GAULOISES YAMAHA TITLE CHALLENGE RESUMES AT BRNO The MotoGP World Championship challenge continues for Yamaha next weekend after a four-week summer break, as the series heads to the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic for the 11th Grand Prix of the year. The Gauloises Yamaha Team will travel to the legendary venue, located just over 200 kilometres south-east of the capital city of Prague, with their batteries fully recharged and confidence at a premium after a stunning first half of the season, which concluded with Valentino Rossi’s eighth victory from ten races at the Sachsenring circuit at the end of July. The Italian now needs just two more victories from the remaining seven rounds to guarantee the title for the fifth successive season. With his 76th career success in Germany, Rossi also broke into the top three Grand Prix winners of all-time, having already smashed his way through a succession of records over the previous four months of racing. In the opening round at Jerez in April he became the first rider to win the first race of the season for five consecutive years since Giacomo Agostini, whilst his win at the Dutch TT made him the first Yamaha rider in history to take five consecutive victories in the premier-class. Rossi’s current championship lead of 120 points is the largest advantage ever held by a rider after ten races of a season in any Grand Prix class and he is targeting a similarly successful finish to the campaign, as he looks to beat his own record of eleven wins in a season. Rossi’s win at Sachsenring was also Yamaha’s 139th in the premier-class, bringing the Japanese manufacturer to joint second in the all-time winners list. In the year of its 50th anniversary, Yamaha has established itself as a dominant force in elite road racing, leading the 2005 manufacturers’ standings with a 38-point advantage and with the Gauloises Yamaha on top of the teams’ standings by 119 points. The improved performance of the 2005 version YZR-M1 machine has seen Rossi’s Gauloises Yamaha Team colleague Colin Edwards take a starring role in his first season with the team. After finding his feet with the machine over the opening stages of the season, the American has been the form rider behind Rossi for the last four races, propelling his way up the rider standings to within striking distance of second place in the championship. Edwards currently lies fourth overall after following up three consecutive top-four finishes with eighth place at the Sachsenring, but he is only two points short of Rossi’s closest current challenger, Marco Melandri (Honda). The team plans to stay at Brno for two days of tests after Sunday’s Czech Grand Prix as they prepare to tackle a run of five ‘flyaway’ races in Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Australia and Turkey, before returning to Europe for the final round of the season at Valencia in Spain on the 6th November. VALENTINO ROSSI: RECORD BREAKER As well as matching Mike Hailwood’s total of 76 Grand Prix victories, a figure bettered only by the legendary Giacomo Agostini and Angel Nieto, Valentino Rossi needs just one more win to equal his total of nine from last season already a premier class record for a Yamaha rider. The Italian has also equalled Agostini’s record of scoring eight premier-class victories in a season on five separate occasions and one more will set a new record as the first rider to score nine wins in a season on five occasions. “Records are not the most important thing but I am very happy to have the same number of victories as ‘Mike the Bike’,” says Rossi, who recently extended his deal with Yamaha until the end of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship. “I never saw him race but they tell me he was one of the best, maybe the best ever. I am now on the podium of all-time winners and this is a big pleasure for me.” Rossi scored his very first win in Grand Prix racing at Brno in 1996 in the 125cc class, after starting from pole for the first time in his career. Since then a further three of his 76 victories have come at Brno, including the MotoGP race in 2001 and 2003, and it is a result he would like to repeat as he looks to make up from the disappointment of losing there last season. “This break was very important because the first half of the season has been very tough and everybody needed to rest! I have been winning races but every one has been a big battle, almost always with a different rival. Each of the remaining seven races of this season will be another challenge, but I want to try to beat my record of eleven wins in a season. “Brno is definitely not my favourite circuit but I have had good races there in the past, especially two years ago. It is a high-speed track, but it still has many turns, as well as some up and downhill sections and a lot of adverse camber. Last year the Yamaha was not bad there, but I lost a little bit too much time under acceleration at the beginning and then also under braking towards the end and in the end it was impossible to beat Gibernau. This year our bike is much better, so I hope it will be a different result!” COLIN EDWARDS: CONSISTENCY THE KEY Colin Edwards returns to Europe from a family break in his native Texas with his sights firmly set on a return to his best form at Brno. Of the riders chasing second place in the championship, Edwards has been the most consistent contender, scoring points in every round this season. A continuation of this high level of performance, coupled with the flashes of race-winning potential he has shown on the Yamaha M1 at recent races, promise an exciting end to the season for the former World Superbike Champion. “It’s been nice to have a break I’ve spent some time on a fishing trip with my wife’s family and some friends in the Gulf of Mexico and generally just enjoyed being at home for a while,” said Edwards. “But there’s no doubt I’m looking forward to going racing again. I had a disappointing weekend in Germany at the last round and it’s been hard to forget that, so it’ll be nice to have the chance to get back to the form we had shown in previous weeks. “I like Brno, Motegi, Sepang, Qatar”¦ pretty much all the tracks that are coming up, so I’m excited about what the next few races will bring. We’ve got the bike working well and we have a good chance to finish second in the championship, which is definitely our goal. Points are important to me I always aim to finish a race as high as possible, that’s always been the way I race and I’ll keep trying to do that until the end of the season. At the same time it would be great to win a race”¦so I’m going to try for both!” DAVIDE BRIVIO: A WELL-EARNED BREAK Gauloises Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio is looking forward to bringing his staff back together at Brno after a the summer break, with the team having returned to their respective bases across Europe, Australia and Japan to rest and recuperate from an intense first half of the season. Brivio praised his team for their efforts over the last ten races and knows that they will now return to work fully focused on the remaining races, in order to put the seal on what he hopes will prove to be one of the factory’s most successful ever seasons of Grand Prix racing. “It was good to have a break and to recharge the batteries for the end of the year,” says Brivio. “The season so far has been very positive because Valentino has scored eight wins and is leading the championship by a very big advantage of 120 points. Colin has three podiums and he is right in the middle of the battle for second position in the championship so it was definitely a well-earned break for the everyone, but now we have to keep this trend going until the end of the season. “We still have seven races to go and the next few rounds in particular will be very important for us. We won at some of the remaining tracks with Valentino last year so we will be trying to repeat those victories and also Valentino himself will be determined to win at the circuits where he didn’t manage to last season.” BLAST FROM THE PAST: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF YAMAHA GLORY Whilst the current Brno circuit has hosted almost two decades of memorable races since opening its gates to the World Championship in 1987, tales of local legend more often refer to the historic encounters on the old road circuit, which still winds its way through the forests and local villages surrounding the modern venue. The track was removed from the calendar for safety reasons in 1977, when 21-year-old Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto wrote the final chapter of its colourful history with Yamaha’s first victory there in twelve years of Grand Prix racing. “The thing I most remember about the race is that my fuel cap came open on the starting grid and I had to close it myself before push-starting”, recalls Cecotto, who had lapped an incredible four seconds quicker than his nearest challenger, Pat Hennen, in qualifying. “It meant that I got a really bad start and I had to fight my way back from last place. Brno was very fast and very long and to be honest I preferred tracks like Daytona, Imola or Paul Ricard, but for some reason I just flew around that circuit. One minute you were surrounded by trees and the next by small houses there were some amazing corners with steep drops and it was always a lot of fun to race there.” Cecotto’s pole position, lap record and race victory, by a massive 25 seconds over Yamaha colleague Giacomo Agostini, was made even more remarkable by the fact that he had already completed an identical clean sweep in the 350cc event that morning. It also came just seven days after his debut 500 win at Imatra, despite having missed the majority of the season with a broken left arm, sustained in the second round at Salzburgring. Those two victories, coupled with a second place at Anderstorp, saw him end the season in fourth place and still leave his army of fans pondering over what might have been. “To win on the 500 was very special because it was always the premier class, but in those days it was actually tougher in 350cc there was a much bigger battle,” reflects Cecotto, who had already become the youngest ever World Champion when he won the title in the smaller category for Yamaha two years previously. “In 500 there were some fast riders but it wasn’t as hard to win and I think I would have had a big chance to win the title in 1977 if I hadn’t crashed at Salzburgring. It’s a shame because it could have been a great year for me, but nevertheless I have fond memories of my victory at Brno.” TECHNICALLY SPEAKING Few circuit locations are as historic as that of Brno. The current circuit is encircled by the tendrils of the various ‘real’ road layouts that made up the Czech Grand Prix venues of yesteryear. Used for a Grand Prix for the final time in 1977, the old track was replaced in 1987 by what is basically the current incarnation, subtly altered in 1996 to measure 5.403km in length. The Brno circuit no longer boasts cobblestone sections, but as contemporary MotoGP circuits go, it is one of the best and most atmospheric, winding its way first down a hillside, dropping 73 metres from the highest point, before providing a power-sapping climb back up to the start/finish line. Brno has been a good circuit for Yamaha riders in the past and priority number one will be to dial the YZR-M1 in for the seemingly never-ending succession of fast chicanes, interspersed with similar radius medium speed corners. Ultra-slow chicanes and their need for heavy braking loads are conspicuously absent at Brno. However there is still a heavier use of front tyre side grip than usual, due to all the downhill corner entries, with the bike on its side while negotiating negative cambers many times per lap. One of the less technically demanding tracks on the calendar, the one crucial feature of the chassis set-up at the Czech venue is to have a good turn-in performance to make light work of the propensity of relatively high speed chicanes. Falling within the traditional Italian August holiday period, local support from the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany is generally boosted in Brno by the legion of travelling Rossi, Melandri, Biaggi and Capirossi fans that colour the hillsides. Invariably, the most numerous and raucous will be those in the blue and yellow of Valentino Rossi. VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION Age: 26 Lives: London, UK Bike: Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 GP victories: 76 (37 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: 150 (58 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) Brno 2004 Results (Yamaha): Grid 3rd, Race 2nd COLIN EDWARDS: INFORMATION Age: 31 Lives: Conroe, Texas Bike: Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP) GP starts: 42 (MotoGP) World Championships – 2 World Superbike Brno 2004 Results (Honda): Grid 5th, Race 7th Brno MotoGP lap record: Alex Barros (Honda), 1’59.302 2004 Circuit best lap: Valentino Rossi (Honda) 1’58.769 2003

Robert Jensen and Mike Smith gave the Michelin WERA National Challenge Series a show at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, in Talladega, Alabama, Sunday, each earning two wins in the ten-lap sprint races. Kneedraggers.com’s Jensen got the day off to a start by winning Open Superstock. Starting on row three, Jensen took the lead from the green flag on a borrowed Suzuki GSX-R1000. Smith gave him a fight and even took the lead once, but Jensen was able to hang on for the win. Smith finished second on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Jensen’s next win was on his Yamaha YZF-R6. He took the 600cc Superstock lead from the start and was able to put some distance between himself and Smith, who again came in second, this time on his Suzuki GSX-R600. The race ended two laps short, when a crash brought out the red flag. Smith got his first win in 750cc Superstock on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Smith got past Team Stargel’s Brian Stokes on lap four and kept the lead until the checkered flag. Stokes finished second on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Jensen, who was on a Yamaha YZF-R6, managed to finish third in spite of his displacement disadvantage. Smith also won Formula One, again on his Suzuki GSX-R750. He took the lead from Jensen on the first lap, leaving Jensen to hold off a charging Stokes. Jensen was able to hold onto the second spot on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Josh Herrin took off at the start of 600cc Superbike on his Team Herrin Yamaha YZF-R6 and won by over 13 seconds. Josh Smith-Moore, riding a Suzuki GSX-R600, held off Tim Vosnick for second. Keith Marshall got his second 750cc Superbike win of the season on his Suzuki GSX-R750, beating RacerSupply.com’s Ben Thompson, who rode a borrowed Suzuki GSX-R750. Marshall won by 4.331 seconds. John Ulrich was in fourth at the start of Formula Two but rallied back to win on his Roadracingworld.com Yamaha TZ250. Ulrich battled with Chris Parrish, who rode a Suzuki SV650, for seven laps before finally taking the lead for good. Ross Ryals was running second in the Heavyweight Twins Superstock race on his Suzuki SV650 while Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey led, but Ryals inherited the race lead, and win, when Batey crashed in turn four on lap two. Birdsong finished second on his Suzuki SV1000. Kris Wall also inherited a win, in Lightweight Twins. Brian Suffridge had a long lead when the motor on his Suzuki SV650 gave out, bringing out the red flag on lap seven. Suffridge was disqualified for causing the stoppage, and the win went to Wall, who had been running in second on his Suzuki SV650.

British Superbike Race Two Results From Silverstone: 1. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda), 16 laps, 23:15.938 2. Gregorio LAVILLA (Ducati), -1.490 seconds 3. Leon HASLAM (Ducati), -7.420 seconds 4. Michael RUTTER (Honda), -8.139 seconds 5. Glen RICHARDS (Kawasaki), -15.189 seconds 6. Dean THOMAS (Kawasaki), -15.342 seconds 7. Gary MASON (Honda), -16.070 seconds 8. James HAYDON (Suzuki), -17.949 seconds 9. Karl HARRIS (Honda), -17.968 seconds 10. Tommy HILL (Yamaha), -28.067 seconds 21. Sean EMMETT (Yamaha), -8 laps, DNF 22. Steve PLATER (Honda), -9 laps, DNF 26. John REYNOLDS (Suzuki), -14 laps, DNF British Superbike Championship Point Standings: 1. RUTTER, 316 points 2. KIYONARI, 290 points 3. LAVILLA, 286 points 4. HASLAM, 208 points 5. RICHARDS, 182 points 6. HARRIS, 145 points 7. THOMAS, 129 points 8. MASON, 116 points 9. Michael LAVERTY (Honda), 113 points 10. REYNOLDS, 84 points 11. EMMETT, 79 points 12. SMART, 76 points 13. HAYDON, 70 points 14. PLATER, 69 points 15. HILL, 51 points More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki: Rizla Suzuki on the podium RIZLA SUZUKI’S John Reynolds took his second podium of the year with a third place finish at today’s sun-drenched ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. Starting from sixth on the grid, JR posted the third fastest lap of the opening race. Holding fourth with just a lap to go, he was boosted onto the podium when Honda’s Michael Rutter fell at the chicane. In race two he changed his front tyre to a harder compound and was in fifth place closing down the riders ahead of him when he crashed out at Priory unhurt and disappointed. Rizla Suzuki racer James Haydon took 10th and eighth place finishes as he struggled to find rear end grip with his GSX-R1000. Ducati’s Gregorio Lavilla took victory in the opening race and Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari triumphed in the second. Rizla Suzuki now travels to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire for the 10th round of the British Superbike Championship next weekend, with a huge crowd expected at the circuit on race day, Bank Holiday Monday, August 29th. JR: “Changing my front tyre to a harder compound for the second race was certainly a move in the right direction. I had a good feeling with my Rizla Suzuki and after a lap or two really thought we could compete for the top honours. I had just passed a rider and was closing up on fourth quickly when I lost the front without any warning going into Priory. “My Rizla Suzuki felt pin sharp and planted in race two apart from when I crashed. Put that on top of a podium position in the opening race and I am leaving here in a positive frame of mind. I am frustrated but now very much looking forward to Cadwell Park and going for a good result there.” James: “All weekend I have struggled to find rear end grip with my Rizla Suzuki. On the fast sections my bike is mint but out of the slower corners I just couldn’t get the power down and was losing time. I will be spending time with my technicians to figure out how to progress before heading to Cadwell Park. “It’s been a hard weekend of racing with poor results and will do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Dave Marton, Team Technical Consultant: “Getting a podium with JR in race one was a brilliant result and well deserved but it doesn’t mask a weekend of frustration for us all. JR was much more competitive at the start of the second race and it’s a shame he crashed out. However, he is not hurt and he now has a setting on his bike that he is very happy with and that bodes well for Cadwell Park. “James battled for grip all weekend and we tried numerous combinations of suspension and chassis settings as well as tyre compounds to fix that for him with no real success. We have a good idea of what needs to be done and will be making some changes to his bike before he races again.” Race One Results: 1: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 27:50.122, 2: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +3.160, 3: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +10.104, 4: Karl Harris (Honda) +11.904, 5: Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +11.935, 6: Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +12.079, 7: Gary Mason (Honda) +16.233, 8: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +18.792, 9: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +20.570, 10: JAMES HAYDON (RIZLA SUZUKI) +23.524. Race Two Results: 1: Kiyonari 23:15.938, 2: Lavilla +1.490, 3: Haslam +7.420, 4: Michael Rutter (Honda) +8.139, 5: Richards +15.189, 6: Thomas +15.342, 7: Mason +16.070, 8: JAMES HAYDON (RIZLA SUZUKI) +17.949, 9: Harris +17.968, 10: Hill +28.067. Championship Positions after Round Nine: 1: Rutter 316, 2: Kiyonari 290, 3: Lavilla 286, 4: Haslam 208, 5: Richards 182, 6: Harris 145, 7: Thomas 129, 8: Mason 116, 9: Michael Laverty (Honda) 113, 10: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) 84, 13: JAMES HAYDON (RIZLA SUZUKI) 70.

British Superbike Race One Results: 1. Gregorio LAVILLA (Ducati), 19 laps, 27:50.122 2. Leon HASLAM (Ducati), -3.160 seconds 3. John REYNOLDS (Suzuki), -10.104 seconds 4. Karl HARRIS (Honda), -11.904 seconds 5. Glen RICHARDS (Kawasaki), -11.935 seconds 6. Dean THOMAS (Kawasaki), -12.079 seconds 7. Gary MASON (Honda), -16.233 seconds 8. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda), -18.762 seconds 9. Tommy HILL (Yamaha), -20.570 seconds 10. James HAYDON (Suzuki), -23.524 seconds 15. Michael RUTTER (Honda), -45.343 seconds Did Not Start: Ben Bostrom, Honda (crashed out of race, did not make re-start) Scott Smart, Kawasaki Seam Emmett, Yamaha Michael Laverty, Honda

Second row starts for Rizla Suzuki racers RIZLA SUZUKI’S John Reynolds will start from sixth and James Haydon from eighth in tomorrow’s ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at Silverstone. Both Rizla Suzuki racers were fighting for the front row for much of the qualification sessions. JR settled for sixth after his last flying lap was aborted when he suffered a minor technical fault on his GSX-R1000. James was content with eighth, setting a time on his qualifier that was comparable to his pace on more durable race tyres. Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari took pole position. Rizla Suzuki has teamed up with Silverstone Circuit to offer an extravaganza of events and activities this weekend that includes: Suzuki riders receiving free preferential parking, a Suzuki parade lap, a superb Suzuki village display area, a fantastic free prize draw, a Suzuki grandstand and public appearances by both JR and James Haydon on race day. Superbike racing starts at 13:15 on Sunday, August 21st. JR: “On my final flying lap the chain slider on the swing arm broke and the chain was banging onto the metal making an awful noise, so I had to slow down. That’s a shame as I was confident I could have made it on to the front row. “Sixth is okay for the race – the second row gives us a chance to get away from the grid with the leaders. I am feeling fit and ready to race after the mid-summer break and will be going for it tomorrow.” James: “For qualifying we used the same settings on my Rizla Suzuki that I found during our test here earlier this month and the bike felt good. I got a great deal of confidence back in my bike and on race tyres I can run a decent pace that I hope will keep me with the leaders in the races. “I usually get good starts and I’m counting on that from the back of the second row. Here at Silverstone the first corner is a right hander, so if I get away quickly I have a chance to make up some places early on and that’s what I’m aiming for.” Paul Denning, Team Owner: “John is just four tenths down on pole and James a further two tenths behind that – their lap times are incredibly close to pole position, which shows just how strong the entry list is in BSB. Both guys need a touch more race pace, which some final tweaks in morning warm up should achieve. If they can get away with the leaders they should be podium contenders. “I’ve enjoyed coming back to BSB as a spectator to watch qualification. The competition here is just as fierce as MotoGP and our aims are exactly the same to get on the podium and win races. I’ll be cheering the team on tomorrow before heading to Brno for the next MotoGP round next weekend.” Qualifying Times: 1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 1:26.111, 2: Michael Rutter (Honda) +0.117, 3: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.223, 4: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.255, 5: Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +0.308, 6: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI ) +0.426, 7: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +0.588, 8: JAMES HAYDON (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.603, 9: Michael Laverty (Honda) +0.655, 10: Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +0.747. 18. Ben Bostrom (Honda), 1:27.497

Simultaneously with the public on August 12th, KTM informed its partner, Team Roberts, through a press release that it is going to cancel all its activities in relation to the current racing season in the MotoGP series. KTM thereby is in breach with its initial commitment to participate through Team Roberts in the 2005 racing season. In contrast to KTM’s recent press release, in which it sought to present itself merely as an engine supplier, the cooperation between KTM and Team Roberts was supposed to be a partnership on equal footage. KTM not only undertook to contribute the engines, electronics, tires and the costs for the team rider, but also committed to share the responsibility for the funding of the team’s budget for the racing season 2005. This budget was arrived at and agreed upon be-tween KTM and Team Roberts representatives in early February. There were no additional requests for funding by Team Roberts over and above the original agreed upon amounts, only requests for on-schedule payments that were never received. Team Roberts has acted honourably and in good faith to fulfill the obligations that were agreed with KTM. Team Roberts would not begin a project such as this without funding in place to complete the obligations to Dorna and our other sponsors for the entire season. Both parties were perfectly aware that a participation of Team Roberts in the 2005 racing season would not have been a viable option without KTM’s technical support and funding. In reliance on KTM’s commitment as a strong and equal team partner, Team Roberts decided to engage in the racing season 2005. At first, KTM effectively announced its cooperation and “the agreement reached” with Team Roberts. In fact, KTM also put considerable effort in this cooperation with Team Roberts in the current racing season. However, contrary to the other racing series, in which KTM participates, the expected success in the MotoGP series did not materialize. Against this background and due to internal strategic business decisions and alternative allocation of resources as announced by KTM in its recent press release, KTM decided to pull out of the cooperation with Team Roberts in the middle of the current racing season and to disregard its commitments with Team Roberts. As KTM has not only failed to deliver competitive engines in the current racing season, they have also failed to live up to their funding responsibilities and choose to breach their commitment to supply engines, electronics, tires and a rider to Team Roberts 2005 MotoGP efforts. As we celebrate our 20th season of participation in motorcycle racings’ premier category, Team Roberts will continue to assist in the professionalism and development of our sport. We are passionate about MotoGP and although our success during the past few years has been mixed and our views not always agreed, we have tried to succeed in a way which we believe may benefit the sport in the future, and we have committed 110% to our goals. Obviously the departure of KTM creates severe problems for us and we will address the situation with our best efforts to continue in the championship. We would like to thank all of our fans and motorcycle industry colleagues who have expressed support to us and encourage our continued participation. We also want to thank our suppliers and colleagues, who have been extremely patient in light of our current circumstances. See you in Brno!

Team Velocity Racing’s Chuck Ivey, Reuben Frankenfield and Mark Crozier earned their third overall win of the season in the Dunlop/Michelin National Endurance Series four-hour race at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway on Saturday, August 20. Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey took his usual lead on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 with Mark Crozier right behind him on the Team Velocity Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Batey’s lead lasted just 15 minutes, when he and a slower bike made contact entering turn one. The first and only red flag of the race came out, although Batey was eventually able to return to the pits. Vesrah later rejoined the race on their backup bike. The race restarted 14 minutes later and after Ben Thompson led for a few laps on the Red Star Yamaha YZF-R6, Crozier got by to put Team Velocity Racing in the lead. At the end of the first hour, Bell’s ARNCHU Racing had moved past Red Star to take over second on a Suzuki GSX-R750. Team Velocity still led. The running order was the same at the halfway point, and only 23.5 seconds separated the top three teams. Bell’s ARNCHU Racing dropped back to fourth in the third hour, and eventually crashed. Meanwhile, Army of Darkness moved up to the third spot although they were a lap behind Team Velocity and Red Star. In the final hour, AOD took over the second spot when Red Star pitted. Team Velocity had to pit, also, but they managed to hang onto the lead. Red Star’s Thompson was able to get by AOD in the final half hour, retaking second. At the checkered flag, Team Velocity Racing was a lap ahead of Red Star, while AOD was another lap down in third overall. Team Velocity Racing’s win gave them the Heavyweight Superstock class victory, and Red Star won Mediumweight Superbike over AOD. Mark Edwards and Billy Etheridge put the Team Xtreme/Maxxis Suzuki GSX-R750 into the Heavyweight Superbike lead after Bell’s ARNCHU Racing crashed, and they won the class with their fourth-place overall finish. Dalke Motorsports’ Giovanni Rojas, Wrenn Smith, Josh Smith-Moore and Keith Marshall had a strong run in Mediumweight Superstock, winning the class and finishing seventh overall on a Suzuki GSX-R600. Blue Ridge Performance recovered from their problems during the previous round to win Lightweight Superbike by seven laps. Martin Musil and Chris Stevenson rode the Suzuki SV650. RESULTS 1. Team Velocity Racing (Chuck Ivey/Mark Crozier/Reuben Frankenfield), Heavyweight Superstock, Yam YZF-R1, 213 laps. 2. Red Star (Ben Thompson/Brett Champagne/William Lindsay), Mediumweight Superbike, Yam YZF-R6, 212 laps. 3. Army of Darkness (Ben Walters/Scott Fisher/Scott Brown), Mediumweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R600, 211 laps. 4. Team Xtreme/Maxxis (Billy Etheridge/Mark Edwards), Heavyweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R750, 208 laps. 5. Velocity Crew Racing (Paul Youngman/Kevin Perkins), Mediumweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R600, 208 laps. 6. Wikle Racing (Luther Wikle/Like Wikle/James Stroud), Heavyweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R750, 206 laps. 7. Dalke Motorsports (Josh Smith-Moore/Giovanni Rojas/Wrenn Smith/Keith Marshall), Mediumweight Superstock, Suz GSX-R600, 206 laps. 8. Ed Bargy Racing School Endurance (Opie Caylor/Jeff Selbert/Todd Smith), Heavyweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R750, 205 laps. 9. Dixie Mafia (Bruce Stanford/Troy Meikle/Derek Keyes/CR Gittere), Mediumweight Superstock, Suz GSX-R600, 204 laps. 10. D&D Racing (Mark Reeser/Tim Vosnick/Chris Normand), Heavyweight Superbike, Suz GSX-R750, 204 laps.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 19, 2005) — AMA Pro Racing Board of Director Cary Agajanian is featured in an article in USA Today online. To read the article, click here: ~http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2005-08-18-agents-cover_x.htm~