Friday’s World Supersport Qualifying Results From Imola: 1. Sebastien CHARPENTIER, Honda, 1:51.788 2. Kevin CURTAIN, Yamaha, 1:53.379 3. Gianluca NANNELLI, Ducati, 1:53.704 4. Michel FABRIZIO, Honda, 1:53.878 5. Broc PARKES, Yamaha, 1:54.136 6. Alessio CORRADI, Ducati, 1:54.193 7. Stephane CHAMBON, Honda, 1:54.239 8. Javier FORES, Suzuki,, 1:54.397 9. Fabien FORET, Honda, 1:54.818 10. Johan STIGEFELT, Honda, 1:54.827 More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: CHARPENTIER GETS LOST, THEN FINDS A FLYER A technical problem left Winston Ten Kate Honda’s Sébastien Charpentier lost at the back of the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit at Imola, Italy during this afternoon’s opening qualifying session for the eleventh round World Supersport championship event. But, on finally returning to his box, the Frenchman set a blistering pace to take provisional pole position for Sunday’s 21-lap race. Charpentier’s team-mate, Katsuaki Fujiwara, did not ride this afternoon following an early crash during free practice this morning. The Japanese rider opted to sit out the 45-minute session, pending a medical assessment later today. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “That was a very hectic day for our Supersport team. The quick release system on a fuel line on Sébastien’s main bike broke early in the session and, because of Imola’s strange characteristics, it took 15-20 minutes for him to get back to the box, in spite of two of the team searching for him on scooters. It didn’t leave us many options so he jumped on the spare bike for a couple of laps and was immediately fast. We made a small change towards the end of the session and he put in an amazing lap. For tomorrow, we’ll be looking to improve his time and hopefully have Kats back in the box with us. His crash was one of those things but we’ve looked at the data and he wasn’t going especially fast. He came across a group of slower riders and tried to pass but one of them changed his line without warning. The good news is that nothing is broken but we’ll let him have some rest to get over today and see how he is tomorrow.” Sébastien Charpentier fastest, 1m51.788s “I stopped early in the session on the back of the circuit in the woods but I didn’t know how to get back. I thought I’d end up missing the whole session but, eventually, we got the bike and me on the back of a truck and managed to get to the box. After that, everything was fine the track and grip were good and there wasn’t much traffic. But I still only managed to do a total of seven laps so I’m very happy with the time. I like the set up we have already but, for sure, it’s possible to go even faster tomorrow. My good friend Frederic Bolley was here today he has a Supermoto event in Venice this weekend, but it was great to see him.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Curtain second in first qualifying 30/9/2005 Yamaha Motor Germany star Kevin Curtain was in fine form in Imola today, posting the second fastest time in the opening qualifying session for Sunday’s penultimate round of the Supersport World Championship. The Imola Lap record holder, who was fastest in the wet morning practice session, posted a time of 1:53.379 to hold the provisional pole position until the dying moments of the 45 minute session – only to be eclipsed by 2005 world champion Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) just before the chequered flag came out. Despite this, the experienced Australian was happy with his day’s work, having finished ahead of all his rivals for second place in the championship. Team-mate Broc Parkes ended the day fifth fastest, within a second of Curtain’s time around the classic Italian Formula One circuit. The young Australian, who last week signed an extension to his contract with Yamaha Motor Germany, completed 13 laps with a best of 1:54.136. Joining Charpentier and Curtain on the provisional front row are local riders Gianluca Nannelli (Ducati) and Michel Fabrizio (Honda). Final qualifying for Sunday’s race takes place tomorrow afternoon. Kevin Curtain “The same old story really, with us setting the target and Charpentier coming out to set a faster lap right at the end. Things are generally going well, I sat out most of the morning session because the track was so wet and slippery so that cost us some track time. I’m confident for the race. With the championship already decided our race isn’t with Charpentier, it’s Foret and Fujiwara we need to look out for.” Broc Parkes “A decent start. The track was so slippery this morning but I went out to get as much information as possible. Other than Charpentier the times are quite close and hopefully it will be dry tomorrow so that we can push for the front row.”

Final 250cc Grand Prix Qualifying Results From Qatar: 1. Jorge LORENZO, Honda, 2:02.154 2. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 2:02.303 3. Casey STONER, Aprilia, 2:02.473 4. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 2:02.544 5. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 2:02.704 6. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 2:02.715 7. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 2:02.828 8. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 2:04.219 9. Hector BARBERA, Honda, 2:04.282 10. Yuki TAKAHASHI, Honda, 2:04.327 11. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 2:04.419 12. Roberto LOCATELLI, Aprilia, 2:04.485 13. Anthony WEST, KTM, 2:04.594 14. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 2:04.816 15. Andrea BALLERINI, Aprilia, 2:04.964

Final 125cc Grand Prix Qualifying Results: 1. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 2:09.455 2. Gabor TALMACSI, KTM, 2:09.601 3. Mattia PASINI, Aprilia, 2:09.653 4. Julian SIMON, KTM, 2:09.680 5. Fabrizio LAI, Honda, 2:09.699 6. Manuel POGGIALI, Gilera, 2:09.718 7. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 2:09.850 8. Angel RODRIGUEZ, Aprilia, 2:09.962 9. Thomas LUTHI, Honda, 2:10.010 10. Mike DI MEGLIO, Honda, 2:10.024

Combined MotoGP Practice Times: 1. Marco MELANDRI, Honda, Michelin, 1:58.008 2. Carlos CHECA, Ducati, Bridgestone, 1:58.123 3. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, Bridgestone, 1:58.233 4. Colin EDWARDS, Yamaha, Michelin, 1:58.274 5. Max BIAGGI, Honda, Michelin, 1:58.326 6. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, Michelin, 1:58.407 7. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, Michelin, 1:58.434 8. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, Michelin, 1:58.458 9. Toni ELIAS, Yamaha, Michelin, 1:58.494 10. Alex BARROS, Honda, Michelin, 1:59.150 11. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, Bridgestone, 1:59.630 12. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, Michelin, 1:59.727 13. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, Bridgestone, 1:59.864 14. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, Bridgestone, 2:00.062 15. Roberto ROLFO, Ducati, Dunlop, 2:00.139 16. Ruben XAUS, Yamaha, Michelin, 2:00.292 17. Shane BYRNE, Honda, Michelin, 2:01.369 18. James ELLISON, Blata, Dunlop, 2:02.100 19. Franco BATTAINI, Blata, Dunlop, 2:02.417 20. Olivier JACQUE, Kawasaki, Bridgestone, 2:04.582* * Only rode Friday morning practice.

JACQUE SIDELINED BY INJURY IN QATAR Kawasaki’s Olivier Jacque will take no further part in this weekend’s Grand Prix of Qatar, after sustaining an injury to his lower back in a crash during yesterday’s opening free practice session. Making his debut at the Losail International Circuit, Jacque ran on at the second gear turn eight, lost control of his Ninja ZX-RR on the uneven gravel surface and fell from his machine at relatively low speed. Jacque completed the session on his spare bike, but was admitted to the Clinica Mobile complaining of pain in his shoulder, neck and lower back shortly after the session ended. From the paddock Jacque was transported to the local hospital in Doha for further diagnostic tests on his injuries. X-Ray results at the hospital proved to be inconclusive, but local doctors did not deem the bone scan required to properly identify the extent of the Frenchman’s injury necessary under the circumstances. Jacque will now return to Europe for further diagnostic tests and treatment to the injury, and is hopeful of making his race return at the Australian Grand Prix in two week’s time. Olivier Jacque: #19 “After the crash I was okay to continue the session, but then everything started to stiffen up once I got off the bike. By the time they transferred me from the Clinica Mobile to the local hospital I was in quite a lot of pain and walking was impossible. Today I feel a little better, but I am still walking like an old man and I’m nowhere near fit enough to ride this weekend. Now I will go back to Europe and concentrate on getting back to full fitness as soon as possible.” Harald Eckl: Team Manager “Olivier was unlucky; it was a low speed crash, but it looks like he landed awkwardly. The tests on OJ’s injuries were inconclusive, but there is a possibility he’s fractured at least one rib. We won’t know for sure until he has had a chance to undergo further diagnostic tests in Europe. Hopefully the injury will prove to be a minor one and Olivier will be fit to ride again at the Australian Grand Prix.”

Racer Jason Pridmore won back-to-back amateur golf tournaments in California this month, including setting a new tournament record en route to the second victory. Pridmore, who in addition to being a former AMA Champion in 750cc Supersport/Superstock (1997) and Formula Xtreme (2002) is also a former World Endurance Champion (2003), won the 5th Annual Camarillo City Championship September 18 in a sudden death playoff at Sterling Hills Golf Club, in Camarillo, California. On September 24-25, Pridmore took the Amateurgolf.com Mission Viejo Championship, in Mission Viejo, California, going away. He backed up his first-round score of 68 (four under par, 72) with a final round of 65, seven under par and only one stroke shy of the overall course record, 64. In fact, it was the best individual tournament round ever shot during the five-year history of the tournament, according to www.amateurgolf.com, and the best tournament round Pridmore has ever shot. “It was pretty cool,” Pridmore said via cell phone from his home in Ventura, California. “I shot 11 under par over the two days. That’s pretty deep for me. I’ve never gone that low before.” Although not the first golf tournament victories of his amateur career, Pridmore, who is personally sponsored by golf ball company Titleist in racing, said the win in Mission Viejo, “was possibly the biggest golf tournament I’ve ever won. “I’ve always said that I would like to pursue a career in golf after racing. It’s a different kind of excitement, but strangely enough this has made me hungrier for racing, this taste of winning again.” Pridmore said he is currently splitting his days, training for racing in the mornings and golfing in the afternoons, preparing to resume testing with Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki in November and preparing to compete again October 1-2 at the Santa Barbara County Championship at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc, California.

Yamaha will compete in the 2006 Supersport World Championship with Australian riders Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes racing the brand new Yamaha YZF-R6 for the Yamaha Motor Germany team. The squad will again receive official support from Yamaha Motor Europe and is already working on development of the new machine. To ensure they are ready to compete for race wins from February’s opening round in Qatar, Yamaha has provided the team with early production machines and a range of kit parts, allowing the team to complete a private shakedown test several weeks ago. Yamaha Motor Germany is now focusing on engine development at its Neuss base and Curtain and Parkes are scheduled to get their first full test of the race machine in December. Yamaha Motor Germany won the Supersport World Championship in 2000 with rider Jörg Teuchert and has opted to retain the services of both its 2005 riders following their impressive performances this season. Curtain is currently second in the championship with one race win, last time out at EuroSpeedway Lausitz, while Parkes is sixth in the standings in his first year with the team. Yamaha’s all-new YZF-R6 was unveiled to the world’s press in Paris yesterday. The new machine is the company’s most technologically advanced production model to date and boasts an impressive specification including an innovative electronically controlled throttle system, new chassis, completely redesigned and more powerful engine and a slipper clutch fitted as standard. Once again Yamaha is offering a full range of racing kit parts for the YZF-R1 and YZF-R6 through its YEC (Yamaha Engineering Corporation) company. Full information on the kit parts including downloadable images is available at www.yamaha-racingparts.com – information on the 2006 YZF-R6 can be found at ~http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/products/motorcycles/supersport/yzfr6.jsp ~and full biographies of Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes can be found at ~http://www.yamaha-racing.com/supersport/riders.asp~ Kevin Curtain “I’m really excited about next year and I’m honoured to be one of the guys trusted with the development of the new R6 in world supersport. It’s an amazing looking bike and everything I’ve heard about it so far makes me believe we can make a challenge for the title. I have a lot of faith in the Yamaha Germany team and I am sure they are up to the challenge. I certainly can’t wait.” Broc Parkes “I’m really happy with this team and the deciding factor in me staying for 2006 was seeing the new bike that we’ll have. It looks really, really good and as things are just starting to come together for us now in terms of results so it wouldn’t make sense for me to switch teams and have to start again. For now I want to end the season with two good results so that we can start the development work of our new toy on a high!” Terrell Thien (Team Manager) “Both Theo Hoffmann (Yamaha Motor Germany’s motorsports manager) and myself felt it was very important to keep Kevin and Broc for next year. Everybody knows Kevin’s ability while Broc has shown us what he is capable of in the last three races – he is one of the top riders in the championship and is still young and full of potential. We are very happy with the support Yamaha is giving us: all the technical data suggests to new R6 will be very competitive and already we have an engine running on the dyno with good results. We’ll start our testing programme in December and I am quite confident we will be well prepared for the start of the season.”