first priority is to get the strips re-fastened and returned as quickly as possible, and to allow the extra warranty time for everyone to respond.” As an added customers courtesy and to encourage the immediate return of the affected helmets, Arai is offering a limited “Pre-Paid Return” offer for all helmets returned on or before September 29, 2006. Arai has made special arrangements with “The UPS Stores®” to pack and ship helmets at no charge through 09/29/06. Helmets shipped on or after October 2, 2006 would revert to the normal warranty program procedures. For full details, consumers should log onto www.araiamericas.com/qcs_query_tech.html to register helmets for repair and begin the process. This address is for Lower Trim Strip repairs only. All other warranty inquiries must use the normal warranty channels.

Canadian Superbike Series TV Coverage Starts Tomorrow

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SERIES SET FOR HIGH DEF DEBUT TORONTO, ON The Parts Canada Superbike Championship makes its debut in high definition television when coverage of the first round premieres on TSN HD this Wednesday, July 26. The hour-long show from the opening round at Shannonville Motorsport Park, which was held May 21, will air from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET on TSN HD. The show will repeat from 4:30 a.m.-5:30 a.m. ET on the morning of Friday, July 28. It will also air on TSN (in standard definition) at those times as well. TSN’s coverage continues with round 2 of the series from Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant premiering Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. ET with an encore on Friday, Aug. 4 from 4:30 a.m.-5:30 a.m. ET. The Mont-Tremblant event took place June 4. “We are excited to see the debut of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship in high definition format,” said Colin Fraser, president of Professional Motorsport Productions, which runs the national series. “We think that the colour, speed and drama of motorcycle road racing make it an ideal sport for high definition television and that it will find wide appeal with sports fans across the country.” Details on broadcast times and dates for the remaining five rounds of the 2006 series will be announced when they become available on the Parts Canada Superbike Championship official website, www.cdnsuperbike.com. Additionally a full broadcast schedule has been released for the series on the French language RDS network. Premiers for the opening two rounds at Shannonville and Mont- Tremblant have already been shown, but viewers can still catch the final rebroadcast of the second round on Wednesday, July 26 at 6:00 p.m. ET. The remainder of the RDS premiers are as follows: Round 3, Race City Motorsport Park, Sunday, July 30, 6:00 p.m. ET Round 4, Mosport International Raceway, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2:00 p.m. ET Round 5, Mosport International Raceway, Sunday, Aug. 20, 12:00 p.m. ET Round 6, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Saturday, Aug. 26, 1:00 p.m. ET Round 7, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Saturday Sept. 16, 10:00 a.m. ET Repeat dates and times for the RDS broadcasts will also be posted on cdnsuperbike.com. All the RDS shows are one half-hour in length. Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke holds a commanding lead in the Parts Canada Superbike point standings heading into the penultimate round at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS Aug. 11-13. The Canadian Kawasaki factory rider is bidding for his third national title.

Honda Plans To Start Selling Airplanes

Honda Motor Co. plans to start selling the small jet they unveiled in 2005. Click here to read more ~http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8J34E8G0.htm?sub=apn_home_up%26chan=db~

Fan Ride Scheduled For Mid-Ohio AMA National

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FANS SET TO LAP TRACK DURING 16th ANNUAL MID-OHIO DEALER RIDE DUBLIN, Ohio (July 25, 2006) Motorcycle riders may take to the city streets daily, but once a year, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course allows spectators the chance to tour the track with their own sportbike or touring machine. Now in its 16th season, the Mid-Ohio Dealer Ride provides spectators the opportunity to ride the track on their own two-wheeler and get the pros’ perspective of the challenging 2.4-mile, 15-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. The Dealer Ride takes place during the lunch break on Sunday, August 6, during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire. With more than 140 motorcycle dealerships from seven states participating in this year’s event, over 1,500 riders are expected to experience an on-track tour of Mid-Ohio’s 15-turn, 2.4-mile road course. In addition to the lunchtime lap on Sunday, participants will receive VIP parking in the track’s infield, and five lucky riders will have the opportunity to win a pace car ride, a lap of the track and receive a Mid-Ohio merchandise package. The winners will be drawn from the Dealer Ride registration forms and will be announced prior to the ride. Bike owners interested in taking part in the Dealer Ride can simply visit their nearest participating motorcycle dealership, including all Ohio Honda dealerships, during normal business hours to sign up. A complete listing of participating dealerships may be found at www.midohio.com. All participating riders must register in advance and bring their dealer registration card with them on Sunday. All riders and passengers must be 18 years of age or older, carry a valid operator’s license, and wear a helmet throughout the ride. Along with the Dealer Ride, the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will feature an AMA Superbike doubleheader. Mat Mladin, Miguel Duhamel, Ben Spies, Jake Zemke, Ben Bostrom and the rest of the Superbike stars will clash on the track bringing knee dragging and wheel lifting excitement as they compete for the AMA Superbike Championship and a win in one of the Wiseco Superbike 100 Double Header races at Mid-Ohio. These high-speed bikes will go head-to-head reaching speeds of over 170 miles per hour on Mid-Ohio’s famed backstretch before battling side by side into the Esses. Weekend support races for the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire include Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, Repsol Superstock Series, and Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series presented by Budweiser. Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will be the fourth event on Mid-Ohio’s eight-race 2006 schedule. Still to come is the Vintage Grand-Prix of Mid-Ohio (August 18-20), National Auto Sport Association Championships (September 15-17), AMA Road Race Grand Championships & AMA Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 22-24) and the AMA Superbike Shootout (September 30-October 1). Tickets for all events are available by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or visiting www.midohio.com. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year.

More On Blackhawk Farms Repaving

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FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I spent Saturday at Blackhawk Farms at a Sportbike Track Time trackday. The new sections of track while appearing pitted in some spots are very smooth and as good as I’ve seen it there for the past 3 years. I run the “A” group and was turning 1:20’s and saw a few guys turning 1:15’s on open class bikes. No flying asphalt or sliding around as some reports mentioned. The transitions from the old surface to the new are smooth and seamless. Attendance was down for a weekend trackday event. that may have been due to the # of people going to Laguna or the rumors that the track surface was poor/unsafe. I can confirm that it was neither. Mike Piarulli Menasha, Wisconsin

Mid-Ohio Reshapes Controversial Curbs

MID-OHIO COMPLETES TRACK IMPROVEMENTS IN ADVANCE OF AMA EVENTS PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 26, 2006) — Officials from AMA Pro Racing and Truesports Incorporated, the managing entity of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, today announced the completion of ongoing track improvements in advance of this year’s AMA and AMA Pro Racing events. The latest upgrades, primarily the reshaping of curbing, are in addition to the ongoing track enhancements performed by Mid-Ohio in conjunction with the AMA over the past two years. A complete track and pit lane resurfacing, reformation of the Turn 1 gravel trap, wall and guardrails, relocation of a permanent wall along the course’s back straight, gravel trap expansion in the Keyhole, catch fencing replacement and the addition and implementation of air module safety barriers have all been part of a comprehensive track improvement plan undertaken by Mid-Ohio. “Mid-Ohio and the AMA have enjoyed a strong partnership for decades and we appreciate the efforts that have gone into upgrading this beautiful, historic track,” said AMA CEO Patti DiPietro. “Their investment in the facility, especially in making it better for motorcycles, should be lauded by both professional and amateur road racers alike.” DiPietro noted that the AMA and AMA Pro Racing will conduct four major events at Mid-Ohio this year. Along with two AMA Superbike Championship events, including the championship finale, the venerable facility will also host the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days as well as the AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships. “2006 marks our 23rd anniversary of hosting AMA Superbike races,” confirmed Truesports, Inc., President Michelle Trueman Gajoch. “Motorcycle racing is very important to us and certainly part of our track’s heritage. Our ongoing objective has always been to invest in our facility to ensure that it remains one of the premier motorcycle road racing facilities in the United States. These latest improvements are part of that philosophy.” 2006 AMA/AMA Pro Racing Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Schedule Event /Date AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days / July 28-30 AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited / Aug. 4-6 AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships / Sept. 22-24 AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited / Sept. 30 -Oct. 1 About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. About TrueSports, Inc. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year. 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.

Former Road Racer Chris Carr Goes 300 mph At Bonneville

Ford Quality Checked-Backed Chris Carr Breaks 300 MPH Barrier @ Bonneville Salt Flats Today! Carr pilots the BUB #7 streamliner in excess of 300 mph for the first time during the practice sessions for the upcoming FIM Motorcycle International Speed Trials by BUB FLEETWOOD, Pa., (July 26, 2006) Ford Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned backed Chris Carr, the current Twins division points leader on the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship tour, took some time off this week to stretch his legs a bit to the tune of 300-plus mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats! “It was unreal,” said Carr, the seven-time AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship champion. “It took us 2.6 miles to hit 300, then another mile and three-quarters to slow down.” Carr’s foray into the world of land speed records began earlier this summer with the BUB team, actually towing the streamliner for the first few times out at 60 mph behind a truck just to get the feel of the unique ride. Since then Carr has been back to the Salt Flats on several occasions, gradually making his way up to NASCAR-like speeds before hitting 243 mph early in July. “This week we stepped it up,” said Carr of his 300 mph effort. “The record’s 323 mph and, ultimately, this BUB streamliner has the potential to run in the 330s (mph).” For more information on the Sept. 3-7 FIM Motorcycle International Speed Trials by BUB, link to: www.speedtrialsbybub.com Carr and the Ford Quality Checked team return to action this weekend at Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, Md., for Round Ten of the 2006 AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship. The current AMA/Ford Quality Checked Flat Track champion, winningest active racer in the sport with 73 wins and seven AMA/Ford QC Flat Track championship titles, the Chris Carr legend continues. For more information on Chris Carr, visit his website at www.chriscarr.com.

Giacomo Agostini To Be Grand Marshal At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

DUBLIN, Ohio Famed Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta will be the featured marque at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2006, July 28-30 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Founded in 1945, Meccanica Verghera Agusta is known for its sophisticated, elegant Italian design and attention to performance, as well as for a long string of world championships. MV Agusta will be celebrated at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2006 with an exhibit of classic motorcycles and memorabilia with the cooperation of Cagiva USA, North America’s exclusive importer of the MV Agusta brand. The 61-year-old marque will be commemorated with special feature races and events throughout the three-day American Motorcyclist Association event, which is the largest vintage bike event in the world. The event’s Grand Marshal will be Giacomo Agostini, considered the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time. In just 17 years he won 15 World Grand Prix titles, 12 Isle of Man TT crowns, and 122 Grand Prix events. He brought unprecedented recognition to the Daytona 200 when he won the race in 1974. As motorcycling’s first superstar, Agostini was linked throughout his career with MV Agusta. He made his first telling impact in 1965 when he rode a 350cc three-cylinder machine to victory on its very first outing at the Nurburgring in Germany. The following year he became MV’s number one rider and thus began eight years of dominance by MV Agusta in the world championships. The centerpiece for MV Agusta will be the huge Marque of the Year Display tent, which will include a number of historic motorcycles and exhibits from MV’s past and present. In addition, seminars on MV history and technology will be offered throughout the weekend. In addition to these MV Agusta events, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will feature American Historic Racing Association (AHRMA) road racing, two days of AHRMA motocross, plus observed trials and dirt-track racing. The on-track competitions are expected to draw more than 1,500 competitors. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2006 will also feature three vintage bike shows, the largest motorcycle swap meet in North America, a slate of guest speakers including renowned designer Craig Vetter, an array of vendors featuring new products from top manufacturers and dealers, and the annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Auction of motorcycles and memorabilia. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be the third event on Mid-Ohio’s eight-race 2006 schedule. Still to come is the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire (August 4-6), Vintage Grand-Prix of Mid-Ohio (August 18-20), National Auto Sport Association Championships (September 15-17), AMA Road Race Grand Championships & AMA Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 22-24) and the AMA Superbike Shootout (September 30-October 1). Tickets for all events are available by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or visiting www.midohio.com. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year.

Yates, Gobert, Hayes To Ride In 4th Annual “Seattle 100” Charity Event At Pacific Raceways

2006 Renton Motorcycles Seattle 100 Saturday, July 29th Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington “One hundred riders, $100,000 dollars. That’s our goal this year, and we’re 50% there,” said Seattle 100 event Director Brian Orton of 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction (www.2-fast.org). “We’ve got the one hundred riders: now we just need to raise the money”¦ and I’m confident we will.” Orton is not just the co-owner of 2Fast, one of the nation’s most respected track day organizations, he’s also co-founder of The NephCure Foundation (www.nephcure.org), a non-profit organization he and another parent started in 1999 after his one year old son was diagnosed with kidney disease. Today, to help the NephCure Foundation raise monies in the battle against kidney disease, Orton and fellow 2Fast co-owner Mark DeGross use their track day organization and performance riding schools to support this unique charity track day event, The Seattle 100. Each rider in the event rides for free, but on one important condition: every rider who signs up for the Seattle 100 must commit to bringing $500 or more in donations. Rider’s donations are collected the day of the event, and last year’s top fundraisers Corey Rastetter and Brett Hutton, each of whom are staff members of 2Fast raised over $5,000 each. Collectively, the event grossed over $93,000 total, more than six times what it raised just three years prior in 2003 when the first annual Seattle 100 had only 15 participants. Now in its fourth year, the Seattle 100 has reached a national audience with its unique purpose, the support of many AMA road racing superstars, Northwest dealerships and even Hollywood celebs. Last year, for instance, AMA Superbike star Jake Zemke attended the event with fellow guests Jason DiSalvo of Factory Yamaha, Josh Hayes, Jake Holden, and Jimmy Moore. Greg White has televised coverage of the event two years in a row on the now defunct “Two Wheel Tuesday”, and even comedian David Alan Grier joined in at last year’s event, presiding over the auction. Jason Pridmore and Tony Meiring attended the year prior with Hayes, and while Speed TV cameras and Greg White will not be present, the guest list is again top shelf for 2006: Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates will be in attendance this Saturday, along with fellow first timer Aaron Gobert of Erion Honda. Josh Hayes of Erion Honda and teammate to Aaron Gobert will attend for the third time in three years, and Jordan Motorsport’s Jake Holden a Washington state resident – will attend for his fourth year in a row. David Alan Grier has graciously offered his comedic services once again, and will join in on the festivities as well this Saturday to the delight of guests. All are not only attending the event, but plan to ride laps with the fundraising participants of the Seattle 100. Yates said the following about his participation in this year’s Seattle 100. “I’m a parent too and though Brian has asked me to attend the past couple of years, I’ve not been able to make it. This year, as a dad to two young kids, I thought it would be a good thing to lend my support, and I’m looking forward to it. Should be a great time for a great cause.” Yates is currently the #1 plate holder in the AMA Superstock series. Brian Orton and Mark DeGross both would like to thank Renton Motorcycles, Cycle Barn, Ride Motorsports, Leo Vince USA, Skagit Powersports, Kibble & Prentice, SB Motorsports and Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association for their generous contributions to this year’s fundraiser, which takes place at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA. The event will be open to the general public from 10am until 3pm, and attendance is encouraged. Tickets are just $10 for adults, $5 for children. For more information, visit www.2-fast.org or email Brian Orton at [email protected]. Industry inquiries are welcomed.

Updated: More Press Releases From Last Weekend’s AMA Races At Laguna Seca

ULRICH AND PIETRI BATTLE RIVALS, HEAT AT LAGUNA SECA Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki performed admirably in front of a three-day crowd of more than 140,000 fans who braved the intense heat at Laguna Seca to attend the U.S. Grand Prix race weekend. Chris Ulrich scored a pair of top-15 results while his Venezuelan teammate, Robertino Pietri, did a fine job learning the racetrack and increasing in speed throughout the weekend without making any critical errors along the way. Ulrich gave the team their best finish of the weekend in the premier AMA Superbike class. The Californian, who qualified 18th fastest at 1:28.948, circulated near his qualifying best at the end of the grueling 28-lap race aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000, allowing him to fight up to 14th by the flag. On Sunday, Ulrich took 15th in the Superstock final, one position ahead of his starting position after qualifying in 16th at 1: 29.217. Chris summed up his weekend, commenting, “I think the Superbike race went better than the Superstock race for me. I struggled a little bit for the first two laps of the Superstock race. The front was pushing so we just had to chill out and wait for that to come in. It came in about the third lap and I ran some low 1:29s and a few high 1:28s, and I felt like I was reeling in the group ahead of me. Unfortunately, they were too far ahead. “As far as Superbike, I rode a good race. I ran my fastest lap a few laps from the end so I’m good and strong,” said Ulrich. With a month’s layoff to mend following the previous round in Utah, Pietri was feeling healthier as his broken right leg has continued to heal. He steadily worked up his speed and confidence at the notoriously difficult to master Laguna Seca circuit in what was his first visit to the track. Despite his inexperience at Laguna Seca, Pietri was once again the fastest South American over the course of the weekend. He qualified 19th in Superstock at 1:30.337 and 25th in Superbike at 1:30.158. He fared even better in the races, claiming 17th in the Superstock final and 20th in Superbike. Reflecting on the weekend, Robertino said, “Laguna Seca is a very tricky track. It was my first time here and I’m happy because I went through the weekend safe, clear, and with no crashes or stupid mistakes. I was lapping in the low 1:30s at a track that is difficult to learn so that was good. “On Friday, we struggled a lot with the bike. We didn’t have a good set-up for here and I wasn’t feeling I was riding a strongly as I needed to. On Saturday, we made progress. In the Superstock race on Sunday we finished 17th after qualifying 19th so we gained a couple spots, which is good. I was riding well at the start and was right behind my teammate Chris and some other fast riders. I made a mistake in the Corkscrew and they got away. But I’m happy — we made it through and I feel we got some good data for the upcoming rounds. “Also I’m happy because my leg is healing. It’s not bothering me at all when I ride,” said Pietri. “I’ve been cycling a lot, which has helped a lot with the circulation. The bone is 80% but it’s not bothering me at all when I’m on the bike.” Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki will be back in action in two week’s time at the next AMA round, which takes place at Mid-Ohio on August 4-6. Ulrich won the AMA Superstock race at the venue in 2002 and expects to put in another strong ride this season. “I’m very excited about Mid-Ohio,” he commented. “I’m a little nervous about the new surface. I’m confident in my abilities and I’m confident that I’m pretty quick. I think we’ll get a top ten there — that’s the goal.” More, from a press release issued by Safety First Suzuki: SAFETY FIRST SUZUKI RACING BEATS THE HEAT AT LAGUNA Team Safety First beat the heat at Mazda Raceway, as temperatures under the canopy easily exceeded 108 degrees throughout the race weekend. The heat, however, took its toll on the track, the riders and the spectators. Komodo, the team sponsor and leather supplier, is based out of Texas and has ample R&D regarding warm/hot weather riding. As a result the team riders, Tony “The Tiger” Meiring and Chris “Opie” Caylor were able to deal with the oppressive heat conditions. The Formula Xtreme race posed the biggest challenge for the team and Tony Meiring to date. A mechanical issue during the sighting lap forced the Tracy, CA rider to start from the pit lane a half-lap down after the green light. A run through the field ended up gaining Meiring valuable 17th place points for his perseverance. The following day, Meiring upped the ante and battled for 9th place throughout the Supersport race. “I was very happy with the bikes performance this weekend. I can definitely tell some good development work went into them since Miller” quoted Meiring. Chris “Opie” Caylor stated “even with the poor track surface after the repaving and with the expansive time spans between very brief on-track sessions, the team was able to dial in really good suspension settings. The guys from GP Suspension were able to bring us a new set of forks to try. It came at the perfect time, soaking up the big bumps that developed on the track surface. I came away with 11th place in the FX and 14th in the Supersport and some valuable points. I am now tied with my friend Blake Young for 8th overall in FX”. Wayne Wilder and Lee Schwartzentraub from Komodo were on hand at Laguna Seca as part of the Safety First Racing effort and were available all weekend to address questions from race attendees regarding the Komodo Gear line of riding apparel. Team Owner Kevin Hanson noted, “We have 100% finishing rate for both bikes in all of our races this seasons. Our competitors can’t say that. The work and prep that the guys on the team and back at 4& 6 Racing are doing this year speaks volumes of what the Suzuki GSXR 600’s are capable of. We have both riders in the top 10 for Formula Xtreme and 8th and 12th for the highly competitive Supersport class.” More, from a press release issued by Team Stargel Castrol: TEAM STARGEL CASTROL MAKES RETURN TO AMA COMPETITION Since the Barber round in April, Team Stargel Castrol has been absent from the AMA paddock due to health reasons. Needless to say, the team was ecstatic to be returning to action for the combined AMA / MotoGP event at Laguna Seca on July 21st-23rd. It would prove as always to be challenging and full of the unexpected. The Friday schedule made no concessions to the fact that the crew had not worked as a unit in months. With scorching heat and very little track time, practice for both Formula Xtreme and Superbike came and went with little problems, but both lap times and setup discovering were less than stellar. In Formula Xtreme qualifying, rider Brian Stokes suffered a setback. Following Jason DiSalvo, Stokes crashed at speed in turn 9. This ended his qualifying session prematurely and gave the team a new list of work for Friday evening. When Saturday dawned, it was quickly obvious that the heat would continue to punish everyone during the day. In both Formula Xtreme and Superbike practice, the team tried various compounds of Michelin tires, hoping to find a combination that would survive the abrasive track surface as well as the heat. They also learned that the repairs made to their Yamaha R6 were sound and successful. At the start of the Formula Xtreme race, the bikes and riders were running at a fever pitch – literally. While waiting for a delayed start, many of the motorcycles began to overheat and were boiling over. Stokes made an excellent start and began to work himself forward from his 16th place grid position. Finally gaining more track knowledge, Stokes steadily lowered his lap times like clockwork as the race progressed. At the end, Stokes crossed the line in 9th position, just behind Jeremy McWilliams on the factory Buell. On his white flag lap, Stokes turned his fastest lap of the race carving well over two seconds and his aborted qualifying session. When asked how this was possible at the end of a race in 100 degree heat, Stokes responded thusly, “The Michelin tires were amazing, I had so much grip that I can’t remember a single slide during the entire race…just incredible!” Many times in racing, just when you think you have a firm grasp on something, it slips through your fingers. This would be the case in the Superbike race. Stokes got a good start and had passed 4 to 5 other riders. For the first two laps, he was moving forward, then fate decided that this would not be his race. A known, tested component decided that it did not want to perform as it had previously in the weekend. Stokes was forced to slow his pace 3-5 seconds a lap, but soldiered on for 28 laps in the brutal heat to finish the race. It was a tough day at the office. Despite missing the last four months from the AMA, Team Stargel Castrol picked right up where they left off in Formula Xtreme. Their 9th place finish at Laguna carries over from their 8th place finish at Barber in April. While suffering a problem in Superbike at Laguna, the team is proud of the fact that they have completed every race they have started this year. Finally, everyone at Team Stargel Castrol would like to extend a warm thank you to all of their sponsors. The support and friendship they have shown through a period of serious health crisis will not be forgotten. We will work diligently to represent you and your products with honesty, class, and professionalism. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS SUZUKI LEAVES LAGUNA SECA WITH TWO TOP-10 FINISHES MONTEREY, Calif., Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore and Steve Rapp brought home two impressive top-10 finishes in the AMA Superbike race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., on Saturday afternoon. Saturday morning, the Jordan Suzuki team had a strong showing in Superbike qualifying, with Pridmore (1:27.136) posting the fastest lap time for the 10th spot on the grid. Jake Holden (1:27.203) qualified in the eleventh spot, while Rapp (1:27.624) was gridded in 14th position. The 28-lap Superbike race saw all three riders get a good start until a turn-one crash caused a red flag. In the re-start, Pridmore again got a good start and charged hard on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 to finish in ninth position. “This was the best race we’ve had all season,” said Pridmore. “I got killer starts. I think I was fourth or fifth in the first start and then somewhere around sixth in the second start. I actually got to ride with the factory guys today. We made some changes to the Jordan Suzuki this weekend that really give us hope for the remaining races. We’re just hoping to carry that over into the next four rounds.” Teammate Rapp also got a good start on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 and rode a consistent race to bring home 10th place. “The race was good,” said Rapp. “I got a pretty good start and after a couple of laps I was catching up to the front-runners. Then I just put my head down and tried to stay in front of the guys behind me. But the Jordan Suzuki was running well and the tires were good.” The Jordan Suzuki team will next compete in the eighth round of AMA Superbike at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Aug. 4 – 6, 2006. Jason Pridmore, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #43 9th Place AMA Superbike Race 1 9th Place Overall Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #59 29th Place AMA Superbike Race 1 12th Place Overall Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #15 10th AMA Superbike Race 1 10th Overall Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. For more information on the team, visit the race team website at www.23RACE.com and the Jumpman website at www.Jumpman23.com. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing: KAWASAKI RACING TEAM THRILLS FANS AT LAGUNA SECA Tommy Hayden earns first Superbike podium of his career Monterey, Calif. Kawasaki Racing Team rider, Tommy Hayden, put in a thrilling performance as AMA Superbike racing came to Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif., this weekend. At the start of the 28-lap feature, Tommy left the grid in fourth but the race was red flagged immediately following due to a crash. At the re-start, Tommy launched his ZX-10R into fourth and quickly began making a charge for the front. As the laps clicked away, Tommy made his move just over a third of the way into the race. He first took out Miguel Duhamel for third-place with a gritty outside pass under braking while heading into Turn 2 on lap 12. He then captured second-place from Ben Bostrom a few laps later with an inside pass in the same corner and held his position for the remainder. Tommy’s second-place result was the first Superbike podium of his career. Tommy’s brother, Roger, who was making his return to Superbike action at Laguna Seca, started in seventh and eventually crossed the stripe in 11th. Roger also contested in Supersport on Sunday and found himself in third position at the start of the 17-lap feature. The 23-year-old Kentucky native rode incredibly fast throughout the duration of the event while holding off four other riders to score a runner-up finish aboard his Kawasaki ZX™-6RR. Attack Kawasaki rider, Ben Attard, finished in fourth and his teammate, Damon Buckmaster, unfortunately pulled out of the race with electrical problems. In AMA Superstock Action, Attard and Buckmaster both put in respectable rides aboard their Kawasaki ZX-10Rs. Attard advanced from a 14th place start to finish 12th. Buckmaster started in sixth and was unfortunately shuffled back into 12th four laps into the race. He then slipped further back to 14th due to mechanical problems. Racing resumes when the teams head to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Aug. 46, for a Superbike doubleheader. More, from a press release issued by JasonDiSalvo.com: DISALVO INCREASES CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD Jason DiSalvo of Stafford, New York and Las Vegas, Nevada participated in the AMA Superbike Championship at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Salinas, CA. The AMA race was run in conjunction with the Moto GP World Championship race. With the schedule being very tight due to the combined races a shortened version for practice and qualifying was implemented. In the Formula Xtreme class Jason extended his continuous pole positions to 6 giving him a front row start for the race. With a good start Jason and his teammate pulled a fast get away extending their lead to 6 seconds with Jason finishing second. He extended his point lead in the Formula Xtreme Championship to 6 points. In the 1000cc Superstock class Jason experienced set up gremlins in qualifying, starting fourth on the outside of row one. With a good start Jason got bottled up in turn two ending up 7th after the first lap, ultimately finishing 4th which keeps him in third place for the Superstock Championship. Jason will be leaving for Japan on Monday, July 24, 2006 to participate in the World Championship Endurance Suzuka 8-Hour event being held on July 30, 2006. Jason returns on July 31st for round 8 of the AMA Championship on August 4, through August 6, 2006 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. You will be able to watch Jason in the 1000cc Superstock race on Tuesday, 7/25/06 at 3PM on the Speed Channel. More, from another press release issued by Jordan Suzuki: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS SUZUKI’S RAPP PICKS UP BEST SUPERSTOCK FINISH OF SEASON AT LAGUNA SECA MONTEREY, Calif., Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Steve Rapp captured his best finish of the AMA Repsol Superstock season at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif., on Sunday, finishing in fifth position. Teammate Jake Holden was right behind in sixth, while Jason Pridmore brought home a solid eighth-place finish. In Saturday’s qualifying, the Jordan Suzuki team was gridded together. Rapp posted the team’s fastest lap time (1:27.453) for seventh position, while teammate Holden (1:27.582) was next to him in eighth, with Pridmore (1:27.650) in ninth. Immediately, Rapp got a good start on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 and slotted into sixth position. By the second lap he’d moved up into fifth, where he wound up finishing. “I’m really happy with the weekend,” said Rapp. “I have to thank the Jordan Suzuki team for putting in so much time and effort and for giving me such a good bike in the GSX-R1000.” Holden also got a good start and was in seventh position by the end of lap one. The consistent rider stayed put until a last-minute pass saw him finish in sixth place. “Everything went really well, especially considering how little track time we had,” said Holden. “The race was good and the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 was great. I wish I’d been able to stay up there with the top group but I was happy that I was able to catch Jeff (May) in the last corner on the last lap to take sixth.” “It was a good race weekend,” summed up Pridmore. “We made definite progress for the whole team. As a team, we seem to be seeing a surge in the right direction. For me, we made some changes to the Jordan Suzuki Superstock bike that allowed me to be much more competitive.” The Jordan Suzuki team will next compete in the eighth round of AMA Repsol Superstock at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Aug. 4 – 6, 2006. Jason Pridmore, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #43 8th AMA Repsol Superstock 9th Place Overall Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #59 6th Place AMA Repsol Superstock 10th Place Overall Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #15 5th Place AMA Repsol Superstock 6th Place Overall Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. For more information on the team, visit the race team website at www.23RACE.com and the Jumpman website at www.Jumpman23.com. More, from a press release issued by Team Millennium/KWS Suzuki: MILLENNIUM/KWS SUZUKI BATTLE THE HEAT AT LAGUNA SECA FOR SOLID FINISHES Team Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorsports battled record temperatures and minimal track time to record another round of solid finishes at Laguna Seca Raceway. This particular round of the AMA Superbike Series is held in conjunction with the World Championship MotoGP Series and presents a unique event that saw 140,000 motorcycle race fans brave the heat to see the best riders on a world stage. However with the MotoGP series headlining the event, the AMA Superbike series was only allowed approximately one-third the track time it normally enjoys. This, along with temperatures measuring over 100 degrees for most of the weekend, found the team challenged to get the most out of their equipment and themselves. In Superbike qualifying, Matt Lynn and John Haner pushed the limits of their Pirelli shod Suzuki GSX-R1000’s and their bodies to arrive on the forth and fifth rows. Haner qualified in the fifteenth position with a time of 1:27.037 and Lynn qualified in the nineteenth position with a time of 1:29.267. The Superbike race started with a bang as both riders got excellent starts, each moving up at least a full row before turn one. Unfortunately, Matt Lynn was contacted by another rider which caused a four rider incident in turn two and brought out the red flag stopping the race. Luckily, Matt was unhurt and was able to make it back to the pits and jump on his back-up bike for the restart. Although Lynn had to start from the back of the grid in the twenty-fifth position, he once again got an excellent start and turned some of his fastest laps of the weekend to ultimately finish in the fifteenth position. Haner got a great start as well but retired early with brake problems on lap four. “I had two moments with the brakes and I decided it would be safer for everybody out there if I just came in,” said Haner. “We had a great bike and the Pirelli tires worked great even with the crazy heat, but everybody’s safety is more important.” In Superstock both riders qualified their Suzuki GSX-R1000’s on the forth row. Lynn qualified in the thirteenth position with a time of 1:28.850 and Haner qualified in the fifteenth position with a time of 1:29.035. Both riders got good starts and rode hard races despite the oppressive heat. Lynn finished just outside the top ten in the eleventh position and Haner finished in the sixteenth position. With his safe finish, Lynn was able to move up into the seventh position in overall Superstock points. Matt Lynn “Laguna Seca should be commended for the safety improvements they made to the track, but the changes made to the surface made learning the track difficult. Overall the weekend was good and we moved up in the points, which is really important. I really want to thank my mechanics Brian Stricker and Rick Matheny as well as my Dad and Grant for working so hard in the heat.” John Haner “My shoulder is feeling much better and I am really looking forward to the last four races. We made a lot of progress with the chassis even though the results don’t show it. I really want to thank my sponsors for coming out this weekend, Rock Star Energy Drink as well as Komodo Leathers and HJC. I also want to thank everybody with the team. Those guys worked so hard through the heat and limited track time and I can’t thank them enough. Kevin Hunt “The team did really well this weekend through a lot of adversity. Record heat, limited track time, and a new surface all contributed to a long weekend for everybody. Matt and John put in a 100% effort and the crew; Chip, Michael, Owen, Rick, and Brian worked really hard and I want to thank them for it.”

Arai Offers To Repair Helmets With Loose Trim-Strips And Extend Affected-Helmet Warranties

(Bethlehem, PA) – Arai Helmets has announced a voluntary program to repair those helmets that have experienced a loosening of the flexible trim strip around the helmet’s lower perimeter. (The loosening was traced to a limited number of helmets in a production run some time ago, and has since been corrected.) Arai will also extend its standard five-year warranty by an additional two years to give all affected consumers time to respond and be covered. “We want to accommodate everybody and make all our customers happy,” said Brian M. Weston, Director of Operations. “Our first priority is to get the strips re-fastened and returned as quickly as possible, and to allow the extra warranty time for everyone to respond.” As an added customers courtesy and to encourage the immediate return of the affected helmets, Arai is offering a limited “Pre-Paid Return” offer for all helmets returned on or before September 29, 2006. Arai has made special arrangements with “The UPS Stores®” to pack and ship helmets at no charge through 09/29/06. Helmets shipped on or after October 2, 2006 would revert to the normal warranty program procedures. For full details, consumers should log onto www.araiamericas.com/qcs_query_tech.html to register helmets for repair and begin the process. This address is for Lower Trim Strip repairs only. All other warranty inquiries must use the normal warranty channels.

Canadian Superbike Series TV Coverage Starts Tomorrow

SERIES SET FOR HIGH DEF DEBUT TORONTO, ON The Parts Canada Superbike Championship makes its debut in high definition television when coverage of the first round premieres on TSN HD this Wednesday, July 26. The hour-long show from the opening round at Shannonville Motorsport Park, which was held May 21, will air from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET on TSN HD. The show will repeat from 4:30 a.m.-5:30 a.m. ET on the morning of Friday, July 28. It will also air on TSN (in standard definition) at those times as well. TSN’s coverage continues with round 2 of the series from Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant premiering Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. ET with an encore on Friday, Aug. 4 from 4:30 a.m.-5:30 a.m. ET. The Mont-Tremblant event took place June 4. “We are excited to see the debut of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship in high definition format,” said Colin Fraser, president of Professional Motorsport Productions, which runs the national series. “We think that the colour, speed and drama of motorcycle road racing make it an ideal sport for high definition television and that it will find wide appeal with sports fans across the country.” Details on broadcast times and dates for the remaining five rounds of the 2006 series will be announced when they become available on the Parts Canada Superbike Championship official website, www.cdnsuperbike.com. Additionally a full broadcast schedule has been released for the series on the French language RDS network. Premiers for the opening two rounds at Shannonville and Mont- Tremblant have already been shown, but viewers can still catch the final rebroadcast of the second round on Wednesday, July 26 at 6:00 p.m. ET. The remainder of the RDS premiers are as follows: Round 3, Race City Motorsport Park, Sunday, July 30, 6:00 p.m. ET Round 4, Mosport International Raceway, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2:00 p.m. ET Round 5, Mosport International Raceway, Sunday, Aug. 20, 12:00 p.m. ET Round 6, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Saturday, Aug. 26, 1:00 p.m. ET Round 7, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Saturday Sept. 16, 10:00 a.m. ET Repeat dates and times for the RDS broadcasts will also be posted on cdnsuperbike.com. All the RDS shows are one half-hour in length. Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke holds a commanding lead in the Parts Canada Superbike point standings heading into the penultimate round at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS Aug. 11-13. The Canadian Kawasaki factory rider is bidding for his third national title.

Honda Plans To Start Selling Airplanes

Honda Motor Co. plans to start selling the small jet they unveiled in 2005. Click here to read more ~http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8J34E8G0.htm?sub=apn_home_up%26chan=db~

Fan Ride Scheduled For Mid-Ohio AMA National

FANS SET TO LAP TRACK DURING 16th ANNUAL MID-OHIO DEALER RIDE DUBLIN, Ohio (July 25, 2006) Motorcycle riders may take to the city streets daily, but once a year, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course allows spectators the chance to tour the track with their own sportbike or touring machine. Now in its 16th season, the Mid-Ohio Dealer Ride provides spectators the opportunity to ride the track on their own two-wheeler and get the pros’ perspective of the challenging 2.4-mile, 15-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. The Dealer Ride takes place during the lunch break on Sunday, August 6, during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire. With more than 140 motorcycle dealerships from seven states participating in this year’s event, over 1,500 riders are expected to experience an on-track tour of Mid-Ohio’s 15-turn, 2.4-mile road course. In addition to the lunchtime lap on Sunday, participants will receive VIP parking in the track’s infield, and five lucky riders will have the opportunity to win a pace car ride, a lap of the track and receive a Mid-Ohio merchandise package. The winners will be drawn from the Dealer Ride registration forms and will be announced prior to the ride. Bike owners interested in taking part in the Dealer Ride can simply visit their nearest participating motorcycle dealership, including all Ohio Honda dealerships, during normal business hours to sign up. A complete listing of participating dealerships may be found at www.midohio.com. All participating riders must register in advance and bring their dealer registration card with them on Sunday. All riders and passengers must be 18 years of age or older, carry a valid operator’s license, and wear a helmet throughout the ride. Along with the Dealer Ride, the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will feature an AMA Superbike doubleheader. Mat Mladin, Miguel Duhamel, Ben Spies, Jake Zemke, Ben Bostrom and the rest of the Superbike stars will clash on the track bringing knee dragging and wheel lifting excitement as they compete for the AMA Superbike Championship and a win in one of the Wiseco Superbike 100 Double Header races at Mid-Ohio. These high-speed bikes will go head-to-head reaching speeds of over 170 miles per hour on Mid-Ohio’s famed backstretch before battling side by side into the Esses. Weekend support races for the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire include Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, Repsol Superstock Series, and Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series presented by Budweiser. Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will be the fourth event on Mid-Ohio’s eight-race 2006 schedule. Still to come is the Vintage Grand-Prix of Mid-Ohio (August 18-20), National Auto Sport Association Championships (September 15-17), AMA Road Race Grand Championships & AMA Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 22-24) and the AMA Superbike Shootout (September 30-October 1). Tickets for all events are available by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or visiting www.midohio.com. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year.

More On Blackhawk Farms Repaving

FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I spent Saturday at Blackhawk Farms at a Sportbike Track Time trackday. The new sections of track while appearing pitted in some spots are very smooth and as good as I’ve seen it there for the past 3 years. I run the “A” group and was turning 1:20’s and saw a few guys turning 1:15’s on open class bikes. No flying asphalt or sliding around as some reports mentioned. The transitions from the old surface to the new are smooth and seamless. Attendance was down for a weekend trackday event. that may have been due to the # of people going to Laguna or the rumors that the track surface was poor/unsafe. I can confirm that it was neither. Mike Piarulli Menasha, Wisconsin