Kawasaki’s Roger Hayden earned the AMA Supersport pole position with a new class lap record during qualifying Wednesday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway. Riding his Dunlop-equipped ZX-6RR, Hayden lapped the 2.95-mile infield road course in 1:41.552, which is approximately two seconds faster than the old lap record time, Tommy Hayden’s 1:43.510. Tommy Hayden, Roger Hayden’s teammate and older brother, qualified third-fastest with a time of 1:41.921. Tommy Hayden, the 2004 and 2005 AMA Supersport Champion, does not plan to defend his Supersport Championship in 2006 and is only making a special one-off appearance in the class at Daytona. Lining up between the two Hayden brothers on the Supersport front row for Thursday’s race will be Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking, who turned the second-fastest qualifying time, 1:41.667. Completing the Supersport front row will be Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Geoff May, who recorded a 1:42.225 on his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600. May’s teammate Michael Barnes crashed in the first 10 minutes of the Supersport qualifying session, highsiding his GSX-R600 in turn seven. Barnes (who was second-fastest in the session when he crashed) suffered an injury to his right knee, according to his team, and was transported via ambulance to Halifax Medical Center to have his injury treated. Barnes’ crash resulted in the session to be stopped and a long delay to clean fluid from the track. Provisional Wednesday Afternoon AMA Supersport Qualifying Results: 1. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:41.552 2. Jamie Hacking (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.668 3. Tommy Hayden (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:41.921 4. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R600), 1:42.226 5. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R600), 1:43.217 6. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:43.425 7. Alastair Seeley (Yam YZF-R6), 1:43.436 8. Damon Buckmaster (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:43.707 9. Pascal Picotte (Yam YZF-R6), 1:44.077 10. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), 1:44.089 11. Tyler McDonald (Yam YZF-R6), 1:44.859 12. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600), 1:45.019 13. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600), 1:45.046 14. Darren Luck (Suz GSX-R600), 1:45.052 15. Rob Frost (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:45.398 16. Ryan Elleby (Hon CBR600RR), 1:45.429 17. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6), 1:45.987 18. Will Gruy (Yam YZF-R6), 1:46.016 19. Chris “Opie” Caylor (Suz GSX-R600), 1:46.648 20. Nathan Hester (Yam YZF-R6), 1:46.860 21. Shea Fouchek (Suz GSX-R600), 1:46.932 22. Tony Meiring (Suz GSX-R600), 1:46.966 23. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.021 24. Justin Filice (Hon CBR600RR), 1:47.223 25. Jeff Tigert (Hon CBR600RR), 1:47.279 26. Tristan Shoenewald (Hon CBR600RR), 1:47.322 27. Greg Gildenhuys (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.526 28. Joshua Day (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.666 29. Keith Marshall (Suz GSX-R600), 1:47.971 30. Dr. Jeffrey Purk, DDS (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.317 31. Dirk Sanchez (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:48.375 32. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.649 33. Bill Card (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.787 34. David McPherson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.873 35. Mark McCormick (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.874 36. Brian Hall (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:48.901 37. Aaron Eldridge (Kaw Zx-6RR), 1:48.904 38. Dan Ortega (Suz GSX-R600), 1:48.984 39. Richard Breen (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.327 40. Kenny Carlotta (Suz GSX-R600), 1:49.369 41. Bostjan Pintar (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.572 42. Santiago Villa Venegas (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.844 43. Bostjan Skubic (Hon CBR600RR), 1:49.858 44. Joseph Ford (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.996 45. Spencer Stuart (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.016 46. Jeff Seehorn (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:51.047 47. Lance Yeager (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:51.688 48. Jean Paul Tache (Suz GSX-R600), 1:52.130 49. David Sadowski, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.506 50. Scotty Van Scoik (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:52.895 51. Dafan Zhang (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:53.140 52. Dejan Senk (Hon CBR600RR), 1:58.840

Daytona 200 By Honda To Feature New Contingency Award DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (March 8, 2006) — The 2006 Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday, March 11 will feature a new annual contingency award — the Cal Rayborn Award which will be given to the top finishing rider aboard a Harley-Davidson, Buell or other Harley-Davidson-powered motorcycle. The $10,000 prize, which is being sponsored by Cycle World Magazine and Drag Specialties, is named after Cal Rayborn, generally recognized as one of America’s top motorcycle road racers. As a factory-sponsored Harley-Davidson rider, Rayborn won the 1968 and 1969 Daytona 200 By Honda with his 1969 win being that last time a Harley-Davidson-powered motorcycle won America’s most prestigious motorcycle race. Rayborn, who resided in the San Diego, Calif., area, died in a practice session for a motorcycle road race in New Zealand in December of 1973 at the age of 33. “The Daytona 200 By Honda is one of the premier motorcycle events in America and this new contingency award enhances this historic race,” Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. Tickets for Daytona 200 Week By Honda events are available at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Provisional AMA Superstock Qualifying Results: 1. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R1 LE), 1:39.185 2. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:39.712 3. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R1 LE), 1:40.063 4. Jamie Hacking (Yam YZF-R1 LE), 1:40.074 5. Damon Buckmaster (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:40.136 6. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:40.334 7. Steve Rapp (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:40.369 8. Josh Hayes (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:40.866 9. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:41.101 10. Jason Pridmore (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.140 11. Jake Holden (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.585 12. Marty Craggill (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.680 13. Cory West (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.875 14. John Haner (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.876 15. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.113 16. Larry Pegram (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:42.181 17. Robertino Pietri (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.305 18. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:42.655 19. Matt Lynn (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.889 20. C.R. Gittere (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:43.934 21. Mike Sanchez (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:44.364 22. David Loikits (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:44.364 23. Brad Hendry (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:45.421 24. James Kerker (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:45.916 25. Rodolfo Ramirez (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.008 26. Akira Tamitsuji (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.306 27. Rory Rock (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:46.438 28. Carlos Macias (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:46.472 29. Taylor Knapp (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.895 30. Bryan West (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:47.257 31. Brian Boyd (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:47.441 32. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:47.690 33. Johnny Rock Page (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:47.700 34. Reno Karimian (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:47.982 35. Logan Young (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:48.249 36. Randall Kienast (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:48.777 110% Of Fast Time = 1:49.103 37. Simon Wright (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:49.206, Did Not Qualify 38. Garth Cloyd (Hon CBR1000RR, 1:50.397, Did Not Qualify 39. Lance Williams (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:50.430, Did Not Qualify

DUCATI MARLBORO MEN SET FOR FINAL TEST Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau look forward to their final pre-season test at Jerez this weekend, just two weeks before the 2006 MotoGP World Championship gets underway at the Andalucian track. Capirossi and Gibernau are hoping for a sunny weekend and are confident of continuing the progress made during the useful session at Catalunya last weekend. Though he was not in the “spotlight” during the 40′ timed session, Sete was able late in the afternoon to set the fastest time of the day during his first ride on the wet with his Desmosedici GP6, and Loris announced he was happy with Bridgestone’s latest tyres, despite a stomach bug that kept him off the track for almost an entire day. The three-day session will give the pair a chance to conclude their winter development duties and start working towards a machine set-up and tyre choice that will deliver the best race-long performance at the flowing Jerez circuit. Vittoriano Guareschi will also be present at Jerez, continuing in his role as test rider. LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP project leader “Overall we have had a pretty good winter, now we are looking forward to this final test and the first race of the 2006 season. Catalunya demonstrated the excellent progress made by Bridgestone over the last few months but the weather wasn’t good enough for us to do any real endurance runs, so we hope the conditions are better at Jerez. If the weather is okay, our focus will be doing long runs, so we can give Bridgestone a real idea of what’s required for the Jerez race on March 26.”

1. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.425 2. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.928 3. Josh Jayes (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.020 4. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.133 5. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600), 1:42.828 6. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.968 7. Pascal Picotte (Yam YZF-R6), 1:43.492 8. Alastair Seeley (Yam YZF-R6), 1:43.738 9. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), 1:43.831 10. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR600RR), 1:44.000 11. Jeremy McWilliams (Buell XB-RR), 1:44.066 12. Eric Wood (Hon CBR600RR), 1:44.336 13. Tyler McDonald (Yam YZF-R6), 1:45.548 14. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600), 1:45.660 15. Ryan Andrews (Hon CBR600RR), 1:45.740 16. Ty Howard (Hon CBR600RR), 1:45.833 17. Steve Crevier (Buell XB-RR), 1:45.873 18. Ryan Elleny (Hon CBR600RR), 1:46.086 19. Mike Ciccotto (Buell XB-RR), 1:46.220 20. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6), 1:46.263 21. Rob Frost (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:46.577 22. Will Gruy (Yam YZF-R6), 1:46.819 23. Justin Filice (Hon CBR600RR), 1:47.077 24. Jeff Tigert (Hon CBR600RR), 1:47.210 25. Mark Crozier (Suz GSX-R600), 1:47.431 26. Josh Day (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.485 27. Brett Champagne (Suz GSX-R600), 1:47.570 28. Tony Meiring (Suz GSX-R600), 1:47.635 29. Brian Hall (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:47.659 30. Nathan Hester (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.739 31. Chris Caylor (Suz GSX-R600), 1:47.790 32. Armando Ferrer (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:47.914 33. Bill Card (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.959 34. Keith Marshall (Suz GSX-R600), 1:48.265 35. Anthony Fania (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.566 36. Dirk Sanchez (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:48.689 37. Ryan Gordon (Duc 749R), 1:49.013 38. David McPherson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.043 39. Jean Paul Tache (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:49.074 40. Oliver Jervis (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:49.326 41. Robert Fisher (Suz GSX-R600), 1:49.332 42. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.380 43. Bostjan Pintar (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.444 44. Dr. Jeff Purk (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.477 45. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:49.586 46. Mark McCormick (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.782 47. Ray Bowman (Suz GSX-R600), 1:49.948 48. Jack Pfeifer (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:50.038 49. Bostjan Skubic (Hon CBR600RR), 1:50.067 50. Rick Shaw (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.085 51. John Ashmead (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:50.291 52. James Kerker (Hon CBR600RR), 1:50.293 53. Joe Ford (Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.446 54. Morgan Murphy (Suz GSX-R600), 1:50.532 55. Lance Yeager (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:50.710 56. Kenny Carlotta (Suz GSX-R600), 1:50.962 57. Spencer Stuart (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.365 58. John Linder (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.385 59. Chad Simons (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.709 60. Dan Ortega (Suz GSX-R600), 1:51.752 61. Davie Sadowski (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.558 62. Dafan Zhang (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:52.684 63. Scott Van Scoik (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:530.063 64. Trey Yonce (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.255 65. Akiharu Shigeno (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:53.536 66. Jeff Seehorn (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:54.502 67. Dejan Senk (Hon CBR600RR), 2:01.321 68. Jorge Corbato (Yam YZF-R6), 2:06.990

In February, BMW Motorrad issued a press release, including a photo, of a prototype motorcycle it described as a “test vehicle” to study “highly dynamic processes in engine and driving dynamics management under extreme conditions” with an eye toward future production models. When contacted by Roadracingworld.com, BMW Motorrad USA’s Communications Manager Roy Oliemuller said that there were no specific plans to go racing with the bike. Roadracingworld.com, however, has been told by a well-placed source that the motorcycle is actually a precursor to an official BMW factory MotoGP racing effort starting in 2007 with the introduction of an 800cc displacement limit. According to our source, the vehicle pictured is powered by a three-cylinder engine, which is will be BMW’s MotoGP engine configuration. The chassis, however, is only a test bed for research and data gathering. The press release stated that the “test vehicle” had only been ridden at BMW facilities but would soon be tested at “other closed-off circuits,” and the motorcycle was, in fact, tested recently in Italy with former MotoGP regular Jeremy McWilliams at the controls. Luca Cadalora has also ridden the motorcycle and is the rider on the machine in the picture supplied with the press release from BMW. Our source did not know further details about the engine or BMW’s timeline for its racing plans. More details will be posted when they become available.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, the 2005 AMA Superbike Championship runner-up, recorded the fastest time in Wednesday morning’s AMA Superbike practice at Daytona International Speedway. Spies turned a best of 1:38.378 (just off Mat Mladin’s 2005 lap record of 1:38.232) while testing Dunlop tires on his GSX-R1000. “We haven’t really messed with our race set-up yet,” Spies told Daytona’s public address announcer Richard Chambers. “We’ve been trying so many different tires we haven’t had much of chance to make changes to the bike. Right now we’re about a second off where we were when we tested here a couple of months ago, so we know there’s some time left in the bike.” Provisional Wednesday Morning AMA Superbike Practice Times: 1. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:38.378 2. Neil Hodgson (Duc 999F06), 1:38.834 3. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:38.900 4. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.097 5. Tommy Hayden (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.369 6. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:39.373 7. Ben Bostrom (Duc 999F06), 1:39.728 8. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:39.840 9. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:39.913 10. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:40.324 11. John Haner (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:40.852 12. Jason Pridmore (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.101 13. Steve Rapp (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.306 14. Larry Pegram (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:41.607 15. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.892 16. Robertino Pietri (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.968 17. Jake Holden (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.164 18. Eric Wood (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.538 19. Cory West (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.568 20. Marty Craggill (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.607 21. Matt Lynn (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:43.848 22. C.R. Gittere (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:44.981 23. Michael Sanchez (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:45.107 24. Norino Brignola (Duc 999R), 1:45.858 25. Akira Tamitsuji (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.045 26. Rodolfo Ramirez (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.207 27. Brad Hendry (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.224 28. Scott Jensen (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.437 29. Marco Martinez (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.527 30. Scott Carpenter (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.908 31. James Kerker (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:47.145 32. Rory Rock (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:47.222 33. Dean Mizdal (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:47.585 34. Simon Wright (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:47.644 35. Anthony Fania (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:48.489 36. Brian Boyd (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:48.535 37. Reno Karimian (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:49.066 38. Carlos Macias (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:49.104 39. Roberto Concepcion (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:49.740 40. Brian Stokes (Yam YZF-R1), 1:53.168

Jamie Hacking, Yamaha’s sole factory team entry in the AMA Supersport class, led Wednesday morning’s AMA Supersport practice at Daytona International Speedway with a time of 1:41.757, which is well below the existing lap record for the class, Tommy Hayden’s 1:43.510. Armed with set-up knowledge gained during the CCS/ASRA race weekend at Daytona, Hacking did his fast lap within his first nine laps of practice on his all-new YZF-R6 and told his crew that he was only riding at 60% of his limit. Hacking, however, stopped riding halfway through Supersport practice and considered leaving the track to get X-rays taken of his neck, which was sore from a crash he had during AMA Superstock practice moments earlier. Hacking did not leave the track or get X-rays, according to his Team Manager Tom Halverson. Second and third on the timing and scoring monitors at the end of the Supersport practice session were Safety First Racing’s Tony “The Tiger” Meiring and Matsushima Performance Suzuki’s Danny Eslick, respectively. The low-1:42 lap times shown for Meiring and Eslick, however, were not legitimate lap times, according to each rider. The second-fastest rider in Supersport practice was actually Roger Hayden, with a 1:42.643 on his factory Kawasaki ZX-6RR, followed by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Geoff May, with a 1:42.977 on his new GSX-R600, and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, with a 1:43.173 on his new GSX-R600. Provisional Wednesday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times: 1. Jamie Hacking (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.758 2. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), 1:42.248* 3. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:42.643 4. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R600), 1:42.977 5. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R600), 1:43.173 6. Tommy Hayden (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:43.212 7. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600), 1:43.666 8. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:43.792 9. Damon Buckmaster (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:44.111 10. Pascal Picotte (Yam YZF-R6), 1:44.119 11. Alastair Seeley (Yam YZF-R6), 1:44.594 12. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6), 1:45.766 13. Ryan Elleby (Hon CBR600RR), 1:46.213 14. Tyler McDonald (Yam YZF-R6), 1:46.320 15. Darren Luck (Suz GSX-R600), 1:46.395 16. Rob Frost (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:46.698 17. Shea Fouchek (Suz GSX-R600), 1:46.765 18. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600), 1:47.112 19. Tristan Schoenewald (Hon CBR600RR), 1:47.378 20. Nathan Hester (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.746 21. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.757 22. Brian Hall (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:47.993 23. Joshua Day (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.184 24. Chris “Opie” Caylor (Suz GSX-R600), 1:48.312 25. Justin Filice (Hon CBR600RR), 1:48.390 26. Greg Gildenhuys (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.434 27. Tony Meiring (Suz GSX-R600), 1:48.694 28. Jeff Tigert (Hon CBR600RR), 1:48.710 29. Aaron Eldridge (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:48.788 30. Jean Paul Tache (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.969 31. David McPherson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.074 32. Keith Marshall (Suz GSX-R600), 1:49.601 33. Mark McCormick (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.288 34. Dan Ortega (Suz GSX-R600), 1:50.351 35. Joseph Ford (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.701 36. Santiago Villa Venegas (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.034 37. Dr. Jeffrey Purk, DDS (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.499 38. Spencer Stuart (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.501 39. Bill Card (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.560 40. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.863 41. Kenny Carlotta (Suz GSX-R600), 1:51.902 42. Bostjan Pintar (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.970 43. Lance Yeager (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:52.234 44. Bostjan Skubic (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.367 45. Will Gruy (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.776 46. David Sadowski, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.078 47. Dafan Zhang (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:53.682 48. Scotty Van Scoik (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:54.258 49. Dejan Senk (Hon CBR600RR), 2:05.149 *Danny Eslick indicated to Roadracingworld.com that this lap time was obtained by cutting the course. His second-best lap time, according to AMA Pro Racing timing & scoring, is a 1:44.454, which would put him 11th-fastest.