FIM 250cc GP World Championship Catalunya, Spain June 16 Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Alex DEBON (Aprilia) 1:47.231 2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Honda) 1:47.519 3. Hiroshi AOYAMA (KTM) 1:47.751 4. Jorge LORENZO (Aprilia) 1:47.823 5. Marco SIMONCELLI (Gilera) 1:48.118 6. Shuhei AOYAMA (Honda) 1:48.157 7. Alex DE ANGELIS (Aprilia) 1:48.189 8. Yuki TAKAHASHI (Honda) 1:48.410 9. Roberto LOCATELLI (Aprilia) 1:48.563 10. Jules CLUZEL (Aprilia) 1:48.626 11. Manuel POGGIALI (KTM) 1:48.778 12. Alex BALDOLINI (Aprilia) 1:48.862 13. Anthony WEST (Aprilia) 1:48.963 14. Jakub SMRZ (Aprilia) 1:49.066 15. Sylvain GUINTOLI (Aprilia) 1:49.316

Pro Honda Oils AMA Supersport Championships Presented by Shoei Helmets Miller Motorsports Park Tooele, Utah June 16 Provisional Practice Times: 1. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600) 1:54.910 2. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R600) 1:55.469 3. Jamie Hacking (Yam YZF-R6) 1:55.806 4. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R600) 1:55.898 5. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-6RR) 1:56.213 6. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-6RR) 1:56.463 7. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600) 1:56.736 8. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6) 1:56.957 9. Damon Buckmaster (Kaw ZX-6RR) 1:57.196 10. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600) 1:57.289 11. Chris Peris (Yam YZF-R6) 1:57.444 12. Shane Turpin (Yam YZF-R6) 1:57.598 13. Jeff Tigert (Hon CBR600RR) 1:57.631 14. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6) 1:57.640 15. Jason Perez (Yam YZF-R6) 1:57.962 16. Tony Meiring (Suz GSX-R600) 1:58.461 17. Ryan Elleby (Hon CBR600RR) 1:58.542 18. Chris “Opie” Caylor (Suz GSX-R600) 1:59.000 19. Shea Fouchek (Suz GSX-R600) 1:59.656 20. Jon Blaylock (Hon CBR600RR) 2:00.517 21. Roobert Land (Yam YZF-R6), 2:00.797 22. Chris Siglin (Suz GSX-R600), 2:00.999 23. Victor Chirinos (Kaw ZX-6RR), 2:01.290 24. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz GSX-R600), 2:01.701 25. Armando Ferrer (Kaw ZX-6RR), 2:02.111 26. Jim Wood (Kaw ZX-6RR), 2:03.310 27. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R6), 2:03.503 28. Scott Jackson (Suz GSX-R600), 2:03.539 29. Christopher Ancien (Hon CBR600RR), 2:03.683 30. Daniel Parkerson (Suz GSX-R600), 2:03.722 31. David Glenn (Suz GSX-R600), 2:03.778 32. Jessica Zalusky (Kaw ZX-6RR), 2:03.830 33. Guy Tomlinson (Suz GSX-R600), 2:04.253 34. Jeff Seehorn (Suz GSX-R600), 2:04.266 35. Craig Mason (Yam YZF-R6), 2:04.637 36. Andrew Brown (Yam YZF-R6), 2:04.643 37. Jeremiah Johnson (Suz GSX-R600), 2:04.928 38. Justin Meyer (Yam YZF-R6), 2:04.983 39. Ryan Teixeira (Kaw ZX-6RR), 2:05.616 40. Matt Eccleston (Yam YZF-R6), 2:07.132 41. Eric Haugo (Yam YZF-R6), 2:07.604

Troy Corser has been forced to sit out the Pirelli/FG Sport tests at Brno this week because he has contracted chickenpox – probably from one of his children. He could’ve still taken part in the tests but decided to stay at home instead of going to Brno and possibly infecting any of his team members or anybody else in the paddock. As chickenpox doesn’t last that long, Troy will be fit to race at the end of the month in the next round of the Superbike World Championship at Misano.

FIM MotoGP World Championship Catalunya, Spain June 16 First Practice Results: 1. Kenny Lee ROBERTS (Hon KR211V) 1:42.923, Michelin 2. Colin EDWARDS (Yam YZR-M1) 1:43.197, Michelin 3. Dani PEDROSA (Hon RC211V) 1:43.234, Michelin 4. Valentino ROSSI (Yam YZR-M1) 1:43.319, Michelin 5. John HOPKINS (Suz GSV-R) 1:43.449, Bridgestone 6. Loris CAPIROSSI (Duc GP6) 1:43.481, Bridgestone 7. Nicky HAYDEN (Hon RC211V) 1:43.522, Michelin 8. Carlos CHECA (Yam YZR-M1) 1:43.617, Dunlop 9. Marco MELANDRI (Hon RC211V) 1:43.621, Michelin 10. Casey STONER (Hon RC211V) 1:43.830, Michelin 11. Chris VERMEULEN (Suz GSV-R) 1:43.880, Bridgestone 12. Toni ELIAS (Hon RC211V) 1:43.934, Michelin 13. Sete GIBERNAU (Duc GP6) 1:44.043, Bridgestone 14. Shinya NAKANO (Kaw ZX-RR) 1:44.111, Bridgestone 15. Randy DE PUNIET (Kaw ZX-RR) 1:44.393, Bridgestone 16. Makoto TAMADA (Hon RC211V) 1:44.595, Michelin 17. Jose Luis CARDOSO (Duc GP5) 1:46.207, Dunlop 18. Alex HOFMANN (Duc GP5) 1:46.387, Dunlop 19. James ELLISON (YZR-M1) 1:46.551, Dunlop

Roadracingworld.com’s Chris Ulrich regularly gives rides on the back of his specially-prepared, two-seat GSX-R1000 Superstock racebike to help educate local reporters and on-air personalities about the sport of motorcycle road racing and to help promote AMA Superbike Championship events. He was back at work this past week at Miller Motorsports Park, in Tooele, Utah, giving rides to a local radio personality, the track announcer and to Alan Wilson, the CEO, General Manager and designer of the brand new, $80-million-plus facility. “If you could package that and sell it, you would sell a million tickets. It’s awesome,” said 60-year-old Wilson after his three-lap, 150 mph ride with Ulrich. Asked what he thought of his racetrack after the ride, Wilson replied, “I really liked it. It’s just got a flow to it, doesn’t it? What I would like to do now is ride a bike out there myself. I haven’t ridden a bike fast in a long time. That’s all come back. There’s nothing nicer in sports than full acceleration out of a smooth corner. It’s just beautiful.” “It was an honor to give such a renowned track designer as Alan Wilson a ride around his own racetrack,” said Ulrich. “It felt good to be able to make it possible for him to see what we see from the cockpit of a motorcycle, because some track designers never do. I’m actually kind of surprised he got on the back, but I’m glad he did and I hope he had a good time.” Also taking rides with Ulrich were Victor Cade, who does a nightly radio show on Salt Lake City’s 94.9 FM “The Blaze,” and track public address announcer Griff Allen. “Wow! That was bad ass! That’s all I can say,” said Cade, who is a former sportbike rider. “He was totally in control of that bike, so I got comfortable after that first lap. The first lap I was a little edgy, but I got more comfortable because he’s a good rider. It was awesome and nervous and just bad ass. I can’t imagine doing that with a track full of racers, Holy hell. I’ve watched motorcycle road racing on television before, but I’m a huge NASCAR fan. But after experiencing this, I definitely have more appreciation for this than that.” “The ride is impressive,” said Allen. “Yeah, you’re on the back of a motorcycle, and yeah, you’re going around a racetrack. But the whole system of having a briefing, having it explained to you, having all of the safety gear and being a top-prepared motorcycle with a competent rider, this whole system of giving people the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing, even if it’s at 80%, this is a great vehicle to help people understand why this sport is just so magnetic.” All of the two-seat guest riders were given an even better glimpse into motorcycle road racing by having another motorcycle ride in close proximity to them while circulating the track. During Wilson’s and Cade’s runs, Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey strafed them, and during Allen’s ride, Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Geoff May enhanced the experience. “It absolutely did,” confirmed Allen. “You can go out and buy a video game that has a simulation of racing, but nothing is going to give the sound and the sight and the sensation of someone blasting by you on the inside under braking when you thought the corner was all your own. So having another rider out there, absolutely priceless in terms of giving the whole perspective of road racing.” Ulrich’s team has been doing media rides using two-seat racebikes for about five years and will offer rides to local media representatives at all of the remaining 2006 AMA venues.

Amidst comfortable temperatures and hazy sunshine somewhat different to those encountered in March’s Official Test, the MotoGP paddock was buzzing today as the teams and riders arrived at the Circuit de Catalunya, scene of Sunday’s Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya. World Cup fever has inevitably reached the circuit, which is situated just 30 minutes north of Barcelona city centre. A number of World Championship riders were involved in a special photo opportunity with their countries’ flags, with Argentina, Australia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the USA all represented. With the latter involved in a crunch tie against the Italy on Saturday, championship frontrunners Nicky Hayden and Loris Capirossi also posed with their national teams’ football shirts as they prepare for their own head to head for the title lead this weekend. There was also the customary pre-event visit for a selection of riders, who took a trip to the Casa Batlló in the centre of Barcelona. Colin Edwards, home rider Toni Elias and locally-based Japanese rider Shuhei Aoyama soaked up the atmosphere of one of Antoni Gaudi’s modernist masterpieces, a building which reflects the waves of a calm sea in an architectural marvel. The Thursday press conference for the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya was as always a star-studded line up, with Loris Capirossi, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa and Sete Gibernau joined by Mugello race winner and World Champion Valentino Rossi to talk in front of the assembled media. They represented the top five from the stunning race in Italy just under two weeks ago, and are preparing for yet another battle royale at the technical Catalunya track. Later in the evening, Fortuna Honda will hold a special mini-cross challenge at the home of Toni Elias, whose family own a track near the Montmelo Circuit. The event will be a challenge race against the media, with Elias and team-mate Marco Melandri undertaking a few laps at the Elias family track. 250cc In big news from 250cc, Repsol Honda today made the announcement that Sebas Porto would be withdrawing from the 2006 season. The Argentine had joined the team at the start of the year. Fortuna Aprilia also confirmed that test rider Alex Debon would be stepping in for the injured Hector Barbera whilst he recovers from an arm injury. 125cc An exciting addition to the 125cc field comes in the form of young rider Daniel Webb, another bright star for the future from the Red Bull MotoGP Academy. Webb will join former team-mate and graduate of last year’s Academy, Bradley Smith, in the Repsol Honda team as a wild card.

(All times Eastern) AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. – Saturday, June 17, 5 p.m. (OLN) AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, Motocross 338, Southwick, Mass. – AMA Motocross Championship – Saturday, June 17, 6 p.m. (OLN) AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, Motocross 338, Southwick, Mass. – AMA Motocross Championship – Sunday, June 18, 4 a.m. (OLN) AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah – AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race 1, Sunday, June 18, 4 p.m. (SPEED) AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah – Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, Sunday, June 18, 5 p.m. (SPEED) AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah – AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race 2, Sunday, June 18, 6 p.m. (SPEED) AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, Motocross 338, Southwick, Mass. – AMA Motocross Lites Championship – Monday, June 19, 5 p.m. (OLN) AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. – Monday, June 19, 7 p.m. (OLN) AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, Motocross 338, Southwick, Mass. – AMA Motocross Lites Championship – Tuesday, June 20, 6 a.m. (OLN) AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah – AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race 1, Tuesday, June 20, 2 p.m. (SPEED) AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah – AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race 2, Tuesday, June 20, 3 p.m. (SPEED) AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah – Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series, Tuesday, June 20, 4 p.m. (SPEED)

This weekend’s Grand Prix of Catalunya marks the start of a busy period for the Kawasaki Racing Team, with three races in as many weekends, starting in Spain and finishing in Great Britain, with the Dutch TT at Assen in between. Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet both arrive in Barcelona determined to get this run of three important races off to the best start possible, with a strong performance in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Catalunya. After the disappointment of both riders finishing outside the top ten at Mugello, Kawasaki engineers have been working overtime to ensure that both Nakano and de Puniet have a competitive package in the Ninja ZX-RR for the 4.727 km Circuit de Catalunya. Both Kawasaki riders will test a new exhaust system on their Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machines this weekend, which has been designed to improve driveability out of the corners; critical around the 13 turns at Catalunya, the majority of which are right-handers. This predominance of right-hand corners is also important in terms of tyre selection, and the Kawasaki Racing Team will again be working closely with Bridgestone this weekend to ensure that, come race day, Nakano and de Puniet have a tyre that will provide consistent performance throughout the 25-lap Grand Prix of Catalunya. After intensive dynamometer testing in Japan, Kawasaki engineers have also increased the upper rev limit of the Ninja ZX-RR for this weekend. As well as offering more flexibility on both gearbox ratios and gear selection, the additional revs should make it easier for Nakano and de Puniet to pass out of the slipstream along the 1.047 metre main straight at Catalunya. Having won twice in the 250cc World Championship class at the Circuit de Catalunya in the past, Randy de Puniet arrives in Barcelona fully fit and determined to improve upon his previous best result in the MotoGP class this weekend, at a track he rates as one of his favourites. The Circuit de Catalunya is also a favourite of de Puniet’s Kawasaki teammate, Shinya Nakano, and the 28-year-old Japanese rider is confident that, if he and his crew can find a good set-up in practice and qualifying, then a good result on Sunday is a distinct possibility. Shinya Nakano: #56 “Like Mugello, the Circuit de Catalunya is a fast circuit, but unlike Mugello there is no secret to going fast here. We need to find a good set-up during practice and qualifying, and we also need to test the new exhaust system that Kawasaki engineers have brought to this race in a bid to improve the driveability of the bike out of the turns. Theoretically the increased rev limit should also make passing out of the slipstream on the main straight easier, but we will only see how much easier once practice gets underway on Friday. I think if everything comes together as we expect during practice and qualifying then we can be competitive here in Sunday’s race.” Randy de Puniet: #17 “We had a good test here at Catalunya during the build up to the start of the season, so I know how to ride the Ninja ZX-RR at this circuit. I have won here on the 250cc machine twice, and I like this track a lot, so I think this could be a good weekend for us. I arrive for this race fully fit, and I think I’m now starting to realise the full potential of the Ninja ZX-RR on track, so hopefully I’ll be able to put in a strong performance in the race on Sunday and leave Spain with my best result of the season so far in the MotoGP class. Anyway, that’s my aim for the weekend ahead.”

Rizla Suzuki is hoping to make the most of the top speed advantage of its GSX-R1000s at this weekend’s seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton in Norfolk, an ex- airfield circuit boasting a kilometre- long straight that sees the bikes touch 200mph. The Rizla Suzuki race bikes of Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and James Haydon have consistently been amongst the fastest through the speed traps at all the previous rounds of the Championship. Shakey secured a fourth and fifth place at the previous round at Mallory Park while James was forced to miss the action following a shoulder injury sustained during the Friday practice session. He has been undergoing intense physiotherapy to be ready for Snetterton. Superbike racing starts at 13:15 on Sunday, June 18th at the popular 1.95-mile long Snetterton circuit. Shakey Byrne: “My Rizla Suzuki is a missile and at just about every track we have visited it’s been the fastest bike out there. That is encouraging for Snetterton as the circuit is basically two long straights linked by some quick and not so quick corners. I think we have the bike and experience to be competing for the podium at Snetterton. In truth I think we can compete for better results than just podiums”¦” James Haydon: “The Revett Straight at Snetterton has to be ridden to be believed. You come on to it at around 60mph and get up to 190-200mph before braking as hard as you possibly can for the Esses and scrubbing 120mph off to make the turn. It’s exciting and last year I just missed a podium finish. My shoulder is on the mend and I hope to be competitive this weekend.”

The first of two mid-season Pirelli tests took place around the magnificent topography of Brno between Monday 12 and Wednesday 14th June, with records broken before the third day had even started. After his devastating recent form it came as no surprise that Troy Bayliss was the man out in front once more, eventually taking his Ducati Xerox machine to a best ever Superbike lap of 2’00.0s on the latest qualifying tyres, and 2’00.8s on race spec Pirelli rubber. For comparison, during the 2005 SBK race weekend the qualifying lap record was 2’02.694 (set by current Brno test absentee Troy Corser on a Suzuki) and the best race time 2’03.747 (from the Yamaha of Noriyuki Haga). Haga and Corser would go on to take one race win apiece at Brno in 2005. BAYLISS BUOYED BY HIS QUICK PACE Bayliss acknowledged that despite an early crash, he could draw little but positives from his latest outing on the 999F06 twin. “It’s been a good three days”, he stated. “I did some good times this morning both on qualifying and race tyres and my long-run was 39 seconds quicker than last year’s time, so I’m feeling pretty good about things. I’m in good spirits and looking forward to racing at Misano next week.” Bayliss’ race simulation was made on an exceptionally hot track surface, with maximum ground temperatures reaching 49°C. WALKER SECOND QUICKEST ON QUALIFIERS Chris Walker (PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki) continued his development work on the 2006 ZX-10R with a 2’01.0 best lap on qualifying rubber, while Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) scored third best time of all, with a 2’01.2. His team-mate, James Toseland set his best time on race tyres, as other riders hampered his qualifying lap in his lone outing on non-race tyres. Both Winston Ten Kate riders spent most of their time working with a new electronics package, which includes traction control, and are expected to use it in the forthcoming Misano race. SUPERSPORT In the Supersport Championship tests Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) scored the best time on race tyres (the only kind of tyres available in this class) with a 2’06.0, just ahead of his own team-mate Broc Parkes (2’06.1). Runaway leader Sebastien Charpentier fell on day one and broke his collarbone and hip, and is undergoing surgery to insert plates in the broken bones. The fracture in his pelvis is on the rear side, and has been deemed by his Winston Ten Kate Honda team as being not as serious as it could have been. In the championship race, Charpentier currently leads Curtain by 40 points. Times 1st day Monday 12 June Superbike World Championship Bayliss 2’01.5 Walker 2’02.2 Haga/Muggeridge 2’02.7 Nieto/Pitt/Toseland 2’03.0 Lanzi 2’03.7 Kagayama 2’04.7 Martin 2’04’7 Jones 2’06.7 Supersport World Championship Charpentier 2’06.4 Parkes 2’06.6 Curtain 2’07.1 Chambon 2’07.8 Soufouglu/Zeiser 2’08.1 Berger 2’09.1 2nd day Tuesday 13 June Bayliss: qualifying tyres 2’00.8 race tyres 2’01.6 Walker: 2’02.1 race tyres Muggeridge: 2’02.2 race tyres Lanzi/Toseland: 2’02.5 race tyres Haga/Pitt 2’02.5 race tyres Nieto 2’03.0 race tyres Martin 2’03.7 race tyres Kagayama 2’04.0 race tyres Foret 2’04.4 race tyres Jones 2’05.1 race tyres Supersport World Championship Curtain/Parkes 2’06.3 Zeiser/Soufoglou 2’07.3 Chambon 2’08 Berger 2’08.4 3rd day Tuesday 14 June Superbike World Championship Bayliss: qualifying tyres 2’00.0 race tyres 2’00.8 Walker: 2’010 qualifying tyres 2’02.7 race tyres Muggeridge: 2’01.2 qualifying tyres 2’02.1 race tyres Lanzi: 2’01’6 qualifying tyres 2’02.6 race tyres Toseland: 2’01.7 qualifying tyres 2’01.7 race tyres Haga : qualifying tyres 2’01.6 race tyres 2’01.5 Pitt: qualifying tyres 2’01.7 race tyres 2’01.2 Nieto 2’02.0 qualifying tyres 2’02.7 race tyres Martin 2’03.1 qualifying tyres 2’03.2 race tyres Kagayama 2’03.2 race tyres only Foret 2’02.6 qualifying tyres 2’03.2 race tyres Jones 2’04.0 qualifying tyres 2’03.8 race tyres Supersport World Championship Curtain 2’06.0 Parkes 2’06.1 Soufoglou 2’06.2 Zeiser 2’06.9 Chambon 2’07.8 Berger 2’07.9 More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Racing: ALSTARE WRAPS UP BRNO TESTS Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Yukio Kagayama and the team have concluded three days of World Superbike testing at Brno in the Czech Republic and left the track with masses of useful information. Throughout the three days, Kagayama concentrated on trying out a huge variety of development parts and settings instead of chasing any lap times, but he and the team were very happy with what they achieved and will now analyse all the information before making improvements to the bike. Team Alstare Engineering Corona Extra rider Fabien Foret was a late addition to the test, having been called up at the last minute when Troy Corser was forced to stay at home with chickenpox. Although he only had two days, Foret managed to put in a lot of laps and he too left Brno content with the work done. Yukio Kagayama: “Generally I am very happy with these three days because of all the work we have done. My focus here was to test all the material I had to test, not to set quick lap times. Many times in the past when I have ridden and pushed hard and made fast laps, I have not been able to give a lot of information to my team. This time I concentrated on getting lots of information and then letting my team know what was happening and how the feeling was. This afternoon the track temperature was nearly 50 C, and when it is this hot it is impossible to set a quick lap time anyway, so I only tried a qualifying tyre once. At the end of all three days – and especially today in the heat – my wrist was a little sore and my back also hurt a little. It was not so bad I couldn’t test properly, but it was another reason I didn’t push very hard for a lap time because I didn’t want to crash and do further damage. I know the team are happy with these three days so that means we did a good job!” Fabien Foret: “I only got the call to come here late on Sunday. I was lazing around when I the telephone rang asking me to come to Brno. Normally, only two riders from each of the top teams can test, but I got the call because Troy was not able to test. I missed the first day, but then we had two really good days and I found a really good front suspension setting which made me feel much more comfortable in the corners. There were lots of other things for me to test and we managed to do a lot of good work here in the two days. Also, it was good to be back on the bike after a long lay off. With Misano just one week away, I was so happy to be on the bike again and carry on my learning of the Superbike. Also, my time on the Superbike here will pay off when we race here in July, so all round it’s been good for me.”