NO REST FOR CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM IN MUGELLO Following yesterday’s spectacular victory in front of his passionate home crowd at Mugello, Valentino Rossi was back on board his YZR-M1 this afternoon for another day of testing alongside team-mate Colin Edwards. Rossi and Edwards continued working on set-up of the latest evolution of the 2006 bike, which features a new chassis first used by Valentino in Le Mans and which is now being used by Edwards as well. Edwards also tested some new Michelin tyres and Rossi had hoped to do likewise, but light rain cut short the session before he could complete the planned tyre work and he finished his day after just 24 laps. Edwards managed to complete a total of 57 laps with a best time of 1’50.68, whilst Rossi’s fastest lap was a time of 1’50.72. The Team now have a ten-day break before the next group of three races in just three weeks, starting with the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona next week. DAVIDE BRIVIO CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR “Today has been a good test for both Valentino and Colin. It’s been helpful to have some more time to test the new chassis and find the perfect set-up, we need to keep improving and carry on with the momentum! It’s important to be able to confirm that we’ve made the right decisions with regards to the direction we’re taking, and to see that the package we used in Le Mans and Mugello is the right one for us. It’s been especially important for Colin because he hasn’t had so much time with the new chassis, but today has given him confidence and confirmed that the package Valentino used this weekend works for him too. This bike is now ready to fight competitively for the rest of the season. As Valentino said yesterday, he needs to be on the podium at every race from now on and we hope that our bike is now ready to do just that for both him and Colin.” Camel Yamaha Team Times: 1. COLIN EDWARDS, 1’50.68 (57 Laps 2. VALENTINO ROSSI, 1’50.72 (24 Laps) More, from a press release issued by Ducati Marlboro Team: CAPIROSSI AND GIBERNAU BACK ON TRACK TO TEST TIRES AFTER MOTOGP RACE The Ducati Marlboro Team got straight back to work at Mugello today following Loris Capirossi’s superb second-place finish in yesterday’s thrilling Italian Grand Prix. After celebrating the stirring rides of Capirossi and team-mate Sete Gibernau last night, the team, its engineers and riders continued development work with the Desmosedici GP6. Capirossi and Gibernau started testing at noon, after the track had been thoroughly cleaned following yesterday afternoon’s massive post-race crowd invasion. They were forced to stop work earlier than expected, when rain began falling at 4pm. The pair focused primarily on testing Bridgestone tyres, splitting the workload between them, Capirossi focusing on evaluating different compounds while Gibernau concentrated on trying different constructions. The Italian and Spaniard also continued detail work on set-up, the development and evolution of the GP6 a non-stop process. Capirossi rode 44 laps, with a best of 1m 50.77s, while Gibernau completed 54 laps, with a best of 1m 50.70s. The Ducati Marlboro Team returns to action next week at the Catalan GP outside Barcelona, where the seventh race of the 17-event MotoGP World Championship will take place on June 18. Temperatures: Ambient: 25 degrees. Track: 35 degrees More, from a press release issued by Pramac D’Antin: PRIVATE TEST AT MUGELLO FOR THE PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP TEAM Today and for the whole day, the PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP Team did a private test on the International Circuit of Mugello, Italy, before going back to Madrid, where is situated the Racing Department of the Team. The two PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP Team riders rode from 11.30a.m. until 4.00p.m., losing only an hour time at the end of the afternoon because of the rain. ALEX HOFMANN and JOSE LUIS CARDOSO tested some DUNLOP tyres, different from the ones they used during the race weekend. The tyres at their disposal were not sufficient, in their quantity, to work in an efficient and continuous way, to obtain reliable valuations about them and to test all the new available set-up solutions of the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP06 “Sat”. The Team is now hoping to collect more useful information in Barcelona, where will be held the next round of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship. They hope to receive competitive material to get the chance to demonstrate their real valour. Alex Hofmann 1’53.4 (34 laps) Jose Luis Cardoso 1’53.6 (33 laps)

Paris Oakley, Inc. today announced that all members of Ducati’s MotoGP and Superbike factory racing teams are endorsed to wear the company’s sunglasses. Additionally, the sponsorship agreement includes Oakley’s logo placement on MotoGP team helmets and leathers and on the team’s Superbike motorcycle fairings. “Our alliance with Ducati is no surprise. They approach building the world’s best racing motorcycles the same way we approach building the world’s best performance eyewear combining the highest quality materials and advanced technologies with uncompromising standards,” said Colin Baden, president, Oakley, Inc. “We share a lineage of aggressive design and a continuous drive to raise the bar of performance.” Baden continued, “Our partnership with Ducati began three years ago with elite editions of our performance eyewear. Authenticated with the emblem found on some of the world’s fastest motorcycles, the signature red and grey colors of these frames are a nod to the velocity of innovation. Their lenses are laser etched with the trademarked name of excellence in Italian engineering and feature High Definition Optics® (HDO®) making them essential equipment for competitors around the globe,” Baden concluded. The new Oakley-Ducati eyewear collection will be worn at race circuits throughout the world by all four factory Ducati riders in the MotoGP and World Superbike championships: Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau, winners of four and nine MotoGPs respectively, and Ducati legend Troy Bayliss and talented youngster Lorenzo Lanzi in World Superbike. “We are delighted to be able to extend our partnership with Oakley to include this new endorsement, which will surely bring about enhanced visibility for both of our brands,” said Ducati Corse Managing Director, Claudio Domenicali. “Oakley is one of the most exciting and stylish brands in the world when it comes to high-performance eyewear, Ducati is a world leader in stunning motorcycle design and exceptional performance; as a result this partnership between Oakley and Ducati Corse is a perfect match from all points of view.” Ducati Signature products currently available from Oakley include the Ducati WISDOM™ goggle and seven sunglass styles: Ducati GASCAN™, Ducati MONSTER DOG™, Ducati CROSSHAIR™, Ducati JULIET®, Ducati HATCHET™, Ducati RIDDLE™ and Ducati FIVES® 3.0.

ZALUSKY HOLDS ON AT ROAD AMERICA Kawasaki Team Green rider, Jessica Zalusky had a successful weekend of racing at the sixth round of AMA Racing at Road America, racing aboard her Dunlop-shod Kawasaki Ninja® ZX™-6RR. After having only a few weekends of testing and racing following her return after her season-ending injuries in 2005, Zalusky has regained her strength and riding abilities. “I feel great, bikes feel great and I feel that I have fully recovered,” Zalusky commented following the races. In Supersport, Zalusky qualified with a time of 2:30.347, starting her in row 10 of 11. From start to finish, a battle ensued with fellow competitor Eric Haugo for a close finish in the 37th position for Zalusky. In Formula Extreme, Zalusky qualified strong in the 24th position with a time of 2:30.288. Another battle ensued all the way to the finish with fellow competitor Johnny Rock Page, who finished ahead of her by “.3″ second, landing Zalusky in the 21st position. Following her Road America finish, Jessica is currently in the 48th position in the AMA Formula Extreme Championship. AMA Racing resumes for Zalusky on June 16-18 for the AMA Superbike doubleheader at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, where she will be racing in both Supersport and Formula Extreme. For more information about Jessica Zalusky, visit www.roadracinggirl.com. More, from a press release issued by Team Embry: TEAM EMBRY’S MARSHALL ON THE MEND AFTER ROAD AMERICA CRASH ELKHART LAKE, Wis. Team Embry’s Keith Marshall went into the AMA Pro Racing weekend at Road America with high hopes, but his plans were cut short when he suffered a crash during practice on Thursday. Marshall, who was planning to compete in both Supersport and Formula Xtreme, was on his Supersport-spec Suzuki GSX-R600 in the final practice of the day when one of his front brake calipers came loose entering turn eight. With no brakes, Marshall ran off track and had to jump off of his bike before it impacted a tire wall. An unconscious Marshall also came to an abrupt stop against the tire wall. Marshall was transported to a local hospital with a separated shoulder, and his arm dislocated twice while he was being examined. He also had to get 12 stitches in his chin. The incident marks the first time in Marshall’s four-year racing career that he has been unable to pick up his bike and continue after a crash. “We came into Road America with the Supersport bike the best it has been all year,” said Marshall. “It was going good. We had the FX bike close to where we wanted it, too. I’m very disappointed. It’s been a tough season so far.” The first order of business for Marshall when he returns home to Atlanta, Georgia will be an MRI to determine if surgery will be necessary. After that, he hopes to mend fast enough to compete at Road Atlanta during the WERA Cycle Jam in early July. “I’m going to have to miss the WERA and AMA rounds at Miller Motorsports Park, but I think it will be an advantage for me to return to racing at Road Atlanta,” said Marshall. “I’ll have a full crew there to support me and I know the track well. I know I can be comfortable and competitive there. My goal that weekend is to be up front in the Superstock classes and get some points.” Marshall would also like to extend his thanks to the friends and fans that came to see him after the crash. “I really appreciate the support and concern everyone showed. It could have been a lot worse, but luckily I won’t have to miss more than a few rounds while I heal,” he stated. Sponsors of Team Embry include Arai Helmets, Vortex Racing Components, Oxtar Boots, Pirelli Tires, Silkolene, Godfather Racing, K & N Engineering, LeoVince Exhaust Systems, Pit Bull Stands, EBC Brakes, Thermosman Suspensions, R-Tech Fuel, Spyderleatherworks, Yoyodyne, Suzuki of Bartow County, Cycle Specialty and Lockhart-Phillips. Fans can keep up with Marshall and Team Embry at www.TeamEmbry.com. More, from a press release issued by Millennium/KWS Suzuki: THIRD TOP TEN IN A ROW FOR MATT LYNN AND MILLENNIUM/KWS SUZUKI Team Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorsports had another good weekend at Road America. Team rider Matt Lynn continues to improve every race and fill-in rider Lee Acree put in another solid performance. The team is working hard and looking forward to having John Haner return at Miller Motorsports Park in two weeks time. Matt Lynn’s performance this weekend was particularly impressive considering that Thursday’s promoter practice was the first time the young rider had seen the Road America circuit. In Superbike qualifying Lynn qualified in the twelfth position beating LeoVince/Pegram Honda’s Larry Pegram by .0002 of a second. Lee Acree, filling in for the injured John Haner, qualified in the eighteenth position on the Pirelli shod GSX-R1000. In Superstock, Lynn qualified in the fifteenth position. In Superbike race one Lynn got a great start completing the first lap in eleventh ahead of Jordan Suzuki’s Jake Holden. Lynn battled with the Jordan Suzuki’s for the remainder of the race, finishing twelfth, his best Superbike finish to date. Lee Acree battled with Corona Suzuki’s Akira Tamitsugi and Roadracing World’s Chris Ulrich to finish in the sixteenth position. Looking to continue his streak of excellent finishes in Superstock, Matt Lynn was extremely aggressive on the first lap working his way up to twelfth on the start. Lynn battled the entire race with a group of four riders that came down to a last lap draft to the line for tenth place. This is Lynn’s third top ten in a row in Supestock moving him to just 1 point out of ninth place in overall Superstock points. Capitalizing off the momentum of a top ten in Superstock, Lynn got another great start in Superbike race two completing the first lap in ninth ahead of Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin. Lynn fought to stay in the top ten until lap six when the Millennium/KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000 suffered an uncharacteristic engine failure bringing out the red flag. Lee Acree was racing in the sixteenth position when the red flag came out, and once the race was re-started moved up to fourteenth where he eventually finished the race. Matt Lynn “I had a really good weekend. I had a difficult time learning Road America at first, but once I got it figured out I really liked it. The Superstock finish was good and I am really happy about moving up in the points. I am also very happy about the Superbike race one finish. The second Superbike race was a bit disappointing, but engine failures happen sometimes when you are pushing the limits and I know the Millennium/KWS Suzuki team is doing everything they can to give me the best motorcycle possible. I want to thank my mechanics, Rick Matheny, Michael Godin, and Brian Stricker. I would also like to thank Pirelli. They had a great tire this weekend.” Lee Acree “I had a great time racing the Millennium Technologies/KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike. Pirelli had a great tire this weekend and the bikes are fast. I want thank Kevin Hunt for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to thank Owen Garnett for working so hard on my bikes the last two weekends.” Kevin Hunt (Team Owner) “As an engine shop, this is why we race, to test all of our engine configurations and ideas in the most challenging conditions we can find before they get to the customer. Sometimes you find out an idea worked, sometimes you find it doesn’t. You cannot simulate this stuff on a dyno. The team worked really hard this weekend and Matt Lynn continues to get faster and faster. I want to thank Lee Acree for helping us out the last two race weekends. He truly is one of the nicest guys in racing. I would also like to thank Chris Hackl and everybody at Millennium Technologies for coming out this weekend, we couldn’t do it without them.”

YAMAHA RACING TEAM MAKES CHAMPIONSHIP GAINS AT MALLALA The Yamaha Racing Team’s goal of scoring round win hat-tricks across the Superbike and Supersport classes has been partially realised this weekend, with dual-contender Jamie Stauffer leading the way. Stauffer was forced to share the spotlight at round three of the YMF Loan Australian Superbike Championship at Mallala this weekend, winning the Supersport round but finishing runner-up in a hotly-contested Superbike battle. A less than perfect start to the opening Superbike race was quickly remedied by Stauffer, but he was unable to find a way past the lead pairing, and had to settle for third. Stauffer backed up with a dominant race two victory, finishing just one point shy of the round win, which was taken by Honda privateer Russell Holland. Yamaha Racing Team Superbike Man of the moment Jamie Stauffer has maintained a healthy points margin over his rivals in the YMF Loan Australian Superbike Championship, scoring an impressive second placing overall. A race win and a third placing were not enough to deliver Stauffer a dream hat-trick round result, but keep him well clear of the competition at the top of the table. He was a little deflated at missing out by such a minute margin, but enjoyed the battle, concurring that he simply had no answer for Russell Holland in the opening race. “It was a very successful weekend for the team in relative terms, but disappointing in a way to end the round win streak,” said Stauffer. “We had a fairly good handle on the bike, starting from pole, but the start really did leave me with a lot of work to do,” he said. “Full credit to Russell (Holland) for the win, it was well deserved as long as he doesn’t score too many more!” Dan Stauffer has scored a season best 4th overall at today’s round of the Superbike championship, finishing just 6 points shy of a podium placing. Stauffer’s determination and consistency was rewarded with 6th and 4th place finishes across races 1 and 2 respectively, and he was encouraged by the performance. He now moves to third overall in the championship chase, a brilliant reward for his hard work. “It’s been a positive weekend for us in a lot of ways, the results were great and the guys really nailed the setup on the bike,” said Stauffer. “More importantly though is the championship points situation, I’m now in third which is an unexpected bonus, it will be good to get to Queensland and build on this.” Yamaha Racing Team Supersport The Supersport arm of the Yamaha Racing Team has experienced a weekend of highs and lows, capped off by another dominant round win from Jamie Stauffer. Stauffer’s victory was seemingly effortless, with rider, team, machine and tyres all working in perfect harmony. Teammates Mark Aitchison and Jason O’Halloran had a difficult weekend, which got off to a bad start as they collided with each other in the first race of the day. The akward incident forced Aitchison out of the race, while O’Halloran was able to go on to finish within the top ten. The riders made amends in the second 19-lap stoush, following Stauffer home in second and third places respectively. “It was a tough situation to deal with, I was in a really good position at the time so it was frustrating, but this is all a part of racing,” said Aitchison. “The positive to come from the weekend is that the bike is working superbly and I’m back within the championship top five.” “All that’s required now is to string together a strong consistent round and I should be able to make back a few more spots.” Aitchison now sits in 5th in the Supersport championship, with teammate O’Halloran just ahead in 4th. O’Halloran had similar feelings about the weekend, which did not live up to his hopes. “We came into this round really confident, coming off a strong test here and knowing that the bikes are field leaders,” said O’Halloran. “It just goes to show that small mistakes can cost you dearly and today was disappointing for the team as we were both running so well.” “Our results in the second race were a good showing of what the team and myself are capable of.” + Yamaha Motor + Superbike 2. Jamie Stauffer, 44 points 4. Dan Stauffer, 32 points +Supersport 1. Jamie Stauffer, 51 points 5. Jason O’Halloran, 29 points 9. Mark Aitchison, 20 points + YMF Loan ASC + Superbike 1. Jamie Stauffer, 126 points 3. Dan Stauffer, 83 points + Supersport 1. Jamie Stauffer, 153 points 4. Jason O’Halloran, 89 points 5. Mark Aitchison, 78 points

TOOELE, Utah The WERA National Series heads to Miller Motorsports Park in Utah this weekend and will have the distinction of being the first major event held at the new world-class racing facility. The weekend’s schedule has been altered to allow the WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series and WERA/Pirelli Sportsman Series sprint races to be the focal point of Saturday’s racing. Saturday, June 10 marks Miller Motorsports Park’s Grand Opening, and the track will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on the start/finish line before the day’s racing. There will be 18 races throughout the day, including all of the National Challenge Series classes and the Sportsman Series classes that will pay WERA West points. The racing starts at 12:30 p.m. The WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance Series will cap off the weekend with a six-hour race on Sunday, June 11, beginning at 10:00 a.m. “WERA is very excited and honored to be the grand opening event for the new world-class Miller Motorsports Park,” said WERA owner Evelyne Clarke. “We look forward to putting on a great show for them and their spectators.” This weekend is round four of the WERA National Series season. Formula 1 remains one of the most hotly-contested classes, with Tray Batey leading Ben Thompson by a slim four points. Each rider has earned one win in the class this season. Batey also leads another close battle, with a three-point lead over Taylor Knapp in Heavyweight Twins Superstock. Eighteen-year-old Knapp has also been competing in the AMA this season, earning a finish of 17th this past weekend during the second Superbike race at Road America. Endurance remains a three-way battle between Vesrah Suzuki, Red Star and Team Velocity Racing. The teams have all been sweeping the wins in their respective classes, and they have been keeping the competition fierce for the overall podium. A number of local riders will also be entering teams, posing a challenge to the series regulars. In celebration of the track’s grand opening, spectators get free admission. Directions and details about the track can be found on their website, www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com. More information about WERA, including a complete schedule of the weekend’s races, can be found at www.WERA.com.

Isle Of Man TT Festival – Race Day Two June 5, 2006. Bruce Anstey held off a fierce challenge from Ian Hutchinson to win the four lap Superstock race as the Isle of Man TT Racing Festival continued in near perfect conditions, but there was disappointment for the pre-race favourite John McGuinness who failed to find a good race rhythm and trailed in fifth aboard the HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR. New Zealander Anstey, who had won the corresponding race last year, was at his most determined, battling to shrug aside the memories of a first lap breakdown that had sidelined him in the opening Superbike race. Ian Hutchinson (Kawasaki) finished second with Jason Griffiiths (Yamaha) completing the podium. Guy Martin (Yamaha) took fourth place well clear of McGuinness. Ian Lougher brought his Blackhorse Finance backed Honda Fireblade home in sixth place, just ahead of the similar machine, running in Klaffi colours, in the hands of Martin Finnegan. Mark Parrett, Yamaha; Gary Carswell, Suzuki and Rob Frost aboard the CD Racing Honda Fireblade completed the top ten finishers. “I had a lazy first lap and had a couple of moments you could say I had lost the plot,” said McGuinness. “It took a time to get into a good fast rhythm. I rode as hard as I could, but could not make any impression.” Honda powered the winning outfit in the first of the festival’s two Sidecar races, with Manx crew Nick Crowe and Darren Hope romping to an easy victory, some 47 seconds clear of Steve Norbury and Scott Parnell. The local crew were running an outfit built by Dave Molyneux, the record eleven times winner of the event, who after crashing heavily during practice last Thursday has decided not to race the Mountain Course again. Norbury threatened in the early stages to deny Crowe his second TT victory, running just ahead on the opening lap as they powered into Ramsay, but after the dash across the mountain, the locals were thrilling their fans as they moved ahead. “We took it steady on the opening lap, and then wound it up,” explained Crowe who made good use of his power, running some 16 seconds ahead at two thirds distance, and then with a final lap at an average speed of 112.625mph pulling out a massive lead. Norbury, aboard the Shelbourne Yamaha, could make no impression, but had no complaints. “He drove a good race, and I’m happy enough. I was able to control the last lap to secure a strong second place.” John Holden and Andrew Winkle brought their Honda unit home in third place, ahead of Roy Hanks and Dave Wells but there was disappointment for former World Champ. Results TT Superstock race 4 laps 1 / B Anstey (New Zealand) / TAS Suzuki / 1h 12m 56.34s, 124.147mph 2 / I Hutchinson(GB) / McAdoo Kawasaki / 1. 13:04.64 3 / J Griffiths (GB) / Yamaha / 1. 13:28.19 4 / G Martin (GB) / AIM Yamaha / 1. 13:39.09 5 / J McGuinness (GB) / HM Plant Honda / 1. 14:09.48 6 / I Lougher (GB) / Blackhorse Honda / 1. 14:42.43 7 / M Finnegan (Ireland) / Klaffi Honda / 1. 15:04.30 8 / M Parrett (GB) / Yamaha / 1. 15:28.65 9 / G Carswell (GB) / Suzuki / 1 15.30.51 10 / R Frost (GB) / CD Honda / 1. 15:41.70 Sidecar 3 laps 1 / N Crowe / D Hope (GB) / DMR Honda / 1h 00m 27.15s, 112.342mph 2 / S Norbury / S Parnell (GB) / Shelbourne Yamaha / 1. 01: 14.26 3 / J Holden / A Winkle (GB) / Honda / 1. 01:56.71 4 / R Hanks / D Wells (GB) / DMR Yamaha / 1. 02: 07.38 5 / G Bryan / C Hardman (GB) / Baker Yamaha / 1. 02:15.02 6 / A Laidlow / Patrick Farrance (GB) / LCR Suzuki / 1. 02:33.45

Three-time Australian Superbike Champion, Shawn Giles was forced to withdraw from round three of the Australian Superbike Championship at Mallala Raceway in South Australia at the weekend. Injuries sustained in last weekend’s Australian Superbike clash at Barbagallo Raceway proved insurmountable for the Suzuki star and he withdrew from both races after completing only six laps in the first qualifying session. Arriving at Mallala Raceway on crutches, Giles did not expect to be a contender for this round, but intended to race in an attempt to gather points and keep his championship aspirations alive. Surprisingly, it was not his broken foot or stitched-up elbow that gave Giles grief, but rather his right hip that prompted the Suzuki pilot to pull out of the competition for this event. Despite completing only a limited number of laps Giles still qualified 13th fastest overall, but experienced too much pain and was not confident that he had the strength to safely complete two 19-lap races. He will seek further specialist medical attention this week to confirm the extent of the injury to his hips and hopefully ascertain when he will be able to resume racing. Giles’ team-mate Robbie Bugden did an excellent job qualifying third fastest around the 2.2km Mallala Raceway circuit, earning his first front-row start for Team Yoshimura Suzuki. Making impressive starts and showing good initial speed in both races, Bugden struggled to maintain pace with the leaders and slowly dropped down the order to claim two top-ten finishes, scoring ninth and seventh respectively. Shawn Giles: “I don’t recall anything ever keeping me off the starting grid for a whole race round before. “I missed one race at Phillip Island in 2000 after a crash on my GSX-R750 Superbike and in 1995 I had a big crash with Mat Mladin when his tyre delaminated in front of me and I had to sit out race two”¦ but not starting either race is a first for me. “My foot wasn’t particularly bothering me, but I really struggled with the pain in my right hip and found it very difficult to shift my weight through the turns and then support my weight hanging off the side the bike to put my knee down. “With Mallala being mostly right-hand turns, every time I went through a corner I felt like I was going to fall off. I made the decision not to race because I didn’t feel I could do 19-laps and did not want to do more damage to myself if I came off again.” Robbie Bugden: “My qualifying speed was very good this weekend and I was feeling positive going into the race. “I was able to get good starts in each race and the GSX-R1000 was performing really well, but I just couldn’t get into a rhythm here today. The next round in Queensland is my home track and one that suits the Suzuki, so I’m hoping to deliver much stronger performances there.” Phil Tainton Team Manager: “It’s been a difficult weekend for the team and we’re all a bit disappointed. Shawn is such a tough competitor that you know that he must be hurting very badly to voluntarily withdraw from racing here this weekend. “After such a great showing in the final race at Barbagallo last week and good results in our recent testing here at Mallala, we hoped that Robbie would have been stronger today. We’ve got a five week break now and hopefully Team Yoshimura Suzuki will have two riders back in the top five at the next round in Queensland.”

MARCO MELANDRI SETS THE FASTEST TIME AT MUGELLO Positive day of testing for the Fortuna Honda riders at Mugello the day after the Grand Prix of Italy, an event followed yesterday by 90.000 spectators on the hills of the circuit and 7.902.000 at home on TV with 50,90% of share. Marco Melandri lapped with a good rhythm and scored today’s fastest time (1’49″75), 3 tenths below the track record (1’50″117 Max Biaggi year 2005). The Italian rider worked in order to improve the handling of the bike in the change of directions. He was satisfied of the results and found some good set up solutions. Important day of work for Marco’s team mate Toni Elias who focused of the set up of the bike in order to solve the difficulties met in the last three races. MARCO MELANDRI (1’49″75, 64 laps): “I’m very satisfied because today we have done a step forward. I think we have created a good base and I’m very confident for the next races, three rounds in a row. Today we worked to improve the handling of the bike in the change of directions, I lapped with a good rhythm, setting also today’s fastest time. I look forward to race in Barcelona in two weeks, I’m ready for the next challenge.” TONI ELIAS (1’51″690, 52 laps): “we have worked a lot on the set up of the bike and we have done a step forward even if we are still not where we should be. I’m not satisfied with my lap time but I’m happy of the work done today. We still have a lot of work to do in order to be ready for the next race, the GP of Catalunya. I look forward to racing in front of my public.” UNOFFICIAL LAP TIMES 1. M. Melandri (Ita/Honda) 1’49″75 2. N.Hayden (Usa(Honda) 1’50″1 3. D.Pedrosa (Sp/Honda) 1’50″58 4. V.Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 1’50″70 5. C.Edwards (Usa/Yamaha) 1’50″70 6. S.Gibernau (Sp/Ducati) 1’50″70 7. J.Hopkins (Usa/Suzuki) 1’50″70 8. Tamada (Jap /Honda) 1’50″70 9. L.Capirossi (Ita/Ducati) 1’50″77 10. k.Roberts jr.(usa/KR Honda) 1’50″80 11. C.Vermeulen (Aus/Suzuki) 1’50″90 12. Nakano (Jap/Kawasaki) 1’51″4 13. T.Elias (Sp/Honda) 1’51″69