Exciting new start for Team SUZUKI MotoGP Team SUZUKI MotoGP will be in Malaysia next week to hold its final test session of 2005 with both its young riders eager to get development underway for next year. John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen will be testing a large range of options for their GSV-R race bikes and are hoping for better weather than during the last test at Valencia earlier this month. Hopkins qualified on the front row for the Malaysian Grand Prix earlier in the season and will be using all his knowledge of the Sepang circuit to put Suzuki’s prototype 2006 challenger through its paces. Hopkins’ three day test on this all-new machine, in addition to tests with the newest generation of Bridgestone tyres and Ohlins suspension, will see the Anglo-American assuming an important role in terms of defining the team’s 2006 direction. Vermeulen is looking to get in a full test on the 2005 GSV-R after the awful weather at Valencia intervened to cut short his first full day on the bike. He initially showed good pace and will now use the three-day test to learn a lot more about how the machine and his new team work. Suzuki’s new signing will be riding at Sepang for the first time in his career and will be planning to quickly learn his way around the technically demanding Malaysian circuit. The 5.5km Sepang circuit is an excellent testing ground for the Suzuki with a good variation of corners, two high-speed straights and very smooth and sweeping chicanes. The challenging and fast nature of the track will give both riders and technicians alike the chance to push the bike and new parts to their limits. The test will run from November 28th until the 30th and will be the last time that Team SUZUKI MotoGP will turn a wheel before the test ban commences in December. The team will resume testing in January also at Sepang before further outings at Qatar and again in Malaysia. The 2006 MotoGP World Championship is provisionally scheduled to begin at Jerez in Spain on Sunday 26th March. Paul Denning Team Manager: “This is a very important test for us all as it will be the first time that we have the chance to see the prototype bike for 2006. Whilst it will not be in its full and final specification, the work we do in these three days is critical. The factory will be able to analyse the feedback and the data over the winter break and hopefully provide a serious challenger for next year. “John and Chris are both fired up for the test. John is looking forward to the gruelling development work required and will no doubt be looking to make his mark in this role. Chris was bitterly disappointed that the Valencia test had to be cut short and he is keen to get back on the bike, learn a new track and get some miles under his belt if he carries on as he started in Valencia, he’ll do great things. “2005 has been a very long and demanding season and we will be looking to finish on a high from this test and leave all Suzuki fans with an air of optimism to carry them through the winter.”

American Kenny Noyes Third on Grid for Final Spanish FX Race in Jerez Former Californian dirt tracker Kenny Noyes will start third off the front row in tomorrow’s round of the Spanish 1000cc Formula Extreme Championship in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Noyes, riding an R1 for Folch Endurance Yamaha, joins pole sitter Javier del Amor (Laglisse Yamaha), second qualifier Ivan Silva (Laglisse Yamaha) and fourth fastest Dani Ribalta (ZP Pontgrup Suzuki) on the front row of the seventh and final round of the Spain’s premier roadracing championship. “I’ve gotten some important help from a top Öhlins technician who talked me through the whole process so I could understand what was wrong with our setup and we were able to come down over two seconds from Friday to Saturday,” said Noyes. “This is the first time this year the bike has worked the way I like it. I wish this was the first round instead of the last.” Kenny won the Spanish Bancaja Superstock (“Superseries”) Championship in 2003 on a CBR954RR Honda Fireblade but had a frustrating 2004 season on the CBR1000RR due to niggling mechanical problems. He switched to Folch Yamaha for 2005 and was part of the Folch team that won the Spanish Endurance Championship and also rode the Folch Yamaha to second place in the Spanish round of the World Endurance Championship at Albacete. This will be Noyes’ first front row start since his final Superstock ride at the end of 2003. Folch’s second rider Bernat Martinez will start ninth. Newly crowned FX Champion Jose David de Gea (BQR Honda) is not taking part due to injury. 125 and Supersport Qualifying The Spanish 125 championship is still wide open with Italian Stefano Bianco (Aprilia) leading Spaniard Mateo Tunez (Aprilia) by only two points, 100-98 and with Britain’s Bradley Smith third and 21 points adrift, but neither Bianco nor Tunez will start off the front two rows. Bianco is 12th on the third row and Tunez is back in 34th on the eighth row. The front row of 125 is composed of veteran Spanish GP campaigner Angel Rodriguez (Honda) with Brit Daniel Webb (Honda) Italian Gioele Pellino (Aprilia) Manuel Hernanez Junior (Aprilia). Smith, in with a chance to steal the title on the last day of the season, starts fifth. American teenager Garret Carter (Angaia Honda) did not qualify for the 40-rider 125cc main event but finished third in the eight-lap consolation race held on Saturday. The Supersport title went last week to Arturo Tizon (Yamaha). Tizon just missed the front row and will start fifth back of Santiago Baragan (Honda), Britian’s Steven Neate (Honda), Ruben Torras (Suzuki) and Jordi Torras (Yamaha). The 125 and FX races will be televised live on Spain’s TVE-2.

Australia’s Team Motul Suzuki played a major role for the 2005 SsangYong International Supermoto Pro class-winning team with American rider Cassidy Anderson at the Sydney Tennis Centre in New South Wales this week. Top riders from Australia, New Zealand and America went head to head in the high-speed, dirt-tar combination Supermoto event with RM-Z450-mounted Anderson placing third, second and second in the event’s three six-lap races to score second place overall. The result was a clean sweep of the Pro class with Americans filling the top three spots; Benny Carlson took overall honours ahead of Anderson and Mickey Dymond. Said Anderson after his first ride aboard the machine: “Second isn’t first, but it’s close and I’m pretty happy with the Pro class results. The dirt section was very slippery but I rode well and the Suzuki handled brilliantly. “After the test day at Oran Park on Wednesday we made some changes to the bike to suit me better and it feels fantastic; it’s got plenty of power with so much drive. I’m amazed that it’s basically a standard RM-Z450 engine. It’s an awesome bike and I’m really impressed at the level of professionalism; the Suzuki team are a top-class outfit and I hope to come back again next year,” he added. Anderson’s Suzuki team-mate, Australian Superbike rider Glenn Allerton, had a less successful run in the event; while challenging for the lead in the first Pro class race, a small error dropped him from second place to 14th. One of the hot favourites to win the event, Allerton was lucky to walk away from a massive crash with only an injured wrist in the following All Powers class race and was subsequently out of the competition for the remainder of the night. “It’s obviously a disappointing result. I owned this race last year and I know I could have done the same again with Suzuki, but I was pushing too hard and came undone,” said Allerton. “I’m sure I’ll make the TV coverage, but for all the wrong reasons.” The third member of the Team Motul Suzuki squad, Simon Goodchild, put in strong performances that yielded second overall in the Expert class with two second and one third place finish from the evening’s three races. Goodchild also wrapped up the Mr Supermoto State of Origin series, winning the Expert class. Said Team Motul Suzuki Team Manager Jay Foreman: “Cassidy was a pleasure to have in the team; he brought a lot of international experience and talent. To just step into the team and grab second overall in the Pro class was a great result. “Simon put the RM-Z450 to good use in the Expert class and did really well. Glenn had a lot of speed out there today but his wrist was too sore to continue after his second race but we’re all just glad that he’s ok.” 2005 SsangYong International Supermoto Overall Results: Pro Class: 1 Benny Carlson (USA) 70, 2 Cassidy Anderson (USA) 64, 3 Micky Dymond (USA) 49, 4 Ben Grabham (NSW) 47, 5 Rodney Taplin (NSW) 47, 6 Troy Herfoss (NSW) 45, 7 Stuart Bennett (NSW) 40, 8 Shannon Johnson (VIC) 39, 9 Daniel McCoy (NSW) 38, 10 Glenn MacDonald (VIC) 28. Expert Class: 1 Christian Horwood (NSW) 72, 2 Simon Goodchild (NSW) 64, 3 Brad Gow (NSW) 54, 4 Ben Schodel (QLD) 49, 5 Tony Vickers (NSW) 46, 6 Damien Crane (NSW) 39, 7 Joe Harvey (QLD) 35, 8 Brock Wilson (VIC) 35, 9 Brendon Stephenson (NZ) 32, 10 Sam Sproule (NSW) 29.

Three-time Australian Superbike Champion Shawn Giles has set his sights on the New Zealand Superbike Championship. Off the back of a highly successful season in which he tied on points for the Australian Superbike title, the Team Suzuki star rider will contest New Zealand’s premier road-racing series during the Australian off-season. The intense five-round championship starts at Pukekohe on December 9th and wraps up on January 22nd at Ruapuna on New Zealand’s south island. Giles will pilot a Suzuki New Zealand-supported GSX-R1000 Superbike prepared by his Australian Team Suzuki Team Manager and master tuner Phil Tainton. “The GSX-R1000 is an absolute rocket; we’ve had a really strong season here in Australia and I think we should be very competitive,” said Giles. “I’ve only ridden a few of these circuits before and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of new competitors and new tracks in New Zealand. “This is the perfect way for me to keep myself sharp during the off-season; there’s no substitute for race miles and it will be fantastic preparation for the 2006 Australian series.” Giles won his first Australian Superbike title in 2000 aboard the all-conquering Suzuki GSX-R750 before stepping up to the powerful Suzuki GSX-R1000 and taking successive victories in 2001 and 2002. NEW ZEALAND SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR: Round 1: Pukekohe (December 9-11). Round 2: Manfield (December 16-18). Round 3: Teretonga (January 6-8). Round 4: Timaru (January 13-15). Round 5: Ruapuna (January 20-22).

Team Simone Racing is featured at ~http://www.teamsimoneracing.com~ Team Simone Racing completed their Rookie Season racing in the CCS Great Plains Region. Team Simone Rider Michael Simone won 3 Regional Championships, and finished 5th overall in points in his Rookie Year on his Graves Outfitted 2004 R1. Team Simone Racing is geared up for the 2006 Formula USA/CCS Great Plains Region and is adding a second machine, a 2006 R6 to its lineup.

Historical comeback for Symmons Plains The revamped Symmons Plains circuit near Launceston (Tas) will mark its return from national exile when it hosts the 2005 Australian Historic Road Race Championship this weekend. As always, the country’s finest array of period machinery will re-group for the championship, on the 2.41km layout which has recently been the focus of a substantive capital works program. The last Australian Superbike Championship (ASC) round was held at Symmons Plains way back in 1994, while the circuit has never hosted the historic title. The historic get-together, which is as much about a pilgrimage as anything else, is open to motorcycles from five defined periods: Veteran (up to 1919, aka P1); Vintage (1920-1945, P2); Classic (1946-1962, P3); Post-classic (1963-1972, P4); and Forgotten Era (1973-1980, P5). This year’s title will see 181 bikes from a 1923 British Anzani to a gaggle of 1980s ‘Superbikes’ – go into battle over 10 separate championship classes, with Victorian Stuart Loly (Suzuki GSX1100) on the prowl for the biggest windfall a hat-trick of wins in he P2 Unlimited (1300cc) class. Loly is the only rostrum ‘survivor’ from last year’s Winton-hosted championship, but he’ll still have to show some real mettle at Symmons Plains to keep a number of flying Kawasakis and Suzukis at bay. 2002 champion Matt Childs (Suzuki McIntosh) will be among the cast out to dismantle Loly in the 17-rider battle, as well as the irrepressible Rex Wolfenden (Honda CB1100R), garrulous Mildurian Peter Guest (Kawasaki) and Mick Neason (GSX1100). Childs also finished second in 2003, when the title was held at Wanneroo. At the other end of the period scale, the P2 class will also hold its own Unlimited forum, where individual entries from the aforementioned British Anzani and Ariel will lock horns with a swarm of Nortons, Harley-Davidsons and Indians. Keith Campbell, who shares the same name as his 1957 350cc world road racing- winning uncle, will take the reins of the British Anzani, although 2004 runner-up Fraser McMillan (Norton ES2) is the favourite to hold the winning trophy aloft. Further afield, there will be three P3 classes decided at Symmons Plains, which places a massive strain on brakes extremely ‘old’ ones in the case of P3 machinery. Nowhere is the load on the anchors more palpable than at the infamous Turn Four (formerly Turn Two) hairpin, which has been the scene of many heated ASC (nee Australian Road Race Championship) exchanges over the years. In the 350cc P3 festivities, Philip Paton’s 1962 Bultaco TSS is aiming for two-in-a-row, while Campbell (Honda CB72) is primed to go one better than last year’s second place. The second P3 class, 500cc, has attracted the biggest response of any class 29 riders. Dave Cole, the only rider making the sojourn from New Zealand to compete at Symmons Plains, is the defending champion on his 1959 Matchless, but he’ll have to prove defiant against the likes of Alan Wood (Norton E50 Special) and Murray Johnson (Norton Manx), who finished on the podium in 2003. In Unlimited P3, a clutch of the 15 bikes are hybrids, which were common during that era. Bikes in action will include the Norvin (Norton frame-Vincent motor) and Triton (Triumph motor-Norton frame), while historic aficionados still look back with fondness on two machines which will not be competing at Symmons the Tribsa (Triumph motor-BSA frame) and Norbsa (Norton frame-BSA motor). Notwithstanding the hybrid game, John Maher is probably the favourite on his straight-shooting 1958 Norton Manx. P4 also has three championship classes this weekend: 250cc, 500cc and Unlimited. In 250cc, the past two champions, Yamaha TD3-riding Rob Garner and Linden Bebbington, are back for more, in addition to three other placegetters from the last three years Clive Harrop (Suzuki T250), Graeme Mason (Bultaco Metralla) and Terry Morris (Montesa). Meanwhile, former Australian sidecar champion and British Superbike legend Barry Ditchburn (Seeley Suzuki) and David Woolsey (Seeley Matchless G50) are the prime cuts in P4 500cc, while the competition in P4 Unlimited will again be intense if past ferocity is any guide. Karl Corpe is the reigning No. 1 on his CB750, which is actually a bored and stroked 1000cc machine as are the majority of CB750s in P4 Unlimited. Wolfenden is another CB750 devotee, and he scooped the pool in 2002-2003 before Corpe took office in 2004. Both riders will be in Tasmania, as will serial placegetter Neason (Honda CB750) and the similarly mounted Simon Cook. In addition, two-time Australian Superbike champion Malcolm “Wally” Campbell (Ducati 750 Imola), who enjoyed some searing battles with former nemesis Rob Phillis at Symmons Plains in the ’80s and ’90s, will again be in the thick of it, although he’ll be giving away 100cc to his Honda rivals. However, on talent alone, “Wally” is the crème de la crème of the field, and he’ll be striving to win a third Australian title, and his first in the historic game. Two other solo classes will complete this weekend’s revelry 125cc P5 and 350cc P5. The former appears to be anyone’s, while the Yamaha TZ350 is the bike of choice for nine of the 10 350cc riders. Craig Morris and Stuart Garner return after going 1-2 in 2004, while Neason and former local ace Mick Damon should also be in the thick of it. In the one and only sidecar class, Unlimited P5, Peter Selke-Christine Williams will hold a horsepower advantage on their Suzuki, but that won’t deter Doug Chivas-Mark Hollingshed (Honda) and current No. 2 Max Hooper-Matty Johnston (Honda). The event will be promoted by the venerable Tasmanian Motorcycle Club, which has just celebrated its centenary and remains one of the oldest motorcycle clubs in the Commonwealth. Entry is $10 on Saturday, and $25 on Sunday, with children under 15 admitted free. What’s the difference between Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight? For the purposes of determining eligibility, historic machines are separated using the following nomenclature: · Ultra Lightweight up to 125cc · Lightweight 132-250cc · Junior 263-350cc · Senior 368-500cc · Unlimited 526-1300cc · Sidecar up to 1300cc What’s all this stuff about Periods? Because historic racing encompasses machines from many different eras, machines are then categorised as follows: · Period 1 (aka Veteran) up to December 31, 1919 · Period 2 (Vintage) 1/1/20-31/12/45 · Period 3 (Classic) 1/1/46- 31/12/62 · Period 4 (Post Classic) 1/1/63-31/12/72 · Period 5 (Forgotten Era) 1/1/73-31/12/80

Win a tuned Rizla Suzuki Replica GSX-R1000 worth nearly £12,000 EXPRESS INSURANCE AND FAST BIKES are key partners to the Rizla Suzuki British Superbike team of Shane Byrne and James Haydon. They’ve joined forces with Rizla to give you this fantastic opportunity to win a Rizla Suzuki Replica GSX-R1000 worth nearly £12,000. Tuned by the same Crescent technicians that work on the race bikes, this Dream Machine painted Rizla Suzuki Replica offers an uncompromising mix of performance and stylish good looks. The Rizla Suzuki replica’s engine benefits from a Power Commander that is used in tandem with a Yoshimura Tri-Cone exhaust. Together they are good, but when tuned specifically for additional horsepower by Crescent on its state-of-the-art dyno facility, the result is a fire-breathing motor with plenty of mid-range torque for even the most demanding rider. The Rizla technicians have also added a quickshifter to the bike to give you an additional edge. Cutting the time between gear shifts, this is a performance modification straight from the Rizla Suzuki race bike. Just like Shakey or James Haydon’s Rizla Suzuki race machines, the prize bike will come with Dunlop tyres in the guise of super sticky D208s that will allow you to push the GSX-R1000 to its limit on road or track. A compact Tail Tidy finishes the bike modifications and gives the rear of the Rizla Suzuki a slim-line look. The specification is mouth-watering and the winner will be invited to the opening round of the British Superbike Championship in 2006 to collect the bike directly from the Rizla Suzuki riders, who will sign it on the spot to add to the prize. The two VIP passes you will receive along with full Rizla Suzuki replica wear for the winner are valued at more than £700! Rizla is the world’s foremost provider of rolling paper and products and has a long history in motorcycle racing, dating most recently from 2002 when the Rizla Suzuki BSB team was formed. Thanks to its involvement in Superbikes, Rizla is fast becoming synonymous with racing success. The distinctive and exciting Rizla blue colour scheme one of Rizla’s four pack colour range of blue, green, red and silver – is now established as a leading racing colour thanks to Rizla Suzuki in BSB. For more details, visit www.rizla.co.uk or www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk. Express Insurance is a leading intermediary offering competitive insurance and tailor-made policies to meet your every need and has been a partner to Rizla Suzuki since 2004. With 17 insurance companies to draw upon you can be assured of great cover and competitive rates. Express Insurance prides itself on providing cover for modified motorcycles and encourages you to call its dedicated bike team direct to discuss your needs. Whoever answers your call is a motorcycle enthusiast and will speak your language right from the start. Call Express Insurance on 0800 107 4962 to get a fantastic quote for your bike, car or van. Alternatively, log on to www.expressinsurance.co.uk for more details. Fast Bikes is the UK’s leading sport and performance motorcycle magazine and has been a partner to Rizla Suzuki since 2004. Carrying all the latest tests on road and off-road bikes, news from the motorcycle market, the best in aftermarket accessories and kit as well as a comprehensive racing section, Fast Bikes, which is published every four weeks, is your only choice if you live, breath and love motorcycling. It’s the only publication where you’ll get the behind the scenes news from the Rizla Suzuki Superbike team! How to enter: THE QUESTION: Which Rizla Suzuki team sponsor gives the bikes their distinctive blue colour? A Rizla B Fast Bikes C Express Insurance Text your answer to 84383 with the following message: ‘Rizla’ followed by a single space, followed by the letter corresponding to your answer. e.g. ‘Rizla B’ (no apostrophes required when texting). Cost of entry is just £1, plus your operator tariff. Closing date for entries is the 10th March 2006. Terms and Conditions: Competition entry is open to UK residents over 18 years-old only. All entries must be received by midnight on 10th March 2006 and the winner will be notified by 12th March 2006. No cash alternative will be offered. The prize is not transferable. The winner will be the first entry drawn at random from all the entries received. Fast Bike’s Editor’s decision is final and no discussion will be entered into. The winner is responsible for road tax and any other associated costs. Employees of Future Publishing, Rizla and Express Insurance are not eligible to enter. By entering this competition you agree to us using your details to inform you about other offers and reputable companies whose products may be of interest to you.