AMA Teams Finally Get Chance to Test at Infineon Raceway SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) “” The heavy rains that have plagued the Sonoma Valley this winter managed to stay away for one day as seven AMA race teams managed nearly a full day of testing on Friday at Infineon Raceway. The teams were testing in advance of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, May 19-21, in the Sonoma Valley. Lap times were not the story of the day as the 15 riders who took part were just trying to get reacquainted with the 12-turn, 2.22-mile road course. The test, which was sponsored by Yamaha, was originally a two-day test, but Thursday’s session was washed away by rain. Blue skies were the order of the day on Friday, as more than 150 motorcycle race fans showed up to watch the testing, in addition to demonstrations by Supermoto USA and Stuntspot.com (street freestyle). Both will be new elements for this year’s AMA weekend in May. “It was kind of neat today to see all these fans show up for a test session. It was really cool, kind of like Europe in a way,” said Honda’s Jake Zemke, who captured the season-opening Daytona 200. “As far as the testing, we were just trying to get some laps in and pick up some things for when we come back in May. We’re looking forward to it.” Teams testing the track on Friday were Attack Kawasaki, Kawasaki, Ducati, Honda, Mat Mladin Motorsports, Suzuki and Yamaha. “It was good to get back on the track again,” said Ducati’s Ben Bostrom. “I haven’t been here in a few years, so it was good to get some laps in.” Tickets for the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend are available by calling 800-870-RACE or visiting www.infineonraceway.com.

Duhamel, Oliver First AMA Riders to be Inducted into Infineon Raceway Wall of Fame SONOMA, Calif. (Friday, March 17, 2006) “” Legendary riders Miguel Duhamel and Rich Oliver will be honored as the first AMA motorcycle riders to be inducted into the Infineon Raceway Wall of Fame, raceway officials announced today. Construction of the Wall of Fame was announced at the 2005 Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup weekend, with drivers Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin selected as the first inductees. The two drivers, along with the NHRA’s Warren Johnson, will now have company as Duhamel and Oliver will be officially enshrined during a public ceremony at the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend, presented by Supercuts, May 19-21. The announcement was made during a Yamaha-sponsored test session on Friday at Infineon Raceway. Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, Ducati, Attack Kawasaki and Mat Mladin Motorsports also attended the test session. “Our objective in creating the Wall of Fame was to recognize those individuals whose legacy and accomplishments have helped shape the history of this raceway,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway. “Miguel and Rich have had so many dominant performances here and provided our fans so many thrills, it is fitting that they should be our first inductees from the motorcycle world.” Duhamel (Honda) has built the most prolific career of any AMA rider at Infineon Raceway “” the AMA has visited the Sonoma Valley for 24 years, including the last 12. Duhamel has a record nine victories at Infineon Raceway, including five in Superbike, three in Supersport and one in Formula Xtreme. Duhamel has won both Superbike and Supersport in the same weekend a record three times (1993, 95, 98), and he won Superbike and Formula Xtreme on the same weekend in 2004. Moreover, Duhamel is a five-time AMA Supersport national champion and he won the Superbike national title in 1995. “This has always been one of my favorite tracks, and this is a great honor for me,” Duhamel said. “I’ve always had a lot of success here, and I’m really looking forward to coming back in May for the ceremony.” Oliver, a resident of Auberry near Fresno, dominated the 250 Grand Prix class in Sonoma, taking the checkered flag four consecutive years (1994-97). He is the only AMA rider in history to win a feature race four consecutive years at Infineon Raceway. Moreover, he won the Grand Prix title a fifth time in Sonoma in 2003 before eventually retiring from AMA competition. Oliver is also a five-time AMA 250 Grand Prix national champion. He joins Duhamel as the only riders with five class victories over their careers in Sonoma. “I was surprised and honored when Steve (Page) called me,” said Oliver, who primarily rode a Yamaha during his career. “It’s sort of a sign that retirement from active racing has set in and seeing the awards come down is real special. It’s also neat to have it happen where it all started, in Sonoma. I started my career there in 1976 with the AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists) and to go back there for this honor is incredible.” Both Duhamel and Oliver will be presented with granite plaques etched with each rider’s likeness during the ceremony in May. The plaques will be on display as part of the Wall of Fame, which will be constructed behind the main grandstand and accessible to the public. The Wall of Fame will include competitors from all forms of motor racing at Infineon Raceway, including NASCAR, NHRA POWERade Drag Racing, American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), open-wheel cars, sports cars, and more. It will also include those who have made significant contributions to the raceway over the years. A raceway committee will oversee the selection process on an annual basis.

New Season, New Website for Foggy PETRONAS Racing Foggy PETRONAS Racing has revamped its website for the new World Superbike season. The existing www.foggyPETRONASracing.com address remains the same but the site, designed by Wrexham based company Data Pacific, has a totally new look and feel and also, unrestricted access. In addition to accessing the latest FPR news, views and results, fans of Foggy, Steve Martin and Craig Jones can also create their own computer wallpapers and download video and audio messages direct from the race circuits. Further and interactive features include automatically updating screensavers, a live webcam for visitors to view the workshop at the team’s UK headquarters, a ‘cut-away’ technical specification of the PETRONAS FP1, competitions with two paddock passes for the Silverstone WSBK round currently up for grabs – and details about the all new FPR Superbikes mobile phone game, due to be launched across Europe in the next few months. You can also join or renew Club FPR membership on-line, to receive the great range of fan club benefits and also enter exclusive Club FPR competitions. FPR Shop enables website visitors to view and purchase items from the distinctive official team merchandise range, with something for everyone from clothing and accessories to team and rider memorabilia and FP1 crashed parts. The gallery provides a comprehensive picture library of the team’s history from racing and testing to events, news and features, with high resolution downloads available to registered media and team partners. FPR Team Owner, Carl Fogarty said, “Although this is our final year as Foggy PETRONAS Racing we are still striving to make developments off the track, as well as on it. The new-look site is designed to reflect our commitment to a fresh approach, which we believe will stand us in good stead going forward beyond this season.” All existing media, sponsors and supporters who have previously registered their details and requested to receive team updates and press releases will continue to do so and any self-selected website login details will remain the same. However any FPR supporters wishing to receive team information by email can also register their details on www.foggyPETRONASracing.com to benefit from this service.

Ducati Seattle is very proud to announce its return to racing with the formation of the Ducati Seattle / Anatra Corsa race team, featuring two of the top Ducati racers in the Northwest. Rick Rinaldo will be campaigning the 2006 Ducati 749R, and Lindsay Gupton will do battle aboard the Ducati 748R. Completing the team are veteran tuner Marty Dahl, ace designer Bill Broderick and Ducati Seattle owner David Roosevelt. The team will compete in WMRRA (the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association) and represent Ducati Seattle at NESBA track days throughout the year as ambassadors for the sport. The team’s goal is to be the top-ranked Ducati team in WMRRA, a great partner to its many sponsors and an integral part of the Ducati and track community. Ducati Seattle’s stronger than ever Performance Center will tune the bikes into race-winning, long lasting machines. According to David Roosevelt, owner of Ducati Seattle, “Head Technician Marty Dahl has been involved in road racing in the Northwest for over 20 years and looks forward to showcasing his ability to assemble strong, consistent race-winning Ducati motorcycles. We are really excited to be getting involved with the local racing scene once again. It is a pleasure to support a team of racers that are so professional as well as being very approachable.” Both riders are rising stars in Northwest racing. Rick too fourth in the Formula Thunder class his first year of racing, along with two podiums and five top-5?s. “I have been working with David and his team over the last month to purchase a new 749R, gear and bike accessories. His team has been great to work with and I have purchased everything from them. It’s and honor to be associated with such a prestigious shop and I look forward to our future partnership.” Lindsay, in his first season of racing finished the 2005 year as the number-two ranked Ducati racer in WMRRA with one win, two podiums, seven top-5 finishes and fourteen top-10 finishes. “I am extremely proud to represent Ducati Seattle in WMRRA races and at many NESBA track days in 2006. To race a Ducati with Ducati Seattle is an honor and tremendous opportunity and I look forward to a great season together in 2006.”

The fleet of Buell XBRR racebikes entered in the 2006 Daytona 200 were stopped by broken FCC clutches made in Japan, according to sources close to Buell Motor Company. Early indications are that porous castings may have been to blame, as the design in question has been used successfully on Buell racebikes for years and underwent extensive pre-Daytona testing on the XBRR. New clutches were installed on the Buell racebikes prior to the start of the Daytona 200, ironically in an effort to ensure the bikes would go the distance. None of the XBRR Buells suffered an actual engine failure in the race.

Commercialbank sponsor Grand Prix of Qatar for three years The Grand Prix of Qatar enters its third year on the MotoGP World Championship calendar in 2006, and as the race becomes an established world class event within the Gulf state, one of the country’s leading banking institutions Commercialbank today confirmed a deal to become the title sponsor of the race for the next three years during a special presentation event in Doha. Formed in 1975 as Qatar’s first private sector bank, Commercialbank has grown its corporate and personal banking businesses successfully each year since its launch to become one of the most important banks in the state. As a committed supporter of the Qatari community, Commercialbank agreed a deal with MotoGP World Championship rights-holders Dorna Sports to become title sponsor of the Qatari round of the series, taking full naming rights and all the other benefits enjoyed by the position, whilst projecting a positive image of Qatar to MotoGP’s massive global audience. Commercialbank’s Deputy CEO, Mohammed Mandani, said, “Becoming the title sponsor of the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar is a great honour for us and will help to project Qatar’s global reputation as an economic and sporting powerhouse of the Gulf region.” Meanwhile Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation President, Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiya, said, “Each year since the launch of MotoGP in Qatar in 2004, the event has grown in status. Commercialbank, a leading Qatari bank, will enable us to lift the event to a new level on the global stage.” As such, the second round of the MotoGP World Championship in 2006 will be known as the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar. The event will take place at the Losail International Circuit, just a few miles to the north of the capital city of Doha, and as has become traditional the races are scheduled to be run on a Saturday, April 8th.