GIOVANNI BUSSEI WITH THE WINSTON TEN KATE HONDA TEAM TO REPLACE KARL MUGGERIDGE WHO IS STILL RECOVERING FROM INJURY Karl Muggeridge, rider of the Winston Ten Kate Honda Team, really wanted to participate to the 3rd Superbike World Championship round of the 2006 season, but doctors have been really prudent from the first exams. The Mobile Clinic’s doctors declared from the beginning, and after further medical controls in Switzerland and Australia the result was the same. Karl will not be able to compete on the Ricardo Tormo circuit in the next weekend of race in Valencia. A pity for the Aussie rider who was looking for revenge after not such a lucky start of the season. The Winston Ten Kate Honda Team decided that his position on the second Honda CBR1000 will be taken by experienced Italian rider Giovanni Bussei. Ronald Ten Kate Winston Ten Kate Honda Team Manager “I am really sorry Karl will not be able to ride with us in Valencia. He seemed to get better and better day by day, but at the end I think he took, together with the doctors the right decision. It’s not worth it to ruin a season and put in danger his future for a single race. I am confident he will be back in Monza. Giovanni Bussei will be riding with us in Valencia next weekend. Giovanni demonstrated to be a good rider in the past with previous experience with Pirelli Tyres which is a key point. He really deserves a chance with our Team also for what he has done in Imola in 2004. In that race, during the warm up lap, he transformed into a “taxi rider” and brought our rider Chris Vermeulen back to the box after a fall, allowing him to participate in a crucial race in which Chris was fighting for the Title. This showed the sportsmanship Giovanni has. We could consider it a payback from our side. It wasn’t easy to find a rider in this moment of the season, but we are very pleased to work with Giovanni.” Giovanni Bussei Winston Ten Kate Honda rider “I couldn’t believe it when I received the phone call yesterday afternoon. I was really happy. The chance to ride the Honda CBR 1000, which finished second in last year championship, is a fantastic opportunity for me. After my injury at Mangy Cours last year, I wasn’t planning to find any teams for the 2006 season, I had some offers but I preferred to recover and be back at the best physical conditions. Nothing is for sure yet, but I may possibly participate to Supermotard World Championship to keep in shape. But what is happening now is just incredible. The last rumours were saying that Karl was going to recover, and then my phone rang. It was Ronald Ten Kate. Now I really hope to payback the trust they gave me by bringing as many points as possible to the Winston Ten Kate Honda Team. Of course I am sorry for Karl, I know how he is feeling at the moment. I honestly hope he will get well soon.” Karl Muggeridge Winston Ten Kate Honda rider “The doctors convinced me: it’s not worth it to risk a season, and not only, for a race. The injury is in a delicate position, and even if I don’t feel any pain, a hard fall could make it much worse. From a couple of weeks I am not taking anymore painkillers, therefore I was really positive about being able to compete in Valencia, but this morning exams weren’t as good as I thought. I will have to put through treatments and exercising to race in Monza in the first weekend of May. This is why I don’t think I’ll be able to follow the race from the track, but I will probably remain in Zurich with my family. I wish all the best to Giovanni. I hope he can do really well for the Team and for himself.”

Superbike & Supersport World Championships, Superstock FIM Cup Valencia-SPA, 23/04/2006: Wild-card riders The wild-card riders who will race in the Superbike and Supersport World Championship and Superstock FIM Cup rounds scheduled on the circuit of Valencia on April 23 next, are the following : Start no. Rider Nationality Bike Team Superbike 27, Anthony Gobert (AUS-Suzuki GSX-R1000) Coronas Suzuki Motorrad 32, Javier Del Amor (SPA-Honda CBR1000RR) Honda BQR 33, José David De Gea (SPA-Honda CBR1000RR) Honda BQR 34, Josep Monge (SPA-Yamaha YZF-R1) Promoracing 35, Sergio Fuertes (SPA-Suzuki GSX-R1000) Coronas Suzuki Motorrad 66, Norino Brignola (ITA-Ducati 999RS) Team Guandalini Supersport 33, Victor Carrasco (SPA-Honda CBR600RR) Honda BQR 35, Jordi Torres (SPA-Yamaha YZF-R6) Speed Moto Superstock 36, Ivan Silva (SPA-Kawasaki ZX-10R) Luis d’Antin 37, Francesco Javier Oliver (SPA-Yamaha YZF-R1) Alapont Competicion

World Endurance Video Highlights Available on Your Computer This Friday (14th April) will see the launch of the MotorTV.it coverage of the World Endurance Championship. 2005 Review, Assen 500 Preview The first downloads will be a 26 minute review of the 2005 World Endurance season and a brief preview of the 2006 Assen 500 race. Both of these programmes will be available when the service launches on the 14th of April. Assen 500 Highlights A week later the 26 minute Assen 500 highlights programme will be available, along with a number of shorter fly-on-the-wall features covering testing, pit work and life behind the scenes of the World Endurance Championship. Le Mans 24 Hour Highlights The highlights show featuring the Le Mans 24 Hour race will be online the following week, and for the rest of the season race highlights will be online on the Friday following each race. And there’s more”¦ Between races other programmes will look at various aspects of the World Endurance Championship, building up over the season into an impressive and unique database of video content. www.MotorTV.it Don’t forget to bookmark www.MotorTV.it in your web browser, and make sure to visit the site this Friday, the 14th of April, when the first videos will be available.

Official Test at Misano 12th and 13th April Just one week before the first European round of World’s Superbike Championship at Valencia the second official test is scheduled for the riders. The test will be held at Misano/Adriatico on Wednesday 12th and Thursday13th April. All riders take part. Only Team Winston ten Kate Honda is missing. Alex Barros raced at Misano several years ago. But the track was modified meanwhile and therefore the course now is new for him. There are two main tasks Alex will focus on at Misano. Alex will do as many kilometres as possible to become acquainted with the course. The aerodynamics of his Klaffi Honda Fireblade has been improved. Now Alex has to check this new aerodynamic package on the track. Alex and the team will spend two busy days at Misano. Immediately after the test at Misano the team moves to Spain. The first European race takes place 21st to 23rd April at Valencia.

Round 2 – Bennetts British Superbike Championship Meeting Donington Park, Leics. Friday 7h to Sunday 9th April 2006 MORE POINTS FOR THE BRIDEWELLS DESPITE DONINGTON DELUGE In between a number of downpours worthy of the tropics, round two of the 2006 British Championship season was fought out in unseasonably cold temperatures at a wet and windy Donington Park yesterday but despite the merciless conditions, Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wiltshire brothers Tommy and Ollie Bridewell both added to their points tallies in their respective championships. Racing in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship for only the second time, 20 year old Ollie followed up a superb performance at Brands with even more points in race two at Donington after just missing out in the opening leg. After taking avoiding action to avoid a fallen rider at the very first corner, Ollie battled his way through the field form dead last and was as high as 17th when the red flag came out following another incident. The former runner up in the Virgin Mobile Cup made amends for it in race two however, with a brilliant ride into eighth place in monsoon conditions, overshadowed only by Vivaldi Racing team mate Scott Smart, who took an historic victory. As a result, Ollie lays in joint 16th place in the series, alongside works Rizla Suzuki rider James Haydon. “I’ve never been so wet and cold in my life but I’m very pleased to have claimed 8th in race two. I was dead last, half a lap behind the field, after nearly crashing to avoid Tommy Hill in the opening race and had it gone the distance, I’m confident I could have salvaged some points. But well done to Scott and the team on a fantastic result, it has made me even more determined to get on that rostrum this season” said Ollie. Meanwhile younger brother Tommy had to endure perhaps the worst conditions of the afternoon in the British Supersport Championship which was first delayed and then stopped after oil was deposited onto the wet track. In the restart, the 17 year-old battled against the opposition for six laps to bring his Vivaldi Suzuki home in a fine 13th place to add three valuable points to the a single point he scored at Brands Hatch two weeks previous and now lies in joint 17th in the thirteen race series. “I’ve never been particularly good in the wet so to finish in the points is a really good achievement for me. The conditions out there were horrible and my bike wasn’t handling at all well so you can imagine my relief when I saw the chequered flag. It’s all about learning for me this year but I hope I don’t have to race in conditions like those again for a long time. Still, two points-scoring rides in the opening two rounds is what we wanted and roll on Thruxton this weekend” said Tommy. Indeed the next round of the respective championships takes place this forthcoming weekend on Easter Monday (April 17th) at the Wayside Racing Team’s local track of Thruxton in Hampshire whereby both riders will be looking to add to their scores, hopefully in drier and warmer conditions. More, from a press release issued by Cartersport Motorsport Media, on behalf of Stobart Motorsport: Bennetts British Superbike Championship – Round 2 Donington Park, Leics 8th/9th April LAVERTY FOURTH AT RAIN LASHED DONINGTON Stobart Motorsport rider Michael Laverty overcame some of the worst conditions seen in recent years by recording a fourth and seventh place finish in round two of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at a wet and windy Donington Park today. The 24 year old from Toomebridge, Co Antrim followed up a superb fourth place in the opening leg, held in the dry conditions, with a battling seventh in the deluge which was race two to end up sixth in the Championship going into next weekend’s third round at Thruxton. It wasn’t quite such good news for team mate Michael Rutter who followed up a seventh place in race one with a battling performance in race two which saw him dicing for the lead only to slide out at Redgate Corner towards the end, much to his frustration. As a result Rutter lies in ninth position in the Championship after two rounds. Michael Rutter: “I’m disappointed as it has been a frustrating weekend. In the first race I was lacking a bit and couldn’t stop the bike, it just kept wanting to run into corners really fast and in the second race I was struggling with rear end grip like everyone was. It just came round on me and highsided me and threw me down the road. We were up there with them and I wanted to finish on the podium but it wasn’t meant to be.” Michael Laverty: “I was happy enough with the first race. After the pace car came out I lost a bit of time because it took some time for my tyres to get warm again. I got faster as the race went on and I think I could have challenged Leon Haslam for the podium as I know I can run in the top three. In the last race I just kept it as steady as possible and tried to bring it home so I was happy enough with seventh place. Everything is looking positive for the next few races and we’re getting stronger and stronger.” Team owner Paul Bird was frustrated by the weather and commented “We’ve had a difficult day but this is what happens sometimes. It was good to see Michael (Rutter) up there and challenging for race wins and that’s where we need to be but he was just caught out with the bad conditions. Michael (Laverty) is going from strength to strength and is now a serious contender for a race win. We now need to make all our results count from here on in.” The next round of the Championship takes place at Thruxton next weekend. Superbike Race One Result: 1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 20m53.166s, 2, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.134s, 3, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +5.246s, 4, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +9.361s, 5, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) +9.591s, 6, Karl Harris (Honda) +10.540s, 7, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) +11.533s, 8, Jonathan Rea (Honda) +20.235s, 9, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +22.451s, 10, Scott Smart (Suzuki) +23.216s. Superbike Race Two Result: 1, Scott Smart (Suzuki) 27m37.071s, 2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.576s, 3, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +2.297s, 4, Gary Mason (Honda) +5.943s, 5, Jonathan Rea (Honda) +30.768s, 6, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +33.586s, 7, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +36.829s, 8, Ollie Bridewell (Suzuki) +59.273s, 9, Chris Martin (Honda) +59.297s, 10, Malcolm Ashley (Kawasaki) +1:04.142s. Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings (after round 2) 1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 82pts 2, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 58pts 3, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 56pts 4, Karl Harris (Honda) 41pts 5, Scott Smart (Suzuki) 33pts 6, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) 31pts 7, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 30pts 8, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) 26pts 9, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) 25pts 10, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) 23pts 10, Gary Mason (Honda) 23pts 2006 Bennetts British Superbike Race Dates R1: 2426 March, Brands Hatch, Kent (Indy) www.motorsportvision.co.uk R2: 79 April, Donington Park, Leics www.donington-park.co.uk R3: 1417 April, Thruxton, Hants www.barc.net R4: 29 April1 May, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk R5: 1921 May, Mondello Park, Co Kildare www.mondellopark.ie R6: 24 June, Mallory Park, Leics www.mallorypark.co.uk R7: 16-18 June, Snetterton, Norfolk www.motorsportvision.co.uk R8: 1416 July, Knockhill, Fife www.knockhill.co.uk R9: 21-23 July, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk R10:11-13 August, Croft, N Yorks www.croftcircuit.co.uk R11: 26-28 August, Cadwell Park, Lincs www.motorsportvision.co.uk R12: 15-17 September, Silverstone, Northants www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk R13: 29 September 1 October, Brands Hatch, Kent (GP) www.motorsportvision.co.uk More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki: Character Building weekend for Hawk Kawasaki Round 2 Donington Park – 9th April The Hawk Kawasaki riders Dean Thomas (33), Craig Coxhell (23) and Peter Hickman (19) experienced a difficult weekend at the second round of the British Superbike Championship at Donington Park on Sunday (9th April). With varying weather conditions throughout the weekend, race day was no better with wintry showers hitting the Leicestershire circuit. Conditions were worse than they have ever been at a British Superbike meeting for the last five years and this effected the Hawk riders dramatically. Australian Coxhell qualified 10th, the best of the three riders with Thomas in 15th and Hickman 19th on the grid. A huge crash into the first corner in the first race saw the safety car despatched onto the circuit for three laps to enable the marshals to clear the debris. All the Hawk riders managed to avoid getting tangled up in the melee. Race one finished with Thomas in ninth, Coxhell in 11th and a DNF for Hickman. Sheffield based Thomas gradually worked his way through the field from his 15th place start and manoeuvred his way through to tenth. He became locked in a battle with Rizla Suzuki’s James Haydon and Vivaldi rider Scott Smart. As Thomas and Haydon were side by side on the exit to Coppice Corner and with the rain just beginning to fall, the Rizla rider crashed out missing Hawk rider Thomas by inches. Coxhell was running at a steady pace throughout the race still learning the Hawk Kawasaki and adjusting his riding style. Peter Hickman who celebrated his 19th Birthday on Saturday was running in a strong 14th position and lost the front end into Coppice, which saw an end to his chance of his first Superbike points. The race was red flagged on lap 13 due to the increasingly bad weather conditions, with it rapidly getting worse as the day progressed. The second race was almost a wash out with 13 of the 29 riders crashing or retiring including Thomas and Coxhell. Hickman was the sole finisher for Hawk who finished just outside the points in 16th position, a very creditable position under the circumstances. It was later revealed that Craig Coxhell has a broken collarbone and will be fighting to get fit for the third round next weekend at Thruxton. A disheartened Thomas said “I had to pull in from the second race as I had no rear grip what-so-ever. I’d already seen Craig crash and didn’t fancy joining him. We had a 15-minute wet session before the second race and I suffered a pretty hefty crash in that, which has certainly left me feeling a little worse for wear. I was happy to have finished 9th in the first race but we have to sort some issues out with the bike before Thruxton.” Coxhell, who was certainly suffering in pain, was still upbeat saying “I was gutted to have crashed as I was up to 5th and had the front runners in my sight. I set two fastest laps, one after the other and I know that if I had stayed on then there was a good chance I would have been on the podium. I guess I was a little eager and the bike just came round on me and flung me over the bars. I landed heavily and had it confirmed that I have broken my collarbone. I’m gutted as we have a back-to-back weekend and I might have to miss the next round if it’s not healed.” Rookie to the series Hickman said, “This certainly is the worst weather conditions that I have ever ridden in. The first race was a bit of a nightmare and I had a small off, I was determined that I just wanted to finish the second race in one piece. The conditions certainly didn’t make that job very easy but I got there. I’m still enjoying it but it’s very difficult, I was gutted not to have scored any points but hopefully it won’t be too long coming now.” Race One Result: 1) Gregorio Lavilla 13 laps, 2) Ryuichi Kiyonari +0.134, 3) Leon Haslam +5.246, 4) Michael Laverty +9.361, 5) Shane Byrne +9.591, 6) Karl Harris +10.540, 7) Michael Rutter +11.533, 8) Jonathan Rea +20.235, 9) Dean Thomas +22.451 (Hawk Kawasaki), 10) Scott Smart +23.216, 11) Craig Coxhell +23.881 (Hawk Kawasaki) Race Two Result: 1) Scott Smart 15 laps, 2) Leon Haslam +0.576, 3) Gregorio Lavilla +2.297, 4) Gary Mason +5.943, 5) Jonathan Rea +30.786, 6) Tommy Hill +33.586, 7) Michael Laverty +36.829, 8) Ollie Bridewell +59.273, 9) Chris Martin +59.297, 10) Malcolm Ashley +1:04.142, 16) Peter Hickman + 1:33.684 Overall Championship Positions Lavilla 82 Kiyonari 58 Haslam 56 Harris 41 Smart 33 Laverty 31 Rea 30 Byrne 26 Rutter 25 Thomas 23 Mason 23 Hill 20 Coxhell 18 The next round of the British Superbike Championship is Easter Weekend, 14th, 16th and 17th April (No Track Activity on Saturday) at Thruxton Race Circuit. For more details go to www.hawkkawasaki.co.uk More, from a press release issued by Paul Young: Youngy survives Donington deluge for 16th place PAUL YOUNG played it safe on his Triumph Daytona 675 and came home in 16th place at the second round of the Metabo British Supersport Championship while conditions played havoc with other riders and the event race schedule. He said: “It was more important for me to stay upright as we only have one bike and only three days between Donington and Thruxton. To be honest I felt it was a sad and sodden event. In fact I’ve never been to an event that was more abandonable! I would be interested to see what would cause a postponement now that the organisers have ITV coverage. Nuclear assault or terrorist activity only I reckon!” The Hinckley based Aussie added: “I know it’s the same for everyone, but half the field in every race ended up in the kitty litter, it was a lottery and one I wasn’t prepared to buy a ticket for, so I went steady. I wanted to load the bike up in the van in one piece at the end of the weekend. I would have loved to score some championship points, and I usually go well in the rain, but pushing harder could have meant three days of repairs instead of three days working on improvements! At the moment developing the bike is the important thing.” With many of his rivals looking at bent and battered bikes on Monday morning, Youngy has spent his time on the dyno finding more power from the 675 triple for this weekend’s race. “I’ve found something useful on the dyno which means I’ll have more horsepower for the race at Thruxton,” explained Youngy. “The bike was feeling better at Donington and we’re getting more power out of it. Thruxton and Oulton Park are my two favourite circuits so I want to go there with the best bike I can and get some good results” British Supersport round 2 results. Donington Park, April 26th 1 – Cal Crutchlow – Honda -Northpoint Ekerold Honda – 11:20.935 2 – Pere Riba – Kawasaki-MSS Discovery Racing – 11:27.923 3 – Eugene Laverty – Honda – Red Bull Honda – 11:34.740 4 – Dennis Hobbs – Honda – Padgetts Racing – 11:34.855 5 – Tom Sykes – Suzuki – TAS Suzuki – 11:35.069 6 – Rob Frost – Kawasaki – Team Buff Kawasaki – 11:37.297 7 – Jamie Robinson – Honda – – 11:45.087 8 – Pete Spalding (Cup) – Honda – Centurion Racing – 11:45.349 9 – James Hillier – Kawasaki – Gearlink Racing – 11:46.882 10 – Stuart Easton – Ducati – Lloyds British Ducati – 11:49.083 16 – Paul Young – Triumph – Paul Young Racing – 12:11.262