Tiffiney Kelcher has resigned her position as Event Manager for CCS/Formula USA to become a stay-at-home mother. Kelcher had been with CCS/F-USA for four years.

2003 World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson will race with the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team in the 2006 AMA Superbike Championship. The official announcement came from Ducati North America CEO Michael Lock at the Ducati dealer show in Chicago, Illinois. There was no announcement made with regards to Eric Bostrom, who is in his last year of a two-year contract with Ducati.

JR’s rollercoaster ride on the time sheets RIZLA SUZUKI’S John Reynolds finished 11th fastest in today’s practice for the ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at Silverstone after topping the time sheets at the mid-way point. JR missed the first half of the session as he waited for the wet 2.213-mile long Northamptonshire circuit to dry out from heavy morning rain. Once on track he scythed his way to the top of the time sheets. In the dying minutes he tested his spare bike and wasn’t able to go for a fast time, slipping to 11th by the chequered flag. Haydon finished 19th after a difficult session that saw him try alternative chassis settings on his Rizla Suzuki that didn’t work the way the team wished. He will now revert to the same set-up he used at the test here earlier in the month. 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. John Reynolds: “Today was really frustrating as I wanted to top the time sheets. I was fastest halfway through the final session and decided I should try out my spare bike. It was okay but didn’t have the same feel as my number one bike, so I wasn’t able to improve my time in the last few minutes when the track was at its driest and ended up relegated to 11th.” James Haydon: “That was a shocking session this afternoon. We tried a few alterations to my bike’s set-up and they plainly didn’t work. We are going to go back to the settings we discovered at the test here earlier this month. I am not too concerned given today’s wet and damp conditions, come race day, we’ll be there or thereabouts.” Simon Green, Team Co-ordinator: “A pretty positive day for the team that isn’t really reflected in the timesheets. JR needed to test his spare bike so he could set it up. While he was doing that he went from first to 11th on the timesheets but that in no way shows what he is capable of. James tried a few changes to his Rizla Suzuki and they failed to impress him but Friday is the day to test settings and we have done just that . He’ll now go back to his test set-up and is upbeat about his chances of fighting for the rostrum.” Friday Afternoon Practice times: 1: Leon Haslam (Ducati) 1:27.664, 2: Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +0.309, 3: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.393, 4: Karl Harris (Honda) +0.534, 5: Ryuchi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.705, 6: Steve Plater (Honda) +0.895, 7: Gary Mason (Honda) 0.917, 8: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +0.918, 9: Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +1.084, 10: Michael Rutter (Honda) +1.207, 11: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +1.207, 19: JAMES HAYDON (RIZLA SUZUKI) +2.342. 30. Ben Bostrom, Honda, 1:31.354

AMA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP UP FOR GRABS AGAIN AS SERIES MOVES TO VIR Bad luck for Mladin spells opportunity for teammate Spies PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The 2005 AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited has been a roller coaster ride for defending champion Mat Mladin. Twice this season the Australian racing sensation has built a large points lead only to see it evaporate when bad luck hit. A rare bike failure was the culprit that shaved Mladin’s points lead at California Speedway back on April 30, and most recently the Yoshimura Suzuki rider was caught up in an unavoidable crash in the last round in Lexington, Ohio, and just like that his commanding 37-point series lead has been reduced to nine. As the series moves to the scenic Virginia International Raceway in Alton, on Aug. 26-28, the AMA Superbike Championship chase will be in full stride with young Texan Ben Spies suddenly within reach of Mladin with just four rounds remaining. The race is being dubbed the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals at VIR and will feature rounds 14 and 15 of the 17-race championship. One would think Mladin would be troubled by his sudden change of fortune but he took the Mid-Ohio incident in stride. At Mid-Ohio his Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Aaron Yates crashed right in front of Mladin leaving him nowhere to go and he ended up hitting the ground and damaging his bike. “I was seeing red right after the crash,” Mladin admitted. “But by the time the race was over I was pretty much over it. That’s part of racing and one of the reasons I work so hard to win as much as I can to create a points buffer. I’m not going to dwell on what’s happened in the past. I’m going to VIR with the intention of building my lead again.” Mladin won at VIR in 2003, and while he’ll be looking to score a sweep of the two rounds his young teammate Spies sees nothing but the opportunity of a lifetime to win the AMA Superbike title in his rookie season. He’ll be swinging for the fences at VIR. “I spent most of this season learning the ropes in Superbike racing,” said Spies, who already scored a victory in the series at California Speedway earlier this year. “A lot of my focus has been on learning to ride fast late in the race when the tires start to go off. I think I’ve done that pretty well and now it’s time for me to get some good starts and try to battle for the lead from the drop of the flag. I respect Mat a lot and don’t like to see him have bad luck, but that’s part of this game and I need to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way.” Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom has come to life late in the season and is the hottest rider in the series coming into VIR. Bostrom’s win over Mladin at the circuit in 2002 was one of the closest races in the history of the series. Bostrom, who is third in the standings, hopes to keep his momentum going this coming race. “Our crew has been steadily closing the gap on Mladin’s bike here late in the season and the results are starting to come,” Bostrom said. “It feels good to finally feel confidence in the bike and we’re looking to win at VIR.” Other past VIR Superbike winners expected to be on the grid this weekend include Honda riders Miguel Duhamel and Kurtis Roberts. Both riders struggled much of the season while their respective teams worked on developing in house Honda Superbikes. The hard work by American Honda and Erion Honda seems to be paying off. Duhamel scored his first podium of the season with a second at Mid-Ohio, while Roberts scored his first top-five result of the year. Both are eager to close out the final four races with strong performances to give them and their teams something to look forward to going into 2006. While nobody is counting out the veteran Mladin, the top six riders in the championship still have at least a mathematical shot at the title coming into VIR, including Aaron Yates and Britain’s talented Neil Hodgson. Hodgson, a former World Superbike Champ, is preparing for his first race appearance at VIR. Motorcycle racing fans from nearby North Carolina will have a hometown hero to root for at VIR. Lee Acree, from Greensboro, N.C., is ranked in the top 10 on his KWS/Millennium Suzuki. Acree shocked the AMA regulars in one of his first visits to the series when he won the VIR Superstock race (then called 750 Supersport) in 2001, just after the track re-opened after major renovations. He’ll be looking to turn in another solid performance at his home track. The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals at VIR will be televised nationally on SPEED Channel with the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern, Sunday, Aug. 28. You can also follow the race via live timing and scoring on www.amasuperbike.com. For additional information on the race call (434) 822-7700 or visit www.virclub.com.

RIZLA SUZUKI has teamed up with Silverstone Circuit to put on an exciting weekend of events and activities at the ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at the Northamptonshire circuit this weekend 19th-21st August. Silverstone BSB promises to be one of the best races of the year and is described by Rizla Suzuki British Superbike Champion John Reynolds as: “A technically demanding circuit that takes real skill and courage to master. Fast straights combined with a turning and twisting infield section surrounded by grandstands of cheering fans make this one of my favourite tracks in the world.” JR was the fastest on race rubber at the circuit in a recent test and is looking to score a pair of wins at the 2.21-mile long circuit. His Rizla Suzuki team mate James Haydon was just behind him at the test and is also threatening to stand on the podium. If you are a Rizla Suzuki fan or Suzuki rider there are a host of brilliant attractions just for you, including: · The free Suzuki bike park. Preferential parking for all riders arriving on Suzukis, just follow the signs. · The Rizla Suzuki Grandstand at Priory. With seating for 1000 race fans, this free access grandstand is one of the best viewing areas at the circuit. · The Rizla Suzuki display area. Right beside the grandstand there are plenty of attractions for you to visit including: the Suzuki village with new Suzuki models on display, Suzuki race bikes, the Suzuki Owners Club, Shell Advance Oils, Mac Tools, Triboseat, Fast Bikes, Express Insurance and more. · Free entry Rizla Suzuki Prize Draw made by JR and James Haydon at 2:30pm on race day. Great prizes include: Free Fan Club Plus membership and evening meal with team worth £120, 2xVIP passes worth £600, a pillion ride with Niall Mackenzie at a future round plus 2xVIP passes worth £600, JR sliders, JH sliders, signed posters, a year’s supply of Rizla papers, signed team cap, signed team shirt, mini radios, Silverstone caps and pens. · Meet John Reynolds and James Haydon on race day. Hear their thoughts on the day’s action in special briefings and get autographs or your picture taken with them within the Rizla Suzuki display area. The riders will be meeting the public at approx 10:30am and 2:30pm. Superbike racing starts at 13:15 at the spectator friendly, technically demanding Northamptonshire circuit on Sunday, August 21st.

ZEMKE AND DUHAMEL BRING BATTLE FOR AMA FORMULA XTREME TITLE AT VIR It’s Yates and DiSalvo to the wire in AMA Superstock PICKERINGTON, Ohio — For the second year in a row the battle for the Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series title is coming down to the last few races and at Virginia International Raceway on Aug. 26-28, Honda teammates Jake Zemke and Miguel Duhamel will write another chapter of their great 2005 season-long battle. While the Honda mates go toe-to-toe in Xtreme, it’s a battle between experience and youth in the Repsol Lubricants Superstock Series. There veteran Aaron Yates is trying to win back the championship he vacated in 1996 and young Jason DiSalvo is trying to chase down his older rival to score his first AMA title. Zemke and Duhamel have been trading wins all season long on their factory Hondas. Last year it was Duhamel taking the victory at VIR and going on to win the Formula Xtreme No. 1 plate. This year the tables have turned and it’s Zemke leading and Duhamel chasing. Zemke leads by 11 points with just two rounds remaining and is trying to reach the finish line and for the first time take home the top prize. Zemke has been agonizingly close to championships five times in his career and the former flat tracker isn’t breathing easy yet. “Anytime you have someone of Miguel’s stature chasing you for the championship it’s going to be tough,” said Zemke, who has been runner up in Formula Xtreme three times before. “Even though we’re teammates he’s not going to give me an inch and I’ll have to earn this championship one lap at a time.” Duhamel will go down in the record books as one of the best road racers in the history of AMA racing he already has seven AMA road racing titles to his name, but the 37-year-old Montreal native is not ready to rest on his laurels just yet. “Obviously the pressure is on,” Duhamel said. “For both of us it’s going to be tight, right down to the last lap. Jake has ridden really well this season, but I don’t want to go down without really making him earn it. VIR will not lack for excitement, that’s for sure.” While Zemke and Duhamel are focusing on the championship, a few other riders would like to break the Honda stranglehold on the series. The two most likely candidates to break the monopoly at VIR are Attack Kawasaki’s Ben Attard and Michael Barnes, of M4 EMGO Suzuki. Attard has scored two podium finishes in the series and seems to be coming into his own in recent rounds. Barnes joined his team as a mid-season replacement rider and the veteran has been impressive. Barnes would love to add a Formula Xtreme win trophy to his trophy case. Aaron Yates is heading up the Repsol Lubricants Superstock Series coming into VIR. The Yoshimura Suzuki rider has found a home in the series and a string of three consecutive wins has given the Georgian racing veteran a 14-point lead over Jason DiSalvo. If Yates makes it four in a row at VIR he would become the first to run up a streak like that in the series since Tom Kipp clicked off five straight in the former 750 Supersport Series in 1999. “It’s good to be on a winning streak,” Yates said. “but the championship is still too close for comfort. With just two races to go there’s not a lot of strategy left. I’m going out there to try to keep winning. That’s about it.” Former race winner Lee Acree will also be in the lineup for the VIR Superstock race. Acree’s win here in 2001 was one of the biggest upset wins in the history of the series. The AMA Lockhart Phillips USA formula Xtreme Series race will be televised nationally on SPEED Channel at 1 p.m. (Eastern), Tuesday, Aug. 30. You can also follow the race via live timing and scoring on www.amasuperbike.com. For additional information on the race call (434) 822-7700 or visit www.virclub.com.

Racer Kenny Kopecky married Dana Jorgensen Ertley August 6th in Poway, California.

PROPOSED 2006 FLAT TRACK AND ROAD RACE RULE CHANGES PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 18, 2005) — As announced earlier this month by AMA Pro Racing, proposed rule changes for the 2006 AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited and AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship are currently open for public comment. Licensed riders and credential holders may comment on proposed rule changes during a 30-day period which will end Monday, Aug. 29 for the proposed Flat Track changes, and Saturday, Sept. 3 for Road Race. Credential holders with RIDERS ONLY password access may also comment via AMA Pro Racing’s RIDERS ONLY website at www.amaproracing.com/ridersonly. Proposed rule changes for the 2006 season can be viewed at www.amaflattrack.com and www.amasuperbike.com. About AMA Pro Racing AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the THQ AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Motocross Championship, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access AMA Pro Racing’s online Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom.

Main Line BMW’s Nate Kern to ride factory BMW K1200R in Brno. Main Line BMW racer Nate Kern has been invited to race the new K1200R in the Czech round of the BMW Power Cup, August 26-28. The factory prepared K1200R that BMW is providing the talented rider is producing over 180 horsepower. Nate will be competing against former and current WSBK, WSS, and the best racers from around Europe. Having raced in Europe last season in the previous series, BMW Boxer Cup, Nate is familiar with the Brno circuit. “This is another great opportunity for me and I look forward to the challenge of learning this new machine as quickly as I can”. This track was picked as Nate’s favorite European circuit from 2004. This will also be a special experience for Nate as his favorite racer is Vaclav “Vincent” Haskovec. “To be able to compete in front of 200,000 plus Czech fans makes me even more excited knowing that Vincent has given me advice over the past few seasons that have helped me achieve this and his love and energy for the sport I will ride with over there,” described Nate. “I met him (Vincent) for the first time in 2000 at Pocono Intl. Raceway and I was so driven by his love for life and racing that I decided to take the Team Hammer School and try racing!” Currently Nate Kern and his Main Line BMW team are leading the overall CCS Mid Atlantic and CCS Southeast Overall championships. Adding to the impressive overall standings, Main Line BMW is leading 8 class championships on their shaft driven, air cooled Boxer Twin! In the Czech Republic there will be one 30 minute practice for Nate on Friday the 26th followed by one timed 30 minute qualifying. Saturday the 27th will have the second 30 minute timed qualifying run for the Main Line BMW rider then the race is on Sunday before the premier Moto GP class.

Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske Republiky The wild-card riders who will race in the Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske Republiky, scheduled on the circuit of Brno on August 28 next, are the following: MotoGP class 9 – Nobuatsu Aoki (JPN-Suzuki) 250cc class 41 – Álvaro Molina (SPA-Aprilia) 60 – Wang Zhu (CHN-Aprilia) 61 – Li Zheng Peng CHN-Aprilia) 70 – Michal Filla (CZE-Yamaha) 125cc class 76 – Michael Ranseder (AUT-KTM) 77 – Stefan Brad (GER-KTM) 87 – Patrik Vostarek (CZE-Honda) 97 – Lukas Raze (CZE-Honda) 99 – Thomas Maye (GER-Aprilia)