FRESH CHALLENGE AWAITS CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM AT HISTORIC ASSEN The MotoGP World Championship returns to its oldest venue this weekend with a fresh new challenge awaiting it at the legendary Dutch TT. With major changes having taken place at the Assen circuit since last season, the whole of the Northern Loop section making way for a new car park and expanded viewing areas, the Camel Yamaha Team venture into the unknown this weekend as they look to extend their winning run to three straight races. The 76th edition of the Dutch TT welcomes MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi in top form, the Italian having taken consecutive victories at Mugello and Catalunya in the last two rounds to put his title defence firmly back on track. Rossi has won at Assen for three of the last four editions of the world-famous race and nothing less than another success will do as he aims to cut back a 29-point deficit to current series leader Nicky Hayden (Honda), who has yet to win a race this year. Rossi’s team-mate Colin Edwards himself took three victories at Assen in the World Superbike series, including a double win on his way to the title in a gripping climax to the 2002 season. Last season he joined Rossi on the MotoGP podium after finishing in third place and, after continuing set-up work on the new version YZR-M1 chassis at Catalunya, he is confident of rejoining the battle for a top three position in Holland. VALENTINO ROSSI: A GREAT EMOTION Valentino Rossi is looking forward getting back out on track just five days after the 56th victory of his illustrious career in Barcelona. Despite his opposition to such a hectic run of races, which will almost certainly see some of the riders injured last Sunday missing at least one round, the Italian sees the next two weekends as a valuable opportunity to maintain his momentum and pull even closer to the championship lead. “Having three consecutive races is a problem because if you are injured in the first then you risk not being able to ride for two more races,” comments Rossi. “By the third race the riders are also tired and begin to lose concentration so it’s very tough for everyone. In the past Assen was one of my favourite tracks and it was always a great, great emotion to ride a MotoGP bike at the limit there. Sadly the track has been changed so I am not as excited about it as usual, because it seems from reports that some of the ‘Assen magic’ has gone. Anyway, I hope that it’s still a good track and I know it will still be fun to race there; it always has a fantastic atmosphere and the Dutch fans are wonderful. “We have now won two races in a row and if we hadn’t had the problem in Le Mans then that would be three, which means we are now more or less at the same level that we were at this time last year. These races are really important so I hope that we can manage to win as many as possible. I have moved up to third in the championship now but I still only took five points from Hayden in Barcelona and he is 29 points ahead of me, so we need to keep winning because he is a consistent podium finisher and he always fights to the end.” COLIN EDWARDS: FAMILIAR TERRITORY Colin Edwards returns to one of the most successful circuits of his career this weekend but, like Rossi, he is concerned that some of the natural character will have been lost with the recent modifications. After picking up a solid fifth place in the last round at Catalunya the American is now targeting a return to podium form as he heads into three important races at Assen, Donington and Laguna Seca. “I grew up on the next three tracks and I’ve finished on the podium at all of them in MotoGP so hopefully this can be a good spell for me,” says Edwards. “On paper the Yamaha should work well at the new track and some more time with the new chassis will help us get up to speed. We know that what Valentino is using works so it’s a case of adapting it to me, making a few small changes and getting as close to his pace as possible if not improving on it. “Like a lot of the riders I have a lot of affection for the old Assen circuit and I hope it hasn’t lost too much of its character. Whatever the track is like you can bet that the atmosphere is going to be just as crazy as ever and I always have a lot of fans there especially some of the Brits who come over for the party. Hopefully I can give them something to shout about on Saturday afternoon.” VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION Age: 27 Lives: London, UK Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1 GP victories: 82 (56 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc) First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc) First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc) GP starts: 164 (104 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: 55 x MotoGP World Championships – 2 World Superbike DAVIDE BRIVIO: A TEAM EFFORT Such a hectic schedule of races is a major strain on any team and Camel Yamaha is no different. It requires a special effort from the riders and engineers right through to the catering staff and it is a point of the season where every member of the workforce plays a crucial role. Team Director Davide Brivio says everybody has a major part to play as the points quest continues with a second race in the space of just six days. “It was amazing watching the boxes being packed up in the pit garage and the hospitality unit being dismantled on Sunday night to think that in just two days’ time they would all be put back together at a circuit 1800 kilometres away,” says Brivio. “It is a huge challenge for the whole team and a lot of pressure but it is another example that shows how a rider cannot be successful on the track unless he has the right staff behind him to put everything in place. “Our target before Mugello was to win the next four races so now you could say the job is half done. We want the same level of performance at the next two rounds and the same result, although we know it will be difficult. Assen will be a very interesting challenge because it is virtually a new track like going to China, Laguna Seca or Turkey last year but the base setting of our bike has improved vastly and we hope it can be adapted quickly.” TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: ASSEN ACCORDING TO ANDREA ZUGNA Despite the dramatic changes to Assen’s unique layout over the winter, it still promises to be one of the most technically and physically demanding circuits on the calendar for the MotoGP riders. With barely a straight piece of tarmac in sight, handling remains a major focal point due to high-speed chicanes and dramatic camber changes the latter, in some places, resembling the profile of the public roads that the original circuit was based around 76 years ago. Andrea Zugna, Data Engineer for Colin Edwards, says the information gathered last season will still be highly valuable. “It will be interesting to see how the track is without the Northern Loop because that was a very characteristic section of the circuit, with high camber and left-right switches,” says Zugna. “I suppose the first section of the circuit will now be similar to China, with a series of tight right-handers from turns one to four causing strain on the right hand side of the tyre, and that will also make it physically demanding on the riders. “As far as the setting is concerned we will still start with the same as last year because we know it works for around 90% of the track. On Friday morning we will analyse the data from the final 10% and the engineers will be able to make the adjustments based on that information. We expect Assen to be more like a ‘normal’ circuit now. It has always required only partial throttle and that will still be the case, so it is not too critical on gearbox and engine settings but does require a good compromise to cope with the fast direction changes and the slow chicane which was modified last year. Our setting worked well last year and we finished on the podium so hopefully that can be the case for both riders again.” CIRCUIT INFORMATION Pole position left Length: 4555 m Width: 14 m Right corners: 6 Left corners: 11 Opened in: 1955, modified in 2005 and 2006 Assen Lap Record: track modified Assen Best Lap: track modified 2005 Results: 1. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha, 38’41.808 2. Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda, +1.583 3. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Yamaha, +7.643

For the eighth round of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship that in Assen, Holland, this weekend, ALEX HOFMANN, PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP rider, will replace SETE GIBERNAU on the Official DUCATI. The Spanish rider injured himself during the frightening accident of last Sunday in Spain and his return will depend on how fast his recover will be. As a replacement for ALEX HOFMANN, there will be the Spanish IVAN SILVA, already racing for the Team of LUIS D’ANTIN in the EXTREME category of the Spanish Championship, that also did a race of the 2006 World Championship in the Superstock 1000 class. A big opportunity for ALEX HOFMANN, that will have a great occasion to race with the Official DUCATI (BRIDGESTONE tyres), but also for IVAN SILVA that will ride on the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP06 “Sat.” for the first time in the World Championship, assisted by the technical staff of the Team PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP. ALEX HOFMANN: “I’m excited and so happy! Having the possibility to race on the Official DUCATI DESOMOSEDICI is an unbelievable opportunity and I will give my 100% to take advantage of it the most I can. I know this motorcycle well, I also know the evolution level of the BRIDGESTONE tyres that I developed until the Valencia GP of the 2005 Championship, with which I had a good feeling that I hope to get back from the first laps I will make in Assen. I’m very motivated and I want to make something good. In our world, these kind of agreement doesn’t happen very often and I want to thank everybody: DUCATI, PRAMAC, LUIS D’ANTIN and PAOLO CAMPINOTI, for thier confidence, that I hope to reciprocate giving the maximum. I also have a special thought for SETE GIBERNAU to whom I wish to get well at the soonest and in the best way possible “. IVAN SILVA: “I didn’t expect it and it has really been a great surprise! Having the opportunity to make a race with the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP06 “Sat.” of the Team PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP is simply fantastic. Besides, I already know the Team very well, racing in the Extreme category of the Spanish Championship with them, and I’m really happy to get the chance to make this experience with them. I would like to thank everybody for having given me this opportunity, and I hope not to disappoint anybody!”

Suzuki Castrol: “We can take some risks at Suzuka” Suzuki Castrol have further extended their lead in the FIM World Endurance Championship after winning the Zolder 6 Hour Belgian round of the championship at the weekend. They now hold a 44 point lead over second placed Yamaha Austria, who finished second at Zolder, and are 50 points clear of third placed Bolliger Team Switzerland Kawasaki. Team Fagersjo-el.se Suzuki’s fourth place at Zolder has consolidated their fourth place in the championship, while Yamaha Phase One Endurance’s fifth at the weekend has lifted them above National Motos Honda to fifth in the standings. Suzuki No Limits & RT are seventh, Team Endurance Moto 45 Suzuki have moved up to eighth place and RMT21 Racing Honda are now tenth in the standings. There are still 100 points to be won at the remaining three rounds of the championship, with 30 points available to the winner of the Suzuka 8 Hour and 35 points each for the winners at the Oschersleben and Bol d’Or 24 hour races. Despite this, Suzuki Castrol view their lead as comfortable enough that they can go all out for a victory as the Suzuka 8 Hour race rather than aiming to secure a points finish. Speaking after the Zolder race, Suzuki Castrol rider Vincent Philippe commented, It’s a good result for the championship. Suzuka will be difficult but this result means we can take some risks there.” The Suzuka 8 Hour race takes place on July 30th. Championship Standings -Top 10 After 4 Rounds 1. Suzuki Castrol Team (Suz GSX-R1000) 108 points 2. Yamaha Austria Racing Team (Yam YZF-R1) 64 points 3. Bolliger Team Switzerland Kawasaki (Kaw ZX-10R) 58 points 4. Team Fagersjo-el Suzuki (Suz GSX-R1000) 49 points 5. Yamaha Phase One Endurance (Yam YZF-R1) 43 points 6. National Motos Honda (Hon CBR1000RR) 35 points 7. Suzuki No Limits & R.T. Suzuki (Suz GSX-R1000) 24 points 8. Team Endurance Moto 45 Suzuki (Suz GSX-R1000) 23 points 9. Yamaha GMT94 (Yam YZF-R1) 22 points 10. RMT 21 Racing Honda (Hon CBR1000RR) 21 points

SAFETY FIRST SUZUKI RACING PUTS BOTH RIDERS IN THE TOP TEN OVERALL FOR FX FOLLOWING MILLER MOTORSPORTS RACE WEEKEND Following a successful Road America round, Team Safety First Suzuki GSXR 600’s pilots Chris “Opie” Caylor and Tony Meiring took to the brand new Miller Motorsports Park west of Salt Lake City in Toole, Utah with great anticipation. The new, somewhat featureless track made for a challenging and educational weekend for the team, sponsored by Komodo gear and prepped by Jim Rashid’s 4&6 Racing. Regarding Saturday’s Formula Xtreme Race, Opie Caylor stated “It was a bit of a frustrating race. An electrical glitch came about that was not present all weekend. I actually thought about pulling in, as I didn’t want to be a hazard out there. But, as can happen with electrical issues, it became intermittent and exasperating. I was able to forge on and got some valuable points. With Tony and I now both in the top ten now for FX, considering the big picture, you can say it was an overall success.” Tony Meiring indicated, “I got pushed wide at the start, and as a result, I was gapped with the lead group. I put my head down and tried making up the gap as the race went along and thankfully, the race did come back to me a bit. I got faster as the race went along and can be happy with 9th place. I learned a lot during the race that will make the Supersport race that much better for us.” In the Sunday morning Supersport race, Meiring turned his fastest lap of the weekend for the class. He had his first chance to test out the Komodo leathers with a long low-side induced slide on Saturday’s Supersport Practice. “No problem! I went across the cheese grater like track and into the sand without even feeling the heat building up underneath me!” Sunday’s Supersport race saw some changes in gearing that was to help the Suzuki’s strengths. Both riders fought hard during the race with Meiring finishing 11th and Caylor ending up 15th. “I lost the lead group and they just didn’t battle enough to slow them down so I could reel them in again” noted Meiring. Caylor indicated that he “had the best start I have had all year and I really enjoyed the back and forth battle I had with the guys I was running with (Siglin and Land), but just wish it was a little closer up towards the front. I am motivated to keep progressing and I am looking forward to the last rounds to finish the year off strong.” Both Komodo sponsored riders are looking forward to the next Round at Mazda Raceway in the presence of the MotoGP class. Kevin Hanson, team owner, also was looking forward to the next round. “We have a month now to do some more development work on the bikes and the rest of the rounds suit Tony and Ope real well. We should be right on it come July and August.” Safety First Suzuki is sitting 10th (Meiring) and 11th (Caylor) in Supersport with both riders now in the top ten for Formula Xtreme; Meiring tied for 5th and Caylor sitting in 10th. Safety First Suzuki was formed in 2004 by police officer/racer, Kevin Hanson, based out of Chicago, IL. The team is a factory-supported American Suzuki team proudly sponsored by Komodo, a manufacturer of top-quality motorcycle riding apparel, competing in the AMA Superbike series in the Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes. The bikes are prepared by Jim Rashid and the team at 4&6 Racing in Skokie, IL. Checkout www.SAFETYFIRSTRACING.com to see the new Safety First/Suzuki/Komodo line of riding apparel and casual wear. Kevin Hanson continues to educate elementary school aged children nationwide about the importance of helmet usage.

After an eventful race-day in Catalunya, teams, riders and fans head directly to Holland for the A-Style TT Assen, as the MotoGP whirlwind tour continues at breakneck speed. The race is the second in a series of three in two weeks, in a run which will prove critical for the title race. The big talking point from the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya last week was a first corner melee which left three riders unable to line up for the restart and a number of others with minor injuries. Of the riders absent the second time the red light went out, Sete Gibernau is the only one definitely out of Saturday’s race. Ducati Marlboro’s Spanish star underwent surgery on his fractured left collarbone this Tuesday, and it is still not known when he will return to action. Marco Melandri has been diagnosed with concussion and an encephalic injury, in addition to a cervical contusion and a paracervical haematoma. The Fortuna Honda rider also suffered a series of other contusions and injuries, although on a far smaller scale. His participation in the A-Style TT Assen is a major doubt, having been under observation at a Barcelona Intensive Care unit undergoing further tests to determine when he will be able to make his comeback. Meanwhile, Loris Capirossi is a confirmed participant for the Dutch race. The Italian rider left Catalunya General Hospital near Barcelona on Monday after being kept in overnight for observation and has returned to his home in Monte Carlo. Medical checks have confirmed that the Italian rider can take part in the next round of the championship. Capirossi’s participation in the race will be crucial to his Championship chances, as he currently lies 20 points behind pace-setter Nicky Hayden in the overall classification. The top five could see any number of changes after the three-race run, with reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi’s consecutive wins at Mugello and Catalunya taking him up to third in the standings. Marco Melandri trails his compatriot by a single point, making the date of his MotoGP return yet more important. Dani Pedrosa, unable to take points from his home Grand Prix after a crash on his spare bike, lies in fifth. The top ten is completed by Casey Stoner, Colin Edwards, Toni Elias, Makoto Tamada and a resurgent Kenny Roberts Jr., who celebrated a return to the podium after an extended absence at Montmelo. Assen is the oldest circuit on the MotoGP World Championship calendar, having hosted a round of the series every year since its inception in 1949. It has undergone modifications throughout the years, but the latest set of modifications at the ‘Cathedral’ of motorcycle racing is at the famous North Loop, now newly profiled as a number of tight right-hand corners. The changes have cut the length of the circuit considerably, from 5.997 to 4.555km. From October 2005 to this April, 3 million Euros were invested in track improvement materials, including 70,000 m3 of earth and 12,000 tons of asphalt. Due to the changes, the riders will all get extra practice time Thursday morning, with MotoGP having an hour and a half session beginning at 9:25am local time. Raceday in Assen as ever is on Saturday, on the traditional last weekend in June, with the MotoGP race starting at 2pm local. 250cc In 250cc, Andrea Dovizioso extended his lead in the championship with his first ever victory in the class in Catalunya. His main rival Jorge Lorenzo is now 25 points behind after only managing second place in his home race. Japanese riders Yuki Takahashi and Hiroshi Aoyama come in third and fourth, 19 and 23 points further behind respectively. Sixth placed Hector Barbera will miss this event, as he did in Catalunya, after breaking his arm in a training accident. He is replaced once more by Alex Debon whilst the Repsol Honda Team will be looking to replace Sebastian Porto after the Argentine announced his retirement in Spain. 125cc Alvaro Bautista also pulled away in the race for the 125cc Championship after his third win of the year in Spain. With main rival Mika Kallio crashing out, the Spaniard now holds a 56-point cushion to the Finn. His teammates Mattia Pasini, Hector Faubel and Sergio Gadea complete the top five in the series, and will hope to repeat the success for the team on Sunday where they filled the top four positions.

HIGHS AND LOWS FOR HAWK KAWASAKI The Hawk Kawasaki Team experienced the highs and lows of racing this weekend at round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike series at Snetterton Circuit. As Craig Coxhell and Peter Hickman achieved their best results so far this season, fellow team-mate Dean Thomas was involved in an incident in the second Superbike race involving himself and James Haydon. Thomas was treated trackside and also in the medical centre for broken ribs and a punctured right lung, which had to be drained at the circuit. Dean Thomas ended up being 0.3 off gaining a front row start and saw him pushed back to 10th on the gird. Coxhell suffered with a couple of mechanical failures during Saturday’s qualifying session leaving him in 22nd position on the grid. Youngster Hickman had one of his best qualifying sessions to date and ended the session in 19th position. Race one was action packed and the Hawk Trio were prepared for battle. They all gained a great start and Coxhell had worked his way through to 15th position by the end of lap one, passing seven riders. Lap four saw Honda rider Karl Harris fall heavily forcing the safety car to be despatched onto the track. Peter Hickman was riding a brilliant race, his best so far this year despite having been put on a drip on Sunday morning after suffering with a bout of sickness and diarrhoea, he ended finishing the race in a fantastic 14th position. Coxhell gained three more places crossing the line in 12th place one position behind his team-mate Thomas who placed 11th. Once again race two saw the Hawk riders putting on a strong performance with all three riders running in the points. Before the incident occurred on lap 12 involving Dean, he was lying in eighth place with Coxhell in 12th and Hickman in 15th. The race was red flagged immediately whilst the two riders were treated trackside. Once stable they transferred Dean to the Medical Centre for further treatment and have since moved him to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital. The remainder of the race was to run as an eight-lap sprint to the line, with the riders lining up on the grid in the positions they were in before the race was stopped. Coxhell started in 11th and Hickman in 13th, within two laps reigning British Champion Gregorio Lavilla crashed out, which saw the safety car despatched again. Once the debris was cleared the racing was back on, Coxhell had sprung through to fifth position with Hickman climbing to 10th. Craig Coxhell commented “It’s been a really mixed day today and although I’m really happy about my results my thoughts are with Dean and hoping that he gets better soon. It was a huge crash and I hope he’s ok from it, it’s difficult to be happy about my fifth place when I know Dean is in hospital. I struggled in qualifying and ended up a long way down the grid, I managed to get some good starts and just wanted to get my head down and get some points. The eight lap dash was strange as the safety car was out for two of the laps. I’m really content with my results today and hope I can improve at the next round.” Peter Hickman was delighted with his results saying “I was sick as a dog in the morning and had to be taken to the medical centre to be put on a drip. I wasn’t sure if I would be racing or not but I was feeling a little better by the time the first race came round. I managed to get reasonable starts in both races and was locked in some close battles. I knew that it must have been pretty bad with Dean and James as they stopped the race straight away, I’m glad they are both ok. It’s difficult to get focused again when something like that has happened. I would like to thank the team for working so hard for me this weekend and I’m made up with the results that I achieved.” Team Manager Stuart Hicken said “I would like to wish Dean a speedy recovery and that comes from all of us involved at Hawk Kawasaki. It was a big incident and the details are not yet clear as to what happened. I know the two riders collided at the Esses at the end of the back straight. It was obviously a very mixed weekend with the team with having such a serious crash but also scoring our best results with Craig and Peter. I’d like to thank all the medical staff and Marshals’ at the circuit for treating Dean with such efficiency and professionalism, they did a fantastic job.” Race 1 Result Ryuichi Kiyonari – Honda Leon Haslam – Ducati Gregorio Lavilla – Ducati Jonathan Rea – Honda Michael Laverty – Honda Tommy Hill – Yamaha Michael Rutter – Honda James Haydon – Suzuki Billy McConnell – Yamaha Ben Wilson – Suzuki Dean Thomas – Hawk Kawasaki Craig Coxhell – Hawk Kawasaki Glen Richards – Honda Peter Hickman – Hawk Kawasaki Race 2 Result Ryuichi Kiyonari – Honda Leon Haslam – Ducati Tommy Hill – Yamaha Michael Laverty – Honda Craig Coxhell – Hawk Kawasaki Chris Martin – Honda Scott Smart – Suzuki Glen Richards – Honda Jon Kirkham – Suzuki Peter Hickman – Hawk Kawasaki

FG Sport is organising a charity auction in support of Onlus Work in Progress. The event will coincide with the 6th round race of the World Superbike Championship at Misano’s Santamonica circuit on the 23rd, 24th and 25th June. All Superbike teams and riders have accepted the invitation to take part and have already proved their generosity by supplying many items of memorabilia to be offered for sale. Onlus Work in Progress was established in 2005 by a group of Italian doctors in order to help construct maternity hospitals in rural areas in Gambia and Senegal. This worthy project needs and deserves the help of all of us. These hospitals are waiting to be equipped with solar panels to convert solar energy into electricity to power health care equipment of primary importance. The charity event will be spread over the entire racing weekend, with individual auctions held on: – Thursday 22nd June, during the Paddock Show – Saturday 24th June, after the Superpole press conference – Sunday 25th June, after the Race 2 press conference

Graves Yamaha rider Josh Herrin’s third-place finish in the Supersport race at Miller Mototrsports Park (MMP) will stand, but he was penalized five points and fined $500 for an “illegal fairing,” according to the official AMA Pro Racing results issued Monday morning. Frames and bodywork were checked on the top three Supersport racebikes as part of the post-race technical inspections Sunday at MMP, and Herrin’s bodywork was the only thing found not to be in compliance. According to Graves Yamaha team owner Chuck Graves, Herrin was using an early version of 2006-model YZF-R6 bodywork from Sharkskinz, just like many other privateer riders in the paddock, while new bodywork was still at the painter’s. “We made every attempt to get the updated bodywork in time and get it to the painter, because we knew that Josh (Herrin) would be on the podium at some point here in the very near future,” Graves told Roadracingworld.com in a telephone interview. “We got the stuff last week. The mechanics were in the shop for one day. They prepped it and sent it to the painter, and the painter couldn’t get it done and get it to Miller in time. What can we do? “I can tell you one thing, I’m happy the AMA is taking the time out to police this stuff. I see this as being a forward movement by the AMA to enforce the rules, which is good. The bad part is I think it should’ve been something where they said, ‘Hey, don’t come back with that. Change it as soon as you can,’ along with everybody else in the paddock. But where do you draw the line? I’m certain that this minor infraction can’t overshadow Josh’s ride or the performance of the Yamaha R6.” Other riders who have received penalties similar to Herrin’s in 2006 include: Grant Riggs, for entering his Supersport bike in the Formula Xtreme race at California Speedway; Chris “Opie” Caylor, for entering his Supersport bike in the FX race at Infineon Raceway; and Ivan Garza, who entered his Supersport bike in the FX race at California Speedway and was then disqualified for not submitting his Kawasaki for post-race inspection.

Circuit: Misano Country: Italy Track length: 4060m Opened: 1972 Fastest lap ever: 1:33.525 (Troy Bayliss, 2002) Lap record: 1:34.913 (Troy Bayliss, 2002) Last year’s winner: Regis Laconi (Ducati) The Superbike World Championship makes its second visit of the year to Italy this weekend, when the Misano Adriatico circuit plays host to round six of what is proving to be an exciting championship. The question on everyone’s lips is who can stop Ducati’s Troy Bayliss from extending his run of seven consecutive race wins. The man most likely to break that domination looks like being Yamaha Motor Italia’s Noriyuki Haga. Haga has been supremely consistent this season, failing to finish just one race and never coming lower than fifth in the other nine races. He has been Bayliss’ main challenger since the start of the European season in April, outscoring all but the Australian over the last three rounds to go to Misano third in the championship. The Japanese rider returns to Italy on the back of three consecutive podium finishes and a successful test in Brno. His Yamaha Motor Italia squad have worked hard to make the 2006 YZF-R1 easier to ride than last year’s model and with every lap bringing a greater knowledge of the complex electronics systems used to manage the power, the team goes to Misano in good spirits. “Last year we had a big traction problem in Misano,” says Haga, who qualified a lowly 21st on the grid but still scored a pair of sixths at the seaside circuit last year. “My target for Misano is the same as at all races: to fight for the win. This year the bike is much better on this type of track and we had a good test at Misano in April, when I set the third fastest time and was able to do a good race simulation. I think that the conditions will be much hotter for the race and that this will change the grip levels but we now have a good base setting for the bike and it means that we do not have to make such big changes between each circuit.” As an official Pirelli tyre test team, Haga and his team-mate Andrew Pitt spent their three days in the Czech Republic last week evaluating the latest products from the tyre company as well as trying out a host of new settings and development parts on their YZF-R1s. Running in hot temperatures as expected in Misano, Pitt set the second fastest time on race tyres with a 2:01.2, Haga was third fastest with a best of 2:01.5. Bayliss was the fastest rider on show with a 2:00.8. Showing the considerable improvements made to the bikes and tyres over the past year, all of the top riders were well under Haga’s 2:03.747 lap record from last year’s race. Pitt currently lies sixth in the series and has been a regular challenger at the front of the field this season. The Australian is in good form, having taken a pair of top five finishes in Silverstone. As always he goes into this weekend’s race with a target of a podium finish. Like Haga, he was able to complete a full test programme in Brno and is looking forward to Misano. He says: “Misano is a circuit that I enjoy going to. It’s normally very hot there, which along with the fact that you’re on the left side of the tyre so long, means that it’s a hard track on the tyres. It’s mostly left hand corners around here and you’re on the side of the tyre for a big part of the lap. There are only one or two right handers and a couple of chicanes. The most critical part at Misano is the triple left hand corner leading into the back straight. You need to get that right to get a good run onto the back straight, because in the race that’s really the only chance you get to overtake. Our test went well there but we expect it to be hotter this weekend, so the grip levels are likely to be different for the race.” Having spent two days testing in Lausitz last weekend, Yamaha Motor France will go to Misano hoping to recapture the form that saw Norick Abe take two fourth places in Valencia, a track with some similarities to this weekend’s venue. The Japanese star currently lies ninth in the championship and, with last year’s races and some valuable testing time around the venue, he will be expected to better the solitary point he scored in last year’s races, even though Misano is one of his least favourite tracks. By contrast team-mate Sebastien Gimbert rates Misano as one of his favourites. He missed the race through injury last year but rode strongly to set the 11th fastest time in April’s test. The team’s third rider, Shinichi Nakatomi, could miss the race due to the arm injury he sustained in Silverstone. A decision will be made later this week as to whether the Japanese star will ride or not. As always, the event will also feature a round of the Supersport World Championship, where Yamaha Motor Germany’s Kevin Curtain will look to take advantage of the absent championship leader Sebastien Charpentier. The Honda rider crashed at the Brno test and will miss the Misano race. Curtain currently lies second in the championship on his new-for-2006 YZF-R6, 40 points behind Charpentier. Curtain set the fastest supersport time at the Brno test, his 2:06.0 being over a second under the lap record. “The Brno test went real well,” explained Curtain. “The bike is improving every time we get out on it. Pirelli brought along a lot of tyres to test and we’ve found some that work well with the R6. Misano should suit us. We’ve got to try and pull some points back on Charpentier and keep applying the pressure to him. There’s still a long way to go in the championship and I’ve always maintained that nothing would be decided in the opening races. I had some bad luck in Monza but we will keep focussed and try not to make any mistakes.” Curtain’s team-mate Broc Parkes is a Misano specialist, having won an Italian championship race there last year and setting the fastest ever world supersport lap of the circuit in April’s official test. Parkes was just one tenth of a second slower than his team-mate in Brno and will be looking for a good result in Misano to elevate him from his current fourth position in the championship and possibly put himself in a position to challenge for the title in the latter half of the season.