How about One more Weekend? The Central Roadracing Association is hosting the first ever “Midwest Invitational Club Race” at Mid-America Motorplex, located in Pacific Junction Iowa, October 15,16 2005. The CRA has decided to reciprocate race licenses from every motorcycle racing organization in the country. Simply show up get a number and see how you measure up against the Top CRA racers on MAM’s challenging roadcourse. We are already expecting racers from WERA, CCS, MRA, and many more so if you gotta have one more go at it, this is your chance. Put your Pride on the Line! There will be a promoter practice hosted by TrackAddix www.trackaddix.com on Firday October 14, 2005. Other details, rulebooks, and registration forms, and answers to questions can be found at the CRA website www.cra-mn.com

800cc – DEJA VU There may be still another complete season to wait but already that feeling of deja vu is upon us as we contemplate another era in the short but eventful history of MotoGP, the arrival of the 800cc machine in 2007. It takes us back four years when the imminent journey into the unknown was the talk of the sport. The 500cc two-strokes were about to be replaced by the 990cc four-strokes and nobody honestly knew what to expect. Will the new machines lap as fast, will they be safer, how about fuel consumption, how many cylinders and how much will they cost to build and run were just a few of the unknowns. Four years on as those very same questions are being asked and once again, opinions are equally divided. The 800cc capacity has been introduced very much with safety in mind. Top speeds of over 310 km/h are commonplace when the 990cc machines face a straight of the adequate length. This was considered too fast on a regular basis and so the reduction in capacity by almost 200cc will be introduced in 2007 but will it reduce lap speeds. History in other motorsports suggest not for long. Technology and unfortunately more money will make up for the loss of capacity. The engineers and designers will get over the problem as long as they have the money to do it but how long will it take to be matching the lap times of the 990cc machines. “Every year lap records are being smashed and it will be very interesting to see just how long it takes the new 800cc machines to continue the trend,” said Sito Pons, the Team Principle of the Camel Honda team, who supervised the successful switch from two-stroke to four-stroke of his team in 2003. “As in 2003, we will only really know what to expect when we race the new machines for the first time where we raced the 990cc machine the previous year.” However Pons has more than a sneaking suspicion that laps records will not remain intact very long. “Clearly the introduction of the new capacity is to reduce the power of the bike for safety reasons but I think at the end of the day the engineers will get them producing the same power as the 900cc machines we are racing at the moment,” he explained. “It’s a big new step in the Championship and it will be a tremendous new project for the engineers to design a new combination of two, three, four or five cylinder machines with less weight.” Safety fears about the 990cc four-strokes proved unfounded with less accidents in the last three years than in the two-stroke dominated days. That trend should hopefully continue with the new regulations. “My personal opinion is when we changed to the four-strokes that the safety actually increased for our riders,” said Pons. “If you check the statistics there have been less crashes with the four-strokes than the two-strokes. The four-strokes are easier to control and more predictable although of course they are faster. We have already made one step ahead with the changes three years ago and if we go one step further by reducing the the capacity by almost 200cc, that’s got to be good for everybody.” So it appears most people think the new capacity will be good for safety, the engineers will have a field day and the racing should be as fast and furious as ever but what about the cost. Will it be more expensive to design build and race the new breed of MotoGP machines? “I would like to think that it would help in reducing the cost of the machines but I don’t think we can achieve this, ” admitted Pons. “It’s always difficult to prevent the costs soaring when you are exploring new technology. Every time you want to win you have to spend more money and everybody wants to win. The only limit to this spending is the money that you have available.” With costs soaring every season, more and more teams are feeling the pinch as MotoGP continues to explode across the World. Keeping those costs down to an acceptable level is an important component to the future success of the Championship as is the reduction in the engine capacity. “Only when we start testing the new machines will we know if we can reduce or at least maintain the costs,” revealed Pons, the former double 250cc World Champion. “It’s vital to the future of our Championship that we keep costs down because more inflation just makes it tougher for our partners, sponsors, manufacturers and teams.” Same questions and same problems as MotoGP prepares to march into yet another new era.

A custom Fender “Springer” Stratocaster guitar (inspired by Hall of Fame motorcycle racer Jay Springsteen) was raffled off at the 3rd Annual Sandia Classic on September 18th in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The raffle raised $2500 dollars for the AHRMA Benevolent Fund and the Garret Iverson Fund. The Guitar was designed and donated by Grandma’s Music and Sound and Chick’s Harley Davidson. The winner was Mike Azzar of Michigan.

By Cory Stem Championship Cup Series Southwest Region at Las Vegas 9-17/18/05 With two racing organizations racing within six hours of each other and two again the next weekend, a light turnout was expected at Las Vegas Classic Course. The temperatures were under 100 degrees and the winds lighter than usual, but these two factors did not cool the excitement of the Twin-Sprint race weekend though. Small turnouts mean racers who usually finish in the top ten get a chance to take podiums and as all racers know that can jump start some real momentum for a racers career. The Lightweight classes had some of the closest battles that got everyone trackside to watch. John Jewett riding for Coyle Brothers/Dunlop had to use some of his best moves to counter the advances of Ted Rich from AZTrackdays while both on their Suzuki SV 650’s. John won all 5 of the close battles they had and the two provided some of the closest dicing of the weekend. One of the better Middleweight races was Middleweight Superbike. Bryan Land (Carter Powersports) lead flag to flag while Ivan Garza and John Blaylock traded blows for second. This was the best I had seen either rider ever perform while they traded the position lap after lap. Ivan opened up a gap with skillful use of lap traffic on the final lap but Blaylock (Dialitintracktime.com) was able to reel him in by the last two turns. Ivan left the door open in between turns 8 and 9 which was just enough for John to squirt his Honda through the gap. Garza tried to square up for the finish line drive but a shagged Pirelli (after seven races mind you!) spun up and left him short half a bike length at the finish. In the Racers Edge Middleweight Supersport, Land again took a victory (he won 13 of 14 races entered this weekend)with the young Tyler Jones (Blue Heron) taking second and Blaylock third after a NASCAR-style paint swapping start. Speedscreen’s $1000 Unlimited GP had some new names on the podium too. Tom Savoca (Michelin) led the first couple of laps on his Honda but then Garza snuck by and opened up a gap. Newcomer (to CCSSW) Vincent Chu (VC Performance) was thinking the race was 14 or more laps instead of 8 and when he saw the white flag immediately took the 3 to 4 seconds out of Savoca to race into second. Ivan Garza held onto a lonely first to take the lion’s share of the purse. Race Director Randy Stem also announced that the Southwest Region of CCS will now be run and is owned by Roadrace Southwest and will be an affiliate of CCS for 2006. Points for the year, a forum and online forms are available at www.roadracesw.com as well as the results from this years races. All racers are encouraged to provide feedback for the future through the website. Special thanks to Brian Kirkland for building and maintaining a beautiful site. More, from a press release issued by EDR Performance: During this past weekend’s OMRRA event at Portland International Raceway, EDR Performance riders once again distinguished themselves earning 10 first place finishes and 21 podium finishes, including podium sweeps for the 750 Superbike and 750 Supersport classes. Chris Ancien, OMRRA #3 and AMA #30, won both 750 classes on board his EDR built, Dunlop shod, Beaverton Suzuki GSXR750 and extended his points lead in each class. Mike Sullivan, OMRRA #74, WMRRA #1 and AMA #74, with his very first time riding the EDR Superbike R1 on Dunlop tires, flirted with the club track record while running away to victory in the Open Superbike race. Todd Frey, OMRRA #5 and 12 time OMRRA SV class champion, extended his points lead in Middleweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike, and 450 Superbike classes on his EDR built Suzuki SV650. And finally, EDR’s newest employee, Drew Pearson, won both his novice events on his EDR built, Dunlop shod, Yamaha R6. Congratulations to all EDR Performance sponsored racers for a fantastic weekend.

LIONS BAY, B.C. In only five years of riding, Misti Hurst has won a series championship in motorcycle racing, been selected to teach at one of North America’s premiere motorcycle riding schools, and become a journalist and freelance writer for several motorcycle publications. And now, Hurst, 29 will ride her inaugural 600cc race on a Honda CBR 600RR in the final event of the Women’s Cup Challenge at Shannonville Raceway Sept 23-25th 2005. “I’m really looking forward to racing in this event,” says Hurst. “Having only raced against men in the past, I’m really curious to see what the racing will be like in a field of all women competitors. I didn’t really know much about the series until I met three of the females who race in the Women’s Cup at the Keith Code, California Superbike School. The caliber of riding that these women exhibited was very high and they raved about the races and suggested I go and try one out. I was immediately intrigued.” Hurst will travel to Shannonville Raceway in Ontario on September 23rd where she will have a day or two of practice on the new Honda CBR 600RR, which is being generously provided by Turn 2 Sportbike Rentals with the backing of Honda Canada, before racing on Sunday the 25th. The Pro Honda Women’s Cup Challenge is a unique series in North America, bringing the stars of Women’s road racing to the next level. This year they offered a seven race schedule in Canada that included three Parts Canada National Rounds, and four regional rounds in both Quebec with ASM and in Ontario with RACE. The weekend of September 23-25th marks the final event of the year. It is the only series in all of North America that provides the opportunity for women racers at varying levels of ability to race together in a safe and competitive environment. Currently the only female instructor with the California Superbike School, Hurst is on a very tight schedule. She spends 70 days per year coaching students on 14 different race tracks throughout North America including, Barber Motorsports, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Virginia International Raceway, Laguna Seca, and Texas World Speedway. “Working with Keith Code and the amazing group of coaches has been an incredible experience that has helped technically improve my riding. Before I went to the school I was riding very intuitively without really knowing what I was doing. Now I have a complete understanding of the skills and a much more solid understanding of riding and racing. I look forward to putting those skills to the test in my first 600cc race.” says Hurst.

Championship Cup Series Brings Great Sportsman Motorcycle Racing to VIR Alton, Va. (September 20) Motorcycle racing enthusiasts throughout Virginia’s Racing Region will enjoy a bonus weekend of competition this weekend, September 24-25, as the Championship Cup Series makes its second visit of the season to VIRginia International Raceway. The Championship Cup Series has been the leader in Sportsman level motorcycle road racing since 1984. Some of America’s best amateur racers will be going elbow-to-elbow as the CCS Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Roadracing Championships Series presented by Lockhart Philips USA and the Infinity GP Racing Series compete over VIR’s picturesque 2.25-mile North Course on Saturday and Sunday. The event will mark the season finale for the Southeast Championship, and New Jersey’s Nate Kern is poised to have a weekend he will never forget. Kern, who rides for Main Line BMW of Dover, Pa., will be the first BMW rider to win professional championship since the late 1970s when he clinches the CCS Southeast Championship title. He also comes into VIR leading the Mid-Atlantic Championship points. If he can wrap both up, he will have a total of 12 championships (five classes in each division, plus the two regional titles). Kern, who raced in the BMW Motorrad Cup Series in Europe last year, has been the sensation of the year on his unorthodox 500lb., shaft-driven, air-cooled/opposed-twin BMW. He cites VIR as his favorite track, and is looking forward to his history-making weekend. To support his effort, a number of BMW riders from various clubs throughout the region will be on hand to cheer him on. Geoffrey Allen of Bristow, Va., is in a good position to take second place in the Southeast Region, while Joey Thomas of Accident, Md., and Trey Yonce of Charleston, S.C., will battle it out for third place. “We are very excited to have had another great year of Championship Cup Series racing in the Southeast Region,” said Ryan Hoyler, Championship Cup Series Promotions Manager. “The riders always look forward to racing at VIR, so having the Southeast Championship wrap up there makes us all very enthusiastic about the event.” The action gets underway Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. with practice for all classes, followed at noon by 25-minute races for the GT classes, seven-lap races fror the CCS classes and qualifying sessions for the Infinity GP riders. Sunday’s schedule opens up with practice for all classes at 8:30 a.m., with feature races starting at 10:00 am, interrupted only by a lunch break from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Tickets for this weekend’s Championship Cup Series event at VIR will be available at the gate. Two-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday will be priced at $25, with single-day tickets (Sunday only) available for $15. VIR is a family-friendly facility, where children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Spectator camping is available. Visit www.virclub.com for advance ticket sales. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, which is a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; the VIR Safety and Security Institute, which provides specialized training for U.S. Government and military groups; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room hotel overlooking the track; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. VIR made history from 1957 to 1974 and is doing so again. The renovated original circuit has 17 challenging turns and 130 feet of elevation change. In addition to spectator events, the track is also available to rent for testing, driving schools and club days. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or contact VIR at 434-822-7700. For more information on the Championship Cup Series, visit their website at www.ccsracing.com.

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM COMES TO SEPANG ON A HIGH Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa come to Malaysia this week, aiming to continue the Ducati Marlboro Team’s thrilling renaissance. Last Sunday in Japan Capirossi scored the team’s first MotoGP ‘triple crown’ – pole position, race victory and lap record – while Checa finished just one place off the podium in fourth. Capirossi’s Motegi success was further proof that the Ducati Marlboro Team is back to its very best, following his brilliant second-place finish at last month’s Czech GP. Now the Bologna-based squad looks forward to the Marlboro Malaysian Grand Prix, confident that the amazing performance of its Desmosedici V4 and Bridgestone tyres will keep its riders up front in Malaysia’s debilitating heat and humidity. “After finishing second at Brno we were really looking forward to Motegi, now after winning at Motegi we can’t wait to go racing at Sepang!” smiles Ducati MotoGP project leader Livio Suppo. “It’s good for us to race again so soon because both Loris and the team have some real momentum going. As Claudio (Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO) said last week, Loris is a fighter with the heart of a lion, and it’s good to see that Carlos is also getting closer to the front. Our results at the last two races prove that our package is growing. Bridgestone are doing an unbelievable job – remember we only started working with them last November! So far this year we’ve scored three podiums and a win, so maybe now it’s easier for people to understand why we decided to join forces, we always knew their potential. Now we look forward to giving Bridgestone and our other technical partner Shell Advance more success over the final five races of the season.” Sepang is another great challenge for the Ducati Marlboro Team. The track features an interesting variety of corners that require machines to have plenty of everything: good power, good braking and good direction changing, especially on the throttle. Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli therefore understands that all-round performance is vital, plus user-friendliness. “Most important at Sepang is overall balance,” he affirms. “The bike needs to be comfortable and easy to handle because the riders are performing in gruelling heat and humidity, so we need to make it as easy as possible for them.” CAPIROSSI UP FOR PODIUM HAT TRICK Loris Capirossi celebrated his new deal with the Ducati Marlboro Team in the best possible style in Japan – total domination. Just days after agreeing his 2006 contract, the hard-riding Italian was a man on a mission at Motegi, taking pole position, race victory plus lap and race records. And he’ll be aiming to make it back-to-back wins and three podiums in a row this Sunday. “Motegi was an amazing day for us, an amazing weekend, in fact!” grins Capirossi, who also won the Ducati Marlboro Team’s maiden MotoGP victory at Catalunya, Spain, in June 2003. “Our rhythm was faster than the rest, in both practice and the race. I have to say thanks to the Ducati Marlboro Team and to Bridgestone, who have worked so incredibly hard to give me the package I need to win. This great victory confirms that I made the right decision to stay with the team in 2006!” Capirossi has high hopes of another great weekend at Sepang. The former 125 and 250 World Champion adores the Malaysian track, having won the 1999 Sepang 250 GP – beating Valentino Rossi – and finished second in the 2001 premier-class Sepang GP. “Sepang is a really great track, one of the best,” he says. “I really love it, because it’s very technical, with fast corners, slow corners, downhill parts and uphill parts, plus it’s so wide, which makes it good for fighting. It’s also got two long straights which should be good for us because our bike is always fast. We had a good time testing there during the winter – not particularly consistent but certainly very fast – and I know that the tyres have improved a lot since we were last there in February. “The weather conditions are special at Sepang – hot and humid – but I find it easy compared to Qatar, which is even hotter. But the heat isn’t a major concern for me, you just need to make sure you hydrate correctly before the race.” CHECA: ‘WE’VE GOT THE POWER’ Carlos Checa finished fourth at Motegi last Sunday, so he’ll be gunning for his first podium with the Ducati Marlboro Team at Sepang this weekend. That fourth-place finish was the Spaniard’s best result so far this year, confirming that he too is making good forward progress. “Of course I would’ve preferred to finish in the top three at Motegi, but at least the race confirmed that we are getting better,” says Checa. “The bike and the tyres are working really well now, so I feel we can be in the fight at Sepang.” Checa has made regular podium appearances in MotoGP’s only tropical event, taking third in the 1996 Malaysian 500 GP at Shah Alam, second in the 1998 500 GP at Johor and second in the 1999 and 2000 500 GPs at Sepang. “I like racing in the heat,” he says. “Of course, you need to be fit to race in these conditions, so you can be comfortable on the bike and concentrate for 50 minutes, but otherwise it’s no big deal. You just need to make sure you drink plenty. “Sepang is really nice. It’s open and fast, so you need a lot of horsepower, but we know we’ve got the power. It’s got tight turns and some very long turns, where the bike is at maximum angle for a long time, with brake on into the corner and gas on coming out. It’s a great track for sliding, the surface is so hot that it’s easier to slide, so you can have a lot of fun, though this isn’t so good for fast lap times. The heat isn’t a problem for the tyres, we have so much power that you can spin the tyres way too much on colder racetracks. If you choose the right tyres for the race at Sepang, it’s not a problem.” THE TRACK Sepang is the longest racetrack in MotoGP, now that Assen is being shortened. And the Malaysian venue isn’t just MotoGP’s longest circuit, it’s also one of the widest tracks in the world, putting riders and machines to the test with an excellent variety of corners and high-speed straights. Withering heat and humidity are further challenges, not only for riders and machines, but also for technicians and everyone else working in pit lane. Sepang hosted its first Grand Prix in April 1999 and was an instant hit with riders and teams. The state-of-the-art complex, carved out of the jungle adjacent to Kuala Lumpur’s brand-new international airport, took circuit and infrastructure design to a new level, combining a fast, safe track layout with ultra-impressive pit, media and corporate facilities. The venue replaced Malaysia’s original GP tracks at Shah Alam and Johor. Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 2m 03.253s, 162.047km/100.691mph (2004) 2004 pole position: Rossi, 2m 01.833s DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS LORIS CAPIROSSI Age: 32 (born April 4, 1973) Lives: Monaco Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 GP victories: 24 (2xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125) First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125) First GP: Japan, 1990 (125) GP starts: 228 (58xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125) Pole positions: 37 (4xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125) First pole: Australia, 1991 (125) World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998) Sepang 2004 results: Grid: 11th. Race: 6th 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: 180 (60xMotoGP, 92×500, 27×250, 1×125) Pole positions: 3 (2xMotoGP, 1×500) First pole: Spain, 1998 (500) Sepang 2004 results: Grid: 9th. Race: 9th

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM MARCH ON TO MALAYSIA The Gauloises Yamaha Team’s assault on the 2005 MotoGP World Championship continues this weekend as the world’s premier motorcycle series moves from Japan to Malaysia for the second race of the five race ‘flyaway’ series across Asia, the Middle East and Australasia. Just two days after packing the bikes and materials into the freight boxes at the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, the team arrived at the Sepang International Circuit ready to unload and begin preparations for another intense Grand Prix, before they head on to the next stage of their exhausting trip with the third race in as many weekends at the Losail circuit in Qatar. The thirteenth round of the season will be a welcome opportunity for the team to put the events of the last Grand Prix behind them, with Valentino Rossi’s first non-finish of the year and a sixth place for Colin Edwards in Japan representing the team’s worst weekend of the season. The Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix presents a fresh start for both riders, who have clear objectives for the final five rounds of the season. Rossi’s focus remains on taking victory at every race as he looks to put the seal on his fifth consecutive MotoGP World Championship. The minimum requirement for the Italian to celebrate the championship on Malaysian soil for the second time in his career is to finish within twelve points of Max Biaggi (Honda), his only remaining title rival. However, each of his other four premier-class titles has been sealed with a trademark Rossi victory – twice at Phillip Island, once at Sepang and once at Rio de Janeiro. A repeat performance is Rossi’s goal this Sunday as he aims to launch the party celebrations in the glitzy Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. A top four finish will suffice, but having been on the podium at each of the opening eleven rounds of the season and with five more opportunities to seal the title before the end of the year, he can again ride without pressure this weekend and concentrate solely on winning the race. For Edwards the prime objective is second place in the championship, with sixteen points now separating him from Biaggi in the chase for that prestigious runner-up spot. The American has improved his results at each of the last three races and moved up to third in the rider standings, although his only intention this weekend is to return to the podium form he showed earlier in the season at Le Mans, Assen and Laguna Seca. VALENTINO ROSSI: BACK TO OUR BEST As well as clinching his third title with victory at Sepang in 2003, the former 125cc and 250cc World Champion also stood on top of the podium there in 2001. His special relationship with the circuit continued at the start of 2004 when he completed his first laps as a Yamaha rider in a private test, before winning the Grand Prix on the YZR-M1 last October. Excellent results during this year’s pre-season tests give the 26-year-old extra reason for optimism. “Sepang is one of my favourite tracks,” says Rossi. “The bike worked well there during the tests in the winter even though we had some problems at the time, but we have made a lot of progress since then so I am interested to see how well everything works when practice starts on Friday morning. “As far as the championship is concerned, of course I wanted to win it at Motegi but it didn’t happen and we still have five more races to go. I am not feeling any more pressure than before and I will be riding to win at every round. “For sure Max Biaggi will be strong again but this season there has been a different rider on the pace at almost every round, like Capirossi in Japan. Anyway, I am feeling confident and hopefully we can be back to our best this weekend.” COLIN EDWARDS: UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF SEPANG Colin Edwards made a short stop over in the Thai capital of Bangkok en route to Malaysia this week, where he took part in a busy press conference to promote the sport in Thailand alongside local dignitaries and representatives from Yamaha Asia. He also had time for a tour of the city’s historical palaces and temples, as well as a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River. “It was really good to have a quick break from paddock life after an intense weekend in Japan. I visited Bangkok a few years back and really liked it, so I was happy to have the chance to go back. It seems that they’re really keen on MotoGP there and we were given an enthusiastic welcome and looked after really well! We go to so many different cities but usually only have time to see hotels, airports and race tracks, so it was great to have the chance to experience a bit of local culture for once and do some sightseeing!” Edwards is now looking forward to a run of races at circuits he enjoys, after struggling to optimise the set-up of his Yamaha YZR-M1 machine at Sachsenring, Brno and Motegi. The Texan finished eleventh in Malaysia last year but, like Rossi, he enjoyed positive feedback from his first laps with the machine at the Malaysian circuit in the winter. The 31-year-old says his sole objective this weekend is to bring home the points. “I need a good result at Sepang, that’s what I’m shooting for,” affirms Edwards. “I like the track but right now it doesn’t matter whether I like it or not, the main thing is to get some serious points on the board and make up for the disappointment of the last few races. For some reason we’ve had three rounds where things haven’t gelled and we need to turn that around. “We had a good test at Sepang in the winter when I first rode the M1 and Valentino was absolutely flying there, so we know the bike works well. Sepang is a big, wide circuit and there are two or three corners where I tend to lose a few tenths, so it is a case of maybe following a couple of riders around during practice and getting a good line sorted out. “There seem to be a few secrets to the track so hopefully I can get them worked out early on. The break in Bangkok helped me to clear my head and put Motegi behind me, so now I’m ready for another weekend of hard work.” DAVIDE BRIVIO: A HOME FROM HOME Gauloises Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio is relying on his staff’s extensive knowledge of the Sepang International Circuit as the key to another successful weekend in Malaysia. This is the third time the team will have visited Kuala Lumpur this year and he hopes their rapport with the multi-cultural capital will reap dividends as they look to complete the first of their objectives for the season. “Sepang is a circuit we know very well,” explains Brivio. “We spend so much time testing there in the winter it is like a second home! In fact, this is our fourth visit to Kuala Lumpur this year and the whole team feel comfortable in Malaysia, it is a nice place to be. “The track itself is very good. It is fast but safe and we have enjoyed good results there in the past. Valentino won the race last year and he was very impressive during the winter tests so we are confident. “Colin still has a good chance to finish second in the championship so we will keep pushing hard. After the disappointment of Motegi it is good to have such a short time between races so that we can forget about the results there and start again. That will be the target for both riders so we’ll see what happens!” BLAST FROM THE PAST: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF YAMAHA GLORY Whilst the MotoGP World Championship has only been hosted by the ultra-modern Sepang circuit since 1999, Grand Prix racing arrived in Malaysia almost a decade earlier, firstly at Shah Alam and then later, for one season, at Johor. The first Grand Prix ever held on Malaysian soil was won by Yamaha thanks to a dominant display from John Kocinski, who clinched the historic victory by a clear margin of over six seconds from Wayne Gardner. After winning the 250cc World Championship for Yamaha the previous season, the American stepped up to the 500cc class in impressive style, taking podiums at Eastern Creek, Jerez, Misano and Brno in his debut campaign before taking his first 500cc race win at Shah Alam in the final event of the season. Kocinski would go on to take a further 500cc victory for Yamaha at Kyalami in 1992, adding to his nine wins for the factory in the quarter-litre class. TECHNICALLY SPEAKING The Sepang track is one of the widest on the calendar, 16 metres across in some areas, and always features high track temperatures in the tropical climate. Races are won and lost at Sepang due to the ability of machinery to hold a line during turn in at several points of hard braking. With four major hairpins, and some frequent changes of direction in its 5542m layout, Sepang gives brakes and front suspension a punishing test, under extreme operating conditions. A popular testing venue, Sepang boasts a high grip co-efficient and a relatively bump free racing line. The scene of Rossi’s introduction to the Yamaha YZR-M1 in January 2004 and Edwards’ in 2005, Sepang is a proven track for the machine, with Max Biaggi’s victory in the 2002 season to add to Rossi’s success last year. Fast sweeping corners also feature at Sepang, situated some 2kms from the Kuala Lumpur International airport. Changes in camber and elevation on some of the faster corners put extreme strain on grip on the entry and exit, making compromise the watchword in finding an ideal machine balance. Neutrality of steering and suspension balance is the aim at Sepang, even if the frequent high braking loads require harder springs to be fitted than normal. The rear shock will also carry a high spring rating, to help the rear under hard acceleration from the many hairpins and low gear turns. VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION Age: 26 Lives: London, UK Bike: Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 GP victories: 77 (38 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: 151 (61 x MotoGP, 32 x 500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc) Pole positions: 40 World Championships 6 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 3 x MotoGP) Sepang 2004 Results (Yamaha): Grid 1st, Race 1st COLIN EDWARDS: INFORMATION Age: 31 Lives: Conroe, Texas Bike: Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP) GP starts: 44 (MotoGP) World Championships – 2 World Superbike Sepang 2004 Results (Honda): Grid 12th, Race 11th Sepang MotoGP lap record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2’03.253 2004 Circuit best lap: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2’01.833 2004

TRACK FACTS The magnificent Sepang circuit complex was constructed close to Kuala Lumpur International airport, around 50kms south of the capital city, in 1998. Built with Formula One cars in mind, the long 5.548km circuit contains a variety of bends and undulations and a 920 metre start and finish straight which runs parallel with an almost as long straight which is linked to the main straight by a first gear left-hand hairpin. The circuit is famous for its enormous grandstands, featuring hibiscus (the national flower of Malaysia) style roofs which dominate both straights and for the humidity and weather changes. It’s always very hot and humid for the riders and teams and often in the afternoon very heavy short sharp thundery showers can fall, just to make practice, qualifying and racing even more demanding. The Malaysian Grand Prix was first staged at the bumpy and tight Shah Alam circuit in Kuala Lumpur in 1991 and stayed there until 1998 when it switched for one year to Johor. In 1999 it was held at Sepang for the first time and Kenny Roberts won the race for Suzuki and repeated his victory the following year en route to the World 500cc Championship. Since then the race has been dominated by Italians with Valentino Rossi winning in 2001, 2003 and 2004. Max Biaggi brought Yamaha victory in 2002 after a tremendous battle with Rossi and Alex Barros, who’d started in pole. Biaggi was third the next year and second last year both times riding the Camel Honda. Last year Alex Barros was third behind Rossi and Biaggi. As the team await the return of Troy Bayliss, and after last weekend’s appearance of HRC’s official rider Tohru Ukawa, Shane Byrne will ride in Camel Honda team colours for the next two events. FROM THE SADDLE Alex Barros #4: “Sepang is one of the most physically challenging circuits on the calendar, as is Qatar. The heat and humidity are incredible for both the riders and the bike. Sometimes the engine gets so hot that it burns your hands and feet! Such extreme conditions are also a tough test for the tyres, as well as the engine and the suspension but we had some really good tests there in preseason and we already have a good base set-up to start from. I want to have a good race so that I can recover some points in the championship so hopefully we can start well from the first free practice on Friday”. Shane Byrne #67: “I thought my season was over but now I have this fantastic chance to ride a Honda, I still can’t believe it. It will be tough because everybody has high expectations but I’m determined not to waste this opportunity. I have never raced in Malaysia but I did test there with Aprilia. It is a technical circuit and I like it but until I ride there on the RC211V I don’t know what to expect. I have only ever dreamed of riding a bike like this.” CIRCUIT – MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX – 25/09/05 SEPANG Track data Length: 5.548kms Pole position: Left Width: 25m Right corners: Ten Left corners: Five Longest straight: 920m Constructed 1998 Record lap: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2:03.253 – 162.047 km/h Record Pole lap: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2:01.833 – 101.865 km/h 2004 Race winner: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 43:29.146 – 160.753 km/h Alex Barros 2004 : 3RD TECHNICAL INSIGHT – MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX – 25/09/05 SEPANG TECHNICAL INSIGHT The MotoGP calendar comes to one of the longest and most complicated circuits in the World Championship. Sepang is one of the most challenging circuits both technically and for the riders. As well as being very long, the extreme climatic conditions make it very difficult tom compete here. An air temperature of around 38 degrees, a track temperature of nearly 60 degrees and humidity levels of more than 75% represent a tough challenge for all riders. The Sepang track which combines fast and slow speeds. In three corners speeds of only 60 Km/h are reached whereas on the two straights riders can reach in excess of 305 Km/h. There are sectors of the track where bike agility is crucial, but also other sectors where the bike must be very stable to be able to take corners at more than 170 Km/h. As is normally the case in this sport, it is impossible to find ideal settings with such differing demands on the bike so we must find a satisfactory balance to achieve a good result. Suspension set up is complicated in Sepang. A series of hard braking zones would lead us to fit hard front springs, but since there is another bumpy section of the track where chattering is commonplace, we fit springs that are slightly softer than we would have liked to absorb this chattering. In the rear suspension the most important factor is the grip. Depending on the amount of grip at the track in the beginning, we would normally fit slightly softer springs to start off with to increase rear grip. Normally, however, after the first day of practice, the level of grip increases, and we are able to fit a harder spring in the rear to cope with the corners which are taken at nearly 180Km/h. The gearbox set up is also a crucial factor at this circuit given the large gap between slowest and fastest speeds on one lap. A very short first gear ratio is used and the sixth is relatively long, near the 325 Km/h mark. With two long straights, which are taken starting in second gear and moving up to sixth, it is crucial to find the correct steps between gears. As an indicator of this it is worth bearing in mind that for 25% of the lap time the rider is on the two straights. The most important gears are second and third since all the corners except the fast “3” corner are taken in these gears. The climatic conditions are extreme in Sepang the bikes must be specially prepared to increase the refrigeration efficiency of the engine. To achieve this end, radiators with larger capacities than normal are fitted. Tyre choice again is important in Sepang. The two consecutive straights of nearly 1km each put an enormous amount of stress on the tyres, so much so that we have seen tyres quite literally explode in the past because of the high temperatures inside. The Michelin and Bridgestone technicians will have taken note of the performance of their tyres in preseason testing here in Sepang.

Asian adventure continues for MotoGP at Marlboro Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix After the drama of the twelfth round of the season at Motegi two days ago the MotoGP World Championship continues its Asian adventure with the second of three consecutive races on the continent this weekend. Valentino Rossi gets his second bite of the cherry as he aims to win the title for the fifth successive season, his first chance disappearing in a cloud of dust after his only race crash of the season so far in Japan. Marco Melandri, who also went down in the collision and is highly doubtful to take part this weekend’s event as he concentrates on recovering from a deep wound to his foot, saw his slim mathematical chances of winning the title also slip away in the incident, with Max Biaggi now the only man with an outside chance of stopping Rossi. Biaggi must score thirteen points more than his compatriot to maintain those hopes this weekend although the odds are steep, with Rossi already a double-winner at this circuit, including victory on the Yamaha last year. Biaggi’s chances of taking the runner-up spot for the fourth time in his premier-class career were boosted by his second successive podium at Motegi, with Colin Edwards now his closest rival but lying sixteen points adrift in third place. Whilst Biaggi is also a former winner at Sepang, having taken victory for Yamaha in the 2002 race, Edwards could only manage eleventh place for Honda here last season and has not visited the podium since he took second place in his home race at Laguna Seca. Troy Bayliss will miss his second successive race due to a wrist injury, sustained in a motocross training accident in Australia, and will be replaced by Shane Byrne. The former British Superbike Champion has not ridden since his home round at Donington Park after a split between Proton Team KR and engine suppliers KTM but he will have a major chance to impress over the next two weekends, having also been pencilled in to replace Bayliss at the following event in Qatar. Alex Hofmann will also miss out at Sepang after breaking a bone in his foot when he collided with Roby Rolfo at Motegi. Rolfo escaped unhurt but Hofmann is definitely out of the next two rounds as he heads back to receive treatment in Europe. Hofmann’s place at Kawasaki will be taken by Olivier Jacque, who also stepped in for the German earlier in the season and clinched the team’s only podium of the year in China. Loris Capirossi arrives in Malaysia on top form after taking Ducati’s first victory since their debut success at Catalunya over two years ago. The Italian signed a new deal with the factory over the summer and is targeting his third successive podium finish at Sepang as he aims to break into the top five in the World Championship standings. Dani Pedrosa will join the long queue of patients at the Clinica Mobile once the MotoGP freight is unpacked at Sepang on Wednesday, with the Spaniard still nursing the shoulder injury he sustained in a practice crash at Motegi. Pedrosa leads the 250cc World Championship by 63 points from Casey Stoner but cannot win the title at this circuit and will be wary of the threat of the young Australian. After coming away from the home of Honda with a podium finish, Stoner will look to build on his 125cc victory at this circuit last season as he battles to keep his title challenge alive at least until his home round in three weeks’ time. Jorge Lorenzo will not be taking part this weekend after being suspended for his part in a collision with Alex de Angelis on the final lap in Japan. Thomas Lüthi will also be on the treatment table as he tries to recover from the dislocated shoulder he sustained in a spectacular 125cc crash on Sunday. The Swiss youngster was lucky to escape from the race without a more serious injury, not to mention the 20 points he claimed for second place as the race was red-flagged due to his own crash. Lüthi faces a late test to determine whether he will be fit enough to defend a three-point lead in the championship over Mika Kallio.