Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss has beaten riders of 1000cc four-cylinder machines and won eight straight races on his factory 999, en route to leading this year’s Superbike World Championship. Parts Unlimited Ducati’s Ben Bostrom and Neil Hodgson, meanwhile, have struggled staying with 1000cc four-cylinder machines on their Ducati 999s in the AMA Superbike Championship and have only one podium finish between them this year. Among the many differences in the situations of the two teams, Bayliss’ Ducati runs a traction control system, and Bostrom’s and Hodgson’s Ducatis do not have traction control systems. The legalization of traction control today by AMA Pro Racing, therefore, could potentially improve the results of Ducati’s AMA Superbike team starting at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. That is, if the system is available and if Parts Unlimited Ducati decides to use it, according to Bostrom. “We’re supposed to just go race without testing it? That’s insane,” Bostrom told Roadracingworld.com. Asked if his team was going to use a traction control system on its Ducatis at Laguna Seca, Bostrom said, “That’s what I’m wondering, too. It depends, for one, as long as we have the parts. I guess inventory [at Ducati Corse, in Italy] could send them straight over. I’ll talk to the boys on Wednesday and see what the team wants to do. Me, I don’t care, honestly, but obviously, I always prefer to go test. “It could [help us]. It could, but there’s still other problems. We’re still racing against 1000cc four-cylinders, and we’re on [1000cc] Twins. That doesn’t quite add up. So there’s always going to be something stacked against [us] there. But if it does give us any kind of improvement, hey, that’s an improvement. “Plus, normally, I spin the back end to help point the bike. So now, if you can’t violently spin the back tire like that anymore, maybe it hurts your steering, right? There’s a lot to consider with it. “People get all strange, like we’re going to suddenly go 10 seconds a lap faster. It’s not going to be like that.” Bostrom added that he had fully recovered from the hip injury he suffered when he highsided in third gear during the Superbike race June 18 at Miller Motorsports Park. “I felt like I cracked my hip, but I was too lazy to go to the doctor,” said Bostrom. “I’m golden now. I’m good, but the first couple of weeks I couldn’t even walk.”

BOSTROM HOPES TO KEEP TRADITION ALIVE AT LAGUNA SECA PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 17, 2006) — Ben Bostrom has struggled in the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited this season, but with a strong recent showing in Utah and the upcoming round at what he considers his home track, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, Calif., on Saturday, July 22, Bostrom’s season could be ready to take a turn for the better. The Bostrom brothers, Ben together with his younger brother Eric, have established a tradition of excellence at Laguna Seca over the years. Between them the two have won seven major races at the track. Ben started the trend seven years ago when he won a leg of the World Superbike Championship at the track. Since 2001 Ben and Eric have combined to win four of the five AMA Superbike races held at Laguna Seca. While Eric (who is not racing in the Superbike class this season) won’t have the opportunity to defend his 2005 Laguna Seca Superbike victory, Ben is hoping to not only uphold family honors at the track, but is also aiming to jump-start his season with his first AMA Superbike victory in two years. “I think we should be in the hunt at Laguna,” said the elder Bostrom, who rides for Parts Unlimited Ducati. “We’ve gained a lot of knowledge on the Ducati in recent tests and when we make changes now we have a good feel for how that’s going to affect the bike. I took some positives away from Utah. The feeling of running up front, I want to do that more often. It would be great to get back on top of the box again. It’s been since ’04. That’s a long time ago and we’re due.” While Bostrom is counting on a home track advantage, Laguna also marks the renewal of the battle for the championship between Yoshimura Suzuki teammates Ben Spies and Mat Mladin. Spies holds a 21-point margin over Mladin coming into Monterey. The young Texan, who just turned 22 the week before Laguna Seca, is seeking his first Laguna Seca Superbike victory. Spies is looking to the future and his name has already been mentioned in MotoGP circles. A solid performance in front of the international cadre that will be on hand for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix could be a career booster. Mladin is the defending series champ and the 2003 Laguna Superbike winner. Even though he’s behind in the points, he feels there’s plenty of time to make up ground. “Eight rounds to go, 21 points between us”¦ I’m looking forward to it,” said a confident sounding Mladin, the all-time wins leader in AMA Superbike racing. The American Honda team seems to be hitting its stride at mid-season. Team member Jake Zemke broke through to win his first AMA Superbike race of the season at Miller Motorsports Park, in Utah, last month. The confidence that victory gave Zemke could be the breakthrough the team has been striving for all season. “As a racer, you want to go to the front, and sometimes the bike just won’t allow it when you have to try 50 different things on a weekend,” Zemke said after his Utah victory of Honda’s earlier struggles. “We always hoped it would happen sooner [getting a win], but it’s a lot of hard work, and the guys worked really hard to get to this point, and today it all paid off. We’re just really happy to be sitting up here right now.” Zemke’s teammate Miguel Duhamel is third in the standings. He too is a former Laguna Superbike winner, last earning victory there in 1998. Kawasaki has won its share of Superbike races at Laguna Seca over the years. From the days of Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey in the early 1980s to Doug Chandler in the mid-1990s and Eric Bostrom in the early 2000s. The team is back with a factory effort again this year and Tommy Hayden, eldest of the trio of racing Hayden brothers, hopes to put in a good showing this weekend. Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and Parts Unlimited Ducati’s Neil Hodgson also hope to make a splash at the “Dry Lake”. The Michael Jordan Suzuki squad is headed by Jason Pridmore, who is ranked ninth in the standings. Teammate Steve Rapp, who is originally from the Bay Area, is just behind Pridmore in tenth. The newest member of the team, Jake Holden is ranked 12th. The Laguna Seca Superbike round will receive next-day coverage on SPEED starting at 3:00 p.m. eastern on Sunday, July 23. The AMA Superbike Championship round is part of the jam-packed Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend that kicks off this Friday. Call 1-800-327-SECA or (831) 242-8200 to purchase tickets for the combined Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix/AMA Superbike Championship weekend. You can also buy tickets by going online at www.laguna-seca.com. WHAT: The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, round 12 of the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. WHERE: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. From Highway 1: Take the Hwy 68 exit East. Travel approximately 10 miles to main entrance. Entrance will be on the left. WHEN: July 21-23, 2006. COURSE: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s newly revamped 2.238-mile, 11-turn course. SCHEDULE: Friday Practice begins at 8:00 a.m. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme qualifying at 4:15 p.m. Saturday Practice at 8:00 a.m., Repsol Lubricants Superstock qualifying at 8:25 a.m., Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei qualifying at 9:00 a.m., AMA Superbike qualifying at 11:15 a.m., Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme final at 12:05 p.m., MotoGP qualifying at 2:00 p.m., AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unilmited final at 4:00 p.m. Sunday Practice starts at 8:55 a.m., Pro Honda Oils Supersport final at 11:30 a.m., MotoGP race at 2:00 p.m. and Repsol Lubricants Superstock final at 3:45 p.m. TICKETS: $25 Friday General Admission, $40 Saturday General Admission, $55 Sunday General Admission, $80 2-Day General Admission (Sat/Sun), $90 3-Day General Admission (Fri/Sat/Sun). Camping available $45 Sat. night, $90 for two nights Sat./Sun., $135 for three nights Thurs./Fri./Sat. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult (except as noted and hospitality packages).

Now that full traction control is legal in AMA Superbike and Formula Xtreme and limited systems are legal in AMA Superstock and Supersport effective immediately — who will have the time to obtain and implement the systems by the end of the current season, which only has five rounds remaining? That was the question raised by veteran AMA racer Miguel Duhamel when Roadracingworld.com contacted him Monday morning seeking reaction to the immediate legalization of traction control systems in AMA Pro road racing. “It’s surprising that they decided to do it so abruptly right now,” said American Honda’s Duhamel. “I don’t know how many people have the time to do it now that it’s legal or whatever. I don’t know who’s going to have time to implement a system like that. I don’t think it can happen overnight. It might be bad in a way, because whoever’s already been doing it or have an idea how to do it, for them to not have any more barriers might scoot them back in front. “I think Suzuki already has a pretty good idea. They got away with a system that was shades of that, I guess. Now that they can go full-bore, it will be interesting to see if they can go faster this weekend. “For sure, Ducati are the number-one guys everyone’s going to be curious as to what they can do at Laguna Seca. I think you put a guy like Ben Bostrom, who goes really good at Laguna Seca, with traction control, [and] it’s going to make life pretty difficult for everybody out there. “What I’m going to do, to be honest with you, I’m going to call my team and go, ‘Hey, how long will it take for us to react to this?’ I think I’ve already got an answer to that, and it’s probably going to take a while. Because Honda doesn’t really like to try anything they don’t feel like they have a good grasp on. But we just had a good test at VIR, and I think we should be able to be pretty competitive this weekend. We’ll see.” Several AMA teams just tested at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) a few weeks ago, and the next scheduled multi-team AMA test will be at Road Atlanta approximately two weeks after this weekend’s event at Laguna Seca. Duhamel did not know of any other scheduled tests this season. American Honda’s Chuck Miller is a member of the AMA Road Racing Rules Committee that approved immediate legalization of traction control during a meeting in Ohio on Thursday. However, Miller was unable to attend the meeting due to a scheduling problem.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I don’t know what the hell they were thinking, but the powers that be over Blackhawk Farms decided that last week was the perfect time to replace pavement in 4 KEY corners of the track. Did the pavement need to be replaced? Well, maybe. It wasn’t the best stuff in the world (bumps in T2, patches in the bus-stop & T1 & T7), but at least it was rideable. I was not a part of the crash-fest known as practice on Friday, but I did manage 5 CCS races on Sat/Sun. Many races on Sat were red-flagged because of crashes in the new corners due to pavement coming up, or in the immediate following corners due to asphalt being embedded in the sides of the tires. I guess I just don’t get it. I commended the Irwin’s (BHF owners) when they repaved the track a few years ago, using apparently a very high-grade of asphalt which had great grip and held together excellent in my opinion. However, to replace corners just DAYS before a race (with BLISTERING heat I might add) seems pretty stupid. The surface did get better on Sunday (or maybe I just got used to it) after they steam-rolled the corners Saturday night and washed them down both Saturday night and twice on Sunday to cool the asphalt. However, if you got out of the rut, known as the race line, you were definitely in for a wild sliding ride. After coming off the track as well, you could run your hand across the right side of the tire and come off with handfuls of asphalt about the size of sand granules. It pretty much sucked. Since it was black, you couldn’t see it, but it made the tire slick as hell. There were a few people who managed to nail the line consistently lap after lap, and run respectable times. The rest of us suffered a 2-3 second per lap setback. The playing field was fairly level, as was the frustration shared by most all of the racers this weekend. The sad thing about it is that with the heat continuing, and events scheduled almost every day for the next 2 months, I can only imagine that the track will deterioriate beyond what it was this weekend. Jeff Kufalk CCS Midwest Expert #42 Sussex, Wisconsin

TRIUMPHANT TEST FOR FPR AT EUROSPEEDWAY FPR’s rider pairing of Steve Martin and Craig Jones today completed a comprehensive and valuable three day Pirelli-organised test, at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz circuit in Germany. With both riders having worked through the tyre test programme, achieved sound chassis set-ups and completed final evaluations of the latest PETRONAS FP1 developments over three trouble-free days, the team is upbeat as it heads to Brno for the next round of the Superbike World Championship. Craig, who spent much of the day evaluating different chassis set-ups as well as front and rear tyres on the 4.265km tight and twisty circuit, sliced almost another second off his time to record a fastest lap of 1:40.5. Steve was also able to improve on his best lap from yesterday, to post a time of 1:40.1 on race tyres faster than his qualifying and quickest time on the PETRONAS FP1 during last year’s race weekend at the German track. Craig said, “I started off with a completely new setting this morning based on Steve’s setting from yesterday, which I liked and made good ground from the outset. We then fine tuned it, mainly in the suspension area, and that made the bike a bit easier to ride and I started to go quicker. I’ve also tested all the tyres we needed to and luckily all the ones I like are going to be on the allocation for the race here. I’m definitely pleased with how this test has gone overall and hopefully will be able to continue progressing in the same vein throughout the second half of this season.” Steve commented, “It’s been a very useful test as we’ve been able to pinpoint very specific areas where we need to improve for this track. On race tyres I’ve been able to sit at the same lap times as I did in qualifying last year and, the latest bike developments have been tested successfully. That proves again that we’re moving forward all the time with the FP1 and provides encouragement going into the next races.” The three day EuroSpeedway test was attended by all the tyre development teams representing each World Superbike manufacturer (PETRONAS, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Ducati and Honda) along with all of the top team riders in the championship. EuroSpeedway has been used as a World Superbike venue on three occasions in 2001, 2002 and 2005 and Steve, riding on Pirelli tyres, claimed provisional pole in 2001 despite competing against riders on the then more proven Michelin and Dunlop rubber. Foggy PETRONAS Racing and the World Superbike paddock return to EuroSpeedway for the tenth round of the Championship on 10 September. For more news visit our web site: www.foggyPETRONASracing.com More, from a press release issued by Ducati Xerox Team: DUCATI XEROX TEAM PREPARES FOR SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON WITH THREE-DAY TEST AT THE LAUSITZRING Bologna (Italy), Monday 17 July: The Ducati Xerox Team has been preparing for the second half of the 2006 World Superbike season, which resumes this coming weekend at Brno, with a test session organized by championship tyre supplier Pirelli for the various manufacturer development teams at the Eurospeedway Lausitz in Germany. After three days of testing from Saturday to today in perfect weather conditions, the top time of the test was set by Troy Bayliss and Noriyuki Haga in 1m38.2s, but the Ducati Xerox Team had already decided to cut short its scheduled programme after the third and final morning, while some other riders were still out on the track in the afternoon. Points leader Troy Bayliss, who has not set foot in the German speedway since he won both races there in 2002, was pleased to be back and confident that the test had been positive. “We went really well” declared the 37-year-old Australian. “I did lots of laps, 84, 86 and 60 today and two long-runs; today’s race simulation went even better than yesterday’s. The times are very close because it seems that everyone, in particular the Yamaha guys, are all picking up their game a bit, but we’ve been trying to make the rear tyre last longer rather than go for more speed and as a result our performance over race distance is really good”. Lorenzo Lanzi, who returned to the scene of his sensational maiden World Superbike win last year, was sixth quickest but the 24-year-old Italian said that he was pleased with his testing performance, especially on race tyres. “I am quite satisfied with the test here. I found a race tyre that I am happy with and we tried a few things with the electronics and suspension and I’m happy with the set-up. It’s been very important to test here especially just before the next race at Brno; since last year the pace has been upped by about a second and you really have to work hard all the time to get the best results”. TIMES (race tyres): 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) + Haga (Yamaha) 1m38.2s; 3. Pitt (Yamaha) 1m38.3s; 4. Corser (Suzuki) + Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m38.4s; 6. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox), Toseland (Honda) + Muggeridge (Honda) 1m39.0s; 9. Walker (Kawasaki) 1m39.5s; 10. Nieto (Kawasaki) 1m39.7s. TIMES (qualifying tyres): 1. Haga & Corser 1m37.6s; 3. Bayliss 1m37.8s; 4. Pitt 1m38.1s; 5. Lanzi 1m38.5s; 6. Kagayama 1m38.6s; 7. Toseland 1m38.7s; 8. Walker 1m39.2s; 9. Nieto 1m39.5s; 10. Martin (Petronas) 1m40.1s. More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: PIRELLI TESTS WORLD SUPERBIKE AND SUPERSPORT DIABLO SBK AND SUPERCORSA TIRES Milan (Italy) Today ended the Lausitz test, and the SBK is already on the move. Just a few days and the paddock will be again full of the SBK energy, in Brno, waiting for the race of Sunday. During the past three days at Lausitz both the Pirelli Diablo SBK (slick 16,5″ tyres for WSBK) and the brand new Diablo Supercorsa (17″ DOT, grooved tyre for the Supersport WC) have shown their excellent performances by setting great times. Pirelli brought to the development team riders of the WSBK 10 new front tyres and 12 rear tyres (including also qualifying), with important news both regarding the compounds and the structures. Already in the first day of testing riders could be faster than in last year race when the best lap was scored by Noriyuki Haga at the 7th lap of Race2 with the time of 1’39.790. With race tyres Bayliss ended the first day with the fastest lap scoring the same time as Haga (1’39.00), than on the second day improved his time setting the same time as Pitt: 1’38.3, that means 1.4″ faster than in 2005 race. After three days and a lot of work on the setup, Bayliss could perform the best long-run, 28″ faster than last year race, and achieved also the best lap time with race tyres, again with Haga. The leader of the Championship is always fast, but the Yamaha R1 proved to be very consistent, and Haga made the fastest lap both with race and qualifying tyres. Yamaha thus finds in Lausitz a perfect battlefield, and even in the Supersport class who is actually missing Charpentier still suffering from the crash of Brno it seems that the bike able to exploit at the full the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa on the Lausitzring circuit is the R6 of the Yamaha Germany team. Superbike World Championship: Race ’05: Best lap: Haga lap 7 Race 2: 1’39.790 Pole: Lanzi 1’39.019 Best times set in this test with race tyres and qualifying tyres. Haga Yamaha 1’38.2/1’37.6 Bayliss Ducati 1’38.2/1’37.8 Pitt Yamaha 1’38.3/1’38.1 Corser Suzuki 1’38.4/1’37.6 Kagayama Suzuki 1’38.4/1’38.6 Lanzi Ducati 1’39.0/1’38.5 Toseland Honda 1’39.0/1’38.7 Muggeridge Honda 1’39.0/ nn Walker Kawasaki 1’39.5/1’39.2 Nieto Kawasaki 1’39.7/1’39.5 Martin Petronas 1’40.1/1’40.1 Jones Petronas 1’40.5/ nn Supersport World Championship: Race ’05: Best lap: Curtain lap 5: 1’42.438 Best laps in this test – Race tyres (Supersport class doesn’t use qualifying tyres) Curtain Yamaha 1’41.6 Parkes Yamaha 1’41.7 Sofuoglu Honda 1’41.8 Zaiser Ducati 1’42.4 Andersen Suzuki 1’42.6 Veneman Suzuki 1’42.9 Berger Kawasaki 1’43.6 More, from a press release issued by FG Sport: HAGA AND CORSER LEAD AFTER THREE DAY TEST EQUAL ON TIMES BUT HAGA EDGES THE GLORY The SBK development teams enjoyed a fruitful three days test session at Eurospeedway Lausitz, evaluating the latest crop of Pirelli tyres at the self-same track they will race on when the SBK series stops off in Germany in September. Both race tyres and qualifying rubber were tried out at Lausitz, by teams representing all of the major manufacturers involved in both SBK and World Supersport championships. Fastest overall – in both race and qualifying trim – proved to be Yamaha rider Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia). He had his best qualifying tyre time (1’37.6) matched by Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) but went marginally faster than the Aussie rider on race rubber, edging ahead in the final analysis. Haga’s best race tyre time was also matched by Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox), who was third quickest with a qualifying set-up, having made two long runs on race rubber to test ultimate tyre endurance. The Ducati team broke off testing early, having completed their planned body of work. The best SBK lap previously recorded (in qualifying trim) was 1’39.019, the race lap record being 1’39.679. Only four riders failed to beat the previous best qualifying best at some stage of the test. FAST STARTER KEEPS IT UP Haga proved to be equal quickest out of the blocks on day one, taking the joint fastest time with Bayliss after a single day of action, and kept up the good pace from then on, eventually beating his own personal best Lausitz race lap by 1.5 seconds, with a race tyre fitted. On day two, Bayliss and Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) were the new fastest riders, until the final day reduced the best times still further. The Winston Honda Ten Kate squad of James Toseland and Karl Muggeridge spent large amounts of time working with their new electronics packages, and this contributed to each not breaking through the 1’39 barrier, with the English and Aussie riders setting an identical best time of 1’39.0, while using race tyres. Toseland did not improve this on qualifying tyres, while Muggeridge did not use a qualifier. The next port of call for all involved is Brno, for round seven, on 23 July. WORLD SUPERPSORT In the Supersport class, the planned appearance of injured championship leader Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) proved to be optimistic, despite his assertion that he will ride at Brno in the forthcoming race weekend. The Supersport pace was nonetheless as blistering as expected, with Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes (both Yamaha Motor Germany) scoring the quickest times, comfortably under the previous Brno WSS best of 1’42.017. TIMES SBK – R = Race Tyre, Q = Qualifying Tyre Noriyuki Haga (Y) R 1’38”2, Q 1’37”6 Troy Corser (S) R 1’38”4, Q 1’37”6 Troy Bayliss (D) R 1’38”2, Q 1’37”8 Andrew Pitt (Y) R 1’38”3, Q 1’38”1 Lorenzo Lanzi (D) R 1’39”0, Q 1’38”5 Yukio Kagayama (S) R 1’38”4, Q 1’38”6 James Toseland (H) R 1’39”0, Q 1’39”7 Karl Muggeridge (H) (H) R 1’39”0, NO Q Chris Walker (K) (K) R 1’39”5, Q 1’39”2 Fonso Nieto (K) R 1’39”7, Q 1’39”5 Steve Martin (P) R 1’40”1, Q 1’40”1 Craig Jones (P) R 1’40”5, NO Q WSS Kevin Curtain (Y) 1’41”6 Broc Parkes (Y) 1’41”7 Kenan Sofuoglu (H) 1’41”8 Christian Zaiser (D) 1’42”4 Kai Borre Andersen (S) 1’42”6 Barry Veneman (S) 1’42”9 Maxine Berger (K) 1’43”6 (crash day three, day two time given)

VIC VASSOLA TO RETURN TO THE AMA PADDOCK FOR LAGUNA SECA Moto Uno Racing partner Howard Swinnerton announced today that veteran factory tuner Vic Fassola will join the Moto Uno Team for the rest of the AMA racing year. Victor, along with Keith Marquez, will be tuning for twenty one year old Venezuelan Gustavo Laya. Gustavo will be racing in the FX class at Laguna instead of the Super Sport class in which he will concentrate on for the remainder of the year. More, from another press release issued by Moto Uno Racing: TWO TIME WORLD CHAMPION CARLOS LAVADO TO ATTEND LAGUNA SECA Carlos Lavado will be on hand in the Moto Uno paddock at Laguna Seca to lend his support to his nephew Gustavo Laya.

Following a meeting and vote of the AMA Rules Committee in Ohio last Thursday, and subsequent ratification by the AMA Board of Directors, AMA Pro Racing has issued a Competition Bulletin making Traction Control legal, effective immediately. Any type of traction control is now legal in the Superbike and FX classes, including the type that requires use of a front-wheel speed sensor–an example being the system used by Ducati in World Superbike. Traction control that doesn’t use non-stock sensors–an example being the BPD system used by Jordan Motorsports Suzuki at Barber–is now legal in Superstock and Supersport. Traction control systems that use standard sensors only are available for about $8500 per motorcycle. The text of the Competition Bulletin follows: All Road Race Licensed Riders and Season Credential Holders FROM: Kevin Crowther, Director of Technical Development DATE: July 17, 2006 SUBJECT: Effective immediately replace rule E.23.A pg 36 with: a. For Superstock and Supersport, any form of engine control system that can actively change the performance/acceleration of the engine using input from any sensors that are not OEM on the motorcycle, to create a situation of better traction at the rear wheel at any time while the motorcycle is being ridden is prohibited. Should you have any questions concerning this information, please contact Kevin Crowther at (614)856-1900 ext1230 or [email protected]. More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing: AMA ROAD RACE RULES COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES RULE CHANGE PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 17, 2006) — AMA Pro Racing announced today that the newly-formed Road Race Rules Committee unanimously approved a change to the rule regarding traction control in the AMA Superbike Championship. The rule change, announced this morning via an AMA Pro Racing Competition Bulletin, reads as follows: Effectively immediately replace E.23A, pg 36 with: a. For Superstock and Supersport, any form of engine control system that can actively change the performance/acceleration of the engine using input from any sensors that are not OEM on the motorcycle, to create a situation of better traction at the rear wheel at any time while the motorcycle is being ridden is prohibited. The rule change effectively legalizes the use of traction control devices in the AMA Superbike and AMA Formula Xtreme classes while limiting the application of such devices in the AMA Supersport and AMA Superstock classes. “It is our belief, and one that was echoed by each member of the rules committee, is that we should continue to limit the use of traction control devices in the stock classes but open it up in the modified classes,” said AMA Pro Racing Director of Technical Development, Kevin Crowther. “This rule change is consistent with the spirit of our class rules and objectively recognizes the current state of development of this emerging technology.” Crowther pointed out that OEM application of traction control on production motorcycles is imminent. Under new AMA Pro Racing rules making guidelines, rules are proposed by a discipline-specific rules committee then forwarded to the AMA Board of Directors for ratification. The Road Race Rules Committee held its inaugural meeting last Thursday at AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio where the committee voted to not only approve this specific rule but also that the board approve its immediate implementation. “Everyone agreed that this rule change was important enough to have it implemented immediately,” confirmed Crowther. “We’re happy that the committee acted quickly and was supported decisively by the board.”

CUP RIDER SPALDING GAINS FANTASTIC FIFTH PLACE OVERALL Pete Spalding celebrated his recent 19th birthday in style this weekend, 16th July, by gaining a fantastic seventh win out of seven races at round eight of the Bennetts British Supersport Cup Championship at Knockhill. Not only did he take the win in the Cup but he also took an outstanding fifth place in the overall Supersport class, his best result to date so far. After qualifying in 16th place on the grid he was promoted to 15th place after Pole sitter Eugene Laverty was forced out of the race due to an injury sustained during qualifying on Saturday. Leaving him a lot of work to do Spalding was keen to get a good start and move his way through the field. A strong start saw him hold his position over the start/finish straight and it was not long before his was manoeuvring through the fierce pack. On lap four he was sitting in 14th place, a number of riders came to blows and crashed out of the 28-lap race. Spalding was gaining positions on each lap and was up to ninth place by lap 14. Sitting behind experienced Supersport riders Crutchlow, Sykes, Camier, Hobbs, Lowry, Vincent, Emmett and Hutchinson it was looking likely that he would gain his second top ten finish this season. A few more incidents on the field saw three more riders crashing out. The youngster was locked in a tight battle with TT star Ian Hutchinson for the final few laps of the race and managed a confident pass on him on the last lap to take an amazing fifth place as he passed the chequered flag. A delighted Pete Spalding commented “It’s been a great weekend for me and I couldn’t have asked for any better. I know some of the riders who were in front of me crashed out but the aim of the game is to get to the chequered flag, which is thankfully what I managed to do. I was having a few problems up to Snetterton even though I had won all the Cup races up to that point, I wanted to be higher up in the overall Championship and it was beginning to play on my confidence. This has been the best thing that could have happened to the team and myself. I didn’t know that I finished fifth overall until I got off the podium and even when the team told me I didn’t believe them. I like to thank everyone at Centurion Racing for helping me this season, they’ve all been fantastic and I really appreciate it and hope to get some more good results for them in the remaining races.” Backing up his comments Team Manager Gary Stubbington said, “We’ve definitely managed to turn things around this weekend. The main aim was to try and build on Pete’s confidence and see him gain some better results. He did a brilliant job and all the team are over the moon for him. It’s given us all a boost and hopefully we can maintain this form for the rest of the year. The four-week break has allowed us all to sit down and have a think as to which direction we need to be heading and it would be great if this is the start of it. Pete has been training and working very hard and has come back fully refreshed with a good ambition and goal.” The team will be competing at Oulton Park this weekend 21st – 23rd July. More, from a press release issued by Paul Young Racing: YOUNGY BLASTS ‘AGGRESSIVE’ FROSTY Youngy taken out by aggressive rider: “I was hoping for a top five on the Paul Young Racing Triumph Daytona 675 but I was ‘Frostied’ after nine laps. Rob Frost took me out at McIntrye’s and then crashed out all on his own a lap and a half later. Looking at the final standings I can see it’s cost me a hell of a lot of points and positions in the championship as well as potential mileage for getting sponsors for next year. I think I missed out on my aim of a top five just because of a notoriously idiotic rider on the track who struck an innocent racer once again. I think to be fair to the bike, the last four meetings has shown the potential that we (almost) showed at Knockhill. I’ve been comfy enough with the bike to finish well in the top 10, but circumstances once more conspired against me. The weekend wasn’t without dramas, as the bike did feel like still suffering from a lack of top-end. That’s something I can work on and fix if I’ve just got the time and money available! Both are lacking at the moment! I’m pretty disappointed. In fact, that’s an understatement.” Qualifying: “I was confident all through practice and qualifying and was up to sixth place on race tyres so I was very confident for the actual main event. To be honest, qualifying 11th meant that at worst I’d maybe finish in the top 10. That would have been a piece of cake.” The Race: “I got a reasonable start, I was in or around my starting position so I didn’t lose or gain any places, instead I just tried to settle into a rhythm and not rush to get by anyone as I knew I could pick people off as and when. I started passing people and felt comfortable with the bike and tyres. I came up behind Frosty as the group in front were getting away and Frosty was definitely holding me up. He was looking completely ragged, so I thought I’d try to choose the right moment to get by safely, but with Rob that didn’t seem to exist and he was bobbling everywhere and was completely out of shape through the chicane. I finally went by him into McIntyre’s and was in front, I tried to give him and me room and let him know I was coming. We got into the apex and the next thing I know he’s come around the outside of me, just as the camber goes away from you. As I’m starting to pick the bike up, he was leaning on top of me, which pushed the back of the bike down. The bike then went from underneath of me, and that was it. He crashed a lap and a half later. I was pretty lucky to be walking and talking, as I ended up in middle of track on a blind corner and crest. I jumped up just as a pack of bikes came through the corner at around 100-120mph. I don’t know how they missed me. The bike was rideable, but it was on the other side of the track and I couldn’t get to it. All-in-all I was lucky not to get hit. At the stage when Frosty took me out I was catching people and I reckon I could have finished in front of Sean Emmett and he finished in 4th. Gutted!” Coming events: “Oulton Park is next weekend and I’m confident that I should have a similar result to the one I was expecting at Knockhill. Thankfully there’s not a huge amount of damage to the bike so it’s not too much of a drama to have bike ready for the race in Cheshire. The bike’s going good, so now I want the result I deserved in Scotland. In the previous round at Oulton earlier this year I was 7th before tyre problems set in, but now I want the finish to cap it off!” British Supersport Championship & Supersport Cup Knockhill Race Result 1 – Cal CRUTCHLOW – Honda -Northpoint Ekerold Honda – 23:52.150 2 – Dennis HOBBS – Honda – Padgetts Batley Ltd – 24:00.008 3 – Ian LOWRY – Suzuki – TAS Suzuki – 24:01.304 4 – Sean EMMETT – Ducati – Lloyds British Ducati – 24:08.992 5 – C – Pete SPALDING – Honda – Centurion Racing – 24:20.170 6 – Ian HUTCHINSON – Kawasaki-MSS Discovery Racing – 24:20.251 7 – Jamie ROBINSON – Honda – Bykerbabe.com – 24:20.613 8 – Martin JESSOPP – Ducati – Lloyds British Ducati – 24:23.045 9 – Kieran MURPHY – Kawasaki-MSS Discovery Racing – 24:23.216 10 – Sam OWENS – Honda – Premier Motorsport – 24:27.686 11 – Steven NEATE – Honda – Trucklinks Racing – 24:27.914 12 – Tommy BRIDEWELL – Suzuki – Vivaldi Racing – 24:37.406 13 – Bob GRANT – Honda – Grant Racing – 24:38.289 14 – James HILLIER – Kawasaki – Gearlink Racing – 24:43.968 15 – C – Aaron WALKER – Honda – TJW Racing – 23:58.102 Not Classified Paul YOUNG – Triumph – Paul Young Racing – 6:56.532 More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki: Confidence boosting weekend for Hawk The two Hawk Kawasaki riders Craig Coxhell and Peter Hickman secured some strong results this weekend at round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill, 16th July. With Dean Thomas sidelined for the next few meetings due to injury, it was down to the two youngsters in the team to secure some good results. Coxhell was determined to carry on his recent good form and managed to gain a fantastic sixth and ninth position in the two Superbike races with nineteen-year-old Hickman finishing just outside the points in both races gaining a 17th and 16th finish respectively. The two riders were consistent throughout the weekend and were adjusting to the newly resurfaced 1.3-mile Scottish Circuit. Riding on-board the Dunlop-shod Kawasaki ZX-10R’s the two managed to end Saturday’s Qualifying session with Coxhell in 11th and Hickman in 19th position for the two races. Race one saw Coxhell gain a flying start and he had moved up two places by the end of the first lap. He was locked in a battle with factory Honda rider Karl Harris who he managed to pass on lap five, an electrical problem for current British Champion Lavilla saw him lose out on places whilst he re-set his Ducati, this promoting Coxhell to seventh position. A confident pass on Yamaha rider, Hill left Coxhell to take a strong sixth place for the Hawk Team. In race two he did not gain the start that he did in the first race and got boxed in into the first corner, spending a number of laps trying to pass Honda rider Rutter, this proving difficult at the tight and twisty circuit. A pass on the Stobart rider on lap 25 moved Coxhell to ninth place, unable to catch the riders in front this is where he finished the race. Hickman struggled during both starts and left himself a lot of work to do. The rookie rider was locked in a battle in the first race with Michael Rutter and Champion Lavilla, a daunting task for the youngster. He held his ground and even managed to re-pass Lavilla into turn one. The two extremely experienced riders managed to get the better of Hickman but also gave him the opportunity to learn from his peers. Coxhell commented “I enjoyed both races and I’m really happy with my first race result and hope that I can continue to get some more positive results at the remaining rounds. I was finding it very difficult to find good passing places at Knockhill and got stuck behind Rutter in the second race, unable to find a safe place to get through on him. By the time I did I’d left it too late to try and catch Glen in front of me, a few more laps and it would have been possible to make up more positions. We have definitely made progress this weekend and hope that it will last.” Hickman said, “I struggled with both my starts in the races which proved to be a huge disadvantage. I am still learning all the tracks and how a Superbike works on them, I got two finishes, which is the main thing. I do struggle in the heat and the conditions were incredible hot. I’d like to get back in the points at Oulton next weekend and get some strong results there.” Race One Result: Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda Shane Byrne Suzuki Leon Haslam Ducati Jonathan Rea Honda Michael Laverty Honda Craig Coxhell Hawk Kawasaki Karl Harris Honda Tommy Hill Yamaha Glen Richards Honda Scott Smart Suzuki 17th Peter Hickman Hawk Kawasaki Race Two Result: Shane Byrne Suzuki Jonathan Rea Honda Leon Haslam Ducati Tommy Hill Yamaha Michael Laverty Honda Karl Harris Honda Scott Smart Suzuki Glen Richards Honda Craig Coxhell Hawk Kawasaki Michael Rutter Honda 16th Peter Hickman Hawk Kawasaki

Just five days after their stunning showing at the Sachsenring circuit in Germany the Camel Yamaha Team will be back on track on the other side of the Atlantic as the MotoGP World Championship takes another whirlwind trip across the globe from the east of Europe to the west coast of the USA. Following an absence of almost a decade, the Laguna Seca circuit near Monterey in California plays host to the world’s premier motorcycle race series for the second consecutive season and represents a crucial date with destiny for both Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards. Last season both riders finished on the podium, an ideal way to celebrate Yamaha’s 50th Anniversary and a fitting reward for the factory’s role in bringing the sport back to the continent. This time, however, nothing less than a victory will satisfy the Italian and the American, who both have their own agendas as they tackle one of the most important races of the season so far. For Rossi the eleventh round of seventeen represents another key opportunity to close the gap to series leader Nicky Hayden (Honda) and provides a chance to strike a major psychological blow on the Kentucky rider, who used his explicit local knowledge of the circuit to take victory last season. However, crucial data gathered by Rossi and his team in that race, as well as track modifications that have taken place since then in the interest of safety, have levelled the playing field and the reigning World Champion is confident the advantage can swing in his favour. The goal for Edwards is to take his first ever victory in MotoGP racing after coming desperately close in the Dutch TT earlier this season. The American has shown flashes of winning potential this season and he would like nothing more than to finally savour the top step of the podium at his home Grand Prix before heading to Japan with an identical target at the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour race. VALENTINO ROSSI: STRONG FROM THE START Following on from his remarkable victory in Germany, Valentino Rossi is looking forward to his second visit to California thanks to an enjoyable and promising Laguna Seca debut one year ago. The reigning MotoGP World Champion was the first non-American rider across the line as he took third place in his first ever USGP but this year he doesn’t plan to have anybody in front of him at all as he looks to sign off for the summer with another maximum points haul. “Even though I didn’t know the track last year I was able to follow Nicky for many laps and then Colin too, so I learnt a lot from both of them,” explains Rossi. “By the end of the race I was getting stronger and I actually set my best time on the last lap so I hope that this year we can be strong from the start and this time beat the Americans! We had some difficulties with the bike in Germany and we don’t have time to make many big changes before this weekend, but hopefully the good setting we found for the race on Sunday and the data we have from last year will be enough. “The latest modifications to the track will make a difference and we will see how they are when we get there. After last year we discussed everything with the Safety Commission and we made some more suggestions to improve the track, because really it was not at the level of the rest of the championship. It’s okay for Superbikes but we are coming into the corners 40km faster, so it was necessary to make some more changes, especially at turn one. Now we have to wait to see if it is better and safer this year.” COLIN EDWARDS: VICTORY STILL THE TARGET Colin Edwards is approaching the second home Grand Prix of his career with his focus completely set on taking victory, despite his set-up troubles with the YZR-M1 in Germany. After finishing second to Nicky Hayden in Laguna last year and battling with the same rider for victory at Assen in Holland earlier this season – only to lose out in the final corner conceding ground to his compatriot is a scenario the Texan does not plan on repeating as the pair tussle for home glory this time around. “Before Sachsenring I said that I am not hoping to win at Laguna Seca, I am expecting to win, and that remains the case,” affirms Edwards, who will be in Los Angeles on Tuesday to take part in a MotoGP bike parade along Hollywood Boulevard before attending the screening of the new MotoGP movie ‘The Doctor, The Tornado and The Kentucky Kid’, in which he stars. “We had our problems in Germany but we also had problems at Catalunya earlier in the season and seven days later I was fighting to win at Assen. It seems the bike that we have works at some circuits and not so well at others so, like Assen, Laguna will be a bit of a shot in the dark. One thing for sure is that I’m going to fight and barge and do whatever it takes to win. If it comes down to a scrap between the Americans, Hayden and I, then I know I can come out on top this time. Hopefully the bike will work as well as it did at Assen and if it does than I definitely won’t make the same mistakes.” DAVIDE BRIVIO: DOUBLE TOP THE TARGET Camel Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio is confident that both riders can take the role of protagonists in what promises to be another groundbreaking step for the sport’s popularity in America. Brivio watched Edwards and Rossi finish on the podium in last year’s inaugural event and he is hopeful of a repeat performance on Sunday this time with one of the pair on the top step. “Last year both our riders were on the podium and the target is the same this time, but in better positions,” says Brivio. “The competition in MotoGP is getting tougher and tougher as the season goes on but we need to keep working as we are now because there is a long way to go. With six rounds left after the summer it would be nice to go on holiday with the psychological boost of victory at Laguna Seca. “We know that Nicky Hayden is fast at this circuit but this is the challenge. We are all in racing because we enjoy the battle and on the evidence of what we saw last year I think both our riders can be up there giving Nicky a hard time this Sunday. We’re going there with great confidence after Valentino’s win in Germany and I think Laguna comes at the perfect time for Colin, who needs to get back on the podium. It is only a few days but for him and for us the race can’t come soon enough.” TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: LAGUNA ACCORDING TO DANIELE ROMAGNOLI Famed, feared and revered for the world-famous ‘Corkscrew’ corner, the Laguna Seca circuit near Monterey in California lived up to its billing as one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar when MotoGP visited for the first time ever last season. With only a few short straights, a series of fast and sweeping corners and elevation changes that leave front wheels frequently spinning through thin air, the 3.602km circuit provides the ideal viewing spectacle for fans but is surprisingly straightforward when it comes to machine set-up. “Actually Laguna was not as technical as we thought it might be when we visited for the first time last year,” explains Daniele Romagnoli, Chief Engineer for Colin Edwards. “It is a special circuit because there are almost no straights so there is no need to use the full gear range or the maximum power of the bike. Power delivery is much more important than top-end power and it must be smooth and easy for the rider to manage. At the same time the circuit is very ‘up and down’ so the chassis is important because the bike needs to keep turning in several different conditions. You need good traction when the bike is leaned over especially at the end of the main straight when the bike is at an angle at high speed and in the Corkscrew. The Corkscrew also requires stable suspension and good performance under braking because, as we saw with Colin last year, it is a place he likes to overtake. “Honestly it was quite easy to find a good set-up for Colin last year. His experience at the circuit meant that we already had some good information for the gear and suspension settings before we arrived. This time things are a little different because, even though we can dial in the same settings on the bike, the tyres have changed a lot from last year so we will need to work on something new to adapt the chassis and the suspension. We had a difficult weekend finding the right setting in Germany but Colin will not let this affect him and we will come out fighting like we did at Assen.” VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION Age: 27 Lives: London, UK Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1 GP victories: 83 (56 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc) First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc) First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc) GP starts: 166 (107 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc) Pole positions: 41 World Championships 7 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 4 x MotoGP) COLIN EDWARDS: INFORMATION Age: 32 Lives: Conroe, Texas Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1 First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP) GP starts: 58 x MotoGP World Championships – 2 World Superbike Laguna Seca Lap Record: Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 2005, 1’23.915 Laguna Seca Best Lap: Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2005, 1’22.670 2005 United States Grand Prix Results: 1. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda, 45’15.374 2. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Yamaha, +1.941 3. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha, +2.312