TORONTO, ON Parts Canada Superbike Championship organizing body Professional Motorsports Productions will play a key role in a new American-based motorcycle endurance racing series set to debut this fall. Officials with the American Motorcyclist Association, the Grand American Road Racing Association and PMP announced the launch of the MOTO-ST (Moto Sport Twins) series at Daytona International Speedway last week. The endurance series for twin-cylinder motorcycles will have its first event as part of Daytona’s Biketoberfest Oct. 28 in preparation for a full schedule of races in 2007. The Daytona race will be an eight-hour, starting in daylight at 1:00 pm and running into darkness. “This is an exciting day for our sport,” said PMP’s Colin Fraser, who will act as director of competition for MOTO-ST. “While there are several different forms and classes of motorcycle ‘sprint’ racing, long distance team racing and competition for twin-cylinder machines has been under-served. We feel strongly that through a logical and well-managed rules package MOTO-ST will establish itself quickly with participants and spectators alike.” MOTO-ST will consist of two classes, Grand Sport Twins and Sport Twins, and will run to the minimum-weight / maximum-horsepower rules that have been so effective in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship since 1997. Generally, the larger displacement Endurance division will follow the standards established for the Thunder Canadian National class in 2005, while the smaller MOTO-ST class will be similar in structure to the existing Suzuki SV650 Cup National Championship Series. Horsepower limits will be enforced by a Dynojet dyno. Pirelli has been confirmed as the sole tire supplier for this fall’s inaugural race and the 2007 season, and all competitors will use Sunoco GT unleaded fuel. The 2007 season will comprise up to six points-paying races promising substantial purses and bonuses. Series points will be awarded based on mileage as well as position. A schedule, rules package and contingency and industry support will be finalized over the next 90 days. MOTO-ST will include an advisory board with an extensive motorsports background. The board will consist of Fraser, World Superbike series founder Steve McLaughlin, former Daytona 200 winner Don Emde, Grand American Road Racing Association president Roger Edmondson, Brumos Porsche president and general manager Bob Snodgrass, Grand American Road Racing Association director of competition Mark Raffauf, noted road racing journalists Kevin Cameron and John Ulrich, and Grand American deputy director of competition Scott Spencer. As conditions warrant, the MOTO-ST series will use members of the PMP staff that are also involved in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. PMP will continue to conduct the Parts Canada Superbike Championship as it has over the past nine years.

Anthony Fania Jr. made it back into the Daytona 200 news this year when he was seen on the SPEED TV live broadcast flipping-off unknown persons with both hands raised over his head. Fania had crashed in top gear on the banking when his front wheel was hit by another rider’s rear wheel as the other rider went past and dove down the banking. Roadracingworld.com called Fania and asked him what happened, and why he was apparently flipping the bird to the world. Here’s what he said: “I was down low, maybe two feet off that yellow line down there, and this rider passed me, dove down and his rear wheel hit my front wheel. I saw a blue and white bike but I’m not sure who it is. I thought I saw a red logo on the bike so I thought it was Geoff May but I’m not sure. “I went straight to the ground, slid maybe 100 yards, ground all the way through (my leathers) into my left arm, my back and knees and legs are all bruised. My helmet took a beating and my doctor said I rang my bell, had a concussion. “I thought I saw the rider who knocked me down so I ran over to the edge of the track. My actions were not being upset with the fans, I thought I saw the rider who knocked me down. So I apologize to anyone thinking it was aimed at the fans. That wasn’t it. “I would just like to know if the rider who did it even knows he did it–there should be some sort of reprimand. It was beyond a rookie move. If it was me and I had knocked down another rider the first thing I would have done is run into the pits and find out if he was OK. “Maybe he thought he was past me when he dove down.” Roadracingworld.com then called Geoff May and asked him if he was involved in the incident with Fania. “I never got close to anybody,” May said. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t hit anybody. No way! Plus, I had the TV camera on my bike, so anybody who doesn’t believe me can look at the tape and see that I never got close to Anthony or anybody else.”

KOMODO GEAR SPONSORS JOHN HANER Komodo Gear is proud to announce their sponsorship of AMA Pro road racer John Haner, riding for the Millennium KWS Suzuki team in 2006. Haner finished fifth in the 2005 Repsol Lubricants Superstock point standings, the first true privateer in a class dominated by factory and factory-supported riders. Komodo will provide their innovative, top-of-the line racing suits, boots and gloves to John as he and his team work towards success in the 2006 AMA Superbike Championship Series. “I’m happy to be part of the Komodo team,” said Haner. “They’re working hard to make their product the best, and I’m excited to be involved in the design and testing of their products as they expand their lineup.” “We’re excited to be involved with John,” said Wayne Wilder of Komodo Gear. “He’s a hard charger in a great team, and we expect him to do even better that he did last year. On top of that, he’s an experienced pro with valuable feedback and the perfect rider for us to partner with on product development.” Komodo motorcycle gear is the result of the passion and combined efforts of motorcycle enthusiasts that have used their collective experience and applied it to their products. They race, they ride and they cruise. They design their products with the safety, comfort and style to meet the realities associated with motorcycling. All Komodo products come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a five-year warranty against manufacturing defects. For more information, call 888-KOMODO-G or visit www.komodogear.com.

Sport Tire Services Inc., Dunlop’s Western U.S. road racing tire distributor, is proud to announce the appointment of K.F.G., LLC as the new Dunlop racing tire sales and service provider for the WMRRA Series. K.F.G. owners Mike Auderer and Barry Wressel are ready to handle the demand for Dunlop motorcycle road racing and Supermoto slicks as well as rain tires and DOTs! All Dunlop products as well as services will be available at every WMRRA race and also at many local track-day events in the Washington region. Call Mike or Barry at 253-845-3362 contact them via e-mail at [email protected] .

FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: After attending last year’s spectacular MotoGP at Laguna Seca I was glad to escape the hotel and housing debacle that so regularly was a headline on your website. Or so I thought. After a few months I noticed that the $500 deposit that I laid down on a beach house in the Monterey area had not posted back to my credit card statement. Vacation Homes Unlimited (a.k.a.www.vacationhomesunlimited.com/about_us.asp) assured me that it was a mix-up and that I would see the deposit returned within the next two statements. Didn’t happen and one excuse evolved into another until about one month ago all contact ceased. I have just been informed, through a legal notice, that Vacation Homes Unlimited has filed for bankruptcy. You might want to warn your readers that if they have or are about to book accommodations for the 2006 U.S. round of the MotoGP World Championship through Vacation Homes Unlimited, they might be faced with a problem. Evan Downard Sun Valley, Idaho

The application was confirmed – Nicky Wimbauer will race in the International-German Yamaha R6-Cup organized and supported by Yamaha Germany GmbH. Nicky, a former Colorado MRA-racer und WERA National racer was racing in the 2005 SBK European SuperStock series and had several top-ten finishes with a best of 6th, in Brands Hatch. The 2004 season marked his first year overseas and he participated in the Italian SuperSport Series with a 7th in the Trofea Italia class. Nicky talks about his 2006 plans: “My Dad and I have thought about our plans for 2006 for quite a while and I am really happy with this decision and to have the chance to race in this established class within the International-German Championship. The 2005 season was a huge learning experience and eye-opener for me. It is essential to have a test program, suspension support and team communication. “That’s why we checked out the recommendation from Team Yamaha Germany and found out that the International-German R6-Cup seems to be on a very high level. Laptimes only differ by 10ths of a second between the European SuperStock and the R6-Cup, using Lausitzring laptimes as a comparison. “It is important to me to have my own bike, to be able to test and to prove what I can do under controlled and equal conditions. The support from Yamaha Germany in this series reaches from spares and suspension support to prize money, leathers and helmet sponsorship to organized practice sessions. “The International-German cup-series has already been helpful to many racers as a stepping stone into the world scene, including Thomas Luethi, Christian Kellner, Kenan Sufuolgu, Joerg Teuchert, etc. “Of course, my expectations are pretty high and I hope to be on the podium again in 2006. Many of the R6-Cup riders are on their 2nd or 3rd year in this series and I’ll have to learn all tracks except for Lausitzring. And, I won’t be the only American on the grid. However, we hope to have the chance to test on a few tracks like Hockenheim, Salzburgring and Oschersleben to make up for this disadvantage. “Time management is becoming more challenging every year. Now, since I am working in the bike industry and visit an educational college parallel to my apprenticeship, it is not as easy to just take a week off and travel to Spain for a race even though my employer is very tolerant. The tracks of the R6-Cup are mostly within 500-600 miles, which is acceptable. “I am totally happy to have some control over our racing program again and can’t wait for the challenge ahead in 2006. Thanks for all the encouraging words and comments from old friends and fans in the United States.”

Ducati Marlboro Team preview 2006 MotoGP World Championship, round 1 of 17 Spanish Grand Prix, Jerez , March 24/25/26 DUCATI MARLBORO MEN READY TO GO RACING The Ducati Marlboro Team finally gets to go racing on March 26 following a long and fruitful winter of testing and development in Europe, Australia and the Far East. Riders Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau are looking forward to the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix with cautious optimism, thanks to their impressive pace at the final preseason tests at Jerez on March 10/11/12. Capirossi, all set for his fourth year with the Italian team, and Gibernau, ready for his debut race with the squad, were first and second fastest during the Jerez tests, having found excellent performance from the Desmosedici GP6 and its Bridgestone tyres. Ducati’s latest MotoGP bike is a careful evolution of its race-winning 2005 machine, designed to offer more consistent, more rider-friendly performance at 17 different racetracks. LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP Project Leader “Our final Jerez tests went well, but maybe we had an advantage because we already tested there last November, so we are reasonably happy but we also know that our rivals will get stronger. We just need to keep working and maintain our motivation. Loris and Sete have both worked hard all winter and done a great job giving feedback to the Ducati engineers and Bridgestone technicians, which has helped us to build a better machine. The rider can make a huge difference in this sport, so our thanks to them. Over the last two seasons we struggled at the first few races, so I hope that this year we’ve got a competitive package from the start.” LORIS CAPIROSSI, Ducati Marlboro Team Rider Loris Capirossi impressed in winter tests at Sepang, Phillip Island and Jerez, but the true test comes at Jerez on March 26. Winner of three GPs over the past three years with the Ducati Marlboro Team, the Italian aims to start the season in the best possible way. “I think we are well prepared for the first race,” says Capirossi. “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 got quick at Jerez you need a well-balanced bike and a good front end because you need confidence to attack all the fast corners.” SETE GIBERNAU, Ducati Marlboro Team Rider Sete Gibernau is all set for his Ducati Marlboro Team race debut after finalising his winter’s work at the Jerez preseason tests. Although the Spaniard is still getting to know the Desmosedici GP6, he has already shown impressive pace aboard the machine. “Thanks to the great work from the Team and Bridgestone I can’t wait for the season to start,” says Gibernau. “It’s not easy having the first race at home but I don’t think I can ever remember an easy race in this championship. It’s going to be a tough year but we are strong mentally and everyone’s going to need that strength to keep going through the 17 races. I’m ready to fight and to give my all, and if we get the results, the payback will be amazing! “Maintaining momentum is what really matters at Jerez – it’s the kind of track where the more you fight the bike, the slower you go. You need good front-end contact but that’s not easy because the gearbox is pretty short, so the bike is always trying to wheelie.” THE TRACK Jerez is one of the most popular events on the MotoGP calendar, regularly attracting weekend crowds in excess of 200,000. Constructed in 1986, the track hosted its first Grand Prix the following year and has remained on the World Championship calendar ever since. sono state completamente rinnovate. Most riders love the Andalucian venue because it rewards rider talent. Many of the circuit’s 13 corners flow into one another, placing the emphasis on smooth, neat riding and stable, all-round machine performance. The circuit character places particular emphasis on front-tyre grip, though the many slow-speed turns also require MotoGP riders to control wheelspin as they power out of the corners. Four years ago the track underwent resurfacing and total reconstruction of its infrastructure. JEREZ: 4.423km/2.748 miles Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1m 40.596s, 158.284kmh/98.353s (2005) Pole position 2005: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 1m 39.419s DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS LORIS CAPIROSSI Age: 32 (born April 4, 1973) Lives: Monaco Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 GP starts: 231 (61xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125) GP victories: 25 (3xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125) First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125) First GP: Japan, 1990 (125) Pole positions: 39 (6xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125) First pole: Australia, 1991 (125) World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998) Jerez 2005 results: Grid: 6th. Race: 13th SETE GIBERNAU Age: 33 (born December 15, 1972) Lives: Switzerland Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6 GP starts: 160 (65xMotoGP, 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) Jerez 2005 results: Grid: 2nd. Race: 2nd

Palmer to ride factory MV Agusta at TT 2006 Isle of Man resident Chris Palmer will compete in this year’s TT Races aboard a factory 1000cc MV Agusta, under the banner of FCL Racing. The Carlisle rider, who now resides in Castletown, will use the exotic machine in both the Superbike and Senior events and although not an official factory effort, the machine will ensure that there is further manufacturer representation at this year’s event. Having already lapped at over 121mph in last year’s Senior on an R1 Yamaha, the MV Agusta, which weighs less than a Yamaha R6 and is two stone lighter than the R1, should suit the diminutive Palmer and gives him a great chance of making a serious impression in the Superbike races. The stylish machine will also evoke memories from years gone by as the famous Italian marque dominated proceedings in the 1950’s, 60’s and early 70’s, and although Thomas Montano successfully competed on an MV in 2005, this will be the first time a factory machine has appeared on the Island since 1972. In addition to the MV Agusta, Palmer will also compete in this year’s TT on a Yamaha R1 Superstock courtesy of Myles Robinson and David Tonge, and on a Honda CBR 600RR in the Junior, courtesy of Joe Grant (Solway Slate & Tile). Speaking about the opportunity to race the MV, one of the most famous names in motorcycling, Palmer said: “It all came about when Chloe Flanagan contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in riding it. Having already ridden for her father Alistair at Macau last year, I jumped at the chance and I’m absolutely over the moon. This time last year I was struggling to find competitive machinery so it’s great to have everything all in place so early and I’m really looking forward to riding the MV around the Mountain Course. I’ve proved that I can ride a Superbike and with this machine being so light and compact, it should help me add a few more mph to my speeds and put me further up the leaderboard.” TT Team and Rider Liaison Officer Paul Phillips commented: “I must admit this has come as a bit of a surprise but I’m delighted that Chris has secured such a competitive machine for this year’s races. He’s proven over the last few years what an extremely talented rider he is and the MV Agusta is an exotic piece of machinery for him to excel even more. Thomas Montano rode brilliantly on a standard MV in 2005 so I’m looking forward to seeing Chris in action on the new bike and the combination of both rider and machine is certainly capable of challenging for honours. Not only is it great for Chris, it’s also great for the TT as it ensures there’s another top flight manufacturer represented in the races.” David Cretney, MHK, Minister for the Department of Tourism and Leisure added: “MV Agusta is not only one of the most famous names associated with the TT Races, it’s also one of the most famous names in motorcycling so it’s fantastic news that a factory machine will once again be gracing the Mountain Circuit. Chris has been a tremendous competitor over the last few years and it’s great to see all his efforts rewarded with such a competitive machine. I’m sure he’ll perform brilliantly and it’s just another boost to the entry, which is already first class.”