Motel 6 Makes Planning Trips Easier for Motor Sports Fans Motor sports fans can now easily find Motel 6 locations near all major racing events Carrollton, TX “” Motel 6, the largest corporately owned and operated hotel chain in North America, announced today the launch of the Motel 6 Motor Sports Trip Planner, a special Motel 6 Web site feature designed to help motor sports fans plan trips to racing events across the country. The Motel 6 Motor Sports Trip Planner offers motor sports fans a database with schedules for all major motor sports races along with listings of the closest Motel 6 properties to the corresponding racing venue. For those taking a road trip to a racing event, the Trip Planner also provides directions to the venue and highlights Motel 6 locations along the way. The database allows motor sports fans to search for racing events by date, state and series. “As a proud sponsor of the National Hot Rod Association, we know first-hand how passionate racing fans are about the sport,” said Eric Studer, vice president of advertising and promotions for Motel 6. “We wanted to do something special for our motor sports fans, so we created the Motor Sports Trip Planner to help them make the most out of every motor sport season.” The Trip Planner features information on all major motor sports series, including NASCAR, Busch, NHRA Drag Racing, Indy Racing League and American Le Mans. Some of the featured series on the site include Formula One, AMA, NASCAR Busch and Truck Series, NHRA Powerade Drag Racing, Indy Pro Series the Grand Am Series and more. For more information on the Motel 6 Trip Planner or to plan your next motor sports trip, please visit www.motel6.com. About Motel 6 Motel 6 offers a low price and great value at more than 850 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Standard amenities include free local phone calls with no long distance access charges, free morning coffee, phones with data ports, and an expanded cable channel line-up with premium channels including HBO, ESPN and ESPN2. All Motel 6 properties welcome pets, and most locations offer swimming pools and guest laundry facilities. Click 6 Internet bargains are available only at motel6.com. For reservations or information, visit www.motel6.com or call 800-4-MOTEL6. About Accor North America Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, Accor North America operates more than 1,200 upscale and economy properties including nationwide economy leaders Red Roof Inn, Studio 6 and Motel 6 and the upscale Sofitel and mid-scale Novotel and Ibis hotel locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.accor-na.com. About Accor With 168,000 employees in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the world’s largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services, with two major international activities: – Hotels with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, Motel 6, Studio 6 and Red Rood Inn brands: over 4,000 hotels and 470,000 rooms in 92 countries, as well as other businesses (restaurants notably Lenôtre, casinos and travel agencies) – Services to corporate clients and public institutions: 19 million people in 35 countries use a broad range of services (food vouchers, people care and services, incentive, loyalty programs) engineered and managed by Accor Services.

By Cory Stem Championship Cup Series by Road Race Southwest at Firebird Raceway East Track February 18-19, 2006 A rain drought of over 120 days has plagued Arizona, but the racing drought is over in the Southwest Region of Championship Cup Series. A new organization, Road Race Southwest, brought in new sponsors, longer races and a fine class of new experts for 2006 to show off to the area road racers. With perfect temperatures in the mid 60’s, no wind and some clouds, the scene was set for winter racing in the desert. In the Lightweight classes, Bob Russell on his Dunlop/EBC brakes SV 650 dominated the Value Pools LW Superbike and the Cobbs Restaurant/AZ Sportbike Supply Supersport races. Wayne Nielson on his Mongrel SV played to the podium all day but finally topped it in the Tracktime GT Lights class, a half hour race that caught some riders unprepared for such a distance. The Middleweight races saw Kane Lasky on his Racer Support Technologies Kawasaki win all three handily as he showcased his new company that helps racers become better in all aspects – mind, body and machine. Ivan Garza and Jon Blaylock were left to battle for second with Jon taking two of them in the Racer’s Edge Supersport and Powerstands Superbike on his Michelin equipped North Valley Honda 600. Garza pulled off the second in the Moto-Services Grand Prix. The amateurs got to battle it out over a pot of money from Jim Cox Racing Service and Eric Sampson won on his Smart Start Yamaha. There were three sponsored classes in the Heavyweight and Unlimited categories on Sunday. The big guns were there and some hit their mark while others misfired on the track. The first race of the day was the A.J.’s Performance/TintWizard Unlimited Superbike class which had Mark Ledesma torch the field from the start on his much improved North Valley Honda/Red Baron CBR 1000RR. He never looked back at Lasky who held position and could not close the gap. It was a cool Sunday for the Heatwave Cycles Unlimited Supersport race and Johnny Rock Page, tuning up for his AMA season on his CGiATM.com Yamaha 1000, held off Garza on his ZX600 for the entire time. The race everyone was waiting for was the Unlimited GP. Road Race Southwest stepped up to put $1500 cash on the line for the top 5 finishers so the intensity was turned up a notch. The build up came before the green flag dropped as everyone watched the anticipated premier of new expert Davie Stone. Stone held his own all day but crashed and injured his shoulder earlier in the day. Stone, on his website Allstoneallthetime.com commented, “Lap times showed I was third fastest to Kane and Ledesma”¦I am shown that the fastest lap times don’t necessarily get you on the podium.” in reference to racing through traffic while still maintaining consistency. In qualifying, Mark Ledesma put his Honda on the front with a 54.985 lap time, a new record and on the same bike that was faster than all factory Honda’s at Laguna last year. Mark said his Michelin had not “even started to come in yet” and he pulled in after three laps to save it for the race. In the Unlimited GP, Mark checked out again and left Kane to his own devices in second who in turn gapped third. Joe “Eight Ball” Dawson sank his bike into third with a bank shot past Johnny Rock Page which he would hold onto to the finish. The real battle to watch was between Page and Garza. Ivan came into the race on his Edge Kawasaki ZX 600 on DOT tires to challenge and give fits to Page on his R1 and in many racers opinion Garza had the best ride of the day. Road Race Southwest/Championship Cup Series next event is March 25-26 at Firebird East. Check out www.roadracesw.com for all information, results, lap times and the best forum in the west! See you at the races!

Loris Capirossi attends the showing of the new AutumnWinter 06/07 street wear collection from C’N’C. Bologna, 21st February 2006 During a well-earned break from winter testing, Loris Capirossi attended yesterday’s showing of the new Autumn-Winter street wear collection from C’N’C which took place at the l’Arco della Pace in Milan. Together with many VIPs, journalists and his beautiful wife Ingrid, the Ducati MotoGP Team rider was one of the first to be able to admire Ennio Capasa’s new designs, which included pieces inspired by the Borgo Panigale-based production house. These will be available at most shops that stock C’N’C clothing. The success of the spring/summer 2006 line, produced under the label “C’N’C Ducati”, therefore seems set to continue, strengthening the collaboration between Costume National and Ducati and the racing world. C’N’C will be the official sponsor of the Ducati MotoGP Team for 2006 with its logo clearly visible on the clothing of the riders and team members. Founded in 1987 by the brothers, Carlo and Ennio Capasa, respectively managing-director and designer of the company, Costume National is one of the most prestigious prêt-à-porter fashion labels in the world. With a turnover in excess of 50 million Euro and flagship stores in Milan, Rome, Paris, Los Angeles, New York and Tokyo, the company directly controls the production and the distribution of clothing, shoes, accessories and perfumes. The C’N’C Costume National street wear line is produced and distributed by Ittierre SpA, while the sunglasses are produced and distributed by Marcolin. Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in six market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster, Sport Touring, Multistrada and the new SportClassic. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fifteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.ducati.com

BUMPER CROP OF SBK TALENT FOR 2006 SEASON OPENER Losail, Tuesday 21th February 2006 The 2006 SBK World Superbike Championship® kicks off this forthcoming weekend at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, the first of 13-rounds in what is expected to be one of the most closely contested series ever held. A high-class entry of almost 30 permanent riders, representing six manufacturers’ best hopes for ultimate glory in the most prestigious SBK™ racing series on the planet, will gather in Qatar, each with the knowledge that they are competing in the most evenly balanced Motorsports World Championship on two wheels. Riders young and old will add unrivalled variety to the field, from hopefuls barely out of their teens to seasoned veterans with more than 40 years and up to 20 racing seasons under their belts. The ever-present line-up of regulars will be added to by wildcards at certain rounds, but with each and every rider choosing from an extensive pool of control Pirelli tyres, to even-out the playing field in the fairest way possible. LOSAIL MAGNIFICENT – BY NO MYSTERY FOR TOP RIDERS Some teams have elected to make Losail one of their pre-season test tracks this year but for most of the other competitors the impressive 5.4km circuit, located near Qatari capital city Doha, will be already be a known quantity. Most gained experience of its contrasting fast and slow sections during last year’s inaugural SBK™ visit, while some others have ridden there in different global motorcycle competitions. With the race held on a Saturday once more, Losail is unique in many ways. Its 10 right and six left handed corners offer a host of differing challenges, while the featureless desert setting gives little away in terms of braking markers or corner entry points. A power-sapping 1.068km main straight allows the machines to sing in the higher octaves of their repertoires, even in top gear, while many of the faster corners offer a rare challenge in these days of tighter, slower circuits, most of which are built on a compact scale compared to Losail’s expanses. CORSER PLANS HIGH SPEED DEFENCE IN TITLE-WINNING TEAM 2005 World Champion Troy Corser (Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) returns to Qatar alongside the same team-mate with whom he shared individual Losail race wins last year, Yukio Kagayama. Despite facing a solid wall of competition on all levels this year, Corser is confident after some dazzling pre-season testing performances. Also champion in 1996, Corser goes for title number three this time around. Kagayama, fifth overall in his ‘rookie’ SBK™ season in 2005, will be out to prove that his mid-season dip in form was a never-to-be-repeated aberration, as he sets about his task with his usual mix of experience and unrivalled exuberance. Four permanent Suzuki riders this year include a third rider in Alstare colours, 2002 SS SBK™ World Champion Fabien Foret, plus the Celani Team Suzuki Italia GSX-R1000 of 2002 season European Superstock® Champion, Vittorio Iannuzzo. HONDA RIDERS LED BY TWO PROVEN CHAMPIONS Honda field five officially supported entries in this year’s series, from SBK™ first timers to the most experienced man in the entire championship. In the Winston Ten Kate Honda team, 2004 World Champion James Toseland undertakes his first ever four-cylinder season in SBK Superike World Championship®, aiming to finish higher up than his 2005 fourth. An SBK debutant last year, 2004 season World SS™ Champion Karl Muggeridge is just one of a raft of fast Aussie riders in the championship again, and yet another rider of proven class. He was part of the team that saw outgoing rider Chris Vermeulen score multiple race wins on his way to championship runner-up status in 2005, and Muggeridge now returns to continue his steep learning curve, hunting for his first SBK race win. HONDA RIDERS FORM STRONG CHALLENGE A one man Klaffi Honda team will feature the astonishingly experienced former MotoGP rider Alex Barros, with the popular Brazilian already a welcome addition to the SBK family. The Sao Paolo Superstar, who has great experience of SBK™ spec machinery (thanks to successful appearances in the Suzuka 8-Hour race in Japan), is nonetheless a rookie this season, if one with enough ability to challenge from the very outset. Despite being 36 years of age, Barros is by no means the elder statesman of SBK™ racing. That honour, along with many race wins over the years, goes to a certain Pierfrancesco Chili, who is currently 41 years young. Chili’s latest challenge is to run in an all-Italian Honda team, in conjunction with traditional SBK™ participants, DFX Treme. He shares garage space with a new talent to the Superbike ranks, Michel Fabrizio. The squad thus features the oldest rider in the series with one of the youngest, as Fabrizio is only 21. He gets a promotion from World SS™, where he enjoyed a modicum of success last year. Fabrizio’s raw talents have already delivered him the 2003 European Superstock® Championship, and his experience also includes four-stoke MotoGP rides, despite his tender years. BAYLISS AND LANZI HEAD DUCATI CHARGE Few riders have made such an impact in pre-season testing as 2001 World Champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox). Returning to his ‘alma mater’ after a MotoGP career punctuated by podium finishes, Bayliss has been on fire in testing, readapting to the latest Ducati twin in record time; all despite the lingering effects of a severe left forearm injury, suffered late last year. Forming the second prong in a fierce factory Ducati Xerox attack is double race winner Lorenzo Lanzi. His two 2005 SBK™ race wins came in his rookie season, and each success underlined that a new talent was in town, one with an intense desire to succeed and with little respect for reputations. DUCATI TEAMS IN ABUNDANCE Eight full time Ducati riders will be in attendance at Qatar, the factory squad heading an impressive array of proven desmo-powered talent, plus the odd new inductee. Spanish star Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik Ducati) teams up with Marco Borciani this year, even if he may not be able to ride in the first couple of rounds, thanks to an injury suffered in training. A serial race winner in the 2003 season, Xaus is expected to make a strong impact once fully fit. A serious challenge to the 250GP crown in previous years, Roberto Rolfo is another fast SBK™ rookie in the 2006 series, as he takes the field for the Ducati SC Caracchi squad. A one-man effort, the new partnership is nonetheless laden with exciting possibilities. His single rider effort is in great contrast to the three-rider festival of speed fielded by the Pedercini Ducati squad. The eponymous team-leader Lucio Pedercini heads up his countryman Ivan Clementi and the already proven talents of young German rider, Max Neukirchner. The latter is a first time Ducati pilot, yet has already impressed in winter testing – despite not having the newest tyres or a full factory machine at his immediate disposal. YAMAHA RIDERS OFFER TOP CLASS CHALLENGE Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) form a formidable obstacle to any would-be world champion. In Haga, Yamaha has a proven multiple race winner, and now he has opted to come back on the same machines as 2005, he is expected to at least replicate his third place finish of last year. Pitt’s battling qualities and front-running in ’05 got him re-signed for his second SBK™ season, and a podium finish is his first priority for 2006. Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) is a rider who needs little introduction, despite struggling somewhat in his first SBK™ season last year. His team-mate of 2005, Sebastien Gimbert is back once more and the team also features more new talent, Japanese rider Shinichi Nakatomi, who will run a different suspension set-up from his immediate peers. KAWASAKI’s THREE POINTED STARS PROVE SHARP IN PRE-SEASON The PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse squad return to a green livery in Qatar, and more importantly, enjoys the benefits of a new design of ZX-10R machine, complete with greater manufacturer support than in 2005. The team has increased to a three-rider set-up, each of them a proven entity in many forms of motorcycle sport. Chris Walker scored a podium on the 2005 PSG-1 Kawasaki, and has already voted the 2006 version as a distinct improvement after good tests in Sepang and Phillip Island. Regis Laconi, 2004 season runner up, multiple SBK™ race winner last year, and one of the few riders in history to have SBK™ and MotoGP race wins to his credit, is a new face in the squad. Spanish star Fonsi Nieto carries on in the team he joined for just two races in 2005, and has already matched times with the more experienced Walker, as the man from Madrid continues the transition from a 250cc past to an SBK™ shaped future. Franco Battaini (Kawasaki Bertocchi) is another proven MotoGP and 250GP rider to opt for the charms of SBK™ in 2006, and much is expected of the privateer rider in his first SBK™ year. FOGGY SQUAD THREE BUT NOT EASY The orgy of technology that is the Petronas FP-1 triple will once more be campaigned by the Foggy Petronas team in the SBK™ series. 2005 signing Steve Martin returns after successful kidney surgery, having set impressive test times at Phillip Island in January. Young Briton Craig Jones may find the outgunned FP-1 not an ideal platform from which to launch his rookie SBK™ season, thanks solely to its 100cc capacity handicap compared to all other types of eligible SBK™ machines. His youthful enthusiasm will nonetheless see him gunning for the maximum possible rewards. SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® Champion in 2005, Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) may not have things all his own way this year, as a frontal assault of talent and all-new machines attempt to depose last year’s clear winner. Charpentier’s new team-mate is the Superstock 1000 FIM CUP™ runner up from 2005, Kenan Sofuoglu, but his greatest challenge may come from the two-rider Yamaha Motor Germany squad, now equipped with the all-new R6. Both Broc Parkes and Kevin Curtain won races in 2005, despite their machines’ relative venerability, and with a full 15 new R6s on the grid, plus 13 well-proven Hondas, this year’s contest is expected to be a true class act on all levels. An all new Suzuki GSX-R600, plus some fast Ducatis and Kawasakis, makes WSS™ a five cornered manufacturers’ fight again, in what is a massively resurgent class. SATURDAY RACE FOR ALL IN QATAR Both Superbike and Supersport classes will race on Saturday at Losail, not the more traditional Sunday of all other venues. This means track action begins on Thursday 23, with Superpole® for the Superbike class on Friday and points scoring races on Saturday 25th. Shortly thereafter, the paddock decamps to Phillip Island for round two, on Sunday 5 March. More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information: World Supersport and Superbike Championships 2006 Round 1 Losail International Circuit – Doha, Qatar Qatar Race Preview 23 – 25 FEBRUARY 2006 World Supersport Round 1 of 13 HONDA SUPERSPORT QUARTET ON SONG AHEAD OF OPENING RACE In terms of success in recent World Supersport Championships, Honda has an enviable record, thanks to four straight wins in the Riders’ Championship. The first came in 2002, with the CBR600FS model and then came the CBR600RR, netting overall victories in 2003, ’04, and ’05. For the past three years, Honda has also won the Supersport Manufacturers’ Championship. Last year’s champion, Sebastien Charpentier, returns to the fray once more on the latest version of the Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, buoyed not just by his number one status, but by some excellent recent winter test sessions. For the 2006 season, the talented Turkish rider, Kenan Sofuoglu, will join Charpentier. Runner-up in the 2005 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, Sofuoglu has adapted well to his new 600cc Honda, improving every time out. Each Winston Ten Kate Honda rider has some recent experience of Qatar from winter testing, while Charpentier will be looking to go one better than his second place from the 2005 race. The Losail circuit will be hosting World Supersport for the second time, with 2005 race winner Katsuaki Fujiwara (Team Megabike Honda) out to repeat the success he enjoyed when part of the Ten Kate set-up. His Italian-based Megabike team has already shown its potential in pre-season testing, most recently in Valencia, Spain. Alongside the experienced Fujiwara is a rider undertaking his first full WSS season, European Superstock 600 Championship runner-up in 2005, Yoann Tiberio. The youthful French rider has raced Supersport at National level in the past, but this year he is taking a jump to the highest level of competition imaginable, as part of the 35-strong list of permanent WSS riders. At 5.4km long, Losail is one of the most impressively proportioned global Motorsport venues, and its high level of facilities is second to none. Riders enjoy it for its challenging fast corners, especially when the circuit snakes out into the desert, and teams appreciate it for its fantastic all-round level of working facilities. Windblown sand can be an issue early on in a race weekend, necessitating occasional track cleaning and a cautious first practice session or two. Caution is not an intrinsic part of the 2005 World Champion’s make-up, and after running at record speeds in pre-season at Valencia, Charpentier is happy with his entire 2006 package. So much so that he has his eyes on a unique WSS prize this year. “We have tested in a few different places and the last test at Valencia was especially good,” said the defending champion. “We set very fast times there. I am OK, ready to race, and my energy is at the maximum. We have now tested many different solutions, and done a very good job. I think the team and I are completely ready for Qatar.” Sofuoglu lost some track time at the earlier Qatar tests for the team, but he should be at no disadvantage because of it, such was his level of progress when he did finally get on track. “Now I can say I am really happy with the bike and ready for the first race,” said Sofuoglu. “I achieved my ambition for the test season, because I wanted to be connected with the bike. I am getting closer to Sebastien, even if he is very fast right now. For me it would be great if Sebastien comes first and I could be in the top three.” Memories of Fujiwara’s victory in 2005 will play a large part in the build-up for the Japanese rider, whose potential season-long challenge for the crown was spoiled by injury at two key points. He also knows that although in a different team from last year, it is a proven one, and his new squad has already put fast bikes at his disposal. “I’m very happy about the bike because I know that she has a lot of power at high revs,” said Fujiwara. “From the first day we worked step-by-step to define our targets, for both the bike and myself. During the recent Valencia test I felt we showed good engine development and made real progress with the suspension, so I have confidence for the first race of the 2006 season.” At 19-years-old Tiberio finds himself in the thick of an incredibly tough series, a series which has experienced a major resurgence in both numbers and level of machinery this year. He is nonetheless ready for his first points scoring opportunity. “I may need more time to know the bike better,” acknowledged Tiberio, “because it is completely different from the Superstock machine that I used last season, certainly in terms of engine power. That doesn’t matter too much because I will arrive in Qatar with the smile on my face anyway. Day-by-day I have improved the feel of the machine and the working relationship with the technicians. I want to run a good race in Qatar. I have never seen the track before, but I will spend all my energies going for a top ten finish in the race.” World Superbike Round 1 of 13 HONDA’S HIGH FIVE LOOKING TO SCALE THE HEIGHTS IN QATAR The re-growth of World Superbike stretches to a new plateau of participation and power in 2006, with five supported Honda riders on the high-speed march towards ultimate glory in the 1000cc class. With a new model of CBR1000RR to compete with, all five can feel confident in their level of base machinery, yet with each team has arrived at their own tuning and chassis set-up, in readiness to take on the Superbike world. Karl Muggeridge returns for his second year in the Winston Ten Kate Honda set-up, and this year James Toseland – a race winner last year and the 2004 World Superbike Champion to boot – will join him. Despite his youthful appearance and only being 25-years-old, Toseland has had an eclectic ten year senior career, coming to prominence in British Nationals and then World Supersport, while competing on Honda machinery in both series. Now in the Winston ten Kate Honda team, Toseland is expected to find his four-cylinder feet quickly, and indeed he was second fastest in a recent pre-season test session at Valencia. In the Klaffi Honda team, Alex Barros swaps his MotoGP career for his first ever World Superbike contest, and the induction of the 36-year-old Brazilian into the series has providing one of the main talking points of the 2006 pre-season period. Now the world waits to see how quickly Barros can turn talent into silverware, against the best Superbike riders around. A two man DFX Honda team has shown pace and promise in pre-season testing, some of which was undertaken at Qatar. Experienced SBK Meastro Pierfrancesco Chili is teamed up with SBK rookie Michel Fabrizio, in an all-Italian dream team. Both riders were powered by Honda in 2005; Chili in the Klaffi Superbike team and Fabrizio in the Megabike Supersport squad. Toseland, keen to get into action after all the winter testing of recent weeks, knows that he has been given an opportunity to shine once more. Thus far his experiences have been nothing but positive with the Dutch-based Ten Kate squad. “I’ve spent a lot of valuable time in pre-season getting time on the new bike,” said Toseland. “I think we are nearly there now, largely because of the tests at Almeria and Valencia. I’m looking forward to Qatar, especially with the amount of improvements we have made since the last time we tested there. If we can keep improving like we had been doing in our most recent testing, then it’s promising for the race in Qatar.” Muggeridge, held back in his Losail ambitions last season due to illness and a relative lack of preparation time, is ready for his second season in the big class, and is looking for his first SBK podiums and race wins. “I think we are in a pretty good position,” said Muggeridge from Qatar, “especially compared to how things were this time last year, when I was ill before and during the races. The bike’s feeling good as well, and we’ve improved it a lot after some good winter tests. We’re definitely starting off on right foot, even though it’s impossible to do all the development and set-up work only in the winter tests.” Barros, a veteran in Grand Prix terms but a complete rookie in the SBK paddock, looks to his latest adventure with the confidence a 20-year career brings. “For sure I hope to be competitive and to be able to fight for podiums and victories,” said Barros, before acknowledging his relative lack of track time on his machine. “Before the Losail round there was only time for some test rides in Sicily, but I was happy with the result. The bikes performed well, the team worked hard and everyone is very enthusiastic – knowing that they have a real chance to fight for victories and good results.” For Chili, the prospect of another season in the SBK top flight is as natural as breathing, as the oldest rider in the class demonstrates a desire for success that eclipses many riders less than half his age. “We had a very good test at Qatar recently,” enthused Chili, “even though we did not have access to the same 2006-specification tyres as the Honda guys who tested there in December. We worked a lot with suspension and electronics, and at the end of three days we were quite happy. Maybe we cannot win the championship this year, but if I can make a battle for the podium, help my young team-mate Michel and have fun, then I will be happy.” Fabrizio looks to 2006 as a learning year, but one in which the main lesson will be learned at the fastest speed possible. “We tested in Qatar and I am happy with the base set-up that Frankie has developed,” said Michel. “I know it will be difficult, but I want to finish in the points at the first two races of the year. I like riding a Superbike more than a Supersport bike, it feels more like the MotoGP bike I rode a couple of years ago. My ultimate 2006 ambition is to be battling for podium places at the end of the season.” After the Saturday race at Qatar, both Supersport and Superbike series move swiftly on to Australia, for round two, 3-5 March, at the Phillip Island Circuit. The first European round of the year will be at Valencia, on 23 April.