RIZLA SUZUKI British Superbike Champion John Reynolds met with his doctor yesterday and was told his broken right leg is healing well. JR broke his right leg in five places during a testing accident in February. Yesterday’s examination at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham was the first time his doctor has noticed significant evidence of the bones knitting together. The good news comes just days after a difficult second round of the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton. JR was hampered by treacherously windy conditions at the Hampshire circuit and came away with only two points to show for his brave efforts. JR said: “Now I know for sure that my leg is healing, I can tune my thoughts into racing and focusing on the British Superbike Championship rather than worrying and fretting over my injury. I am on the road to recovery! “I’ll be at Oulton Park tomorrow testing my Rizla Suzuki in a new frame of mind. I will be pushing hard and testing parts on the bike for performance. I’ve had enough of just riding around on my GSX-R1000, it’s time I got back to racing, that is what I love and what my fans expect from me.” Rizla Suzuki will be at Oulton Park on Friday April 15th for an official BSB test before competing at the third round of the Championship at Mallory Park on Sunday, April 24th. One week later, the fourth round of the series visits Oulton Park in Cheshire on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2nd.

Bridgestone riders confident for tight and twisty Estoril After celebrating a strong fifth place with Kawasaki star Shinya Nakano in the season-opening Grand Prix of Spain in Jerez, Japanese tyre giant Bridgestone is looking forward to even better results at the Portuguese Grand Prix in Estoril this weekend. Located close to the ocean in the north-west of Lisbon, just besides the famous seaside resort towns of Cascais and Estoril, the Portuguese circuit is the slowest track on the MotoGP calendar. Various hairpins and a tight and twisty up-hill chicane outweigh the one-kilometre-long main straight, and a well-balanced chassis for precise steering, easy handling and good feedback counts more than sheer horsepower. Besides general corner grip and durability for the nine right hand corners, traction for the crucial last and fast bend before the main straight is one of the basic requirements when it comes to tyre choice. Fine-adjusting all parameters on short notice is another art in Estoril. Fast and unexpected weather changes make the conditions on the bumpy and not very grippy surface hard to predict, with the right suspension set-up and the right tyre choice always being the decision of a moment. Relentless ocean winds make for an additional challenge, and it is remarkable that Bridgestone, a relative newcomer to MotoGP racing, overcame all obstacles with pole position and a second place in last year’s race. For this year’s Portugal Grand Prix, the expectations are high again, considering the similarity in track characteristics between Estoril and Jerez. “We are basically going to ride with the same tyres that we used in Jerez”, explains Shinya Nakano. “The speed is only averaging 154 kph, which should help us, too. Even though the set-up of our big-bang engine is getting better every time, there is still a slight lack of top speed. It’s good for us to be on one of the slower tracks again.” For the Portuguese Grand Prix, approximately 700 Bridgestone tyres have been shipped in from the factory in Tokyo. Modified constructions and new compounds compared to the 2004 tyre generation mean more grip, better handling and durability, “We have good reason to be confident”, says Nakano’s German team-mate Alex Hofmann, who had finished 11th in Jerez. Hiroshi Yamada – Motorcycle Racing Manager Bridgestone Motorsport “Shinya Nakano placed an excellent fifth in the season-opening round at Jerez, which was a better result for Bridgestone than at last year’s opener, and which boosts our confidence for the future. I am relieved to know that our pre-season tyre development program was a success, as we saw Shinya’s lap times being consistent throughout the whole race. Last year in Estoril, our top two riders placed 2nd and 6th, so we know that our tyres work well on this circuit. This year’s three Bridgestone teams, with Kawasaki currently leading the charge, are aiming even higher. Ducati and Suzuki are working hard to overcome the unexpected difficulties they had in Jerez, and I am confident that they will bounce back with strong results here in Estoril!”

Yamaha is proud to announce a two-year deal with MotoGP series promoter Dorna that has seen the Japanese motorcycling giant become the Scooter Supplier of the MotoGP World Championship. The agreement, which was sealed on the eve of the opening round of the 2005 season held in Jerez, Spain includes Yamaha supplying the championship organizer Dorna with a fleet of limited edition 50cc BW’s scooter which will be used through the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Yamaha Motor Europe’s Manager of the Power Two-Wheeler Marketing and Sales Division, Robert Landman, presented the new fleet of MotoGP liveried BW’s to Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta at the Jerez MotoGP event. The limited edition MotoGP BW’s livery features the official MotoGP logo, race-inspired colour scheme as well as track maps of each circuit featured on the 2005 and 2006 seasons. In addition, the liquid-cooled unit also boasts a carbon-fibre replica seat and trick instrument dash layout. Production replicas of the Yamaha MotoGP Scooter will be on sale from June.

EXHIBITION EMBARRASSMENT FOR KAWASAKI’S ALEX HOFMANN The Portuguese Grand Prix got off to a painful and slightly embarrassing start for Kawasaki’s Alex Hofmann when the 24-year-old German crashed his Ninja ZX-RR during an exhibition ride at Estoril’s seafront Casino on Wednesday afternoon. Hofmann joined fellow riders Alex Barros, Makoto Tamada, Pablo Nieto, Casey Stoner and Mika Kallio, for a short demonstration ride in front of a small, but enthusiastic crowd in the centre of Estoril, to promote this weekend’s race at the Autodromo Fernanda Pires da Silva, which is located on the outskirts of the resort town. A brief demonstration by the two-stroke contingent went off without any problems but the power of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR caught Hofmann out as he started his return run on the short demonstration course. The Kawasaki rider got on the gas a little too early as he prepared for the run back up the hill to the casino, with the result that the back of the bike span up on the slippery road surface and unceremoniously flicked him over the high side, much to the astonishment of the watching crowd and television crews. “I don’t know what happened,” declared Hofmann. “I didn’t get on the gas that hard, but the rear still came round on me without any warning. I guess it was just a combination of cold tyres and a slippery road. It’s bad enough crashing at any time, but to do it at 40 kph during a demonstration parade is incredibly embarrassing. I didn’t want to take my helmet off in front of the crowd, because they’d have been able to see how red my face was!” “And if crashing in front of a crowd wasn’t bad enough, there were also quite a few television crews in attendance. Most of the people in the paddock had already seen the crash on television before I’d even got back to the track, so I know I’m going to have to put up with a few jokes at my expense this weekend.” While damage to his Ninja ZX-RR was limited to a broken footrest and a few scratches on the fairing, Hofmann hit his left hand hard on the floor during the crash and was later diagnosed as having cracked two small bones in his wrist by staff at the Clinica Mobile. “I just can’t believe my bad luck. Other riders have had much bigger crashes during testing and have walked away unscathed. Even Shakey Byrne only suffered a bruised head after crashing his scooter at 50 kph, despite not having any protective gear on at the time. This was my first crash since the opening round at Welkom last season, but I manage to crack two bones in my hand falling off at almost walking pace. Unbelievable.” “I went over the top of the bike and hit my left hand quite hard on the ground. My wrist is quite sore and swollen at the moment, but I’m hoping that resting it today will mean it’s okay for the start of practice tomorrow,” added the bruised, but upbeat, Kawasaki rider. Free practice for Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix starts tomorrow at 10.00 in the morning, and continues at 14.00 tomorrow afternoon. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team: HOFMANN SIDELINED BY INJURY AT ESTORIL Kawasaki’s Alex Hofmann will not race in this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril after being diagnosed with a fractured scaphoid in his left wrist, sustained in a crash during a pre-event promotion in Estoril on Wednesday afternoon. The 24-year-old German rider was taking part in an organised MotoGP parade at Estoril’s seafront casino when he was highsided from his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR and landed heavily on his wrist. Initially it was thought that Hofmann had only suffered bruising and swelling, but an x-ray taken today, once the swelling had reduced sufficiently, confirmed that the Kawasaki rider had fractured his scaphoid, together with another small bone in his wrist. Unable to grip the handlebars of his Ninja ZX-RR properly as a result of the injury, the Kawasaki Racing Team made the decision to withdraw Hofmann from the event, rather than risking further injury by him riding when not fully fit. Understandably, given his impressive performance in the opening race of the season at Jerez just five days ago, Hofmann is devastated not to be racing this weekend. “I am so disappointed and frustrated,” declared Hofmann. “After last weekend’s result at Jerez, I was so looking forward to coming here and scoring another good finish. I just can’t believe that a silly mistake during a promotional event has left me unable to race this weekend, and facing a real fight back to fitness for the next race in China.” “If there were any way I could race then I’d definitely be out there, but the scaphoid fracture makes it difficult to hold the handlebars at a standstill, never mind at race pace. Estoril is a very physical track and my wrist simply isn’t up to the job of muscling the bike around here.” “Too many top racers have ended their careers through coming back too early after fracturing their scaphoid, which is why we decided that the best course of action would be to withdraw from this weekend’s race, rather than risk further injury. Although I’m devastated to be missing the Portuguese Grand Prix, I need to put this weekend behind me and focus completely on getting myself back to full fitness for the race in Shanghai in two weeks’ time,” added a very dejected Hofmann. “For a motorcycle racer, a fractured scaphoid is a serious injury,” explained Kawasaki Team Coordinator, Michael Bartholemy. “It leaves the rider unable to grip the handlebars properly and makes controlling a bike as powerful as the Ninja ZX-RR at such a physical circuit as Estoril very difficult indeed.” “Also, if the scaphoid doesn’t heal properly then it can cause problems for a rider in the future. Obviously we want Alex to recover fully from this injury, which is why we made the decision to withdraw him from this weekend’s event, to give the fracture a better chance of healing before the next race.” The scaphoid bone is found on the thumb side of the hand, within the anatomical snuffbox (the hollow between thumb and index finger). Fractures to the scaphoid are common, especially amongst motorcycle racers, and are normally caused by falling on an outstretched hand and hyper-extending the wrist joint. But scaphoid fractures are also particularly slow to heal due to poor circulation to the bone, and even a rapidly immobilised fracture can require surgery. Under normal circumstances, a fully immobilised scaphoid fracture takes between six and eight weeks to heal completely.

Nixon & Springsteen Team Up! Racing legend Gary Nixon will be overseeing a Triumph Thruxton Cup effort fielding longtime friend and fellow legend Jay Springsteen as the rider. Springer will make his debut on the Thruxton at the Willow Springs round of this year’s AHMRA series and participate in selected AHMRA events. The effort will operate in conjuntion with Jerry Liggett’s STEEL BREEZE RACING, the team for which Nixon races an immaculate vintage Triumph Trident. Watch for Nixon and Springer to continue with their “Battle of the 9’s” in the F750 and Formula Vintage classes. Providing some truly exciting vintage racing battles, the two veterans create considerable attention both on the track and in the pits. Always happy to visit with fans, watch for these two in the Steel Breeze Racing camp! Made up exclusively of Triumph Tridents owned and prepped by Jerry Ligget and Charlie Barnes, Steel Breeze Racing’s riders includes Gary Nixon, Jerry Liggett and Craig Knapp. Gary Nixon is currently seeking additional sponsors and can be reached at garynixon.com

MORONGO CASINO, RESORT AND SPA BECOMES OFFICIAL PARTNER OF CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY FONTANA, Calif. — California Speedway welcomes Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa as a new corporate sponsor during the 2005 racing season. The partnership makes Morongo the “Official Resort & Casino of California Speedway.” Casino Morongo recently opened the high-stakes excitement of a magnificent casino in Cabazon, Calif., about 40 minutes East of California Speedway on I-10 near Palm Springs. The new $250 million Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa offer the finest selection of games in California. More than 300 beautifully appointed rooms or suites offer a panoramic view of the resort. For additional information about Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa, visit www.morongocasinoresort.com or call 800-252-4499. For ticket and event information call 800-944-RACE (7223) or log onto www.californiaspeedway.com.