Want to be an official at the 2006 Phillip Island World Superbike round? The Superbike World Championship will return to Phillip Island for the 13th consecutive year in 2006, with all the action penciled in for March 3-5 an earlier date than usual to work around the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Once more, volunteer officials are being sought for the event, which will feature at least three Aussies in world Superbike (Troy Corser, Karl Muggeridge and Steve Martin), and two in Supersport Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes. Moreover, there will be a full complement of national support classes for Superbike, Supersport and Superstock competitors. Free camping is again available for all volunteer officials and a guest, as well as the chance to experience all the on-track action at close quarters. To register as an official, please complete the attached form. Applications close on Wednesday, December 14, 2005. For more information, contact PI SBK Pty Ltd, tel (03) 5952 2710, or email [email protected]

Gus Scott Charity Auction 27th November – Club Amadeus, Northallerton 5pm – late www.gusscott.com – www.two.tv The whole motorcycle community has joined together and donated some priceless items to a charity auction in memory of a much-loved friend. Ian Scott, or Gus as most knew him, was a hugely popular motorcycle racer as well as a well-known journalist. Tragically Gus died in the Senior race of this year’s Isle of Man races, leaving behind his 11-year-old daughter Yasmin. The auction will take place at the Club Amadeus in Northallerton, home of the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club, on Sunday November 27 starting at 5pm with entrance costing £3. All money raised in the auction will be put in to a trust fund for Yasmin. As well as a line up of kit to bid on stars of the biking world including former World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson, Niall Mackenzie, James Whitham, John McGuinness, Dean Ellison, Michael Rutter, Karl Harris, Leon Haslam, Martin Finnegan and many more will all be at the auction, work commitments allowing. More information will be announced in future issues of TWO Magazine or on their website www.two.tv. If you want to make a financial pledge to the fund then log onto www.gusscott.com where you can pledge money or buy pictures of MotoGP, World Superbikes and British Superbike stars from a number of renowned photographers. There are also plenty of pictures of Gus. Unfortunately you can only bid on kit if you are at the auction, but with such a host of stars as well as fantastic items to bid on what’s stopping you coming up? Keep an eye on www.two.tv for the latest information, or click on www.gusscott.com to buy pics of the industry’s heroes. Kit for auction Here is what has been pledged so far, more kit is coming in every day. Read the whole list, there are some amazing items hidden in there! A Buell CityX XB9SX worth £5995 All expenses paid trip for two to the Macau 2006 GP (Flights, Accommodation, Tickets, Transfers) Two paddock passes for any MotoGP round in 2006 including a car pass and a lap of the circuit in the safety car with former world champion Franco Uncini A one-off Neil Hodgson hand painted Suomy lid that has never been worn A day at the Ron Haslam Race School Bering Jacket donated by Maria Costello AGV Stealth St Andrews lid signed by Niall Mackenzie Two full hospitality passes with the Yamaha WSB team at the 2006 WSB at Brands Hatch A set of Nori Haga’s Alpinestar Aprilia WSB leathers A pair of VIP passes to any BSB round as guests of Team Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha and loads of team kit A set of Neil Hodgson’s leathers used in the 2005 AMA season – only used once!! An Arai Corsair signed by Arai’s MotoGP riders – inc Edwards, Gibernau, Hopkins, Hayden, Schwantz, Roberts and Nakano, it has a certificate with it authenticating the signatures. A V2 Caberg crash helmet A signed Foggy Petronas model truck Loads of signed Duke vids and DVDs A day at the CAS Honda Off-Road Experience A pair of VIP tickets to any BSB round with Honda A signed Shinya Nakano Arai helmet Signed pictures of Kiyonari and Lavilla by Paul Sturman Various items from Michelin A set of Bridgestone tyres A set of Oxford Product paddock stands Limited edition, framed John Blanchard prints of Dave Jefferies and Steve Hislop A pair of VIP tickets to any BSB round with Rizla Suzuki – reserve £400 A signed pair of James Toseland’s boots Hein Gericke Master IV suit worth £575 A signed set of Niall Mackenzie’s leathers A selection of signed Rizla Clothing – Jackets, shirts A selection of pictures by Paul Barton @ Moto-Racer.com – inc Rossi picture A signed Ducati book James Whitham signed shirt Glen Richard’s signed leathers as worn in his 150mph crash at Silverstone! A Suomy crash helmet signed by the WSB riders Dean Ellison’s boots, leathers and gloves from the 2004 season when Phase One’s World Endurance Team won the championship A signed model of Haga’s bike, Leon Haslam’s toe sliders and a signed set of Cal Crutchlow’s gloves A Yamaha 50th Anniversary Team America leather jacket Loads of Blue Flame exhausts A signed Neil Hodgson large cardboard print on Fila Ducati by Graeme Brown Spidi kit Two pairs of Tom Sykes’ gloves Colin Edwards bits n bobs Tommy Hill KBC Helmet signed BSB/WSB Rider-signed Kiddimoto Nakano Helmet – signed personally to the winner of the auction, plus signed photo – donated by Kawasaki UK Michael Rutter signed kit – Dainese slider, Spyke gloves, HM Plant cap & polo shirt Frankie Chili signed t-shirt Framed Spidi t-shirt signed by all the Spidi riders Framed Fat Boy Slim silver disc – framed (1998 album – Better living through chemistry) Chris Walker signed helmet from Imola WSB 6 separate Shoei posters signed by Rutter, Kiyonari, Emmett, Harris, Haydon and McGuinness One year subscription to Classic Bike Magazine A full set of Motografix body work protection for a Ducati 749/999 Troy Corser replica helmet Carl Fogarty signed autobiography Aprilia nose cone from Jeremy McWilliams RS3 PLUS MUCH MORE!! A FULL AUCTION LIST TO FOLLOW SHORTLY How to get there Northallerton is above Leeds. Take the A1(M) until it turns into the A1 at junction 49 from the south or junction 56 from the north. Follow the A1 then turn off onto the A684 signed Northallerton. Club Amadeus is behind the Job Centre

HRC MotoGP test Valencia November 9, 2005. Day one of two-day test session. The opening day of the two-day HRC MotoGP test at Valencia was held in less than ideal conditions with low track temperatures and gusting wind disrupting race team plans. Consequently the lap times set were well outside those set by the riders in the MotoGP race of Sunday last. The experienced riders spent time confirming various chassis and suspension options while the new RC211V recruits spent their time acquainting themselves with the 990cc 5-cylinder four-stroke machines they will race in the 2006 world championship. Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden, a three-year MotoGP veteran who finished second in Sunday’s GP, spent the day tested several options on the geometry and different suspension links. The young American and his crew were curious about the potential of other race options available to them but ended the day happy with the choices made for Sundays race. Marco Melandri, Valencia GP race winner, completed only eight lap of his planned tyre testing session the track temperature of 16 degrees insufficient to deliver any worthwhile information. Reigning double-250cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa made his RCV debut and covered 62 laps of the tight and demanding 4.005 km Valencia circuit as he began the long hard task of finding the ideal machine set up to suit his riding style. The diminutive Spaniard was impressed with the RCV but realises he has a long learning curve ahead of him before he fires up the 990cc four-stroke for the first race of the 2006 season at Jerez, Spain on March 24. Toni Elias has one year of MotoGP experience having raced for the Tech 3 squad in 2005 but was making his Honda RC211V debut today. He has an almost complexly new pit crew for the coming season and establishing a working relationship was the priority. The team worked on adjusting the machine to suit both his size and style eventually putting in 34 laps in the cold blustery conditions. At the end Elias of the day Elias pronounced himself positively motivated by the potential for success with the RCV. The Honda Pons team were present at the test and fielded two new riders, near veteran Carlos Checa and new to MotoGP Casey Stoner. Checa had the misfortune to crash in the morning session but returned to the track after lunch to set competitive lap times for the conditions. Stoner, still just 20-years old was making his MotoGP test debut aboard the RC211V Honda. Australian Stoner took to the RCV in quick time and the initial impression suggest he will be more than competitive in the senior category of two-wheel GP racing. The Australian youngster set lap time of 1m 35.1s, one-tenth of a second faster than his team-mate. Honda rider lap times and quotes, Valencia November 9, 2005. Nicky Hayden: 1m 34.40s – 53 laps. “I’m still running the last two laps of Sunday’s race through my head, I’m still not over finishing second. Today was not the most productive day of my life either conditions were not ideal for testing it was too cold and windy. We don’t want to read too much into today. Basically we confirmed we were right with the set up on Sunday. Tomorrow, if it’s dry, we’ll get into some serious tyre testing.” Peter Benson, crew chief Nicky Hayden: “Nicky tested several options on the geometry and different suspension links. The results confirmed that the basic set up he used for the race on Sunday was the best for the track and conditions. Tomorrow we test tyres, maybe rain tyres by the look of the weather forecast.” Dani Pedrosa: 1m 35.50s 62 laps. “It was a very important day for us today. My first impression of the RC211V is positive but it is bigger, faster and more difficult to control than the 250cc machine I have been riding for two years. Today was all about trying to understand the bike, how it behaves and what I have to do to understand the machine. The team make up is also different. I have some of my old mechanics who don’t have MotoGP experience and three very experienced guys from the Honda team but they are all serious and very calm. Tomorrow we will try many things again maybe even the feel of different tyres.” Marco Melandri: 1m 34’8s 8 laps. “We have an intense testing programme planned with Michelin but the weather conditions didn’t allow it. It is a real shame because I wanted to ride and also because it was important to get started on testing some evolution tyres. The weather doesn’t look good for tomorrow so we’ll have to wait until the Sepang test at the end of November to continue working with Michelin on the new rubber for next season.” Toni Elias: 1m 35.7s 34 laps. “I’m really happy with this first contact with my new bike. My first sensations of it are very positive. Considering the small amount of time available I can say that I have already worked out some characteristics of the RC211V, which seems to adapt well to my riding style and size. It is a very agile bike in the changes of direction and feels manageable. I’m still not completely comfortable, we have a lot of work to do but I feel calm and motivated. I also felt good with my new team, I have only been with them for two days but I feel at home. I have been very impressed with their professionalism and organisation. I am sure we will have a good season together.” Sito Pons, Team Principle Honda Pons: “Today we have been working with Carlos Checa and Casey Stoner preparing for the new season in 2006. Both riders have shown great potential with the RCV and have adapted to the machine very quickly. Carlos had a crash this morning but returned to the track in the afternoon and set some good times, Casey was a about a tenth off a second quicker but he had more time on the bike. I’m quite happy with both riders and look forward to testing with them.” Young Guns test the RCV at Valencia. HRC gave three of their young guns the chance to sample the awesome power of the RCV as a thank you for their race performances in 2005. Klaffi Honda World Superbike star Max Neukirchner, Scot Honda 250cc rider Andrea Dovizioso and newly crowned 125cc World Champion Thomas Luthi (Elit Honda RS125R) all put the RCV through its paces at Valencia yesterday and today. Neukirchner had the best of the weather on Thursday afternoon and consequently set the fastest time of the three riders at 1m 37.49s. Dovizioso, third in the 250cc championship, and Luthi had to contend with a cold track and brief rain showers but both riders acquitted themselves well. All three enjoyed the experience and were eager to return for more track time on the machine. Max Neukirchner: 1m 37.49s 20 laps. “The RCV was easy to get used to – it’s more like a 250cc to handle than a Superbike. You sit in the RCV the Superbike you sit on, big difference. When I first took it out I expected the power to be extreme but it was easy to handle, the delivery was very smooth, linear. The carbon brakes are super, I was a little worried about them before I tried the bike but no problem. The bike steers very well, I was really impressed by the way it changes direction so quickly, the Superbike is much more physical, hard work compared to the RCV. I really enjoyed my laps on the bike the ride was fun. I hope I get another chance to ride it.” Thomas Luthi: 1m 44.29s 25 laps. “Good fun, really good fun to ride. Pity the conditions were not ideal and I didn’t push too hard because of that. The bike has a lot of power, quite amazing but so easy to use. The most impressive thing is the speed of the bike and how early you have to break for the corners. The carbon brakes are just fantastic to ride with but with the speed and weight of the bike you really need them. I need more laps on the bike to understand it better but I must say I felt comfortable on it at the lap time I was running. It’s a great bike, I really like riding it. I have a car that produces 246hp this bike has 250! You cant compare them because on the bike you only have two wheels and you’re sitting on the outside and you can really feel the speed!” Andrea Dovizioso: 1m 39.50s 27 laps. “In comparison with the RCV I tested at the end of last season the first thing you notice is the difference in power. This bike has more power but it’s also easier to use. The front end is better, it feels different going into the corners. The only thing about the bike that gave me a little problem was the rear end under heavy braking the rear wheel hops a little but that might just be the set up.”

Sete Gibernau gets first taste of the Ducati Desmosedici and Bridgestone tyres in poor weather conditions – Loris Capirossi tests latest version of the engine-braking system used at the start of the year. Valencia (Spain), Wednesday 9 November 2005 – The Ducati Desmosedici took to the track today for its first winter test, just three days after Sunday’s final round of the MotoGP championship. Unfortunately the mild sunny weather that characterized the last race of the 2005 season gave way to cold conditions with several drops of rain that prevented the Ducati Marlboro Team and the other riders on the track from getting close to the times recorded over the weekend. As a result Sete Gibernau’s awaited debut on the Italian bike was conditioned by the weather. The rain that fell late in the morning forced everyone to stop for a break, then after returning to the track in the afternoon Sete completed a total of 32 laps on the ‘standard’ version of the Desmosedici. Gibernau managed to get his first run with the Italian V4 bike as well as with Bridgestone tyres, and despite the poor conditions the Spanish rider was impressed. “Every minute that passes I am more convinced that I made the right decision” declared Sete. “I know that it was a difficult choice to make but this is a great source of motivation for me. The team is fired up and really wants to do well. The first time is always a step into the unknown but I got on well with all the guys. I knew everything was going to be different – the engine, the tubular steel frame instead of aluminium, Bridgestone tyres and Ohlins suspension, and so the feeling on the bike is completely different. I will have to change my style a bit and also the character of the bike to feel entirely at ease with it, but there is a lot of good potential here.” It was also back to work today for Loris Capirossi, whose fitness is slowly but constantly improving. The Italian was scheduled to test with the engine-braking system that had been tried at Jerez during the GP in April and which has been developed throughout the year by official test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi. As the system is still in an experimental phase, Loris, who completed 19 laps, concentrated on providing feedback for future development rather than the search for outright performance. Unfortunately today’s conditions prevented the team from getting the most out of the test, which will continue tomorrow, weather permitting. “My physical condition and the poor weather certainly didn’t help me in this test today” declared Loris. “The system has for sure been improved since the first version we used at the start of the year, but the track wasn’t in an ideal condition to help us understand exactly the development level of the system. Let’s hope the weather improves for tomorrow so we can continue working.” Times: Sete Gibernau: 1m35.2s Loris Capirossi: 1m36.8s