Le Mans May 12th, 2005 French Grand Prix Preview Party time for Olivier Jacque After the thrilling China Grand Prix on the futuristic Shanghai circuit, where Olivier Jacque stunned the audience with a sensational ride to second place in the rain, the MotoGP championship returns to familiar territory with the French Grand Prix in Le Mans this weekend. Constructed in 1965 and based on a once over 13 kilometre-long road track, the Bugatti circuit became legendary for its epic 24-hour races in both car and motorcycle categories. Apart from its awesome, fast right-hand bend following the short main straight with only 450 metres of length, the circuit features tight corners with sharp entries rather than long and sweeping bends, with stability under brakes and traction on corner exits being the main parameters for the bike set-up. The stop-and-go characteristics offer great spectator views from almost everywhere around the track, but only very few good opportunities to overtake. A good start and therefore a good starting grid position is crucial for the outcome of the race, turning the qualifying session in Le Mans always into a very special event. 31-year-old Olivier Jacque, who had only jumped in for injured German Kawasaki rider Alex Hofmann on short notice, will certainly take his chances at his home Grand Prix, which is expected to turn into a big party for the former 250 cc world champion. “The atmosphere will be fantastic, with all the fans boosting my motivation even more. Our performance is hard to predict, because the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR is still very new to me. But Kawasaki and my team give me a lot of confidence, and the Bridgestone tyres were impressive in Shanghai, both in dry and wet conditions”, says Jacque, who will be the only French MotoGP rider at this year’s Le Mans Grand Prix. Bridgestone is equally well prepared for the Le Mans event. 1000 tyres were shipped in for the race, with special specifications for improved traction on the track that had been re-surfaced prior to last year’s race, and with ample choice for the unpredictable weather conditions at this time of the year. Hiroshi Yamada – Motorcycle Racing Manager Bridgestone Motorsport “Shanghai was not a course we had much data on, but we were able confirm the good performance of our new rain tyres with a podium finish. Le Mans is also a track for which we don’t have so much data, as it was resurfaced before the race last year. But we hope to achieve good results as we did in Shanghai. The circuit has a typical stop-and-go character, so we have brought some new specs that should handle the need for good traction.” More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2005 ROUND 4 – GRAND PRIX ALICE DE FRANCE, LE MANS 12 MAY 2005 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NAKANO AND JACQUE MEET THE FANS AT BEST WAY KAWASAKI More than 1000 Kawasaki fans greeted Shinya Nakano and Olivier Jacque, when the two riders arrived to officially open the new Best Way Kawasaki shop in Le Mans this morning. The new Best Way shop, which opened its doors just two days ago, is a purpose built facility offering the complete range of Kawasaki motorcycles, accessories and Kawasaki Racing Team merchandise. After posing for photographs on a number of Kawasaki ZX-10R road bikes painted as exact replicas of the Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machines they’ll race this weekend at Le Mans, Nakano and Jacque then sat down for a marathon autograph session. “The turn out was incredible; I couldn’t believe how many people were there on a Thursday morning,” commented Shinya Nakano. “The new shop is impressive. It was interesting to see so many Kawasaki motorcycles in one place and the number of people who turned up on race replica ZX-10R road bikes was fantastic. It was great to meet so many fellow Kawasaki riders ahead of this weekend’s race, and I hope they’ll all be in the stands cheering for us on Sunday.” “To meet the fans in such a relaxed atmosphere was a good experience, and it’s great to know that we have such strong support from our fellow Kawasaki riders,” said Olivier Jacque. “There were so many people there that I just hope we managed to sign autographs for everyone. Hopefully we’ll see some of the Kawasaki flags we signed being waved from the stands on Sunday.” To mark the occasion of their visit to the dealership, the staff at Best Way Kawasaki surprised the two Kawasaki riders as they prepared to return to the circuit, by presenting them with two race replica pocket bikes; one number 56 machine and one number 19 bike. “A big thanks to Best Way Kawasaki, not just for the pocket bikes they very kindly presented us with, but also for allowing us to meet the fans at such a well organised event. I look forward to returning next year,” added Nakano. Nakano and Jacque will get another chance to meet French Kawasaki fans at seven o’clock this evening, when they take part in an autograph session at the Place de la République in the centre of Le Mans.

WERA National Series Sets Precedent for Racing at Autobahn Country Club JOLIET, Ill. Establishing track records and close racing among the top amateur motorcycle road racers in the country were the hallmark of the WERA National Series’ first event at the new Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois, held May 7-8. Vesrah Suzuki earned their second consecutive overall and Heavyweight Superbike win during the four-hour WERA Dunlop National Endurance Series race on Saturday, May 7. Tray Batey and John Jacobi rode the Suzuki GSX-R1000, finishing four laps ahead of the rest of the field. Red Star took second place on a Yamaha YZF-R6, with riders Ben Thompson and Brett Champagne also claiming the Mediumweight Superbike victory. Heavyweight Superstock winner Team Eclipse finished third overall with Ryan Gordon and Dale Burroughs on a Suzuki GSX-R750. Royalty Racing won the Mediumweight Superstock class with Jason Quillman and Jeff Kramer piloting a Suzuki GSX-R600. Suzuki SV650 riders Steve Green, Shane Williams and Corey Bowen earned the Lightweight Superbike victory for Deals Gap Racing. Round two of the WERA Michelin National Challenge Series was held on Sunday as racers battled in eight-lap sprint races. The biggest winner in the expert division was Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey, who took home the first-place trophies for Heavyweight Twins Superstock, 750 Superstock and Formula One. Vesrah’s Mark Junge was another rider who proved tough to beat, and he finished first in both Open Superstock and 600 Superstock. Roger Bell had a narrow margin of victory, winning Lightweight Twins Superstock by just 0.028 second. RacerSupply.com’s Ben Thompson won his second consecutive 750 Superbike race, while Adam Dolney won 600 Superbike. Kendrick Morrison ran away with the win in Formula 2. In the novice ranks, Charlie Coleman and J.B. Layman each won two races. Coleman won 750 Superstock and Open Superstock, and Layman was victorious in 600 Superstock and 600 Superbike. The 750 Superbike novice win went to Tony Palarie. David Johnson won Heavyweight Twins Superstock and John Foster took first place in Lightweight Twins Superstock. Round three of the WERA Dunlop National Endurance Series and the WERA Michelin National Challenge Series will be held during Cycle Jam at Virginia International Raceway, May 19-22. The event is one of the largest of the year, combining all of WERA’s regions with the National Series for three full days of racing. More information about WERA, including a schedule and updated championship points, can be found online at www.WERA.com. More, from a press release issued by Team Velocity Racing: Team Velocity Racing Earns 4th in Class after Crash in WERA Endurance at Autobahn JOLIET, Ill. Team Velocity Racing came back from a crash during round two of the WERA National Endurance Series to finish fourth in the Heavyweight Superstock class at Autobahn Country Club in Illinois. Chuck Ivey, Reuben Frankenfield and Mark Crozier rode the Team Velocity Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 during the four-hour endurance race on May 7. Crozier started the race, holding down fourth place in the opening laps. When he pitted, Frankenfield got on the bike and took off. His stint was interrupted when he low-sided, but he was uninjured and able to return to the pits for repairs. Ivey took the Yamaha back on the track, but had to pit again for some more adjustments following the crash. Ivey stayed on the bike after a red flag period, and he was able to conserve fuel so that Crozier could ride the final stint without needing to pit again for a splash of gas. Crozier made up more positions as the race wound down, and he crossed the finish line in ninth overall and fourth in class on the Team Velocity Racing Yamaha. “When we started the race everything was going good,” said team owner Ivey. “But when Mark came in after his first stint the front tire was shagged on the right side. We didn’t know why because in practice the tires looked great. We had to improvise and put Reuben on for a couple laps while we got ready for a front-tire change. The competition this weekend was pretty fierce. Mark really hauled in that last stint and brought us back up to the top ten.” Ivey added that the team would not have been able to break back into the top ten without the efforts of their pit crew, including Jody Stewart, James Murr and Erik Petersen. He said that “the team handled the unsuspected tire problems well. Jody, Erik and James did a real good job on pit stops.” “The first stint was tough because first the rear tire went away, then the front tire. The last stint I got on and the bike felt better, so I got to turn some good laps,” said Crozier. “I was cutting some decent lap times and I was about half an hour into my stint,” said Frankenfield about his crash. “I just tucked the front coming off the back straight. I picked the bike up as quickly as I could and made my way back to the pits.” Despite the tough weekend, Team Velocity Racing is holding down third in the overall championship. They are second in Heavyweight Superstock, but less than ten points away from the class leader. Team Velocity Racing will compete in round three of the WERA National Endurance Series next Friday, May 20, at Virginia International Raceway.

BACK TO EUROPE FOR FRENCH SHOWDOWN AT LE MANS After the surprises of Shanghai two weeks ago, MotoGP returns to more familiar territory this weekend. The historic Bugatti circuit at Le Mans is the venue for round four of the 2005 World Championship. This is where riders hoping to haul in reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) have to perform. Rossi already has a 25 point advantage over nearest challenger Marco Melandri (Team Movistar Honda RC211V). But with 14 races still to go, Le Mans represents a great opportunity for his rivals to turn the screw and claw back some ground. And for the in-form Melandri to maybe take his first win. Sete Gibernau (Team Movistar Honda RC211V) is the man most likely to make ground on Rossi after winning here for the last two years. The Spaniard was denied a podium by a lack of rear grip in the deluge in China and he comes to France determined to make up for his fourth place finish in the Far East. But his rejuvenated team-mate Melandri is more than likely to have some bearing on the result after his rampaging start to the 2005 season. The young Italian has scored two podiums from three races and feels he is soon due a maiden win in the MotoGP class. Then there’s the mercurial Alex Barros (Camel Honda RC211V) who won in Portugal and needs another strong result to establish himself among the title contenders for the remainder of the season. He could only manage 11th in Shanghai. Frenchman Olivier Jacque, standing in for injured Kawasaki rider Alex Hofmann, scored a second place in China – Kawasaki’s best result since their return to MotoGP – and with a home crowd to cheer him on, who knows what the former 250cc World Champion is capable of? But the 4.180km track is a demanding circuit and although few riders claim to enjoy riding here, they all have maximum respect for it. Le Mans requires courage in parts, a delicate throttle hand in others and absolute commitment in the many heavy braking areas. Located 150 miles south-west of Paris, the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans employs some elements from the longer public roads circuit but remains self-contained within its own confines. Turn one is a blisteringly fast uphill right with a following chicane that requires expert judgement to get right. Many rookie riders overshoot or brake too early allowing rivals past. Much of the rest of the track is a succession of hard braking and tight exits that put a premium on machine balance. It might not be that technical – but it is demanding. In all it comprises nine right hand turns and four lefts with two tight complexes before the flat out start/finish straight into turn one. Machine set-up requires stability on the brakes and chassis settings that allow quick turn-in but not at the expense of having to tame a wheelie-prone machine on the throttle out of the many slow turns. Many of the overtaking opportunities here are afforded under braking. The track was built in 1965, modified and shortened in 2003 and totally resurfaced last year to the delight of all riders. Max Biaggi (Repsol Honda RC211V) holds the lap record here and the Roman can’t wait to get riding on Friday morning. “The French Grand Prix is something to look forward to,” he said. “I like the atmosphere, although the track is narrow and always an exciting challenge. I go to Le Mans to finally run a good race. The season didn’t start the way I wanted, but I hope that from France onwards my team and I will be able to express our potential and get ahead again.” His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is equally keen to impress here. “I sure hope we can get the season back on track in Le Mans,” he said. “We’ll be back in Europe and the year is moving so fast it’s important we get a result soon. I want to give my boys something to smile about; they’re working real hard and there’s a great spirit in the team, but so far nothing really to cheer about.” Sete is even more determined than usual. “The Bugatti circuit is a very particular track,” he said. “It’s quite difficult, characterized by a very fast right-hand corner at the end of the start straight, followed by a chicane which demands a quick change in speed. An impressive piece of the track! A perfect set-up is needed and good feel from the front tyre is very important.” His team-mate Marco is enjoying his new lease of life with Honda and said, “I am very happy with this start to the season. I would never have imagined I’d be in second place in the Championship, but now I feel as though I have the potential to do even better. Now a victory is no longer a fantasy – I want to try to win this race.” Alex Barros said, “Le Mans is a track that has always been tough for me, but that’s not to say I won’t be aiming for a top result. The important thing is to prepare the bike well, not necessarily to get it one hundred percent perfect. I know things can’t always go as well as they did in Estoril for example. In China we didn’t have the set-up spot on, but on Sunday I was quick and I was able to pick up a few points, despite the penalty, so I hope I can go well in France too.” Troy Bayliss (Camel Honda RC211V) said, “I can’t wait to get to France because Le Mans is a track I love. Last year the race went quite well for me, but better still was the test day following it – I had a great day and rode really well. I think if we can get the bike set up well, I should be able to ride a good race.” Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) bounces back from injury and is ready to get his season underway with a vengeance. “I still feel pain but I hope that day after day the situation will get better and I’m hoping I’ll be able to fight for the positions that count,” he said. ” I feel like I haven’t paid back the team for what they have built for me in just a few months, therefore this will give me extra energy for the rest of the season. Now we have to move and do what we are here for.” In the 250cc class reigning World Champion Dani Pedrosa (Team Movistar Honda RS250RW) has not had things all his own way so far. The Spanish superstar currently lies third in the overall points standings and needs a strong result to get back at his rivals. But he is being pressed hard by reigning 125cc World Champion Andrea Dovizioso (Scot Racing Team Honda RS250RW) who won here last year. Dovi heads the pints standings going into this race and few would bet against the confident Italian at least scoring a podium here this year in his debut 250cc season. The next race is a track I like very much and I can ride very well. Aprilia has more engine power but is slower in the corners: there will be great fights! I’ve never thought we would get such a great start to the season!” Said the series points leader. “I’ve always had good results at Le Mans,” said Dani. “And I think it’s a good circuit to get us back where we belong. It’s not a case of whether or not I like it, but for preparing well for the race – and we’ve always been well prepared for France. We have information from last season that will be a good base for us to start from. The most important thing is to get the gearbox settings right because it is a track with a lot of accelerating and hard braking.” His team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama (Team Movistar Honda RS250RW) said, “We scored an important podium in China and I’m optimistic about this race. I know that this is a Grand Prix we can do well in. Last season, in my first year in the World Championship, I finished fourth in the race and I hope to improve on that result. I need to be a bit more consistent in the practice sessions and get a good position on the grid.” Hector Barbera (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) and his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) are two other riders who might well figure in the results. Both are capable of podium finishes and this could be the race where one, or indeed both, can make it happen. The top men in the 125cc class will be aiming to use this race to break clear of their pursuers, but they know that many of their rivals share the capacity to stage a comeback here. Among those riders hoping for a revival in fortunes is Alvaro Bautista (Seedorf Racing Honda RS125RW) “I was disappointed with my race at Shanghai,” he said. “So I hope Le Mans will be an improvement. In China we did good work on Friday and in the warm-up. I still don’t really understand what happened in the race. Anyway, let’s make sure that was an unexpected hiccup. If we can continue with the progress we made at Estoril I’ll be okay. I feel strong physically and mentally.” His team-mate Aleix Espargaro (Seedorf Racing Honda RS125R) is raring to go racing. “I don’t know how I am going to feel at Le Mans. But this doesn’t worry me. My philosophy doesn’t change: work hard, try to learn as much as possible, and also try to enjoy myself here. My aim is to be fighting among the points.” But Fabrizio Lai (Kopron Racing World Honda RS125RW) and Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) are the form riders at the moment. Lai’s consistency keeps him second in the standings by one point from series leader Mika Kallio (KTM), while Luthi lies sixth having scored one podium finish so far. Tomoyoshi Koyama (Ajo Motorsport Honda RS125R) is looking stronger with every race and could well spring a surprise at this track. His fifth place in China showed he can learn tracks quickly and Le Mans represents a great opportunity for the rising Japanese star.

Scott returns to scene of his first BSB victory RIZLA SUZUKI’S Scott Smart travels to Mondello Park this weekend for the fifth round of the British Superbike Championship, one year after securing his maiden Superbike win at the Irish track – and he is hoping to taste the victory champagne again. It was at the twisty 2.25mile Mondello Park circuit in 2004 that Scott stepped out of the shadows and climbed the top step of the podium. After taking his first win in BSB, the York based racer didn’t look back and spent the rest of the season fighting for victories. James Haydon again substitutes for Rizla Suzuki’s injured British Superbike Champion John Reynolds at Mondello Park, one of the slowest tracks on the BSB calendar with an average lap speed of 77mph. He is eager to build on the fourth place finish he achieved at the last race at Oulton Park in Cheshire. Superbike racing starts at 1:15pm on Sunday, May 15th, at Mondello Park in County Kildare, the Republic of Ireland. It will be shown live on Sky Sports and a highlights package will be broadcast on Channel 4 the following Sunday morning. Scott Smart: “Winning at Mondello Park in 2004 was a turning point for my season and I want a repeat performance in 2005. It’s not the fastest track in the world but it has a lot of corners and bumps and needs a lot of technical skill, so I love it. “I am within a whisker of everything coming together for me on the Rizla Suzuki and when it does there is no question we will win races. Every race so far we have made progress and I hope the combination of what we have learnt plus my affinity for Mondello Park means this is the weekend when Rizla Suzuki and Irish eyes will be smiling.” James Haydon: “I rode at Mondello Park last year but it was my first race of the season at a circuit I had never visited and on a new bike. This year I know how bumpy the surface is and already have a good feeling for the Rizla Suzuki, so I am looking forward to racing again. “It’s always a blast visiting Ireland, I really like the people and the atmosphere. My aim is to move forward from Oulton Park and improve my results on the Rizla Suzuki – I think that is achievable, the GSX-R1000 is an awesome piece of kit.”

Hayden Brothers Look for Victory at Infineon Raceway This Weekend SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELESAE) “” Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden took Kawasaki to the top of the charts on the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport circuit in 2004, and the dynamic duo is ready for a repeat performance this season. The brothers from Owensboro, Ky., placed one-two in the points chase, with Tommy capturing his first-ever AMA championship. Tommy had a magical year in Pro Honda Oils Supersport, posting four victories, including three in a row at Pikes Peak, Road America and Brainerd. Younger brother Roger Lee, meanwhile, placed second in points with four victories, as well. Like Tommy, Roger Lee had three consecutive wins at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio and Road Atlanta. It added up to a stout season for Kawasaki, which dominated the Supersport class. Roger and Tommy Lee also placed third and sixth overall, respectively, in Repsol Lubricants Superstock. The beat has continued in 2005 thus far, as Tommy is second in points in Supersport after three events, including a win at Daytona. He is also fourth in Superstock. Roger Lee, meanwhile, is seventh in Supersport and 14th in Superstock. The Hayden brothers look to continue their success this weekend (May 13-15) at the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown at Infineon Raceway, presented by Supercuts. “It was a good year for me (in 2004) but I want to move up a little more and win a championship. That’s always the goal,” Roger Lee said. “There are a lot of good guys out there but hopefully I can get to the top.” Tommy placed third in Supersport and fourth in Superstock a year ago at Infineon Raceway, while Roger Lee was sixth (Supersport) and 11th (Superstock). It’s a technically challenging course, which should bode well for Kawasaki; Tommy won the 2003 Superstock title at Infineon Raceway. “This should be a good track for Kawasaki and I think it will be,” Tommy said. “We’re really looking forward to coming back out there again.” Overall, there will be racing in four divisions over the weekend “” Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme “” which should provide for an action-packed weekend. For more information on the race weekend, visit www.infineonraceway.com.

MotoGP returns to Europe with Grand Prix Alice de France The MotoGP World Championship continues apace this weekend with the fourth round of the season seeing the series return to much more familiar territory after its groundbreaking first sojourn to China two weeks ago. The historic Le Mans circuit has been a regular feature on the Grand Prix calendar since 1969 and this weekend it welcomes the world’s premier motorcycle racing series for the 18th time. Current World Champion Valentino Rossi leads the standings after three rounds and arrives in France looking to improve on a comparatively poor record at Le Mans. Fourth place last season was one of only three occasions the Italian actually finished a race outside the podium positions on his way to the title for Yamaha and he will be desperate to rectify that statistic this weekend as he aims to become the factory’s first rider to score seven consecutive top-three finishes since Wayne Rainey over a decade ago. Whilst Marco Melandri currently lies second in the championship, 25 points behind his compatriot, this weekend presents his Honda team-mate Sete Gibernau with the ideal chance to get his season on track after a disastrous start. The Spaniard, who has finished runner-up to Rossi in the championship for the past two seasons, is already 37 points adrift of his great rival and will look for his third consecutive victory at this circuit to repair the damage caused by a crash and a fourth place finish from the past two rounds. Rossi’s biggest challenge, however, could come from the unexpected source of home favourite Olivier Jacque. The Frenchman returned to MotoGP as a replacement for the injured Alex Hofmann at the last round in Shanghai and stormed to an incredible second place, Kawasaki’s best result in the premier-class since Mick Grant won the Isle of Man TT race in 1975. Jacque’s first podium finish in MotoGP was also the first for any French rider since Regis Laconi at Phillip Island in 1999 and the local hero will receive huge home backing as he aims for a repeat this weekend. Whilst Hofmann again misses out through injury, Makoto Tamada could make his return to action for Honda after undergoing intense physiotherapy on a wrist injury. The Japanese rider was replaced in China by Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh, who rode to a highly creditable sixth place, and will undergo a late fitness check in France before deciding whether to compete for a place on this Sunday’s starting grid. Meanwhile, Team KR have confirmed that they will return to action this weekend with British rider Shane Byrne in the saddle after missing the last round due to a lack of engine parts. 250cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa will be looking for a repeat of his victory at Le Mans last season as he aims to re-establish control of the quarter-litre class. The Spaniard lost his championship lead to Andrea Dovizioso for the first time in a year after missing out on the podium in the last two races, both won by Casey Stoner, and now lies in third place behind the Italian and the Australian respectively. The unpredictable nature of the 125cc class has continued this year with the opening three rounds all won by different riders. Mattia Pasini’s victory in China, following on from wins for Marco Simoncelli and Mika Kallio at Jerez and Estoril respectively, means the run of races without a back-to-back winner now stands at to forty-two races – a record which promises to be extended even further as consistent performer Fabrizio Lai looks to overturn Kallio’s one-point lead at the top of the championship with his debut win this weekend.