MotoGP bounces back at Brno for Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske republiky The MotoGP World Championship returns from its traditional summer break this weekend as the tenth round of seventeen takes place at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic. One of the longest-standing venues on the calendar, Brno first hosted Grand Prix racing back in 1965 on a 13.94km long road circuit, which was later reduced in length before being removed from the series altogether for safety reasons. The modern circuit has been in use since 1987 and retains some of the unique characteristics of the high-speed road layout, combining fast corners and sweeping camber changes with a host of up-to-date safety features that make it one of the most spectacular racetracks in the championship. After dominating the first half of the season, reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi heads to Eastern Europe with a host of new records in sight but just one clear goal in his mind. With eight race victories already to his name this year, the Italian needs just two more to seal the title for the fifth successive season. Rossi cannot guarantee the championship this weekend but a repeat of his first ever Grand Prix win at this circuit on a 125cc machine back in 1996 would equal his tally of nine wins from last season a record for Yamaha. Success on Sunday would also see Rossi become the first rider in history to score nine wins in a season on five occasions and would move him clear of Mike Hailwood in third place on the all-time Grand Prix winners’ list. With Rossi holding a 120-point advantage over Marco Melandri at the top of the standings, the biggest ever margin after ten rounds in the history of the series, the battle for the World Championship title is almost over. However, the fight for second place is still very much alive, with four riders currently separated by as many points. Whilst Melandri has been Rossi’s closest challenger since the second round of the season at Estoril, his early season form has stuttered in recent weeks and the Italian youngster will have to be back to his best if he is to hold firm this weekend. Melandri became the youngest rider ever to compete in a Grand Prix when he made his debut at Brno as a 15-year-old in 1997 and he has since won three times there in the 125cc and 250cc classes. Melandri’s Honda team-mate Sete Gibernau is also a former Brno winner, having clinched victory ahead of Rossi in the MotoGP race last year to avenge defeat to the Italian by just 0.042 seconds the previous season. The Spaniard lies just a single point behind Melandri and will be desperate to score his first win of the season at Brno after handing victory to Rossi with a mistake on the final lap of the last round at Sachsenring before the summer break. Colin Edwards, who has been second to Rossi in the form charts over last four rounds, lies a further point behind Gibernau in fourth place whilst the same margin separates the American from Max Biaggi, the most successful rider at the current Brno circuit with seven victories in all classes. The MotoGP lap record at Brno was set last season by Alex Barros, who crashed out of the race when battling in the lead group. Along with Nicky Hayden, the Brazilian is one of only two riders other than Rossi to win a race this season yet both riders are outside the top five in the championship standings. It presents an interesting conundrum for the other riders, who may be forced to choose between pushing for that elusive first victory of the season or consolidating with a run of consistency that should be enough to guarantee the runner-up spot in the championship. Also competing this weekend will be MotoGP veteran Nobuatsu Aoki, who will join regular Suzuki riders John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts as a wildcard. Hopkins is confident of riding after undergoing an operation on the broken foot injury he sustained at Sachsenring although he will not be at full fitness. However, it looks certain that Shane Byrne will not ride this weekend after it was announced by KTM that they will cease to supply engines to Proton Team KR with immediate effect. Byrne, who has a contract with KTM, could be replaced by his British compatriot Jeremy McWilliams on the team’s 2004 version V5 machine. Dani Pedrosa’s victory in the ninth round of the 250cc World Championship at Sachsenring stretched his lead at the top of the standings to 50 points over Casey Stoner. The Spaniard and the Australian have enjoyed contrasting fortunes at Brno in the past, with Pedrosa taking victory in the 125cc event on the way to the title in 2003 a race Stoner missed after injuring himself in practice. Stoner also crashed on the second lap of last year’s minor category race but the teenager has found a new level of consistency in the 250cc class this season and has scored points in every round since crashing out of the opening race at Jerez. Outside the top two, last year’s winner Sebastián Porto will be looking to celebrate his 150th Grand Prix appearance with another victory whilst riders such as Randy de Puniet, Alex De Angelis and Hiroshi Aoyama have all hit form in recent weeks. Meanwhile, rookies Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso will be hoping to repeat their performances from last season’s 125cc race, when the Spaniard took victory by just 0.036 seconds after passing the Italian in the final corner. Thomas Lüthi arrives at the tenth round of the 125cc World Championship season on top of the standings but with the dubious record of never having managed to score any points in three previous visits to Brno. Mika Kallio trails the Swiss rider by just three points after being awarded victory at the Sachsenring when the race was red-flagged due to a crash for Manuel Poggiali. The former World Champion escaped unhurt and will be fit to make his 100th Grand Prix start this weekend as the only rider on the 125cc entry list to have previously finished on the podium at Brno.

MotoGP restarts at Brno From the shortest, tightest and twistiest circuit on the World Championship calendar, the MotoGP riders move on to one of the longest, widest and fast-flowing tracks around, with a twenty-five day rest period behind them. On Friday morning the MotoGP group will have to forget about their recent holidays and get straight on the pace at the Brno circuit, the eleventh round of the championship. The Camel Honda team’s duo of riders are both full of motivation to get a good result in the Czech Republic, a track where Alex Barros knows how to go quick he holds the official lap record but where he will want to get rid of the demons that have haunted him since he crashed out of second place, seven laps from the end of last year’s race. Equally impressive in Brno is his team-mate Troy Bayliss, who took a podium finish there in 2003 and has a great desire to get out of his run of bad luck, and show the progress he has made on board the Honda over the last few months. Sito Pons Camel Honda “These few weeks of vacation have allowed us to recharge the batteries after a really hard first-half of the championship and before a frenetic second-half, which kicks off with Brno, and then sees six races in two months. I’m delighted to be going back to the Czech Republic, a track and a country which I both really like and I am confident that our two riders can do a good race there. Before the break, and ignoring Troy’s bad luck I the races, both of them showed they are riding quick and working well with the team, so I hope that this can be translated into success in the Czech Republic.” Alex Barros #4: “I spent the holidays in Brazil with my family, but now I’m ready to get back on the bike. In the last three races before the break we always got the bike well prepared for the race, and managed to be fast and competitive, so even though I might not have the best memories from Brno, I’m confident that I can go well there and I will travel there with that aim in mind. It’s the sort of track you have to ride clean, be fast in the corners and where the engine power delivery is very important. Normally the tyres aren’t worked as hard as at Sachsenring as long as it’s not too hot, but that is something you really have to bear in mind. I’m not worried though because I’m sure that whatever happens, Michelin are perfectly equipped to deal with any eventuality.” Troy Bayliss #12: “Three weeks off is not enough to get back to Australia with the whole family, so we all stayed on in Monaco with a few friends over. It has been a relaxing period, and gave me the chance to forget about the last couple off races. I really like Brno, and got on the podium in my first ever race there, but I’m not expecting a good result just because of that. In the last races we haven’t demonstrated the steps forward we have made with the bike, but it doesn’t mean we haven’t been making them. With a little bit of luck we can do well in the next few races, beginning with Brno.”

The BLATA V6 premiere will not take place in Brno The presentation of the V6 cylinder from the BLATA factory is postponed. We are fully aware, that the motorcycle community has been anticipating any information about the development of our V6 cylinder racing motorcycle, for several months. Therefore, it is very uneasy for us to announce, that the premiere of this motorcycle from the BLATA factory will not participate in the Czech Grand Prix 2005 in Brno. On top of it all, we are forced to postpone the planned introduction of this prototype made for the team WCM and prestigious category MotoGP. Our first focus doesn’t change though. That is to be not only just a engine supplier, but also to create a motorcycle for the team WCM, with which they could stand on the starting grid of the MotoGP race. Pavel BLATA: “The motorcycle physically exists, it is standing on its own wheels. It isn’t complete though, and there is no sense in introducing something, that isn’t finished. “With this, I would like to react on the false information from some media about this entire project. We have completed the chassis, that is the frame and the rear swing arm and also many other components. The majority of the parts of the motor itself are almost all finished as well. We were slowed down during the development, but that is something you can’t avoid when you are working on something completely new. It has happened to us many times, that we have announced the date we will roll out with our project, and didn’t do so. Therefore, I will not set any further dates on when we will present this motorcycle. We are aware of the fact, that this incident may affect our great name in the design area, production and sales of small cubature motorcycles, and worldwide credit of BLATA, but this does not change our plan to finish our ongoing project. I believe that our internal decision will be understood. I am very sad from this whole situation, and I take it as a personal failure. On the other hand, it motivates my employees and myself to bring our intentions that we announced a year ago to the motorcycle world, to an end. During the year we were capable to accomplish a great amount of work. After a year we can say, that we dealt with many problems that we didn’t know of from the beginning, having to do with the development of the BLATA V6. We don’t want to say, that we don’t have any other worries, which are not completely connected to the whole development of this prototype, but in the end these worries showed effect. The BLATA factory isn’t as big, that it could care less about what is going on in the world with its products. We often and more than before, have to confront that our products are being copied. We don’t want to use this as an excuse for our delayed completion of our project, but it is a fact that we would like worldwide manufacturers to realize, because the same to could happen to them. We had to put out a lot of effort to avoid these problems. This of course, takes our attention away from work that should be our priority. Motorcycle business is tough, just like motorcycle sports, and every loss teaches you how to fight better.”

DUCATI INDUCTS THREE FOUNDING MEMBERS INTO NEW HALL OF FAME New North American Hall of Fame announced at Ducati Dealer Meeting Cupertino, CA August 22, 2005 During the annual Ducati Dealer meeting recently held in Chicago, Illinois, CEO Michael Lock announced the formation of a new North American Ducati Hall of Fame. The purpose is to recognize individuals who have made a significant impact in the history of Ducati in North America and who have contributed towards making it Ducati’s number one export market worldwide. The first three founding members are Doug Polen, Eraldo Ferracci, and Bruce Meyers. These three men have been instrumental in the success of the Ducati brand in North America. Doug Polen is recognized for his victories in racing. He was the winner of two consecutive World Superbike Championships in 1991 and 1992 and he brought home Ducati’s first AMA Championship in 1993. A born competitor, Doug is the first American Ducati superstar. Eraldo Ferracci managed a hugely successful Ducati WSBK team, winning the championship in 1991 and 1992 with Doug Polen riding. In both 1993 and 1994, the Fast By Ferracci team won the AMA Championship and put Ducati on the map in the USA. Both charismatic and popular, Eraldo was a Ducati giant in the 1990s. Bruce Meyers is the founder of the famous shop, BCM Motorsports Inc., in New Hampshire. He is a passionate supporter of racing and a hallowed Ducati tuner. As a man known to have or make time for everyone, Bruce’s influence made New England a Ducati stronghold. Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America said, “Since being purchased by TPG in 1996, DNA has been established for nearly 10 years and we felt that the time had come to recognize the individuals who helped build this brand. Bruce, Eraldo, and Doug have been pioneers through some tough years to build Ducati’s modern reputation in North America. We want to recognize them and honor them at DNA headquarters.”

BRNO, A NOT-TO-BE-MISSED CLASSIC Following the summer break, the world motor-racing circus will launch into what looks set to be a particularly demanding second phase of the championship. Team Movistar Honda MotoGP arrives at Brno secure in the knowledge that it is the top Honda team in the championship. Its two riders, Marco Melandri and Sete Gibernau, hold second and third place respectively on the championship leader board. LOOKING TOWARDS BRNO Sete Gibernau will be taking a few weeks of R&R, dividing his time between Switzerland and the sea before hitting the race track again. The second part of the championship begins in Brno, a track that has put the vice-champion of the world on the podium two years running. In 2003 Sete Gibernau came second while 2004 saw him ride to victory in what was one the most memorable races of his career. “The summer break was short but intense. I spent the first week in Turkey then I returned to Switzerland to carry on the physical training. I needed the break to recharge the batteries and to come back to work with full energy. I look forward to racing and having fun in riding the bike. I’m confident for Brno, a circuit that I like. Last year I won on this track and disputed one of my best races of the season. The 2004 triumph on this track together with the good feelings I had during the German GP before the summer break make me look positively. I’m feeling strong physically and mentally. Now we just have to work to get the results.” So onwards and upwards to Brno, then, where Sete Gibernau hopes to repeat last year’s performance one of the most breathtaking of the world championship. SETE GIBERNAU AND THE BRNO CIRCUIT “Brno is one of my favourite circuits because it’s fast and technical and lets you make the most of engine power. The track is characterised by a series of dips and rises, steep uphill sections, sweeping downhill sections, great chicanes, high-speed and low-speed zones. It’s one of the most complete race tracks there is. Another distinct feature is the final section, which has a steep rise with two chicanes – a very slow one and another, faster one that leads into the home straight. But it’s the stadium section I like best, with its double right-hand bend followed by a left-hander. The surface gives good grip. Several places are good for overtaking, but not at the end of the main straight because the corner is a fast one: it’s best to overtake on the next chicane or, even better, the penultimate bend before the rise. I’ve always liked the Brno track: the layout’s great and I’ve always got good results here. My best memory? The 2004 victory, of course!” RESTARTING FROM BRNO The vacation has come at just the right time for Marco Melandri, giving him a well-deserved summertime rest following months of intensive work. “A break was just what I wanted. I just needed to take it real easy and recharge my batteries. So after months of practice and full-on concentration I took a week’s holiday on the Greek island of Mykonos, a place where relaxation comes easy and the people are wonderful.” While still on the island, on Sunday 7th August Marco Melandri celebrated his 23rd birthday together with the inseparable Eddi Bosi and two other close friends. And the party continued in Italy where, on 14th August, Marco celebrated his birthday with all his friends and the members of his fan club at Mirabilandia beach. There was plenty of music and enjoyment. Marco also put in a stint as DJ: it’s no secret that he and his friends have a long-standing passion for deejaying. Needless to say the members of team Gresini were there to have a great night out with their rider. “I’m now readier than ever and can’t wait to race at Brno. I love the track and it holds good memories for me, the best of which dates back to 2002 when I celebrated my sixth consecutive win of the season, the year I took the 250 title”, comments Marco. MARCO MELANDRI COMMENTS ON THE BRNO TRACK “Brno is technical and complete, with frequent uphill and downhill sections, fast curves and some slower sections (especially the mixed zone between bends 6 and 10). It’s tough and tests both riders and bikes to the limit. A good set-up is essential because frame, engine and tyres are all under intense pressure. Here, you need to produce a smooth, clean ride that follows a perfect racing line because the track is very wide. I really like this circuit. It exhilarates the pure power of MotoGP and, like Sepang, is fast and furious, with sixth gear being engaged twice. Wide, with sweeping curves that let you spread the gears between one bend and another, there are plenty of places to overtake too. My favourite tract is the last chicane.” Marco Melandri has already tasted victory at Brno: he’s won three times and has also come second: the wins came in 1998 and 1999 in 125, followed by a second-place result in 2001 (class 250) and the win in 2002 (class 250). THE TRACK – TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Name of circuit: Brno Built: 1987 Last modification 1996 Length: 5,403 m Width: 15 m Pole position: on the left Right-hand bends: 6 Left-hand bends: 8 Longest straight: 636 m RECORDS: Track record: 2004 Barros (Honda) 1:59.302 Pole position: 2003 Biaggi (Honda) 1:58.769 Race 2004: 1st Gibernau (Honda) 2nd Rossi (Yamaha) 3rd Biaggi (Honda)

DUCATI MARLBORO MEN RESTED, RELAXED AND RARING TO RACE. Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa commence the second half of their 2005 season at Brno on August 28, rested and reinvigorated after MotoGP’s traditional midseason break. The pair took different routes to relaxation during their time off, Capirossi boating around Monaco, Checa trekking in the Pyrenees, but both men are now raring to tackle the final seven races of the year. “We go to Brno in positive mood,” says Ducati MotoGP project manager Livio Suppo. “Bridgestone made a big step forward at the Sachsenring, their new tyres worked really, really well and our riders showed they could go very fast. Carlos’ pace was unbelievable and was second fastest in morning warm-up, just ahead of Loris, so we were confident of a good race. But it didn’t turn out like that. Carlos fell and Loris, who actually recorded the fastest lap of the race, finished ninth. However, our motto is always ‘never give up’, so we go to Brno working hard to turn our speed into results and to get the best possible start to the second part of the season. Brno has been good to us in the past and we hope that we’ll have a good weekend there this time.” Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli knows what is required at the Czech venue, which has been hosting GPs since 1987. “Brno is a flowing racetrack that seems to suit our machine,” he says. “You need good horsepower for all the straights, real confidence in the front end for the downhill corner entries and a very manoeuvrable chassis for all the esses sections.” CONSISTENT CAPIROSSI WORKING TO GET BACK UP FRONT Ducati Marlboro Team man Loris Capirossi returns to racing at Brno holding eighth place in the MotoGP World Championship standings. One of only three riders to have scored points at all ten rounds so far, the Italian is aiming to maintain his consistency during the remaining seven races, while also getting closer to the front. Capirossi has scored one podium so far this season – when he took a brilliant third-place finish at June’s Italian GP – and he wants more top-three results before the end of the year. “Everyone in the team, at the factory and at Bridgestone is working very hard to give me what I need to get back up front,” says Capirossi. “Bridgestone brought some good tyres to Germany, they seem to have taken a good step forward, so we hope we can continue that progress at Brno, especially since they’ve had a month to work at developing more new tyres. I always look forward to Brno. These days we race at many quite short circuits, so it’s always special to race at fast, open tracks like Brno, Mugello, Phillip Island and Barcelona. I enjoy these circuits the most and our bike also works well at Brno. I’ve had a good few weeks off – just going out on my boat around Monaco and doing very little else – so I am ready to race again!” CHECA WANTS TO TURN SPEED INTO RESULTS Carlos Checa was right on the pace during last month’s German Grand Prix, running with the leading group until he slid off without harm. Now the Ducati Marlboro Team rider wants to turn that impressive speed into an impressive result at Brno. The hard-charging Spaniard’s results from the first half of the season – including a best of three fifth-place finishes in Portugal, Italy and Britain – don’t do justice to the pace he has shown at many races. Hopefully the second half of the season will be kinder to him. “I get on well with the Ducati, I know I can go very fast on this bike, but so far things haven’t turned out my way,” says Checa. “Hopefully my luck will change after the break. I like Brno and I know the Ducati is quite quick there. We have good horsepower and you need a lot of power at Brno, especially for the long uphill run to the final esses section. Brno is definitely one of the best circuits for MotoGP – it’s got a lot of fairly fast turns, some long straights and it’s very up and down, so it’s a real challenge to get the chassis set-up just right.” THE TRACK Brno is a masterpiece of a motorcycle racing circuit. Constructed in the mid-eighties it eschews the modern fashion of tight turns and hairpins for a mighty mix of fast sweepers and undulating corners that test rider talent and machine performance to the limit. Most riders love the place because it’s challenging and also because it’s pretty fast. But Brno’s most significant characteristic is its constant changes of elevation – the circuit weaves its way across forested hillsides outside the Czech Republic’s second city – which means that many of the turns are steeply cambered. Dealing with negative-camber corners requires a perfectly set-up machine, deft riding skills and especially crucial input from tyre engineers. Horsepower is also a major consideration at Brno because this is one racetrack where MotoGP bikes, usually caged in by slower venues, really get moving. Lap record: Alex Barros (Honda), 1:59.302, 163.038kmh/101.307mph (2004) 2004 pole position: Sete Gibernau (Honda), 2:09. 782, (149.873kmh/93.127mph) 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: 226 (56xMotoGP, 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) Brno 2004 results: Grid: 9th. Race: 5th 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: 178 (58xMotoGP, 92×500, 27×250, 1×125) Pole positions: 3 (2xMotoGP, 1×500) First pole: Spain, 1998 (500) Brno 2004 results: Grid: 6th. Race: 6th

Motorcyclists love nothing more than getting together to ride for a cause, and what better cause than riding in support of young brain tumor survivors? That’s what hundreds of motorcyclists in New England and Utah did on Sunday, Aug. 21, at Ride for Kids® events in North Oxford, Mass., and Salt Lake City. Together, the participants raised more than $80,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s medical research and family support programs. New England, celebrating its eighth annual event, attracted more than 275 motorcyclists, fundraisers, volunteers, and patient families. Thunder and lightning provided a dramatic start to the event at the Wal-Mart in N. Oxford, but as the police-escorted ride went through the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the skies cleared. Once they disembarked at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, the riders were treated to a moving Celebration of Life program that featured a very special Ride for Kids® “star,” 5-year-old brain tumor survivor Ryen. Last year Ryen attended the ride in his wheelchair, but this year he arrived in his motorized motorcycle. His dad, Ralph, held his son and told the crowd that in the past year, Ryen’s tumors have stabilized and improved. As tears ran down Ralph’s face, Ryen wiped them away with his shirt. Dr. Nicole Ullrich, a pediatric neuro-oncologist with the Brain Tumor Program at Children’s Hospital Boston, joined Ryen and his dad on stage. “Because of all of you here and all others around the country, we have been able to develop new brain tumor protocols and therapies to help children everywhere stricken with brain tumors,” she told the crowd. “We’re also developing programs to help children to be able to continue their education.” The total raised at the New England event was $61,219. Top individual fundraiser honors went to Dave Odess and Perry Robertson, who raised $6,040. The top club, GWRRA RI Chapter B, raised $20,011, while the customers of Venco Wings of Loudon, N.H., made it the top motorcycle business with $9,060 in donations. Dave Odess was the winner of a brand-new Honda motorcycle. Heartfelt appreciation went to New England’s task force leaders, Wayne and Shirley Anderson and Dave Odess””and their hardworking volunteers for putting together such a wonderful ride. Over in Salt Lake City, 280 participants gathered at Skyline High School under glorious blue skies for the area’s first Ride for Kids® event. In the shadow of the spectacular Wasatch Mountains, the 50-mile police-escorted ride featured breathtaking views of East Canyon Reservoir. The ride ended at Morgan City Park in Morgan, and was capped off by a touching Celebration of Life program. Four young brain tumor survivors were in attendance, including 19-year-old Lindsey, a PBTF scholarship recipient who is studying broadcast journalism at Brigham Young University. “Lindsey is a walking miracle, thanks to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation,” said her father, Todd. The medical community was represented by Leah Malone, a pediatric oncology social worker with Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City event raised a total of $19,500. Top individual fundraiser honors went to Walter and Donna Young of Elko, Nev., who raised $5,013. The top club was Riders of the Spirit (CMA) of Salt Lake City, whose members brought $7,224. The customers of Kruzers of Elko, Nev., raised $7,264 to make it the top motorcycle business. Spero Politus of Salt Lake City won the grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle. Special thanks went to task force leaders Ron and Sheila Mazurek and Chuck Packard, along with their dedicated volunteers, for organizing the first-year event. Proceeds of the events fund the medical research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Since 1984, the national Ride for Kids® program and PBTF have supported childhood brain tumor research and family support programs. Programs include free literature about brain tumors, the Helping Hand and Caring Hand national newsletters, the Informed Parent Internet Conference series and college scholarships for young brain tumor survivors. Thanks to the thousands of caring and generous motorcyclists and motorcycle dealers who have supported the program since its inception, PBTF has become the world’s largest non-governmental source of funding for pediatric brain tumor research. The next Ride for Kids® events are on Sunday, Aug. 28 in Asheville, N.C., and Ann Arbor, Mich. For more information about the Ride for Kids® and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, please visit rideforkids.org or pbtfus.org, or call (800) 253-6530.