CCS Southwest Region racer Ray Hymer and his racer son Steven have been arrested and charged with stealing motorcycles, according to local news reports. According to local sources, the Hymers usually raced SV650 Suzukis in various lightweight classes. Read more here: ~http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=165117~ ~http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0321stolencars-ON.html~

High Performance Motorcycle Partnership Established in Utah The Utah SportBike Association, in association with the Freddie Spencer High Performance Riding School, presents the Advanced Rider Training schools. (ART) One of the nations’ most acclaimed high-performance motorcycle schools has collaborated with Utah’s only sport bike organization dedicated to safety, education and performance. Three time world GP Motorcycle Champion, Freddie Spencer, has developed a new line of sport motorcycle training courses to be taught exclusively by the UtahSBA at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. “We are extremely excited to have one of the best motorcycle racers of all time, Freddie Spencer, working with us to bring the best performance riding education to Utah sport bike riders,” said Dan Solomon, President of the UtahSBA. Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Riding School will interject elements of its highly acclaimed curriculum into the UtahSBA’s Advanced Rider Training (ART) programs that have been taught since 1993. “The UtahSBA’s ART programs will be the perfect transition between Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes and the full-version of the Freddie Spencer Riding Schools,” said Nick Ienatsch, chief instructor for the Freddie Spencer High Performance Riding School. “Ultimately, we hope these classes will teach Utah sport bike riders how to be in more control of their bikes, be safer riders and teach them that if they want to ride hard, they need to take it off state street, out of the canyons and onto the race-track,” said Troy Buchanan, Director of Schools for the UtahSBA. The new program is intended to reach all levels of sport bike riders; from those who wish to begin racing to those who want to improve their street riding. “We even have a special course dedicated to Sport Touring riders riders who travel long distances on performance motorcycles,” said Buchanan. For more information about the association with the Freddie Spencer High Performance Riding School, and the UtahSBA’s Advanced Rider Training school at Miller Motorsports Park visit www.utahsba.com, or call Troy Buchanan 801-910-3534.

Rizla Suzuki’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and James Haydon will start their 2006 British Superbike Championship challenges at Brands Hatch Indy circuit this weekend. Both Byrne and Haydon have won at Brands Hatch in the past and are looking to start the season with strong performances. The Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is all-new for 2006 and the riders will complete their pre-season preparations when they test at Donington Park in Derbyshire today, Tuesday. Shane Byrne: “Brands Hatch Indy is a fantastic spectator circuit. I remember from racing there previously in BSB it all gets a bit hectic with lapped riders and fighting your way through them, which can be exciting. “I won my first ever road race at Brands Hatch Indy and that’s where my career started. It’s my home circuit and I’ll be there giving it my all. I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into the British Superbike Championship.” James Haydon: “I always look forward to the first race. I am also a little bit apprehensive as it will be the first time on track with the competition. The wet and cold weather has been against us in testing but on the plus side we will be racing in conditions like that at some point this year and our experience will stand us in good stead. “I like Brands Hatch Indy and have done well there in the past, winning races in 1999 and 2000. It’s the shortest lap on the calendar and there is plenty of overtaking and action for the fans. I will be going for the best results possible and with the support of Rizla Suzuki behind me I am looking forward to a good season.”

THE CHALLENGE BEGINS GP OF SPAIN – PREVIEW The waiting is over. After an intense winter of preparation that has seen the Team Fortuna Honda riders visit circuits in Malaysia, Australia and Spain, the battle for the 2006 world title is finally underway. The venue for the opening round of the MotoGP World Championship takes place at Jerez de la Frontera, a circuit where both Team Fortuna Honda riders hold fond memories. It was at this track where Marco Melandri scored his first podium of the 2005 season on his debut with the Honda RC211V and the Team Gresini, whilst Toni Elias took his MotoGP bow in the colours of Fortuna. The final test session at the Andalusian ten days ago confirmed the good job done by the team during the preseason and now Marco Melandri and Toni Elias are ready for the first race. Fausto Gresini – Fortuna Honda “This is an important moment because it is the start of a new season, for which we have high hopes. It is the start of a new project alongside Fortuna, with a young team and, thanks to Marco Melandri and Toni Elias, with massive potential. Marco is 23, he became the MotoGP World Championship runner-up with this team last year and scored his first wins in the premier-class. With two straight victories and five podiums in all he was a real star in an incredible season and he’s now ready to challenge at the very highest level. After a tough winter I am sure that Marco can fight for the front positions from the first race. Alongside him Toni Elías, also 23, a Spanish rider who this year joins our team, where so many young talents have come through over the years. In the preseason tests Toni has proved that he is a talented and determined rider and a quick learner. During the last test at Jerez he showed that he has character and good potential. I’m sure that we can now start to reap the fruit of his hard work during the winter.” Marco Melandri: “I can’t wait to get out onto the track at Jerez, a circuit I like a lot because it is technical and complete. There is so much expectation for the start of the championship and it’s guaranteed to be a real spectacle. Jerez will be a very combative race with so many riders in the right shape to challenge to win. I am also ready. I can already feel the adrenaline and I am sure that will push me to take that extra step forward and be competitive. I am quite satisfied; after a tough winter we have managed to create a good base. We still have to improve a little bit and then I can be fast, like I showed I can be last season.” Toni Elias: A Race To Remember “Finally the testing is over and the championship is starting. Over the winter we worked a lot, keeping a philosophy of taking small steps forward. I tried to remain calm and focused to try and understand the bike and adapt it to my style without just going for a lap time at all cost. I’ve covered a lot of kilometres, I now feel more comfortable on the bike and my race rhythm has improved. I’m looking forward to the start – I can already feel the tension of a race. I’m happy to be starting out in Spain, in front of my fans. Jerez is a nice Grand Prix, not just for the track but also for the fans – the feeling when you enter the ‘stadium’ section is unbelievable. “Jerez is a special occasion for every rider in the championship and even more so for a Spaniard. It is a particular GP because of the amount of passion transmitted by the fans, so many of them and so close you can feel it in your helmet. I’ve always had really strong emotions at this circuit. It was here that I produced one of the best races of my life, the Spanish GP in 2003 while I was racing in 250. I remember starting from the third row after a difficult weekend caused by a broken thumb injury I had picked up in the previous race. I started to make up positions and only on the last lap I managed to join the lead group. My thumb was hurting but the desire to win in front of my home fans was bigger. One final effort, the finish line and an a long shout inside the helmet. I dedicated the victory to my family, my team and Daijiro Kato. I had wanted to do it at Welkom, the first race after his death, but the dream came true at Jerez, where I was able to dedicate victory to a good friend and a great rider. “Jerez 2006: a new challenge, same emotions. This will also be my first race on the Honda and my 23rd birthday. I hope I can give myself a nice present!” More, from a press release issued by Dorna Communications: MotoGP 2006 season begins this weekend at Jerez After a preseason packed with team changes, broken circuit records and new and improved bikes, the MotoGP World Championship 2006 season gets underway this week. Sunday’s Gran Premio betandwin.com de España will be the first chance to see all the old favourites, young pretenders and surprise packages set to wow spectators over the next 17 races. Reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi will be out to defend his crown for the fifth consecutive season in 2006, but the popular Italian will have to be looking over his shoulder over the next eight months as the premier class’ top contenders won’t be giving it up without a fight. Riders such as Marco Melandri, Sete Gibernau, Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa will be going all out to break the Yamaha rider’s dominant winning streak. With the exception of rookie Casey Stoner who was recovering from surgery, all the MotoGP riders will have the Jerez Circuit’s twists and turns fresh in their minds. The final preseason test took place just over a week ago at the Andalusian track, with Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau topping the timesheets. Capirossi and his team-mate have demonstrated the strength of the Desmocedici GP6 throughout the preseason, and will be wanting to carry their form into the season proper. Ahead of this weekend’s curtain raiser Capirossi stated, “I think we are well prepared for the first race, the team and Bridgestone are really strong at the moment, my bike feels perfect for Jerez after the set-up modifications we made during the final tests. It’s not always easy to find perfect settings but the bike is great now, and hopefully what we learned during the last tests will help us at other tracks. We have worked very hard this winter. The bike is better than before, the engine is more rider-friendly and the tyres have also improved a lot. Bridgestone have done very good work over the winter, so my thanks to them. Jerez is a good track, it’s nice to ride and very technical. To go quick at Jerez you need a well-balanced bike and a good front end because you need confidence to attack all the fast corners.” Impressive performances at the final test also came from Kawasaki’s Shinya Nakano and young rookie Dani Pedrosa, who is looking to become an immediate challenger for Rossi’s world title. With the Yamaha also looking strong in tests returning rider Carlos Checa even surprised himself with his fast times, and with John Hopkins’ performing well for Suzuki the championship is shaping up to be as competitive than ever. 250cc With Pedrosa making the jump in category to MotoGP, this year will see a new 250cc champion crowned. Casey Stoner and Randy de Puniet will join the Spaniard in the premier class, leaving a wide open quarter litre category. Jorge Lorenzo had a tight grip on the top spot during the final test, although his fellow Aprilia riders Alex de Angelis and Hector Barbera have not been far behind. Andrea Dovizioso and Sebastian Porto will also enter the 2006 as favourites to challenge for the title, with solid preseason results for Yuki Takahashi and Jakub Smrz indicating that any one of a number of riders could be victorious. 125cc In 125cc, Champion Thomas Luthi will be taking to the Jerez Circuit for the first time this season, coming back from a fractured collarbone suffered in the earlier official test at Catalunya. With Julian Simon, Mattia Pasini and last year’s runner-up Mika Kallio chasing after the Swiss rider, the exciting junior category is sure to provide more of the usual thrills and spills throughout the coming season.

Leon Haslam Stars at Thunderspint 2006 The Thundersprint has played host to many famous riders but the red carpet will really be rolled out for 22 year old Superbike star Leon Haslam when he takes to the unique Northwich town centre track on Sunday 7 May. Thundersprint organiser, Frank Melling, said: “It will be great to have one of the fastest young riders in the world join us alongside some of the most famous riders from the past. “I have followed Leon’s career for many years so it gives me particular pleasure to welcome not only a brilliant rider but one of the best representatives for bike racing one could hope to find. “We want Leon to treat the Thundersprint as a weekend off from the pressures of chasing the British Superbike Championship on his GSE Airwaves Ducati. Leon will be having a play in the Motorcycling Personalities class, spending a lot of time with fans and no doubt admiring some of the wonderful classic bikes. “The Thundersprint will provide a unique opportunity for spectators to meet Leon without any restrictions or pressures and we hope that many of his thousands of supporters will be in Northwich to cheer him on.” Leon was equally enthusiastic.”I am really looking forward to the Thundersprint. I have heard so much about the event but I still can’t imagine what it will be like to a see a small town like Northwich packed with over 100,000 race fans. It will be an incredible experience. “I’m also looking forward to a really relaxing weekend meeting fans and cruising round on the fantastic Ducati Sport Classic 1000. It’s going to be a great experience being in the same paddock as all the classic racers and then going to the start line on one of the best looking bikes in the world. “There will be the chance for me to meet a lot of my fans personally which is really important to me. My weekend will start at the eBike Thundersprint party on Saturday evening and then on Sunday you’ll find me in the paddock when I’m not on the track. I will also be spending some time on the Phoenix Distribution trade stand where I will be launching my Leon Haslam Arai helmet. “I’ll be at the Thundersprint all weekend to talk with anyone who has a passion for bikes – except when I’ve sneaked off to see all the fabulous classic race bikes. There are no restricted areas or special passes at the Thundersprint. Wherever you see me I’ll be there to talk to you. “Make sure you come by and say hello.”