MotoGP expecting warm welcome at Gran Premio Alice d’Italia The MotoGP World Championship resumes after a two-week break this weekend as the planet’s premier motorcycles and riders head for the heart of racing fanaticism in the hills of Tuscany, Italy. Traditionally one of the most colourful and passionate events of the year, the Gran Premio Alice d’Italia this season welcomes two home riders on top of the standings after four rounds, with Valentino Rossi leading the way from Marco Melandri by 37 points – the largest lead any rider has had at this stage of the year since 1993. The stunning scenery of the Mugello circuit will provide the backdrop to the latest chapter of an intriguing season as Melandri looks to add to 125cc and 250cc victories here and continue his pursuit of Yamaha’s reigning World Champion, with his Honda team-mate Sete Gibernau desperate to join the chase. Rossi has taken three victories already this season and it is imperative that Gibernau opens his account sooner rather than later as he looks to improve on his status as runner-up to the Italian for the past two campaigns. Whilst Gibernau produced his best performance of the season so far with a close second place in the last round at Le Mans, moving up to third in the championship, Rossi’s record at his home Grand Prix is impressive, having won twice for Honda before clinching Yamaha’s first win at Mugello in over a decade last season. The Italian is now looking to make his home circuit the sixth track at which he has scored four MotoGP victories and the first that he has won twice on a Yamaha. Rossi and Melandri are not the only two riders with their sights set on home victory, however, with Max Biaggi and Loris Capirossi both looking to ignite their seasons after disappointing starts for Honda and Ducati respectively. Capirossi is the only Italian rider other than Rossi to win at Mugello in the premier-class whilst Biaggi has had more podium finishes there than any other rider, having finished in the top three on ten occasions including his appearances in the 250cc class. One rider who will not be challenging for the podium this weekend is Spanish youngster Toni Elías. After making an encouraging start to his rookie MotoGP season, Elías crashed during a day of tests following the last round at Le Mans and fractured the radius and scaphoid of his left wrist, also rupturing ligaments and fracturing the outside of his left fibula. The Yamaha rider is battling to be fit in time for his home round at Catalunya next weekend and will be replaced at Mugello by David Checa, the reigning World Endurance Champion and brother to MotoGP regular Carlos. Meanwhile, Honda rider Makoto Tamada and Kawasaki’s Alex Hofmann are both set to return to MotoGP race action for the first time since missing the second round at Estoril. Both riders have been undergoing intense physiotherapy on wrist injuries and were replaced for the last two rounds by Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh and Olivier Jacque respectively, Tamada making a brief appearance in the first free practice session at Le Mans before ruling himself out for the rest of the weekend. Honda’s Dani Pedrosa arrives at the fifth round of the 250cc World Championship looking to break a run of eight years of Aprilia dominance at a circuit he has yet to enjoy victory in any class. The reigning World Champion recovered the series lead by four points from Andrea Dovizioso with victory in the last round at Le Mans but faces a stern challenge this weekend as his factory colleague looks to respond with home glory and seal his first win in the class. Pedrosa, who has finished in second place for the last two years at Mugello in the 125cc and 250cc class, will also be up against another strong front from Aprilia, who will look to defend their excellent record on home soil with Casey Stoner, Sebastián Porto and Randy De Puniet amongst the factory riders in with a chance of victory. Stoner, who will be making his 50th Grand Prix start, scored his first ever Grand Prix pole at Mugello when riding in the 125cc class in 2003 whilst Porto’s victory there last year was his first ever in dry conditions. This season’s 125cc World Championship is so far one of the closest in history, with the first four rounds having been won by four different riders, including three debut winners. The latest of those was Swiss teenager Thomas Lüthi, who took victory in the last round at Le Mans to move up to second place in the championship, 12 points adrift of early leader Mika Kallio. The racing promises to be as close as ever this weekend with the Mugello circuit having witnessed one of the tightest finishes of all time in last year’s 125cc race, when the top six riders were covered by less than one second.

Yamaha/Graves Yamaha rider Jamie Hacking will miss the AMA round June 3-5 at Road America after injuring both of his elbows in a bicycle crash while training Saturday, May 28 near Fort Collins, Colorado. In a telephone call to Roadracingworld.com, Hacking’s wife Rachel said that Jamie Hacking was riding bicycles with Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies. Hacking was following Spies at a relatively high speed. Spies swerved to avoid an object in the road, but Hacking was unable to miss the object and was sent over the bars of his bicycle. Hacking landed with his hands outstretched and dislocated both elbows upon impact. Spies called Rachel Hacking, who came to the scene and transported Jamie Hacking to a local hospital. Hacking was able to pop his right elbow back into place at the crash site, but the left elbow was more severely displaced and had to be relocated by emergency room physicians. At the hospital, it was also found that Hacking suffered small fractures to bones in both forearms, near the elbow. “He’s pretty devastated. He’s in a lot of pain,” said Rachel Hacking. Amazingly, famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting was in Denver, Colorado over the weekend and was able to examine Hacking immediately. According to Rachel Hacking, Dr. Ting said Hacking will have to undergo surgery to set the displaced bone fragment in his left elbow, and an MRI will have to be done to see the full extent of the damage to Hacking’s ligaments and tendons. Hacking is scheduled to fly from Colorado to California Tuesday and undergo the MRI, followed by surgery at Dr. Ting’s Fremont, California offices. Dr. Ting has given Hacking an approximate recovery time of three to six weeks, ruling him out of the AMA races at Road America but making a return at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca round July 8-10 possible. “Luckily, we have that break after Road America and before Laguna,” said Rachel Hacking.

Jeff Wood swept all three of his Formula USA races Monday at Summit Point Raceway, in West Virginia, extending his Championship point lead in each class. Hometown boy Bryan Bemisderfer, meanwhile, took a significant victory in Thunderbike. Riding an Arclight Suzuki GSX-R600 shod with 16.5-inch Dunlop slicks, Wood came from behind in Superbike to overtake defending class Champion Robert Jensen and win by just under three seconds. In his run up to the front, Wood lowered his own overall motorcycle track record from 1:14.317 (which he set Sunday on his GSX-R750) to 1:14.303. Jensen took second in Superbike with Champions Martin Moto Yamaha’s Michael Himmelsbach third. Argo Cycles’ Scott Greenwood crashed his new Kawasaki ZX-6R on the first lap of the 20-lap Superbike final, and Greenwood’s sliding bike took out Wood’s teammate Scott Harwell. Greenwood and Harwell suffered mild concussions but were otherwise uninjured in the incident. In the Sportbike final, which ran under threatening and occasionally spitting skies, Wood and Kneedraggers.com Yamaha’s Greenwood ran nose-to-tail until the race was stopped on lap 16 of 20. The race was re-started, a controversial decision, for six more laps. Wood and Jensen raced closely, but Wood made a last-lap move and beat Jensen to the checkered flag by a fraction of a second. Himmelsbach, who ran a distant third in the main portion of the race, finished third, just ahead of Harwell and Greenwood. The rain came down before the start of the Formula Sportbike final, which was shortened from 20 to 10 laps. Wood, a specialist in rain riding, took the holeshot and ran away to win. Harwell and Team Stargel’s Brian Stokes swapped second several times until Stokes pulled away late in the race to secure the runner-up position. Harwell finished third, two seconds behind Stokes and well ahead of Jensen, who does not like riding at Summit Point in the rain. Earlier in the day, Harding Harley-Davidson/Buell teammates Bemisderfer and Dave Estok had a terrific race in Thunderbike. Unlike most Thunderbike races, which are often decided by attrition, the 16-lap final at Summit Point went right down to the last lap, and defending F-USA Thunderbike Champion Bemisderfer took his first Thunderbike victory at Summit Point, his hometrack. Estok finished runner-up, less than a second behind Bemisderfer. CAD Racing’s David Yaakov finished third on his Phil-Dodd-tuned Suzuki SV650, maintaining his Thunderbike Championship point lead. The day ended with the wet, seven-lap Unlimited Grand Prix, which was won by Stokes on his Michelin-rain-tire-equipped Suzuki GSX-R750. The big news, however, was that Tim Bemisderfer (who rode a Dunlop-backed Shenandoah Honda CBR1000RR) finished second (in spite of running off the track) in his first race back after undergoing a kidney transplant in February. Spina finished third. Jensen sat out the Unlimited GP even though there was Suzuki contingency money available. Formula USA Race Results: Sportbike (600cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 20 laps; 2. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), -0.209 second; 3. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600); 5. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6R); 6. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R600); 7. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6); 8. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R600); 9. Scott Harwood (Hon CBR600RR); 10. Chad Klock (Hon CBR600RR), -1 lap; 11. Alan Nelson (Kaw ZX-6), -1 lap; 12. John Vaccaro (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap; 13. Donny Kelley (Suz GSX-R600), -3 laps; 14. Jonathan Lawrence (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps; 15. Steve Vento (Kaw ZX-6), -6 laps; 16. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6), -7 laps; 17. Trey Yonce (Yam YZF-R6), -9 laps; 18. Brian Roach (Yam YZF-R6), -10 laps. Superbike (600cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 20 laps; 2. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), -1.900 seconds; 3. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R600); 6. Donny Kelley (Suz GSX-R600); 7. Ryan Patterson (Yam YZF-R6); 8. Ned Brown (Kaw ZX-6), -1 lap; 9. Alan Nelson (Kaw ZX-6), -1 lap; 10. Chris Rockwell (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap; 11. Robert Lombardi (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap; 12. Jim Bonner (Yam TZ250), -1 lap; 13. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, DNF, crash; 14. Roy Cadoo, Jr. (Kaw ZX-6), -10 laps; 15. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6), -16 laps, DNF, crash; 16. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600), -20 laps, DNF, crash. Formula Sportbike (750cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R750), 10 laps; 2. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750), -2.503 seconds; 3. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750); 5. Joseph Spina (Suz GSX-R750); 6. Joe Ribeiro (Suz GSX-R750); 7. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R750), -1 lap; 8. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R750), -3 laps, two crashes; 9. Rick Beggs (Kaw ZX-6), -9 laps, DNF. Thunderbike: 1. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell XB9R), 16 laps; 2. Dave Estok (Buell XB12R), -0.198 second; 3. David Yaakov (Suz SV650); 4. Randy Rega (Buell XB12R); 5. Arthur Diaz (Buell XB9R); 6. Clint Brotz (Buell XB12R); 7. Sam Rozynski (Buell XB12R); 8. Russell Masecar (Suz SV650); 9. Joe Rozynski, III (Buell XB12R); 10. Darren Danilowicz (Suz SV650); 11. Jeff Gochenour (Buell XB12R); 12. Greg Avello (Buell XB12R); 13. Gary Bunner (Duc 748); 14. Chris Kalb (Suz SV650), -1 lap; 15. Mark Evry (Suz SV650), -1 lap; 16. Daniel Riter (Suz SV650), -1 lap; 17. Walt Sipp (Buell XB12R), -1 lap; 18. Peter Alesso (Buell XB12R), -1 lap; 19. Matthew Buck (Suz SV650), -1 lap; 20. Dan Bilansky (Buell XB12R), -4 laps, DNF, mechanical. Unlimited Grand Prix: 1. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750), 7 laps; 2. Tim Bemisderfer (Hon CBR1000RR), -15.069 seconds; 3. Joseph Spina (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Joe Ribeiro (Suz GSX-R750); 5. Michael Swank (Yam YZF-R1); 6. Arnold Hastings (Suz GSX-R750); 7. David Loikits (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap; 8. Robert Lombardi (Suz GSX-R750), -1 lap; 9. Ivan Iverson (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap; 10. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750), DNS. Sportbike Championship Point Standings: 1. Wood, 95 points; 2. TIE, Jensen/Greenwood, 65 points; 4. Harwell, 62 points; 5. Elleby, 45 points; 6. Himmelsbach, 44 points; 7. Shawn Conrad, 43 points; 8. David Weber, 36 points; 9. TIE, Parrish/Geoff May, 31 points. Superbike Championship Point Standings: 1. Wood, 98 points; 2. Greenwood, 48 points; 3. Himmelsbach, 47 points; 4. Parrish, 46 points; 5. Rockwell, 39 points; 6. TIE, Jensen/Vincent Haskovec, 35 points; 8. Lombardi, 33 points; 9. Michael Barnes, 31 points; 10. TIE, Patterson/Dolney/Shawn Conrad, 30 points. Formula Sportbike Championship Point Standings: 1. Wood, 108 points; 2. Harwell, 82 points; 3. Elleby, 58 points; 4. Parrish, 51 points; 5. Jensen, 46 points; 6. Shawn Conrad, 43 points; 7. Ribeiro, 40 points; 8. Spina, 32 points; 9. TIE, Beggs/David Weber, 31 points. Thunderbike Championship Point Standings: 1. Yaakov, 79 points; 2. Bemisderfer, 64 points; 3. Estok, 62 points; 4. Brotz, 57 points; 5. Joe Rozynski, III, 54 points; 6. Danilowicz, 48 points; 7. Sam Rozynski, 41 points; 8. Robert Fisher, 38 points; 9. Michael Barnes, 36 points; 10. Ed Key, 35 points.

ROUND 5 – ITALIAN GP – PREVIEW SETE’S CHALLENGE AT MUGELLO Protagonist of an extraordinary race which led to a podium finish during the last GP of France on the historic track of the 24 hours of Le Mans, Sete Gibernau has returned to take up the position which best suits him: up front every Sunday, fighting for the victory. Able to use his RC211V to the maximum of its potential, Sete Gibernau finds himself recuperating positions in the championship and fighting again on June 5th on the Mugello track. A track where generally ‘home riders’ are favoured. Gibernau doesn’t let this bother him though. The Spanish rider has in fact an extraordinary feeling with the Italian fans and on the track of Mugello he can consider himself almost at home: Sete in fact racers for an Italian team, he is loved in Italy, so much that he is considered to be the fifth Italian rider in the MotoGP championship, by the Italian press. “I am taking on the Italian GP with my usual motivation. I am sure of my potential and the potential of my team. It will be a difficult race as the Italian riders, riding for their home fans, will have an extra motivation factor. Mugello isn’t really a track I particularly love, but this is irrelevant as every time I get onto the race track, I am there to race. I have many Italian fans and it would be a wonderful gift for my Italian mechanics and for my team if I win here. Last season the Mugello race was one of the best of the 2004 season: we were quickest on both Friday and Saturday qualifying sessions. I hope to boast the same good work this year as well. The Italian riders are extremely competitive on their home track, but they are also under a lot more pressure. On our side, we have to take advantage of their tension, it will be a very challenging weekend, but at the end of the day, it really isn’t very different than any other race. To be able to dispute a good race we will need a good qualifyin! g position, so that means we have to do a very good job during qualifying. The Italian riders will in fact try to obtain a good race pace from the very beginning; for this reason it is important to start from the first row or, at most, from the second row, in order to fight for the title.” READY FOR HIS HOME GP With two podiums and two fourth places Marco Melandri is defending his second place in the championship with 37 points dividing him and the leader, Valentino Rossi, and 5 points diving him with his team mate, twice vice world champion, Sete Gibernau. The twenty two year old rider, ex 250 World Champion, has demonstrated his best aspects : quick, consistent, in continuous growth Marco Melandri continues to acquire confidence with his RC211V and thanks to the support of HRC, Michelin and under the expert guide of his head tech, Fabrizio Cecchini, Marco has once again started to enjoy riding his bike, and, most importantly! , riding it quickly. MARCO MELANDRI’S COMMENTS ABOUT THE MUGELLO TRACK “The Mugello track can be defined as a real MotoGP circuit because it is quick, there is space to take advantage of the full gears and it gives a lot of riding satisfaction. The track is really good. The sessions I prefer are the Casanova Savelli and the two Arrabbiata corners. These two corners distinguish the track. Mugello is a fun track to ride on, there are different areas where it is possible to overtake: in particular while braking for the first corner, the San Donato, and the first variation as well. The secret to a good lap? To be quick here at Mugello you need to have a good rhythm, be fluid while taking on the corners but without being too aggressive. The part that makes the biggest difference is the downhill “s” and the Arrabbiata corners. It is fundamental to ride through these sectors well in order to make a quick lap time. The biggest! problem of the track? The only negative thing about this track is the condition of the tarmac. In fact there is quite a bit of unevenness to it. The atmosphere: it’s probably because I’m Italian and this is my home race, but it is an incredible feeling to ride looking at all those people all over the hills. When you ride a bike you can feel the warmth of the fans that come to fill the hills that surround the track, it is incredible. My best memory? My victory in 2002 when I was racing in 250cc class. My worst memory? The 2004 GP: I was racing with the leaders, I was in third place for a while, and after a while the front part of my arms just blocked and I could no longer ride.” A curiosity: 4 times in his career has Marco Melandri stepped onto the podium of the Mugello: the first time in 1998 in the 125 class at the age of 16. Marco steps up onto the second step of the podium in 1998 and repeats himself again the following year, again ! with a second place finish in the 125 class. In 2000 he finishes 4th, but returns to the podium in 2001 (3rd place 250 cc class) and in 2002 he wins the Italian GP in the 250 class. In the MotoGP class his best result was in 2004 when Marco Melandri finishes the race after having kept up for the most part with the leaders. A problem with his arms was the cause of his relenting and losing the pace with the front runners. THE TRACK On the hills of Mugello, not very far from Florence, is one of the most beautiful tracks of the championship: spectacular, very technical, and a track where the rider can make a difference during every moment of the race. But it is also a difficult track, characterized by slopes, very quick chicanes, speed changes, sloping corners and a very long straight where riders obtain some of the fastest speeds of the entire championship. Due to all the characteristics, time is a valuable asset when learning the secrets to! this track. “This is a challenging track, very technical. From a riders’ point of view it is amongst the toughest of the championship. The track is characterized by some of the most difficult and quickest sessions of the championship. The best point to overtake is definitely the San Donato corner, the first right corner at the end of the starting straight, but the session I prefer is the Arrabbiata 1 and 2. This is the Mugello ‘trade mark’, it is a quick session, unique of the entire championship. The best memory I have of this track? My pole in the 2004 GP with a time of 1’49″920. The Mugello is the home GP for the Italian ridres and the support of the ‘tifosi’ is very felt. It is lucky that I have a lot of Italian fans, my team is Italian and I have always received a warm welcome from the Italian public” comments Sete Gibernau. TECHNICAL DATA Name of the circuit: Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello Opened: 1974 Modified: 1999 Lenght: 5.245 m Width: 14 m Pole position: right Right corners: 9 Left corners: 6 Longest straight: 1141 meters Motogp race: 23 laps = 120,635 kms RECORD: Track record: 2004 Gibernau (Honda) 1’51″133 pole position: 2004 Gibernau (Honda) 1’49″920 2004 race: 1° Rossi (Yamaha) 2°Gibernau (Honda) 3° Biaggi (Honda)

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th June 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Round 6 SUPERBIKES ROAR INTO CROFT FOR THE BIG ONE! Britain’s premier motorsport series makes a welcome return to the race-starved North East when round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship rolls into Croft Circuit near Darlington this weekend (3/4/5 June). Last year, Croft was the best attended out of all thirteen rounds of the series with just short of 30,000 fans turning up to witness works HM Plant Honda rider Michael Rutter claim a pair of victories aboard his 1000cc Honda and the Birmingham rider will be looking forward to returning north, this time as series leader by 46 points. But with the most competitive field ever assembled in the history of the series, Rutter can expect stiff opposition from any amount of rivals as 2005 continues to provide some superb racing at lap record pace in most cases with plenty of twists and turns that so epitomises this thrilling spectacle. HM Plant Honda Racing team mate Ryuichi Kiyonari from Japan won the opening four races before being injured and missing four races which allowed Rutter to capitalise by winning three of them but with the Airwaves Ducati pairing of Derbyshire rider Leon Haslam and Spaniard Gregorio Lavilla straddling Kiyonari’s fifth win of the season two weeks ago at Mondello Park, then there is still all to play for. Reigning British Champion John Reynolds makes his comeback at Croft after a broken leg sustained in pre-season testing effectively ruled out a concerted title defence and the 39 year old Nottingham rider is full of confidence following the official test day last week. His York based team mate Scott Smart, however, has struggled to come to terms with the Rizla Suzuki but will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s podium at Croft. The Cumbrian based Stobart Honda team will be looking to continue their recent run of form with young Ulsterman Michael Laverty and Lichfield’s Gary Mason hoping to climb the podium for the first time this season whilst their team mate Jeremy McWilliams looks set to miss the Croft race due to a recurrence of a shoulder injury. Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha field a replacement for the injured Sean Emmett in the shape of ‘rent-a-racer’ James Haydon who has already ridden for both the Airwaves Ducati team as well as Rizla Suzuki this season and he will join team mates Tommy Hill and Richard Wren, both from London. Throw in the two Australian Hawk Kawasaki riders Glen Richards and Dean Thomas, the Honda UK bikes of Karl Harris (who used to leave near Harrogate) and Ulsterman Jonathan Rea, as well as the Leeds based Sendo Superbike Team of Steve Plater and John Kirkham and the new Vivaldi Kawasaki Team of Ben Wilson (Boston) and Tristan Palmer (Nuneaton), both feature races are sure to be fiercely competitive. Hoping to maintain local interest is Guisborough rider Dennis Hobbs aboard the Team Nvidia Yamaha although the 22 year old Teessider is facing a race against time to be fit for his local round. Hobbs broke a bone in his wrist a month ago and still has it in a cast as he waits to see if he is given medical clearance to race. If not, then upholding local honour will be Middlesbrough rider Paul Veazey who holds seventh place in the National Superstock Cup aboard his Astro Kawasaki whilst Knaresborough’s Dan Linfoot (16) lies in third in the British 125cc GP class and leads the ACU Academy Cup following on from two successive wins. As well as the two, twenty two lap feature races, a full support race programme is included during the weekend. Cheshire rider Christian Elkin (E3 Honda) leads the 125cc class whilst Devonian James Buckingham makes the long trip north to defend his lead in the British Superbike Cup. Northwich’s Craig Jones (Northpoint Honda) leads the Metabo British Supersport Championship by a single point ahead of Yorkshireman Tom Sykes (TAS Suzuki) with Broughton rider Gary Johnson (GTR Kawasaki) leading the Supersport Cup series. Lincoln rider Lee Jackson heads the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship aboard his Krystal Racing Yamaha with Kenny Gilbertson from Swindon heading the Superstock Cup and Australian teenager Billy McConnell leads the Virgin Mobile Cup. Admission costs £12.00 per adult on Saturday and £25.00 per adult on Sunday which includes access to the paddock. A weekend ticket costs just £30.00 per adult and limited grandstand seating (£8.00 per person) is still available. Children aged 15 and under are admitted FREE and for further information call Croft Circuit on 01325 721815. Timetable Saturday 4th June 09.30 09.55 National Superstock Cup Qualifying 1 10.05 10.45 British Supersport Qualifying 1 10.50 11.40 British Superbikes Qualifying 1 11.50 12.15 Virgin Mobile Cup Free Practice 12.25 12.50 National Superstock Cup Qualifying 2 Interval 13.50 14.15 British 125cc Qualifying 2 14.25 14.50 National Superstock C’ship Qualifying 2 15.00 15.50 British Superbike Qualifying 2 16.05 Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Cup Race 1 15 laps 16.35 17.10 British Supersport Qualifying 2 17.20 17.45 Virgin Mobile Cup Qualifying Sunday 5th June 07.00 Gates Open 10.00 11.00 Pit Lane Walkabout 12.05 12.15 British Superbike Warm Up 12.20 12.30 Virgin Mobile Cup Warm Up 12.35 12.45 British Supersport Warm Up 12.50 13.00 British 125cc Warm Up 13.20 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race 2 22 laps 14.10 Virgin Mobile Cup Race 3 14 laps 14.55 Metabo British Supersport Championship Race 4 – 20 laps 15.45 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race 5 22 laps 16.35 British 125cc GP Championship Race 6 16 laps 17.15 Metzeler Racetec National Superstock C’ship Race 7 18 laps

Lougher and Honda challenge for new look TT Superbike glory The annual Isle of Man TT Racing Festival has a new a look and massive 500,000 prize fund with the traditional two weeks of action over the demanding 37.73 mile Mountain Course already underway, with the competitors beginning practice for the actual racing that begins on Saturday 4 June and continues through to Friday 10 June with the prestigious Senior race. The racing programme moves with the current trend towards more production based machinery, introducing TT Superbikes, having two races for Supersport 600 machines, a Superstock race, while the Senior remains open to all three classes. As always, Sidecars are a traditional part of the action, with two races during the week. This has resulted in strong entries with John McGuinness, from Lancashire, the outright laprecord holder, returning to the Island where last year with three victories he doubled his winning pedigree in the event. McGuinness will be riding Yamaha. The Lancastrian expects tough challenges coming in, none more so than from Ian Lougher who began his ‘warm-up’ for the TT with a Superstock victory aboard his Honda Fireblade in the recent NorthWest 200 event. Like McGuinness, he has won six times on the Mountain Course, and with Honda supported machinery, prepared by Des Moore Race and Rally, has high expectations, particularly wanting to win the inaugural Superbike race to ensure a place in the sporting annals. “That would be great, I want to win at least one of the two big-bike races, though the Senior would be nice,” smiled the TT veteran who has been racing on the Island since 1984. “There’s something about the event that once you have raced here, you have to keep coming back. “The atmosphere is great, there is a real buzz, the speed, the mental preparation – it is all so different to anywhere else. It is a case of you, on your own, against the circuit and the elements. You are not forced to ride here, you do it because you want to, and because you want to enjoy it,” Lougher added. Joining him in the Honda equipe is Richard Britton, who is racing in the event for the eighth year – the Ulsterman is long overdue success and sees this as his best year to take the top step of the podium, with probably his best chances coming in either the Supersport 600 or Superstock races. Martin Finnegan, a Manx Grand Prix winner, also has Honda Fireblade power, and should make a real impact with his maturing style. Honda have a strong pedigree on the Island, totalling 122 victories in their 44 years of competition, and they are backing their riders with top machinery again as they bid to head off the obvious threat of McGuinness and his Yamaha team-mate Jason Griffiths. “Really, I am focussed on winning, and there is talk about a 130mph lap, but for me a victory at the slowest speed necessary would suffice, though there will be some riders out there wanting to go faster,” explained McGuinness who will be riding in all five solo classes. However both marques faces a real threat to their supremacy from Adrian Archibald and Bruce Anstey aboard the TAS Suzukis. Archibald, from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, took a dominant double in 2003 in both the TTF1 and Senior events while last year he took Senior glory – he has lapped 126.82mph and is capable of more. Anstey, from New Zealand, enjoyed victory in last year’s 1000cc Production race amid five podium finishes, and he is raring to go following his superb victory, in difficult conditions of the feature race at the NorthWest 200. And, keep an eye on Ryan Farquhar who is determined to add to his single triumph at the TT as he rides the MSS Kawasaki in the Superbike and Senior races. On three wheels, Manxman Dave Molyneux will be aiming to add to his ten race winning pedigree, although 2002 World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenbock could have a big say in the outcome of the two races, as could Nick Crowe. Both crews race Honda powered outfits. The promise is for classic confrontations across the seven races as the event nears its century – while the first ever motorcycle race was held on the Island in May 1905, the first actual Isle of Man TT motorcycle race was staged in 1907 and the organisers of this year’s event are confident that their revisions will power the event forward into its next century. However, for lovers of class machines, and the historic flavour that is a vital part of the TT, there is a further new element with the introduction of the TT Classic Nostalgia Weekend following on from the end of the race programme. The racing programme is Saturday June 4. TT Superbike race – six laps Sidecar Race “A” – three laps Monday June 6. TT Superstock race – three laps Supersport Junior TT race “A” – four laps Wednesday June 8. Supersport Junior TT race “B” – four laps Sidecar Race “A” – three laps Friday June 10. Senior TT race – six laps

USGPRU announces the MotoGP Teen Challenge Odenton, MD. May 30, 2005 The USGPRU powered by AlwaysOnline.net today announced the MotoGP Teen Challenge. The USGPRU will be presenting MotoGP weekend passes to the top two high-school-aged riders from the USGPRU races at Portland International Raceway on June 25 & 26. Each winner will receive airfare, hotel, pit passes, and VIP access to the Red Bull US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, CA on July 8-10 for themselves and a parent. Working with industry partners the USGPRU has set up a program to get winners of the MotoGP Teen Challenge access to the superstars of the motorcycle racing world. “Our objective is to provide a MotoGP experience that they might not otherwise get,” said series president, Stewart Aitken-Cade. “By exposing them to a real GP environment, our hope is they will push even harder in their career with an ultimate goal of winning their own MotoGP race. The USGPRU looks forward to the day that one of our own graduates rides in the Red Bull US Grand Prix.” The 2005 USGPRU National Series sponsors include AlwaysOnline.net, Dialitintracktime.com, Acid Cigars, Roadracingworld.com, Revit Leathers, Bridgestone, Dunlop, EBC Brakes, GPC Moto, Hjelm Motorsports, Ian Emberton Engineering, Motion Pro Cables and Tools, Redline Cycle Imports, Repsol YPF, Rising Sun Cycles, Silkolene, Zambrana Performance, and VP Fuel. About USGPRU The USGPRU, Powered by AlwaysOnline.net, is the officially recognized Motorcycle 125 Grand Prix National Championship ® and 250 Grand Prix National Championship TM series. The USGPRU emulates true World MotoGP racing experience and serves to attract young riders to gain experience in a professional environment and provide a path to world-class motorcycle racing. The USGPRU structures events with extended length grand prix racing exclusive to the GP machines, timed qualifying and strong contingency and sponsor support. For additional details, visit www.USGPRU.net About Red Bull US Grand Prix The premier two wheel series; MotoGP makes its return to U.S. soil after over a decade at the historic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Races featuring the AMA Superbike and Superstock classes are the prelude to the marquee event, and additional activities will take place throughout the race weekend. More information is available at www.redbullusgrandprix.com

By Mike Solis AFM Round 3 @ Infineon Raceway David Stanton took a decisive victory in the Mach 1 Motorsports Formula Pacific race at Infineon Raceway last weekend, increasing his points lead in his bid for his Formula Pacific title defense. Stanton took the lead early in the race on his 2005 Arclight Suzuki GSX-R1000 and immediately opened up a gap on the rest of the field, crossing the line 11 seconds ahead of second place at the checkered flag. “I don’t play well with others so I do my best to run and hide when I can,” joked Stanton in his speech from the winner’s circle. “We went back to the stock forks, after struggling with the Superbike forks for the last few events. What a difference that made the bike actually goes where I want it to now!” Despite being at a 250cc disadvantage to the competition, Jon Bawden managed his first Formula Pacific podium with a second place finish. Two-time Formula Pacific champion Rob Mesa took the final spot on the podium, in his first ride on his 2005 GSX-R1000. Former AFM number one Jeff Tigert looked to challenge Stanton early in the race, moving his way up to third place before pulling off with mechanical problems on his Marin Cycleworks CBR1000RR. Tigert salvaged the weekend by taking the win in the Keigwins@theTrack 600 Production race later in the day, despite his 13th row grid spot in the 58th position. Jack Pfeifer had an excellent weekend, riding his Pirelli-shod Wheel Two Wheel Aprilia RSV1000 Mille to a first place finish in the Desmoto Sport Open Twins race. Class points leader Eric Gulbransen held the early lead on his Munroe Motors Ducati 749R, but lost the lead early in the race before eventually crashing out in Turn 9. Kurt Spencer was awarded the win in 650 Twins on his Twin Works Factory SV650, after BARF Racing’s Felipe Cabezas and Pacific Tracktime’s Michael Earnest crashed out of the top two positions. Cabezas and Earnest were two of seven riders who went down in a nasty oil spill in Turn 3. The next round of AFM action takes place on June 18-19 at Thunderhill Park in Willows California. AFM Round 3 May 30, 2005 Infineon Raceway Unofficial Results Mach 1 Motorsports Formula Pacific 1. David Stanton (Suz 1000) 2. Jon Bawden (Suz 750) 3. Rob Mesa (Suz 1000) 4. Jack Pfeifer (Apr 1000) 5. Chris Siglin (Suz 600) 6. Eric Gulbransen (Duc 749) Scuderia West Formula 1 1. Jon Bawden (Suz 750) 2. Jack Pfeifer (Apr 1000) 3. Garry Combs (Suz 750) 4. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 5. William Morton (Hon 250) 6. John Davis (Yam 250) Mazda Tech / Shawn Herrera Formula 2 1. John Davis (Yam 250) 2. William Morton (Hon 250) 3. Jeffry Hanford (Hon 250) 4. Sean Case (Hon 250) 5. Richard Denman (Hon 250) 6. Jove Shapiro (Yam 250) Formula 3 1. Carlos Neves (Hon 125) 2. Michael Jarrard (Hon 125) 3. Stephen Bowline (Hon 125) 4. Jonathan Schendel (Yam 125) 5. Mark Goodrich (Hon 125) 6. Jeffrey Lim (Hon 125) Zoom Zoom Trackdays Formula 4 1. Michael Lohmeyer (Hon 400) 2. Kurt Spencer (Suz 650) 3. Brian Long (Suz 650) 4. Jason Butler (Suz 650) 5. Shawn Reilly (HD 1200) 6. John Daker (Suz 650) Open Grand Prix 1. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 2. Scott Wilson (Suz 1000) 3. Robert Mesa (Suz 1000) 4. Kim Nakashima (Yam 1000) 5. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 6. Gary Stewart (Yam 1000) Hare Racing Open Superbike 1. David Stanton (Suz 1000) 2. Jack Pfeifer (Apr 1000) 3. Rob Mesa (Suz 1000) 4. Harley Barnes (Suz 1000) 5. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 6. Scott Wilson (Suz 1000) Dial It In Tracktime 750 Superbike 1. David Stanton (Suz 750) 2. Jon Bawden (Suz 750) 3. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 4. Garry Combs (Suz 750) 5. David Bell (Suz 750) 6. Jeremiah Grant (Suz 750) Pacific Tracktime 600 Superbike 1. Chris Siglin (Suz 600) 2. Grant Riggs (Yam 600) 3. Andy Carman (Yam 600) 4. John Daley (Yam 600) 5. Berto Wooldridge (Suz 600) 6. Kenny Carlotta (Suz 600) 450 Superbike 1. Tim Wheeler (Kaw 400) 2. Mike Lohmeyer (Hon 400) 3. Paul Yoshimune (Hon 450) 4. Kenyon Kluge (Hon 400) 5. Richard Moore (Yam 442) 6. Mark Elrod (Hon 400) Kilowatt Bar 250 Superbike 1. Jove Shapiro (Yam 250) 2. Cliff Farrar (Yam 250) 3. Shawn Herrera (Yam 250) 4. Tommy Okuhira (Yam 250) 5. Dylan Benjamin (Hon 250) 6. Clif Jordan (Apr 250) Take It 2 The Track Open Production 1. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 2. Mike Mullin (Suz 1000) 3. Kim Nakashima (Yam 1000) 4. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 5. James J. King (Suz 1000) 6. William Scott (Kaw 1000) Strictly Sport 750 Production 1. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 2. Craig Wierman (Suz 750) 3. Jeremiah Grant (Suz 750) 4. Don Rudolfs (Suz 750) 5. Alex Florea (Suz 750) 6. Gary Hatfield (Suz 750) Keigwins@thetrack 600 Production 1. Jeff Tigert (Hon 600) 2. Grant Riggs (Yam 600) 3. Andy Carman (Yam 600) 4. Kenny Carlotta (Suz 600) 5. Berto Wooldridge (Suz 600) 6. Mikey Judkins (Yam 600) 450 Production 1. Dave Norgard (Yam 400) 2. Douglas Goldman (Yam 400) 3. Peter Licht (Yam 400) 4. Karolyn Bachelor (Yam 400) 5. Ross Wells (Yam 400) 6. Ed Yoast (Yam 400) Aftershocks Suspension 250 Production 1. Jay Kinberger (Kaw 250) 2. David Crone (Hon 250) 3. Bob Simmons (Kaw 250) 4. John Anner (Kaw 250) 5. Rick Cramer (Kaw 250) 6. Thomas Hicks (Hon 250) Desmoto Sport Open Twins 1. Jack Pfeifer (Apr 1000) 2. Brian Long (Suz 1000) 3. Bud Anderson (Hon 1000) 4. Kurt Spencer (Suz 1000) 5. Scott Schwanbeck (Apr 1000) 6. Simon Williams (Duc 998) 650 Twins 1. Kurt Spencer (Suz 650) 2. Brian Long (Suz 650) 3. Jason Butler (Suz 650) 4. John Daker (Suz 650) 5. Michael Metcalf (Suz 650) 6. Michael Rosa (Suz 650) 500 Twins 1. Bobby Lee Broussard (Suz 500) 2. Jon Forman (Suz 500) 3. Jay Jacobsen (Suz 500) 4. Joe Sickle (Suz 500) 5. Josuf Zobairi (AND 500) 6. Patrick Aldinger (Kaw 500) Formula Singles 1. Jeffry Schnapp (Yam 700) 2. Chris Keane (Hon 450) 3. Charles Statman (Hon 650) 4. Chris Van Andel (Hon 450) Super Dinosaur 1. Ross Wells (Yam 400) 2. David Worthington (Suz 750) 3. Dave Norgard (Yam 400) 4. Rob Mac Castro Jr (Yam 400) 5. David Crussel (Kaw 748) Theresa McKinney Realtor Formula 40 1. Mike Thompson (Yam 1000) 2. Greg Davis (Yam 1000) 3. Gary Stewart (Yam 1000) 4. Pete Demas (Suz 600) 5. Bud Anderson (Hon 1000) 6. Jeff Gruetter (Hon 1000) Vintage 251-500 1. Charles Sexton (Bul 250) 2. Eirik Nielsen (Hon 160) 3. Chris Page (Hon 160) 4. Richard Weidenback (CA 250) 5. Michael Polkabla (Hon 160) 6. Dean Willoughby (Hon 160) Vintage 501-Open 1. David Crussel (Kaw 748) 2. Mick Hart (Hon 600) 3. Tom Mellor (Tri 750) 4. Duncan Craick (SEE 750) 5. Robert Blum (Hon 750) 6. John Martin (Nor 750) More, from a press release issued by Scuderia West: Jack Pfeifer and Scuderia West A Winning Pair! AFM round 3 / May 29, 2005 Infineon Raceway In Sunday’s third round of the the AFM series Scuderia West’s Jack Pfeifer showed the true potential of the Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory. Open Twins 1ST Formula 1 2ND Open SuperBike 2ND Formula Pacific 4TH Taking the lead on the first lap of the Formula One race Jack held the lead for the first four laps to end up second to John Bawden in Jack’s first race of the day. Later on Jack knocked two full seconds off of last month’s times while holding off Rob Mesa on his new GSXR 1000 to finish second behind the GSXR of Dave Stanton in the Open Superbike race. A small mechanical glitch prevented a repeat in Formula Pacific where Jack was forced to short shift the bike from the second lap on to finish 4th behind Stanton, Bowden and Mesa in the day’s premier race Finally, with the electrical gremlins cleared for the Open Twins race Jack was able to take the top spot in his final race of the day. Eric Gulbransen took the holeshot only to have Jack come by exiting the carousel before turn 7. A late braking effort by Gulbransen in turn 9 ended the Ducati challenge for the day and Jack took the win by some 24 seconds at the end. Scuderia’s Scott Schwanbeck moved up a spot this month to claim 5th. Jack now takes control of the points lead in the Aprilia USA contingency class with a better position for collecting the $10,000 purse at the end of the year. Be sure to look for Jack and the Archille’s racing/Scuderia West Pirelli sponsored Aprilia, and don’t be afraid to stop by and say hello. See you at the races!

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM PREVIEW Italian Grand Prix Mugello, Italy 3rd, 4th & 5th June 2005 GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO HOME GRAND PRIX The Gauloises Yamaha Team’s MotoGP World Championship challenge resumes this weekend with the team in better shape than ever ahead of their home event, the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. Whilst a brief two-week respite has given riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards a vital opportunity to recharge their batteries, the team’s engineers have taken the chance to make further improvements to their YZR-M1 machines on the back of a valuable day of tests after the last round at Le Mans. The stop-start nature of the French circuit and the tight and twisty turns of Shanghai will be a distant memory as the riders now prepare to tackle three of the fastest racetracks in the world – Mugello, Catalunya and Assen over the next four weekends. The characteristics of the circuits will provide a wholly different challenge for the YZR-M1 and the team has worked specifically to adapt the machines accordingly in the recent test. Rossi reported positively on new engine parts that the factory’s engineers are now aiming to incorporate to the bikes in time for Mugello, a circuit that demands optimum horsepower down the second longest straight on the calendar measuring some 1,141m. Meanwhile, work has been continuing on the swiftly improving electronics and engine mapping as the engineers look to optimise the bike’s acceleration capabilities, with the riders aiming to hit incredible top speeds of over 330km/h. Whilst progress continues to be made with their machines, the riders are also growing in stature with every Grand Prix that goes by and they arrive in Italy in confident moods after a dominant showing at the last round in France, where they took the front two places on the starting grid and both finished on the podium in the race. Whilst Rossi’s third victory from four races extended his championship lead to 37 points over Marco Melandri (Honda), third place for Edwards saw him close in on fifth overall and made further steps up the championship standings ladder a realistic target over the coming weeks. As well as consolidating the riders’ positions in the World Championship standings, their success at Le Mans also extended the Gauloises Yamaha Team lead in the Teams’ World Championship and kept Yamaha on top in the Manufacturers’ rankings. It is an ideal base for the team to work from at Mugello, which lies deep in the Tuscan hills just over 300 kilometres from the team’s base at Gerno di Lesmo, near Milan. VALENTINO ROSSI: A BUSY WEEKEND AHEAD! As arguably the biggest name in Italian sport at the moment, Valentino Rossi is in for another busy weekend as his home Grand Prix brings a host of extra pressures. As well as an expectant capacity crowd, the demands of the local media are sure to make life harder for the reigning World Champion. “Mugello is always the busiest weekend of the year for me, but the most important thing is what happens on the track” explained Rossi, who took victory for Yamaha in a rain-interrupted race at Mugello last season. “Of course Mugello is very special because it is my home race, and I hope a lot of people will come. Last year was unbelievable it was hard to explain the emotion I felt when I heard the crowds cheering for me on the last few laps. It’s nice to arrive there on top of the championship and hopefully we can put on a good show.” After an energy-sapping start to the season, his best since 2002, Rossi says he was glad of the chance to relax for the past two weekends and is now ready to return to his best form at a crucial stage of the campaign. “We’ve had an extra week of holiday which has been really important because now we have three races coming up in four weekends, at Mugello, Catalunya and Assen, and they will all be very hard. When you have a few races so close together a lot of things can change in a short space of time, so it is important to keep the concentration and continue in the way we have started the season. “The test in Le Mans has given us some good things to take to Mugello and hopefully we’ll be able to use the new engine parts there and put to practice the things we’ve learnt. We continued to work on the general set-up and also tested some new tyres with Michelin, from which we found some good options to use in Mugello. We tried quite a lot of new things that I think will help us in Mugello so I am feeling positive.” COLIN EDWARDS: ONE STEP AT A TIME Colin Edwards arrives in Mugello as one of Rossi’s biggest rivals for victory, having finally broken his run of early season bad luck with a thrilling ride at Le Mans. The American led the way for much of the race in France before taking a creditable third place, his first podium appearance for Yamaha in MotoGP. He will not be short of local backing himself after making a lasting impression on Italian race fans with a title-clinching victory over Troy Bayliss in a breathtaking final round of the World Superbike series in 2002. “I’ve got a lot of fans in Italy after the win at Imola in 2002 and I always enjoy going back there,” says Edwards. “My chief mechanic is Italian, most of the team are too and we’re based just down the road from Mugello, so it’s a big race to do well in. Obviously it is Valentino’s home Grand Prix, which also makes it special. It pretty much goes crazy wherever he is in the world, so in Italy it should be bananas!” Like Rossi, Edwards’ progress at Le Mans extended to the extra day of testing as he concentrated his work on suspension and tyres. With Yamaha’s engineers endeavouring to provide the new engine parts for both riders at Mugello, the weekend should see more steps forward for the 31-year-old. “At the test we played around with the suspension and the mapping to try to find ways to make the bike easier to ride and more forgiving. It’s definitely getting better. We tested some tyres, found a new front that we’re happy with and spent a lot of time on the settings, so that we can hopefully just fire away when we get to Mugello. “I’m 100% positive that we’ve found a good setting to enable us to get there and be quick from the start just like we did at Le Mans. It’s been a tough start to the year for me but a lot of things came together in France and now we just want to take the next step on from there.” DAVIDE BRIVIO: BUSINESS AS USUAL Gauloises Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio admits the Italian Grand Prix is a special occasion – with family, friends and fans all set to descend on the Mugello paddock in their droves. However, the Italian recognises the importance of keeping his team’s focus on events on the track and says it will be business as usual once practice gets underway on Friday morning. “I don’t know about our biggest race of the year, but it’s definitely our busiest!” admits Brivio. “Many of the team members are Italian from Valentino all the way through to the staff so it will be a special atmosphere this weekend. It will be difficult to work in the paddock but at the same time it is always nice to know that there are so many fans supporting our riders. “Essentially, when the red lights go out at 2pm on Sunday we could be at any racetrack in the world, so we have to be sure that we are as prepared as we would be anywhere else. That means doing everything right from the first practice session. “This is the best shape we have been in all season we are leading the standings for the riders, the teams and the factory; the bike is constantly improving and both our riders are full of confidence after Le Mans. The target for us now is to maintain that level of performance and keep improving. “Hopefully the new engine parts we tested at Le Mans can be ready in time for Mugello, because it is a track where you need a lot of horsepower. Yamaha’s engineers are very busy trying to adapt the bike and it will be an interesting opportunity to compare our progress.” BLAST FROM THE PAST: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF YAMAHA GLORY Valentino Rossi’s memorable win at Mugello last year was the factory’s first at the Italian racetrack since the legendary Wayne Rainey swept his YZR500 to victory at the twelfth round of the 1991 season. Rainey’s win at the San Marino Grand Prix came at a crucial point of his first World Championship title defence and is fondly remembered by the Californian for the unique atmosphere generated by motorcycle fans in Italy. “Racing in Italy is very special because the passion the Italians have for motorcycle racing is like nowhere else in the world,” says Rainey. “I always felt that, unlike other nationalities that simply enjoy watching racing, the Italians actually understand what it is that we do. “In particular, the atmosphere at Mugello is incredible. The paddock is set down in the valley and I remember lying awake in my motorhome at night because of the amount of noise they were making in the hills surrounding the circuit. I didn’t care about losing sleep though it just felt so neat to be a part of it!” Whilst the huge crowds bank around the hills that surround the picturesque Mugello circuit, the track weaves and twists its way delightfully around the bottom of the valley and, Rainey remembers, it gave him the opportunity to escape from perennial pursuers Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan. The win also came at a crucial point of his first World Championship title defence, striking a psychological blow over the pair with just three rounds remaining. “I always remember the track layout because it had so many uphill and downhill sections, which a lot of tracks didn’t have at the time, and a very long straight where Kevin and Mick were able to catch me up! We were a bit down on top speed to them but the chassis and engine set-up we had were perfect and I was able to get away in the twisty sections. “I won six races that season and when you are fighting for a championship they are all as valuable as each other, but the Mugello win definitely came at a good time. I think it gave the whole team a massive boost just when we needed it and probably damaged the psyche of my competitors too. It gave us confidence for the end of the season and I was able to retain the title by taking a win and a podium in the next two rounds. I was very proud to win a race at Mugello.” TECHNICALLY SPEAKING At 5.245km the Mugello circuit is one of the longer contemporary MotoGP circuits, in no small part due to the fact that, unlike many other classically sculpted tracks, it has retained its original length and layout. Running across two sides of an impossibly scenic Tuscan valley, Mugello also differs from other super fast circuits in its frequent changes of gradient and the speed of its chicanes. There is a mix of slower and high-speed corners, although even the slowest corners are wide, allowing several ‘ideal’ lines. Having foregone the modern tendency to reduce speeds by creating ‘bus stops’, Mugello’s four significant chicanes are taken at a relatively high pace. Balancing out the need for firmer suspension on the high-speed sections, which compress front and rear suspension due to centrifugal forces, is the requirement for enough pliability to give tyre side grip and traction around the slower off-camber corners. The suspension set-up quest is further complicated by the fact that on one section of the track the approach to the corners is uphill, on the other half downhill, altering the parameters in the search for ideal spring and compression damping rates. Horsepower is a significant factor, with the long Mugello straight a possible passing place at top speeds of over 330kmph. Good top speed aside, the rideability and balance of the machine have to be second-to-none at Mugello, such are its spread of corners. A magnificent but stern test of the complete machine, Mugello demands perfection lap after lap, but rewards precise and spirited riding. VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION Age: 26 Lives: London, UK Bike: Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 GP victories: 71 (32 x MotoGP, 13 x 500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc) First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc) First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc) GP starts: 144 (52 x MotoGP, 32 x 500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc) Pole positions: 37 World Championships 6 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 3 x MotoGP) Mugello 2004 results (Yamaha): Grid: 3rd, Race: 1st COLIN EDWARDS: INFORMATION Age: 31 Lives: Conroe, Texas Bike: Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 GP victories: – First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP) GP starts: 36 Pole positions: – First pole: – World Championships – 2 World Superbike Mugello 2004 results (Honda): Grid: 12, Race: 12 Mugello MotoGP lap record: Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1:51.133 – 2004; Circuit best lap: Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1:49.553 2004.

DUCATI MARLBORO MEN ‘A TUTTO GAS’. The Ducati Marlboro Team comes home to Italy for some full-throttle action around majestic Mugello, arguably MotoGP’s greatest racetrack. Urged on by Italian oxygen and the cheers of the Ducatisti, the Bologna-based squad is ready to achieve the results that recent events have promised but not delivered. Riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa have both shown impressive speed at various stages during the first four GPs, they just need a little luck to bring them back to the front of the pack. “Both guys are very motivated and confident for the Italian GP,” says Ducati MotoGP project leader Livio Suppo. “We had a good test session at Le Mans after the French GP. We tried tyres that worked really well, with good durability. The weather so far this year has been dreadful – four GPs and three affected by rain – so we are really hoping for four hours of dry practice and then a dry race at Mugello. It would be fantastic to give the 3000 fans in the Ducati Grandstand a great performance!”. Mugello should be a great track for the team’s awesomely quick Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5. The circuit is fast and flowing, the kind of layout that really suits the GP5’s character. “I think the bike is well suited to Mugello,” affirms Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “The track’s dominant features are its fast straight and high-speed chicanes. But it’s a very complete circuit, with uphill and downhill sections, so you need a well-balanced bike. For sure it will be a crazy weekend with all the fans around, but we are looking forward to it.” Of course, the Ducati Marlboro Team can count on the support of thousands of Ducatisti who will throng the hillsides around the high-speed track. There’s even a special Ducati grandstand for 3000 Ducatisti at Correntaio, the 180-degree right-hander that sees riders begin the run back to the final corner. CAPIROSSI – ‘ARRABBIATA IS A REAL THRILL!’ An Italian rider on an Italian bike at an Italian racetrack – all eyes will be on Loris Capirossi at Mugello. But the 32-year-old Ducati Marlboro Team man is used to the pressures of racing in front of his countrymen, this is his 16th Italian Grand Prix. “Mugello is a great track and I still have great memories of 2003, when we finished second on the first Desmosedici,” smiles Capirossi. “I love the track, so does the bike and I’m confident that the Bridgestones will be really good there. Mugello is always a major challenge for riders and engineers, because there is so much to understand. You need a very well-balanced bike, so you have confidence to attack the fast, downhill corners with negative camber and bumps. My favourite part of the circuit is Arrabbiata, especially the final part, because it’s really fast, bumpy and difficult, plus the exit over the brow of the hill is totally blind. When you get it right it’s a real thrill!” Capirossi won the premier-class Italian GP in 2000 and finished second in 2001 and 2003. CHECA – FEELING FAST AND COMFORTABLE Carlos Checa comes to Mugello determined to put a recent run of bad luck behind him. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider has run an impressive pace at the last three GPs but hasn’t been able to show what he can do when it really counts – in the race. “I’ve always really liked the character of the Mugello circuit, and I think it should work well for the Ducati and me,” he says. “The track is very fast and so is the bike! It should go well there, though we’ll be working to improve the way the bike steers through the high-speed changes of direction. This is one area of performance we’ve been working on, though overall the bike is performing really well for me at the moment. I feel really fast and comfortable on it – all I need now is a little luck! We are also working on tyres with Bridgestone, they’re doing a good job, always moving forward. It will be great to race a Ducati in Italy for the first time. I know the fans really get into it at Mugello, so I want a really good result for them and, of course, for Ducati and myself.” Checa has scored one podium finish at Mugello, taking second place in the 2000 Italian GP. THE TRACK Mugello is one of the best events of the MotoGP season – a challenging, high-speed circuit situated in a stunningly beautiful Tuscan valley packed with thousands of enthusiastic fans. And just for good measure, the breathtaking Renaissance city of Florence is just down the road and the whole area is full of great restaurants and trattorias. The track features one of the world’s longest straights, where the fastest bikes exceed 330kmh, giving the Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici a chance to really stretch its legs. The fast and flowing circuit is one of the most demanding, with a thrilling blend of high-speed turns, rapid direction changes and plentiful off-camber corners. Mugello’s complexities are further heightened by a bumpy surface, which, combined with numerous adverse-camber corners, makes front-tyre choice particularly crucial. Mugello has been popular ever since it joined the GP calendar full-time in 1991, first as the San Marino round and then as the Italian GP. The circuit hosted its first bike GP in 1976 but only became a regular venue after total refurbishment in the early nineties. Mugello first hosted street races in 1914, when the course ran through local towns and villages. Pole position 2004: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 1m 49.553s Lap record (2004): Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1m 51.133s (169.905kmh/105.574kmh) DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS LORIS CAPIROSSI Age: 32 (born April 4, 1973) Lives: Monaco Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 GP victories: 23 (1xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125) First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125) First GP: Japan, 1990 (125) GP starts: 220 (50xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125) Pole positions: 36 (3xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125) First pole: Australia, 1991 (125) World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998) Mugello 2004 results: Grid: 8th. Race: 8th CARLOS CHECA Age: 32 (born October 15, 1972) Lives: London, England Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 GP victories: 2 (500) First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500) First GP: Europe, 1993 (125) GP starts: 172 (52xMotoGP, 92×500, 27×250, 1×125) Pole positions: 3 (2xMotoGP, 1×500) First pole: Spain, 1998 (500) Mugello 2004 results: Grid: 11th. Race: DNF