The racing heats up for Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is in the desert for this weekend’s race as the MotoGP spectacle heads to the heat of Qatar. John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen will need to draw on their reserves of stamina and fitness in the hot surroundings of the Losail International Circuit as the high temperatures will take their toll on riders and bikes alike. The race has been moved from its usual October date to earlier in the year to take advantage of the cooler conditions, but with forecasts of 30 degrees or more it looks like being anything but cool. The Losail circuit is situated in the rocky and flat desert terrain just outside Doha, the capital city of Qatar. The 5.380km circuit has a very interesting and demanding nature, but unlike most other tracks it has no chicanes and this has led to smooth and fast racing in recent years. The position of the circuit means that the surface can become very dusty and slippery as desert winds blow sand onto the track, this will make the choice of the correct tyres crucial. Suzuki and Bridgestone will be hoping that the added data from a test earlier in the year will prove vital as practice begins on Thursday morning. The Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar is one of only two Saturday races on the MotoGP calendar. Due to this Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will be taking to the track on Thursday for the first two practice sessions. A further free practice hour will be held on Friday morning with the qualifying session in the afternoon. Saturday’s 22 lap race will get underway at 15.00hrs local time (14.00hrs CET). Paul Denning Team Manager: “Qatar is a strange race all by itself on the MotoGP calendar – last year there were more bikes on the track than there were in the car park! We tested here earlier in the year and we will be hoping that the extra data we collected from that test will stand us in good stead for the race. Both the riders are full of confidence and determined to put on a good show at Qatar. John firmly believes that he should have had a better result at Jerez and is looking to move his season forward. Chris is really looking forward to the event as this is a track that he has raced on before and knows well from his WSB days, and he learnt a great deal in Jerez especially at the test on Monday. “We know we still have a lot of work to do and will be hoping that the performance of the GSV-R keeps improving, and that Bridgestone can continue their good form and bring us as good a tyre as we used at the Jerez test to cope with demanding conditions here in Qatar.”

PEDROSA LOOKS TO SHINE IN DESERT SHOWDOWN Just less than two weeks after Dani Pedrosa’s amazing debut in MotoGP, the 20-year-old Spanish sensation will seek to build a title challenge with another solid result here after his second-place finish at Jerez. But Losail is a tough racing environment where temperatures can test the fittest riders. This middle-eastern showdown appears early in the race calendar this season and any rider wishing to push for honours in 2006 cannot afford to fail to get to grips with this benign yet challenging circuit. Benign because there is no shortage of run-off in the turns. Challenging because of the heat. The Losail International circuit lies ten kilometres from Qatar’s capital of Doha. The 5.4km track is now a known quantity for most riders across the classes, but not for all. Built in 2004, it features more turns than any other track on the calendar, six lefts and ten right-handers in all. Nor is there a chicane of any description. This puts a high premium on machine agility and it also brings tyre wear issues into sharp focus. But the artificial grass placed along the track to allay riders’ fears of sand being blown onto the surface is only partially successful. Sand tends to collect on anywhere other than the racing line, making overtaking tricky. The same trouble is likely this year. The heat will be relentless with track temperatures of up to 45 degrees expected. Ambient temperatures will be equally elevated and any rider not at absolute peak fitness will suffer in these oppressive conditions. Set-up will be directed at making the machines manageable with a minimum of physical input from the pilots. There is also the matter of a 1068m straight, 20m longer even than that of Catalunya. This puts power and top speed among the primary requirements and also braking at the end of a 320km/h blast flat out in top gear. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC211V), who sits just five points behind current MotoGP series leader Loris Capirossi (Ducati) said, “It will be tough. This season we’re going to Qatar much earlier in the year and we’ll see how it is because last year was very, very hot. It will be more difficult for me because I have to learn the track with this machine and find the set-up in a much shorter time than in Jerez where we had a three-day test two weeks before the race.” His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) who finished third here in 2005 said, “I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen here. With pre-season testing followed by the first race, we were at Jerez for quite a while, so I’m really looking forward to getting out on a new track. Hopefully we’ve got a good package for the circuit. I quite like the layout here it’s got some fun stuff. There are a couple of banked corners that are fun and some long, long right-handers which are pretty cool.” Italian star Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda RC211V) is up for the race, having finished a strong second to Rossi in 2005. He said, “I am really confident about this next Grand Prix. The day of testing after the race in Jerez was important to understand the direction we need to go in. I am focused and motivated and this track is complete and challenging. I’ve got good memories of Losail the race last year was a real turning point in my season.” His team-mate Toni Elias (Fortuna Honda RC211V) is equally keen to put in a big ride here after his excellent fourth in Spain two weeks ago. “I’m very motivated,” he said. “The Spanish Grand Prix gave me a real injection of confidence not just because fourth place was my best result so far in MotoGP but also because I have overcome a mental limitation. Now I know I am in the right shape to battle with the front guys. Qatar track conditions don’t allow for errors and we’ll only have four hours available to find the best set-up.” Casey Stoner (LCR Honda RC211V), who won here on a 250 in 2005, is eager to carry on the rapid progress he has already made in getting to grips with a MotoGP machine. “This will be just my second race on the Honda,” he said. “But after the Jerez weekend I’m keen to get back on the bike after missing some of the winter testing. The test day at Jerez after the Spanish GP was very positive and that should give us a good base set-up to work from at Qatar.” Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) is more confident of a good showing here. “The feeling with my RC211V is definitely improved during the test of last Monday in Jerez and this gives me a lift to face the race this Saturday which will surely be one of the hottest of the Championship.” Kenny Roberts (Roberts KR211V) and his team are making progress with their Honda-powered machine after a tricky start in Spain. “We’re getting closer to where we want to be all the time and this race will be a real indicator of how far we’ve come and how far we’ve still to go,” said the 2000 World Champion. In the 250cc category Sebastian Porto (Repsol Honda RS250RW) will want to shrug off the effects of a disappointing first race in Spain and get his Championship challenge in order. The experienced Argentine campaigner, who finished fifth here lat year said, “After the difficult weekend in Jerez, I only hope to be competitive again. We haven’t managed to make me feel comfortable on the new bike so far, to be able to ride with confidence, but I’m really thankful for the huge effort of my team trying to help me getting out of this situation. Qatar is a very peculiar circuit due to the intense heat and the state of the track, quite dirty and slippery due to the desert sand.” His team-mate Shuhei Aoyama (Repsol Honda RS250RW) is new to Qatar, and after a fall in Spain, he’s keen to register some points. “I hope to be able to make a good race in Qatar after my mistake in Jerez,” he said. “I want to make up for the hard work of my team. Qatar is a circuit which is completely new to me and this time I won’t have the advantage of the previous test days we had in Jerez at the end of the pre-season, so I know that we are going to have a hard Grand Prix this weekend.” Andrea Dovizioso (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) has made a sound start to the season with a third place in Spain, but he knows this race represents a chance to claw back early ground lost to the Aprilia duo Lorenzo and De Angelis who finished first and second at Jerez. He said, “In Qatar we will have less settings problems than at Jerez, even though there is still a difference of horsepower on the straight compared to Aprilia. But what really worry me are the high temperatures and we have to see how the new radiator works in these weather conditions. However, I feel confident and ready for fighting for victory after the podium in Jerez.” Yuki Takahashi (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) is aiming to build on his fine start to the season after qualifying on the front row and finishing fourth. “Since the testing starting this year and the GP of Spain we set the standard bike to work like we want and suits almost all the World Championship circuits,” he said. “So in Qatar we’ll have to improve in some small areas. My aim for Qatar is to keep momentum, which means another front row, and then to try and improve the finish from Jerez.” Reigning World Champion Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) has some ground to make up in the 125cc category. The Swiss ace crashed out of the race in Spain and needs a solid finish to get back in the reckoning for the 2006 title. But 15-year-old rookie Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R), who only just finished outside the points-scoring positions in his first ever Grand Prix is optimistic he can go one better here on Saturday. He said, “This will be a completely new experience for me and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve ridden the track on my computer and we are planning to look at some videos of previous races before the first practice. I was pleased with the result at Jerez although I could have done better. I’ve got school exams before we go to Turkey but I think I’ll be concentrating on the race in Qatar.” Gabor Talmacsi (Humangest Honda RS125R) is eager to get some more momentum behind his challenge here. He beat his former team-mate here in controversial circumstances (drafting past his team-leader over the line to deprive him of valuable points) and he’d like nothing more than another win on Saturday. “I have good memories of Qatar as I won the race last year,” he said. “In 2005, I had some problems on the set-up of the bike but we solved them for the race and so I could fight with Mika Kallio until the last lap. We still have to test many things and Qatar is not the ideal place because of the high temperatures. I think it’s an open race and I hope to get a better result here.”

Rizla Suzuki’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and James Haydon completed nearly 400 laps during the last two days during a private test at the Guadix circuit in southern Spain. Haydon completed 209 laps and helped to push the development of the GSX-R1000 another step forward. Shakey clocked 181 laps of the 3km long track that boasts fast and slow corners as well as a 750m long straight. He ran through a multitude of tests and is happy to have made significant progress to the base set-up on his GSX-R1000. Both riders recorded low 1minute 16second lap times, on par with the unofficial Superbike lap record for the track. After a wet and cold pre-season test programme, the outing to Guadix was the first time both riders had the opportunity to push their 2006-specification race bikes to their limits in dry and warm conditions. After the first round of the series, Shakey and Haydon lie equal seventh in the Championship as the action moves to the fast-flowing 2.5-mile long Donington Park circuit in Derbyshire. They plan to put the information they learned at Guadix to good use when the second round of Superbike racing starts at 11:55 on Sunday, April 9th. Shakey Byrne: “The test at Guadix was exactly what we needed after poor weather blighted our pre-season test programme in the UK. I now feel comfortable on the bike and can give good direction and feedback on any changes we make to it. All has gone well and I’m looking forward to Donington to see what we can achieve.” James Haydon: “The weather couldn’t have been any better for us and I’ve managed to record a lot of laps. From a riding point of view, that is invaluable; the more riding you do the sharper you are. We tested several new parts and various geometry settings in the last two days and feel we have made good progress. Donington Park is a different track to Guadix but we have gained some very good information that will help our competitiveness over the course of the season.” Simon Green – Team Co-ordinator: “This was a vital test for the team given how little opportunity we have had to test in warm, dry conditions. The entire team has worked flat-out to prepare for this test and it will hopefully prove very beneficial as we move towards the second round of the season. Our thanks also to Clive Greenhalgh, the Guadix circuit owner, for his help in making this test happen.”

Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s Atsushi Watanabe raced to third position in the opening round of the All Japan Superbike Championship at Twinring, Motegi after the race was red-flagged due to rain. GSX-R1000-mounted Watanabe and team mate Kousuke Akiyoshi led from the start and held strong lead when the race was stopped on the 12th lap. But on the 8-lap restart, Watanabe gated a lowly eighth and Akiyoshi slid off the track on lap five. Said Watanabe: “Today I raced the ST600 Superbike classes but I don’t feel tired. The Yoshimura GSX-R is so fast and my first Bridgestone tyres worked very well, but I would like to win the next round and I hope for a Yoshimura’s GSX-R one-two finish.” Results: 1: Akira Yanagawa (Kawasaki) 2: Osamu Deguchi (Honda) 3: Atsuishi Watanabe (Yoshimura Suzuki) 4: Kazuki Tokudome (Honda) 5: Katsuyuki Nakasuga (Yamaha) 6: Yoshiyuki Sugai (Ducati) 7: Chojun Kameya (Honda) 8: Hiroyuki Kawese (Suzuki) 9: Yoshiteru Konishi (Honda) 10: Shin-ichi Itoh (Honda).

Hawk Kawasaki Preparing for Donington Park Donington Park – 7th – 9th April After a positive start to the Bennetts British Superbike season Hawk Kawasaki are now preparing for the second round of the Championship at Donington Park, Leicestershire this weekend (7th – 9th April). The 2.5-mile track is one of the teams’ local circuits, with Hawk being based in Ashby-Ze-La-Zouch they are hoping for some positive results. The three riders, Dean Thomas, Craig Coxhell and Peter Hickman running onboard the Dunlop shod Kawasaki ZX10’s are eager to improve on their results from the first round. 33-year-old Sheffield based Dean Thomas scored two consistent eighth places at the opening round at Brands Hatch a couple of weeks ago and is looking forward to Donington. The Australian Thomas commented “I’m hoping Donington will be a good round for me, I enjoy the circuit and I know that the bike is good round there. We had a good start to the season at Brands, better than what I expected. We’ve only had a couple of hours of testing on the new Kawasaki and I wasn’t expecting it to be on par with the other teams this soon in the year. I know how hard the Hawk Team are working to ensure that we move forward and make progress at every round and I have every confidence in them. Ideally I would like to be running up at the front. Considering the bike is brand new I think once we have made a few alterations then that could be possible.” His fellow Australian team-mate 23-year-old Craig Coxhell is eager to get to Donington saying “Brands was a mixed weekend for me. Once I had managed to get over the initial nerves in the first race I managed to settle into a routine for the second one. I was delighted with the fourth place I got there and hoping that I will get a similar result this weekend at Donington. After missing a year, it’s surprising how fast the pace has moved on and I have to play catch up. I’ve only ridden the majority of British circuits once or twice so not only am I learning a new team and bike but also still getting used to the tracks. I know I’m capable of some good results and hope that I can prove that over this season.” The youngest rider in the team is 18-year-old Peter Hickman, who will be celebrating his 19th Birthday on Saturday. The rider from Burton-Upon-Trent said “The best Birthday present for me this weekend would be to get into the points! It’s only my third Superbike race and although it’s a huge learning curve for me this year, I am desperate to get a good qualifying position and some good results in the races. It’s a lot to ask this early in the year but I’m more than eager to go out there and try and mix it with the best of them. I throughly enjoyed Brands and it was a totally wild experience, a big jump from Superstocks! As long as I finish both races this weekend I’ll be quite happy.” 2006 British Superbike Calendar: – Round 2 – 07 09 April Donington Park, Derbyshire Round 3 – 14 17 April Thruxton, Hampshire 21 April Official BSB Test Oulton Park Round 4 – 29 Apr 01 May Oulton Park, Cheshire Round 5 – 19 21 May Mondello Park, Southern Ireland Round 6 – 02 04 June Mallory Park, Leicestershire Round 7 – 16 18 June Snetterton, Norfolk 05 06 July Official BSB Test Croft Round 8 – 14 16 July Knockhill, Scotland Round 9 – 21 23 July Oulton Park, Cheshire Round 10 – 11 13 August Croft, North Yorkshire 17 August Official BSB Test Cadwell Park Round 11 – 26 28 August Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire 31 August Official BSB Test Silverstone Round 12 – 15 17 September Silverstone, Northamptonshire Round 13 – 29 Sept 01 Oct Brands Hatch, Kent

Martin Finnegan the Irish rider of Klaffi Honda’s Road Racing Team, spent the two first days of April at Pannoniaring in Hungary. His mechanics, Martin Gallagher and Gary Arnold, came along with him. It was their first big test session with the Klaffi Honda Fireblade CBR 1000 RR. – Team Manager Klaus Klaffenböck arranged the test in Hungary. Martin had to days to become familiar with his Klaffi Honda Fireblade. And Martin used the time to full capacity. After two days and 400 kilometres he was absolutely positive about his Fireblade. Team Manager Klaus Klaffenböck: “I’m really impressed. Normally it is difficult to become acquainted with this course. But Martin mastered his new bike and the course. It was great! Martin takes part in the International Northwest 200 in Ireland (May 8th to 15th). This will be his first race with the Fireblade and a real test before the TT.”

WERA National Series Ready for Round Two at Talladega Oxford, Ala. The WERA National Series has a busy start to the 2006 season, with round two at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway scheduled just two weeks after the season opener. Teams are readying to head to the shortest track on the schedule the weekend of April 7-9. Friday’s practice day will include qualifying for the Expert Superstock classes and Formula 1. WERA first implemented the new qualifying system during the season opener at Jennings GP. “We were really pleased with how competitive qualifying made the races at Jennings,” said WERA owner Evelyne Clarke. “In the past, we have gridded riders according to points, but since WERA is a stepping-stone to AMA Pro Racing, it’s a benefit for riders to be familiar with the qualifying format.” The four-hour WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance Series will have a four-hour race at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Vesrah Suzuki won round one, and the team is anxious to retake the championship from Team Velocity Racing. Meanwhile, Team Velocity Racing is looking forward to defending their 2005 win at Talladega. At Jennings, Vesrah’s closest competition was Mediumweight Superbike entry Red Star. Talladega’s tight configuration gave Red Star’s 600cc motorcycle an edge last year, allowing the team to lead the opening laps, eventually finishing second overall. Sunday will feature the WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series sprint races, which begin at 12:30 p.m. As always, the three Superstock classes- Open, 600 and 750- are expected to feature some of the toughest competition of the day. Each class had a different winner at Jennings. Robert Jensen got two victories at Jennings, as did 600 racer Josh Herrin. Both riders did well at Talladega last season, with Jensen taking two victories. Heavyweight Twins Superstock will be worth watching, as well, with Taylor Knapp challenging Tray Batey’s title as the top big twin rider. Tickets for the WERA National Series weekend at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway will be $30 for all three days, $20 for Saturday and Sunday, and $15 for Sunday only. Driving directions to Talladega can be found online at www.tgprace.com. More information about WERA can be found online at www.WERA.com.

TT 2006 Not to be missed! If you thought last year’s Isle of Man TT Races were special, then the word from the organisers of this year’s event is quite simple you ain’t seen nothing yet! From World Champions to British Champions, British Superbike riders to American Superbike riders and from European stars to some of real road racing’s finest, this year’s entry list has it all and will serve up a treat, arguably the best quality of talent ever to have been assembled on the Island. Heading the formidable entry list is the current outright lap record holder and eight-time winner John McGuinness. Having taken three of the last four Superbike races, the Morecambe rider has been snapped up by the official HM Plant Honda team and he will start as favourite in all four of the solo races. However, there’s a long queue of riders eager to knock him off his pedestal. Honda has a strong presence with Ian Lougher riding for the returning Paul Bird-run Stobart Honda team, the second of three BSB teams competing at this year’s event whilst one of the bright young stars, Martin Finnegan, lines up for the Austrian Klaffi Honda squad, one of the leading lights in World Superbike. Japan’s Jun Maeda is a fourth Honda rider capable of glory and having excelled last year, much is expected of the Kyoto man. Yamaha also have three riders capable of winning with young sensation Guy Martin replacing McGuinness at AIM Racing few will be surprised if a first TT win comes the way of the exuberant Lincolnshire rider this June. Two-time Senior race winner Adrian Archibald has switched to Team Racing and having been on lap record pace last year, the Ballymoney ace is a definite contender for honours. Ramsey based Jason Griffiths completes the trio and the consistent Welshman is sure to feature in each and every race. Meanwhile, Raymond Porter is a dark horse for honours and having stepped on the podium in the Junior race of 2005, the Lifford man could well get in amongst the ‘works’ Yamaha riders. The all conquering TAS Suzuki squad are back for more with Kiwi rider Bruce Anstey being joined by Ryan Farquhar and with six wins between them already, there’s a great chance that this tally could increase. Meanwhile, the fourth of the Japanese manufacturers, Kawasaki, are represented by the welcome return of McAdoo Racing with another of the young stars, Ian Hutchinson, on riding duties. In addition, the Hawk Kawasaki British Superbike squad have sensationally become the third team from the country’s premier series to enter the TT fray with team principal Stuart Hicken, himself a former Manx GP rider, signing experienced TT rider Carl Rennie. As well as the works boys, there’s a whole host of privateers eager to prove themselves with the impressive Uel Duncan Racing squad securing the services of two of the stars of 2005, Cameron Donald and Les Shand. With machinery to match their talent, the pairing have the potential to mix it with the factory stars and they are backed up by other leading lights Mark Parrett, Rob Frost, Ian Armstrong, Dean Silvester, David Bell, James McBride, Ian Pattinson, Dan Stewart, Phil Stewart, Paul Owen and Kevin Mawdsley. Both Northern and Southern Ireland have traditionally proved to be comparable to a conveyor belt as they continue to produce some of real road racing’s finest and the likes of Seamus Greene, Davy Morgan, Ken Doherty, John Donnan, Keith Stewart, John Burrows and Victor Gilmore are all capable of lapping in excess of 120mph. The locals will have plenty to cheer about as well with the fastest ever Manxman, Paul Hunt, leading the charge whilst there is strength in depth with Chris Heath, Gary Carswell, Nigel Beattie, John Barton, Paul Duckett, Derran Slous and David Madsen-Mygdal. The Island also has one of the most interesting entries with Chris Palmer competing on a factory MV Agusta, the Italian giant making a welcome return. As well as entries from the British Isles, the rest of the world are represented by, amongst others, the fastest American rider ever, Thomas Montano, Italian Stefano Bonetti, Belgian Michael Weynand, New Zealand riders Daniel Jansen and Paul Dobbs and Germans Dirk Kaletsch, Thomas Schonfelder and Manfred Vogl. 2005 also saw an influx of newcomers pitting their wits against the Mountain Course for the first time and this trend will continue with an impressive array of new talent travelling over to the Island. Mark Miller and Jeremy Toye are two of the leading riders in American Superbike racing and the duo have excelled on the roads of Macau in the past, with Miller stepping onto the podium, having only been beaten by TT greats David Jefferies and Michael Rutter. Italian rider Angelo Conti is a former European Supersport Champion who has also scored top ten results in the World Championship class whilst the name of Dunlop is sure to create intrigue and stir memories from years gone by. Twenty-year-old William has already made a name for himself in his own right and his debut is one of the most eagerly awaited and anticipated for many years. Scottish rider Mark Buckley has been taken under the wing of the best teacher of them all, Ian Lougher, and is part of the Black Horse Finance team whilst Englishman James Edmeades represents the youngsters and at just 22 years old, the current British Superstock rider has a bright future in front of him. Likewise, Conor Cummins who at 19 will not only be the youngest rider at this year’s event but also one of the youngest ever to compete on the Mountain Course. The progress of the Ramsey rider will be eagerly noted. And that’s just the solos! The F2 sidecars see an equally impressive line-up, if not better, with World, European and British Champions on the grid. Local hero Dave Molyneux is the man they all have to beat and such is the dominance of the Regaby driver, it will take something special to do that. Moly has taken 11 wins and 18 podiums and having moved the outright lap record up to a staggering 116.04mph, surely no one can stop the most successful driver ever. He is reunited with Craig Hallam and having already taken wins in 1999 and 2003, it’s a formidable partnership that will get the races underway at number 1. Fellow Manxmen Nick Crowe and Darren Hope will be trying their utmost to spoil the party and the duo have been a picture of consistency in the last three years, taking 1 win and 6 podiums in the last six races. They are also the second fastest pairing ever and will ensure the official HM Plant Honda outfit of Moly doesn’t have it all his own way. The third of the current ‘Big Three’ is Steve Norbury and the Castleford driver will be gunning for a first ever victory. Denied in 2005, he already has seven podiums to his name and with Scott Parnell in the chair, he is sure to add to that this time around. Fellow Yorkshireman Simon Neary was superb in 2005 becoming only the sixth driver to lap in excess of 110mph and having made the breakthrough, the youngster is well placed to step onto the podium for the first time. 2001 World Sidecar Champions Klaus Klaffenbock and Christian Parzer will be back for their third attempt and having finished 7th in 2005, the duo will be aiming for a first ever podium on their all new LCR outfit, one of only two in the world. The second LCR will also be at the TT in the hands of the returning Andy Laidlow and Patrick Farrance who themselves have been chasing World Championship glory. They finished 2nd overall in 2003, their last appearance, and are sure to be pushing for top five positions. Another World Championship refugee is Tom Hanks who last drove on the Island back in 1999. An overall winner in 1997, and still the 9th fastest driver ever, Hanks will have Phil Biggs in the chair, and adds pure quality to the line-up. Meanwhile, Tom’s Uncle, Roy, returns for an amazing 40th successive year of competition, again partnered by fellow veteran Dave Wells. The supporting cast, like the solos, is stronger than ever with Ben Dixon, Phil Dongworth, Gary Bryan, John Holden, Tony Baker, Allan Schofield, Greg Lambert, Roger Stockton, Nigel Connole, the evergreen Bill Currie, Kenny Howles, Mick Harvey and Conrad Harrison all challenging for top ten positions, at least. The reigning British Champion, Tony Elmer, will be back for his third attempt and he’s been getting quicker as his knowledge increases so expect to see the Leeds driver higher up the results this year. Glyn Jones, Brian Kelly, Neil Kelly and Alan Langton add to the Manx effort whilst Dylan Lynch, the reigning Irish champion makes his debut, as does leading American driver Doug Dano. The final word was left to David Cretney, Chairman of the TT Co-Ordinating Committee and Minister for Tourism and Leisure on the Isle of Man: “We have seen an amazing transformation over the past two years with this event, and the 2006 TT looks like being one of the best ever thanks to the hard work of a lot of people. The entry is the strongest I can remember is all my years of following the event and this should provide the fans with an amazing spectacle of close and exciting racing. One of the biggest changes is the support from the manufactures to such a degree, plus the involvement of other large teams from World Superbike, British Superbike and Irish Road Racing. The level has been raised significantly, which can only be a good thing, and makes our event stand out from others, with an amazing cross section of talented riders and quality machinery. Personally I can’t wait for it all to start.” So, the message is clear and simple between the 27th May and the 10th June there’s only one place to be, and that’s at the Isle of Man TT Races.