DUCATI XEROX TEAM HEADS TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC FOR SEVENTH ROUND AT BRNO Brno (Czech Republic), Thursday 20 July: Ducati Xerox Team riders Troy Bayliss and Lorenzo Lanzi will be back in action again this weekend for the seventh round of the 2006 World Superbike Championship at the AutoMotodrom Brno in the Czech Republic. Just a few days after the conclusion of a successful three-day test at the Lausitzring, the Australian championship leader and his Italian team-mate will be donning their leathers once again as the series passes the half-way point to move into the second half of the season. Despite eight wins so far and a 94-point lead under his belt, 37-year-old Bayliss from Taree, Australia will not be changing his strategy for the rest of the year. “I’ll be attacking for sure in the remaining rounds” he declared. “I really like the Brno track, I had a podium there in 2003 in MotoGP and good results in the last test there a month or so ago so I’m looking forward to going back. My 999 is almost perfect now, so we’ve been working more with the settings in the last tests, little things to improve the tyre life and conserve the rear tyre. We came away in the second long-run at Lausitz a lot better than the first one, and we went under the record at the test here so all in all I’m feeling pretty confident this weekend. I think all the teams have picked it up a little bit as well and are getting the bikes working better. Right now Pitt, Haga, Corser and Toseland are all riding strong and they’ll give us some good races.” Lorenzo Lanzi is currently lying seventh in the championship standings on the second Ducati Xerox 999 machine with 80 points. The 24-year-old Italian aims to break out of his run of below-par results with a couple of good performances at Brno. “I really like the Brno track” he says, “and the tests we did here one month ago and in Germany this week went well so we will try and start the weekend in the best way by getting the right set-up and setting some good times on the Fiday. When we did the test in June I wasn’t far off the pace of the top guys, especially with race tyres so I feel I can obtain some good results in this race. Moreover there will be a couple of coaches of my fans here at Brno, it gives me great pleasure that they follow me everywhere. For sure they’ll be cheering for me, hopefully I can give them something to enjoy this weekend!” THE CIRCUIT Name: Automotodrom Brno Length: 5.403 km. Pole Position: left. Corners Left/Right: 5/9. Race distance: 2 x 20 laps/108.060 km CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after 6 rounds of 12): Riders – 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 254; 2. Haga (Yamaha) 160; 3. Toseland (Honda) 157; 4. Corser (Suzuki) 149; 5. Barros (Honda) 146; 6. Pitt (Yamaha) 128; 7. Lanzi (Ducati) 80; 8. Xaus (Ducati) 70; 9. Walker (Kawasaki) 64; 10. Abe (Yamaha) 60. Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 260; 2. Honda 196; 3. Yamaha 189; 4. Suzuki 188; 5. Kawasaki 98; 6. Petronas 4. STATISTICS: Best lap: Corser (Suzuki), 2m02.694s (2005). Lap record: Haga (Yamaha), 2m03.747s (2005). Superpole: Corser (Suzuki), 2m02.694s (2005). 2005 RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Corser (Suzuki); 2. Toseland (Ducati); 3. Laconi (Ducati). Race 2 – 1. Haga (Yahama); 2. Corser; 3. Vermeulen (Honda).

The MotoGP World Championship hits the shores of the US before taking a well-deserved mid-season break. The eleventh round of the season will take place at the legendary Laguna Seca circuit with the MotoGP category the guest of honour as the 125 and 250cc classes sit it out for the weekend. However, the MotoGP riders will have some company as, for the very first time, they share track duties this weekend with the American AMA Superbike championship riders. After an absence of ten years, MotoGP returned to Laguna Seca last season and the hugely testing circuit ensured one of the most exciting and fascinating races of the season. “The corkscrew” – a turn that requires both great skill and great courage – has since undergone a major transformation costing some $9 million in a bid to try and improve safety at the circuit, although officials are confident that none of the excitement it brought will be lost. “We are very happy as we did not expect such a rapid response for the Safety Commission,” stated Franco Uncini – head of riders’ safety. “The track has been completely resurfaced and corners one and seven have been levelled out, while the circuit’s drainage system has also been redesigned. The run-off areas have also been increased at the most important points, but the mythical character of the track has not been altered. Laguna Seca is not a circuit that has been designed with any modern software, but it is still a very exciting and enjoyable circuit.” MARCO MELANDRI: “Laguna Seca is a circuit that I like a lot; it has a unique design that is a lot of fun. Last year we had a few problems with the set-up of the bike and it wasn’t until the ‘warm-up’ for the race that we found a suitable solution. We are in a good moment of form right now and I must make the most of the situation and continue to concentrate and perform despite still not being 100 percent physically. In the last two races I have had some great battles and I hope to repeat that here. I hope to be practically fully fit when I start the race, but competitiveness forms part of my personality and I love a real battle.” TONI ELIAS: “Laguna Seca is a mythical circuit. When I was young I remember the races at this circuit perfectly and used to love watching them. I really like the circuit and although it is difficult it is a lot of fun and completely different to the European ones we are used to. The ‘Corkscrew’ turn is really impressive, you don’t appreciate just how amazing it is on television. I was still suffering physically at the German GP and my fracture still isn’t completely healed, but I will give my all.” LAGUNA SECA – THE CIRCUITS TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Built: 1957 Latest modification:2006 Length: 3.610 m Width: 15 m Pole position: from the right Right corners: 4 Left corners: 7 Longest straight: 966 m RECORD: Record: 2005 C.Edwards (Yamaha) 1’23″915 Pole: N. Hayden (Honda) 1’22″670 Race ’05: 1st N.Hayden (Honda), 2nd C.Edwards (Yamaha), 3rd V.Rossi (Yamaha) THE GRAND PRIX FROM INSIDE THE FORTUNA HONDA BOX The box of a MotoGP team is an operations room where technology and hard work combine against just one factor: time. The few hours of qualifying and the fierce battle between rider and his eternal rival – time, would not be possible without the priceless help of the group around him – the team. The lay-out of the box is designed to guarantee the most efficient work environment possible in the small space permitted. The design, the result of many years of hard work and experience, is improved upon almost daily and in the case of Team Gresini, is marked by the combination of elegance and functionality. One of the team’s partners, BETA TOOLS, bring all their know-how to the team’s equipment with the aim of ensuring that the team spend their time in the best and most efficient way possible, with each member comfortable with his tools. Over the course of a weekend a simple nut can be put on and taken off up to 500 hundred times. Under the watchful eye of the chief mechanic, the work that goes on in the box is carried out with two main objectives; speed and efficiency. The work of each and everyone of the group goes on to define just how effective the team will perform as a unit over the course of a weekend. In the case of the tyres, the different members of the team will work together with the objective of getting the rider back out on the circuit as quickly as possible so he has every chance to win his the most important battle of all – ‘the battle against time’. JOB TIMES: 30 seconds needed to change the rear tyre 2.5 minutes needed to change the front tyre 4 minutes needed to change the rear suspension fork 3 minutes needed to change the front suspension fork 25 minutes needed to dismantle and change the gear-box 3.5 minutes needed to change the chassis and engine of the bike 6 – 7 hours needed to dismantle and then put back together the entire bike

FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Attention all AMA teams, per the Laguna Seca officials at the biggest U.S. event in motorcycle road racing. YOU WILL BE RIDIN DIRTY FOR THE MOTO GP EVENT. A “no water in the paddock” rule is being enforced, that means no equipment can be rinsed with just water, no soap mind you, just plain old soft water! So all the equipment that is usually washed at every event, floors, awning and the like, will be dirty for the biggest motorcycle road racing event in the U.S. So when all you fans come to the event and think, “Man all these AMA guys are nasty,” no you have Laguna Seca to thank for this. And if you think this is the rules of the MotoGP body “Dorna”, think again because in speaking with the Dorna officials, they say that all the teams in all the countries they go to, wash the equipment before the event! Laguna Seca officials’ response to this was “we have a guy on the other side of the property washing transporters.” That is not the problem the Transporter is clean, but all the other equipment is in need of a rinse. Laguna officials respond, well just take all your equipment to the other side of the property set it up, have them wash it tear it down, bring it back to the paddock and set it up again! Also in talking with SCRAMP officials, they said that all the other events they have here, washing of transporter and equipment is allowed in the paddock? Pass it along, Norm Hammond Taylors, South Carolina

FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I was down at Laguna Seca on Tuesday helping drop off a motorhome and asked about the traffic entrance and parking plans because I was skeptical that it would work as well as hoped, but learned some encouraging details that I had not seen publicized anywhere else. They have 70 buses that can take 40-48 people each from the car parking at Cal State University Monterey Bay, which they figure will shuttle 3500 people per hour. People can make their own calculations for how wide a time frame it will take to shuttle 10,000 or 20,000 people by that method and make their plans accordingly. Most encouragingly, they are going to let all the motorcycles into the parking lot at Wolf Hill before they check tickets. You don’t have to show your ticket until you are walking from the parking lot into the raceway, which avoids all the waiting in line on your bike with the engine overheating. Last year, I saw 3 bikes that expired because of overheating in line, one scary episode of road rage using a car as a deadly weapon, and my engine was, I think, done in by the 2.5 hour 10 mile entrance. Checking tickets after we get off the bikes is the right thing to do. I am happy to report this information. Hopefully this solves alot of the traffic difficulties. Jeff Lee Oakland, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Out of curiosity and a burning desire to ingest $30 of gas I decided to try the directions for the motorcycle entrance for Laguna this year. There are some misleading maps out there, and I though I would offer specific directions confirmed from behind the wheel of my trusty Subaru. Note the following: These are directions for motorcycle entrance only – assuming you did not buy a $50 parking pass, and that you are riding a bike capable of 55+ mph (scooteristas see directions #3). Once on Ft. Ord grounds: Warning – government road – chip-seal – bad for bodywork paint! Don’t speed or tailgate! Keep your pass in an easily accessible pocket or tank bag. Do not speed. 1) From Salinas/Hwy 101: a) Hwy 68 or North / South Davis Road West. b) Exit G17 / Reservation Road and turn right. c) In a few miles on your left just as you are topping a hill/curve you will see flags marking the East Garrison entrance. Inside that entrance you will be directed to Barloy-Canyon and on to the track 2) From Monterey/Seaside on a motorcycle: a) Jump on Hwy 1 North. b) About 5 miles North of Seaside exit 12th St. and turn right. c) This becomes Imjin Road/Parkway. d) Continue on Imjin Pkwy. ’till you hit Reservation road and turn right. e) Continue several miles and you will come across the East Garrison entrance on your right. Look for the flags and watch out for left-turning traffic. f) Enter and follow to Barloy Canyon into the track. BTW – Saw several cops on Imjin Pkwy. today. They were protecting and serving with vigor to say the least. You have been warned. 3) Small scooters from Monterey Seaside: This is the same direction that cars utilizing shuttle service will take – however you are on road <50 mph the whole way. a) Head into Seaside and take 218 or Broadway East until you see General Jim Moore Rd. Turn left. (Warning - big uphills from the 218 end). b) Continue through the construction zone. c) Take a right on Gigling Rd. d) Take a left on 8th Ave. e) Take a right on Inter-Garrison Rd. You MAY be able to continue on Inter-Garrison on to the back side of the East Garrison entrance thereby avoiding Reservation Rd. and the 60-mph-plus traffic. From the East Garrison entrance you will meet up with the main motorcycle traffic into the track. f) If you cannot enter due to gate closure, back-track to Abrams Drive and turn right. g) Turn right on Imjin Parkway. h) Turn right on Reservation Road and hug the white line. i) Several miles being a potential hood-ornament later you will see the East Garrison Entrance, flags and streams of motorcycles entering that gate. Everybody have a happy and safe journey to MotoGP. If these direction clarify entrance directions for a few riders, it was worth the gas exploring the Fort Ord Perimeter. If you have the time, go to www.googleearth.com and download the viewer. Load in Marina, California and you will be amazed at the detailed satalite imagery available. Ciao for now - Robert Pandya Austin, Texas