SILVERSTONE SHORT CIRCUIT AWAITS CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER BAYLISS AND LANZI (DUCATI XEROX TEAM) Silverstone (UK), Thursday 25 May: Following the high-speed blast around Monza, the World Superbike Championship passes from the quickest to the slowest track on the championship calendar as the Ducati Xerox Team pairing of Troy Bayliss and Lorenzo Lanzi line up for the fifth round at Silverstone. Last year the Grand Prix circuit used for three editions of World Superbike up until 2004 was replaced by the 3.561 km short track, and the two races saw a double triumph for the Ducati Xerox Team with Regis Laconi and James Toseland taking a win apiece. The hard-charging Aussie Troy Bayliss last raced at Silverstone in 2002, when he shared the wins on a rain-affected Sunday with his Honda rival Colin Edwards. This time round Troy is on a winning streak of five consecutive races and he aims to further increase his points lead this weekend. “For me Silverstone is similar to Monza because I always seem to get good results there,” declared Troy. “In BSB I was always up at the front or winning, and I remember that day back in 2002 when I won one race and had two crashes. Anything can happen at Silverstone! It’s a different circuit now but it’s still got a few corners I remember. I know we can go well here because we had a couple of wins last year! Monza was probably the most satisfying race of the year for me. We had a few stability problems during the weekend but the guys in the team sorted it out for the race. I think I’m in pretty good shape now, I’m riding well and am confident for this weekend whether it’s rainy or sunny.” Lorenzo Lanzi struggled in front of his numerous home fans at Monza, but feels confident he can score a couple of good results at Silverstone. “I know that things didn’t go too well at Monza, but I am approaching Silverstone in the right spirit, like I do about all the other races, confident and calm about it,” commented Lorenzo. “Silverstone is a track that I like a lot, even though the faster circuit we used a couple of years ago was much better. The first part of the track is not bad, but I don’t really like the final part which is very slow. I have some good memories of Silverstone because I won a round of the European Superstock championship here in 2003.” DUCATI XEROX RIDERS IN STORE AT HARRODS. Troy Bayliss and Lorenzo Lanzi made a special guest appearance in the famous Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, Central London this morning. In an event organised in collaboration with Ducati Corse’s luggage partner Tumi, the two riders were present in the store for a couple of hours before heading off to Silverstone. Troy and Lorenzo were greeted by representatives from Harrods, Tumi and Xerox prior to the store opening and posed for photographs in front of the Harrods shop window where the luggage collection is on display. They were escorted by the store’s security guards through Harrods to the Tumi concession in the luggage department to sign autographs and stop for more photographs with fans, customers and employees. Finally the riders extracted lucky names in a prize draw to win a pillion ride on the Ducati Xerox 2-Seater Experience at the Silverstone weekend as well as some items from the Tumi+Ducati luggage collection. THE CIRCUIT. Name: Silverstone Circuit Length: 3.561 km Pole Position: right Corners Left/Right: 5/7 Longest straight: 491 m CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after 4 of 13 rounds). Riders – 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 175; 2. Corser (Suzuki) 139; 3. Toseland (Honda) 97; 4. Barros (Honda) 95; 5. Haga (Yamaha) 93; 6. Pitt (Yamaha) 79; 7. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 59; 8. Rolfo (Ducati) 46. Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 176; 2. Suzuki 149; 3. Honda 124; 4. Yamaha 113; 5. Kawasaki 57; 6. Petronas 4. STATISTICS. Best lap: Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m26.679s (2005). Lap record: Laconi (Ducati) 1m27.130s (2005). Superpole: Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m26.679s (2005). Race distance: 2 x 28 laps/99.708 km. 2005 RESULTS. Race 1: 1. Laconi (Ducati Xerox); 2. Corser (Suzuki); 3. Toseland (Ducati Xerox). Race 2: 1. Toseland; 2. Corser; 3. Haga (Yamaha). TV COVERAGE. Eurosport 2 (Europe): Saturday 27 May, 1900 Superpole (highlights); Sunday 28 May, 1300 Race 1 (live), 1630 Race 2 (live). British Eurosport (UK): 1730 Superpole (as live); Sunday 28 May, 2015 Race 1 + Race 2 (delayed). ITV (UK): Sunday 28 May, TBA Race 1 (highlights), 1515 Race 2 (live). La7 (Italy): Sunday 28 May, 1810 Races 1 & 2 (as live).

The FIM Corona Extra Superbike World Championship heads to Silverstone this weekend (26-28 May) for the fifth round of the action-packed two-wheeled race series. As a preview to one of the biggest bike events on the UK sporting calendar, a number of riders, including England’s James Toseland and Chris Walker, turned out in their national football strips to represent their home country in the Silverstone World Cup. With the football World Cup fast approaching the riders were only too keen to pull on the shirt of their national team and walk out on the “hallowed turf” at Silverstone. Eight riders took part in a ‘Beat the Keeper’ style knockout tournament, which challenged the riders to dribble a ball around a set of cones before taking on goalkeeper Sarah Marshall a Silverstone employee who plays football for Coventry City’s Ladies team. Riders flying the flag for their country included James Toseland and Chris Walker – both representing England, France’s Regis Laconi, Noriyuki Haga of Japan, Australian Steve Martin, Germany’s Max Neukirchner and, adding a bit of Brazilian flare to proceedings, Alex Barros. All the riders were given three attempts to score past goalkeeper Marshall, and the two riders completing all three shots in the fastest time went through to the ultimate test of nerve in any World Cup showdown penalties! England and Australia went through to a dramatic Silverstone World Cup Final, represented by Toseland and Martin, who both demonstrated they are just as comfortable with a football as they are powering a World Superbike around Silverstone’s famous circuit. Toseland eventually fired England to World Cup victory after slotting two of his three penalties past Silverstone’s No. 1 goalkeeper, Marshall. All the riders entered into the spirit of a thoroughly entertaining tournament, and jubilant celebrations followed the match winning strike by Toseland. Inspired by the England World Cup winning team of 1966, all the riders invaded the pitch and proceeded to carry the Silverstone World Cup winner, and 2004 World Superbike Champion around on their shoulders celebrations that were reminiscent of the legendary Bobby Moore being lifted above the heads of his England team mates at Wembley. Speaking after his Silverstone World Cup victory Toseland commented, “Let’s just hope this isn’t the only trophy I’ll be lifting at Silverstone this weekend. I just hope I can carry this winning streak into the two Superbike races on Sunday.”

The most recent Monza race, now consigned to history, saw Sebastien Charpentier score the third step of the podium after a great comeback, and Kenan Sofuoglu take fifth place for the Winston Ten Kate Honda Team. All involved now land in England for the fifth round of the Supersport World Championship, at Silverstone. For the second year the race will be held on the “short” circuit, to increase the show for the fans, and the 2005 edition gave a victory to the soon-to-be World Champion, Sebastien Charpentier. The French rider is ready to repeat that dose of medicine, on a circuit which provides huge scope for his technical abilities. Also Kenan Sofuoglu is looking for another convincing race after Monza. The Turkish rider is putting a recent difficult period behind him and is ready to use this latest opportunity to step back onto the podium. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “We are in good shape in general, with the machinery and the riders, and at Silverstone we want to count on repeating at least what we achieved last year. It’s a pity that we are still racing on the “short” circuit but we will try to bring home important results, no matter what. For this race weekend we have work to do with the suspension, and we will try some new materials, to see if we can improve our set-up of the bike.” Sebastien Charpentier Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider “In Monza I didn’t win but my comeback after the “stop & go” penalty was quite nice. Not only for the many overtakes I made, but also because it was a confirmation of the potential of our bike, which is exceptional. But now I want to feel victory again and in Silverstone I will do my best to repeat what happened last year. I am hoping also to have Kenan beside me on the podium.” Kenan Sofuoglu Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider “I was home for one week in Turkey and I worked really hard with my personal trainer. In the last few laps of Monza Race I had a sort of crisis due to tiredness and I couldn’t see so well. I think I have done a great series of workouts recently and I feel ready for the race in England. Silverstone isn’t one of my favourite circuits but the atmosphere of the fans in the stand is incredible, and this helps me to give the maximum every time.”

The Ducati Marlboro Team travels to Mugello for its home Grand Prix full of confidence. Indeed the Bologna-based squad has never been in such a position of strength going into the Italian GP, with Loris Capirossi second equal on points after five races. Meanwhile Ducati currently holds second place in the constructors’ World Championship and the team itself lies third in the team’s contest. At the first five races of 2006 Ducati Marlboro Team riders Capirossi and Sete Gibernau scored a total of four front-row starts, one race victory and four top-four finishes. Such performances are a testimony to the great work done by the riders, the team, Ducati Corse and Bridgestone tyres. Both Capirossi and Gibernau go well at Mugello, one of the most challenging tracks in MotoGP, where they can count on massive support from Italian fans and in particular from the 3000 Ducatisti packed into the special Ducati grandstand, which is organized every year at the Correntaio curve. Capirossi and his Desmosedici have scored podium finishes in two of their last three visits to Mugello, while Gibernau was just a fraction of a second away from winning the 2004 Italian GP and qualified second fastest for last year’s race. The 2006 Italian GP is full of significance for Ducati because it marks the launch of the Desmosedici road bike, the first production machine to come out of the factory’s MotoGP project, which will be presented on Thursday 1 June at 11.30. This year is also the 80th anniversary of the foundation of Ducati, the 60th anniversary of the start of Ducati motorcycle production and the 50th anniversary of the ‘invention’ of the desmodromic distribution system. LORIS CAPIROSSI, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 3rd overall, 79 points “For me, Mugello is so good, such a great event. Every year we go there it’s a special moment for the Italian riders. In fact, pretty much since 2000 – when I won after a big battle with Valentino (Rossi) and (Max) Biaggi – the race has been an Italian affair. And Mugello is extra special for me because the Ducati factory is only 60km down the road, which is great for all the staff who come to watch us race. It is an excellent track, very unusual, with an interesting mix of corners – fast, slow, up and down – so you have a little bit of everything. I always enjoy it a lot. “Getting second at the last race in France was fantastic, it was very good for me and for our championship hopes. I have to say thanks again to Ducati and to Bridgestone, everyone is working so hard for this project. Bridgestone brought new tyres to Le Mans which helped me get another podium.” SETE GIBERNAU, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 9th overall, 33 points “I am looking forward to Mugello because we definitely took a step forward on bike set-up at the last race. We worked some more on settings and improved things, so I felt much more comfortable. “Mugello is a challenging track for me but I’ve done well there a few times. And this year it will be a special race for me because it’s Italy and I am now riding an Italian bike. I’ve always had some great fans in Italy and I guess I’ll be getting some more support this year, now I’m riding with Ducati. The track is one of the most technical in MotoGP, so your bike has to work real good if you want a good result. One of its most crucial points is the last corner, because if you get a good drive out of there you can use that extra speed to overtake other riders down the long straightaway. The other big challenge is the downhill corner entries that have a little grip.” LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP project manager “Mugello is always a special event for Ducati – it’s our home race, plus Loris is Italian and maybe we can say that Sete is now half Italian! So, yes, it is an important event for us but at the end of the day it’s another race, just like the other 16. The main thing is that we go to Mugello in confident mood. We have scored some good results there over the past few years and we are in excellent shape at the moment, with both our riders able to race up front when everything goes according to plan.” THE CIRCUIT Mugello is one of the greatest events of the MotoGP season – a challenging, high-speed circuit situated in a beautiful Tuscan valley packed with thousands of enthusiastic fans. The track features one of the world’s longest straights, where the fastest bikes exceed 340kmh/211mph, giving the Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 a chance to really stretch its legs. The fast and flowing circuit is also one of the most demanding, with a thrilling blend of high-speed turns, rapid direction changes and plentiful off-camber corners. Mugello’s complexities are further heightened by a bumpy surface, which, combined with numerous adverse-camber corners, makes front-tyre choice particularly crucial. Mugello hosted its first bike GP in 1976 but only became a regular venue after total refurbishment in the early 1990s. Lap record: Max Biaggi (Honda), 1m 50.117s (171.472km/h/106.548mph) Pole position 2005: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 1m 49.223s DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS LORIS CAPIROSSI Age: 33 (born April 4, 1973) Lives: Monaco Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 GP starts: 236 (65xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125) GP victories: 26 (4xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125) First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125) First GP: Japan, 1990 (125) Pole positions: 40 (7xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125) First pole: Australia, 1991 (125) World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998) Mugello 2005 results: Grid: 6th. Race: 3rd SETE GIBERNAU Age: 33 (born December 15, 1972) Lives: Switzerland Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 GP starts: 165 (70xMotoGP, 76×500, 19×250) GP victories: 9 (8xMotoGP, 1×500) First GP victory: Valencia, 2001 (500) First GP: Spain, 1993 (250) Pole positions: 12 (11xMotoGP, 1×500) First pole: South Africa, 2000 (500) Mugello 2005 results: Grid: 2nd. Race: DNF

The fifth Superbike World Championship round of the 2006 season takes place this weekend at Silverstone, in the Northamptonshire area of England. The race will, for the second year in a row, be held on the “short” track, 3,619 meters long, with eight rights turns and seven lefts. James Toseland has only positive recollections of this track layout: first of all because it’s his home circuit, and second because last year the 25-year-old from Sheffield took his best results of the season; third in Race 1 and a hugely popular victory in Race 2. On a Honda expertly prepared by the Winston Ten Kate Team, Toseland is ready to replicate his podium prowess, prepared to turnaround the misfortune which has dogged him in the last two rounds, and to gain important points in order to stay close to first position in the Championship. Karl Muggeridge is also ready for an extraordinary race at Silverstone. The Australian has recovered from his recent back injury and has trained hard in order to improve on his 2005 season brace of tenth places. Silverstone is also a circuit which suits Karl natural style of riding, buoying him up for the fight ahead. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “Monza, and especially Valencia, didn’t give the results we expected after the sensational beginning to the season. We are now happy to race on a track where James will definitely find extra motivation because of his home crowd and also Karl, who has trained a lot, will do everything possible to be fully competitive. Our objective is to score podium finishes and we are convinced that with the technical package at our disposal our riders can reach these goals.” James Toseland Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider “We’ve arrived here after two complicated races and Silverstone comes at the right moment. To race on my home circuit, in front of my fans, is an extra motivating force and most of all this is one of those track where I can do really well. Last year I finished third and then first and I’m more than convinced that with the Honda I can take a step onto the podium in both races. Of course Corser and Bayliss will not give up easily but I am ready and I want another victory.” Karl Muggeridge Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider “Monza was important for me because it confirmed that I almost back to my top form. At the end of Race 2 I was really tired but after two weeks of hard training I feel much better. I like the Silverstone track, even if I didn’t achieve great results: last year I finished both races in tenth position, this year I want to do much better.”

RRSW Looks for Cooler Weather in Sin City RRSW/CCS will be racing on the Las Vegas Classic Course this Memorial Day Weekend with a racer-only practice day scheduled for Friday, May 26. The event will be a Twin Sprint Race weekend with the usual suspects expected to show up. Kawasaki and Yamaha haved joined Ducati and Buell, which post contingency for all RRSW dates, this weekend! The racing should be hot as racers assemble from all over the southwest to vie for their share of manufacturer and regional sponsor’s money. The weather outlook is for temperatures in the 80s with fair skies and the zany folks from SRA Sidecars will be racing, too! There is still room to get you on the grid so parade yourself to Vegas for Memorial Day! For more information on contingency, rules, forms, and sponsors- go to the best racing organization website in the business, www.roadracesw.com See you at the races!

Reigning World Superbike Champion Troy Corser is aiming to put his Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra GSX-R1000 on the top of podium at this weekend’s fifth round of the series at Silverstone in Britain. Corser, who collected a pair of second places at last year’s event, hopes to go one better at the former RAF airstrip in Northamptonshire to put pressure on fellow countryman and current series leader Troy Bayliss. Corser’s team mate Yukio Kagayama won a brilliant Superpole last year, but a crash in the first race put him out of contention – though he did remount and finished 11th. In the second race, he fared little better – finishing seventh. Team Alstare Engineering Corona Extra rider Fabien Foret didn’t race in the Superbike class last season, but is looking forward to riding his GSX-R1000 this year and will be searching for a pair of solid top ten places. Troy Corser: “I almost won a race at Silverstone last time and it would be good to get a win or two under my belt this year and put pressure on Bayliss. Depending on which circuit layout they use, Silverstone could be a good track for our bike so I am hoping that they chose a good one! It has been a tough season so far – but we all knew it was going to be like that. The racing has been very good for the fans I’m sure, but it’s about time we – or somebody – else got the better of the Ducati. We have been losing out to them, exiting the turns, so we have to find a way round that problem if we are to beat them. We’ll try a few ideas in practice and see if we can solve our problem.” Yukio Kagayama: “I do not have good memories of Silverstone last year – except my Superpole victory. This year has not been so good and I have had too many crashes so far. I have been trying very hard – my usual style – and maybe I have been trying too hard. It is difficult for me to change my style but I have to do something to get back on the podium because I miss it!” Fabien Foret: “Last year I was on a Supersport bike so I will have to start learning the Silverstone track all over again. My understanding of my new bike will carry on at Silverstone and I will be going all-out for a good qualifying position in Superpole and then a couple of good top-10 finishes. I know I improve every time I go out on the bike. My only hope is that the weather is good because I do not like racing so much in the wet. Silverstone has seen mixed weather in the past few years, but I hope we have three good, dry days so that I can learn a lot in the maximum amount of time.” 2004 results: Troy Corser – Race 1: 2nd, Race 2: 2nd. Yukio Kagayama – Race 1: 11th, race 2: 7th. Fabien Foret DNS.

Britain’s Silverstone circuit is the venue for this weekend’s fifth round of the 2006 Superbike World Championship. So far the season has been a case of so near but so far for the Yamaha Motor Italia squad. In the eight races run so far this year, Noriyuki Haga has twice finished on the third step of the podium and never finished lower than fifth place. One DNF (crashing on the final lap while contesting the lead at the first race in Qatar) puts Haga fifth in the championship, although the Japanese star knows he now needs to start winning races if he is to stop the so far dominant Troy Bayliss (Ducati) from running away with the championship. Silverstone has proved a successful track for Haga in the past. He took a first and second position there in 2004 and gave the still-developing Yamaha YZF-R1 its first ever world superbike podium finish at last year’s race. With the R1 now developed into a consistent front runner, the Yamaha Motor Italia squad sees Silverstone as a great opportunity to make their presence felt in the championship. “I have done well at Silverstone in the past so I am looking forward to racing there again this weekend,” says Haga. “The last round at Monza was not so bad. I don’t normally get on the podium there so to finish third in race two was a good result for me and the team. Silverstone is a track that we know suits me and the R1. We got our first podium there last year and we should be able to fight with the fastest riders again this year.” Team-mate Andrew Pitt lies one place behind Haga in the championship standings. The Australian has also been very consistent this season and is looking to forget a nightmare outing at the British track last year. Pitt struggled to come to terms with the shorter International layout used for the first time last year and picked up a nasty leg injury during practice. Despite this, Pitt insists a top three finish is not out of the question this year, commenting: “I was a little disappointed not to be on the podium at Monza, because the improvements we’ve made to the bike means that this is a realistic target for us at every circuit. Silverstone wasn’t the happiest of races for me last year and I’m not a big fan of the shorter circuit we use now. But at the end of the day it’s just another race and you go there with the same target as always, which means getting on the podium.” Yamaha Motor France rider Norick Abe arrives in Silverstone in the championship’s top ten, despite failing to score in Monza. The Japanese star had a tough weekend in Italy, missing Saturday’s practice session and bravely riding but failing to score in the races. Rapidly improving team-mate Shinichi Nakatomi had his best result in Monza with a tenth in race one and will be looking to continue his superbike education at the short and technical British circuit. In the Supersport World Championship Yamaha Motor Germany’s Kevin Curtain will look to get his season back on track after the heartache of retiring through mechanical problems in Monza. The Australian remains second overall in the championship, 31 points behind defending world champion Sebastien Charpentier (Honda).

Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s Craig Jones is aiming to make the most of home advantage at this weekend’s fifth round of the Superbike World Championship at Silverstone. The rookie star is familiar with the shorter international circuit, having raced there on numerous occasions in the British Supersport championship and in the World Supersport championship last year. And his familiarity of the Northamptonshire track will provide a welcome break from having to learn new circuits during his first year in World Superbikes. Craig said: “I think it will make a big difference for me that I know the circuit so well. The other riders will also know it, but at least at Silverstone I will be on a level playing field going into the weekend. I should be on my pace straight away and I have gone well there in the past. I was on the front row of the grid for last year’s World Supersport race and held the lap record in 2004, so I am looking forward to building on the progress we made with set-up at Valencia and giving the home support something to cheer.” Following a dreadful weekend at Monza in the previous round, the team has been focused on improving the reliability of the engine over the intervening weeks. Craig’s team-mate, Australian Steve Martin said: “Those reliability problems were specific to Monza and we are confident of having a trouble-free weekend and two good races here. I didn’t perform as well as I could have done last year so I am looking forward to the chance of redeeming myself at Silverstone. At the start of last season I was having a lot of problems with chatter, which were really exposed at this circuit. We have solved those problems now so I am confident of knocking a couple of seconds off last year’s times and lifting everyone’s spirits after Monza.”