Suzuki Castrol: Oschersleben 24H Winners and 2005 FIM World Endurance Champions Kawasakis Second and Third The Oschersleben 24 Hours round of the FIM World Endurance Championship has been won by Suzuki Castrol. Second place has gone to Kawasaki Bolliger, and third to Kawasaki Diablo. The race win gives Suzuki Castrol an unbeatable lead in the championship standings; they are 45 points ahead of Kawasaki Bolliger, with only 25 points available for the final round of the year at Vallelunga, Italy, in September. From the start of qualifying on Thursday it looked as though the race would come down to a four way battle between Suzuki Castrol, Yamaha Austria, Yamaha Phase One Endurance and Kawasaki Bolliger, with only Phase One and the Austrians able to challenge Suzuki Castrol for the championship title. The race itself was action packed, with Suzuki Castrol and Yamaha Austria both crashing on oil in the opening fifteen minutes of the race. Both riders were able to rejoin the race, but Suzuki Castrol rider Vincent Philippe had injured his left wrist in the fall. With the two fit Suzuki Castrol riders, Keiichi Kitagawa and Matthieu Lagrive, doing back-to-back sessions both Yamaha Austria and Yamaha Phase One saw a chance to pile the pressure onto the Suzuki team. While they could not match Suzuki’s lap times, they could possibly force a mistake by the two increasingly tired riders. Yamaha Phase One paid the price of this blistering pace just before midnight, when their engine failed. Yamaha Austria held second place through the night, but a high-side crash by Thomas Hinterreiter in his first session in daylight on Sunday morning left the bike unrideable. While all of this was going on, Kawasaki Bolliger and Kawasaki Diablo had been putting in reliable lap after reliable lap. The Bolliger bike made an unplanned stop to replace an exhaust system, and another to change a leaking front fork, but otherwise the two Kawasakis ran a perfect race. Further down the field, Suzuki No Limits & RT Motor Team, Suzuki Bridgestone Bikers Profi and Suzuki Austria Team 76 all completed the race without major incident. The Aprilia Motociclismo Test team continue to go from strength to strength, with their almost standard bike finishing in seventh place. Quotes: Vincent Philippe, Suzuki Castrol, 1st place: “It’s strange to win the world championship with a broken hand. It’s good that I have ridden in the race; I had a lot of pain but I did five relays so I am happy. I don’t think it is possible to be world champion if I don’t ride at every race, so I am very happy.” Keiichi Kitagawa, Suzuki Castrol, 1st place: “First of all I would like to thank the team, I’ve really enjoyed working with them and the other riders. I’m the first Japanese World Endurance Champion so I’m very pleased. Some of my fans have come over from Japan; it’s their first time in Europe, and they have really helped to motivate me during the race.” Mr Teramoto, Head of Suzuki France: “One of the most important categories for Suzuki is the sports models, so winning the championship , the world title, is very important for us. Today I am very happy on behalf of all of Suzuki that Suzuki France has won this title, particularly in the 20th anniversary of the GSX-R series.” Marcel Kellenberger, Kawasaki Bolliger, 2nd place: “Qualifying was not so bad for us, and we did nearly the same times in the race. We also had a lot of luck when the other teams had some problems, so the race was very good for us.” James Hutchins, Kawasaki Diablo, 3rd Place: “I’ve been fighting a bit of a demon having started this race twice and not finished it, so I’m pleased to have conquered it now. With the team only in its second year we’re very pleased to be on the podium, and more than proud of what everyone has done to bring us here.” Top Ten Finishers 1st 2 Suzuki 0123 Castrol FRA Suzuki GSX-R1000 Philippe, Kagayama, Lagrive 855 laps 2nd 8 Kawasaki Bolliger SUI Kawasaki ZX10R Kellenberger, Morillon, Stamm – 832 laps 3rd 666 Kawasaki Diablo 0 GBR Kawasaki ZX10R Hutchins, Mizera, Baker 825 laps 4th 44 No Limits & RT Racing Team ITA Suzuki GSX-R1000 Giachino, Ruozi, Monot 812 laps 5th 5 Bridgestone Bikers Profi GER Suzuki GSX-R1000 Roethig, Strauch, Heiler 811 laps 6th 76 Suzuki Austria Team 76 AUT Suzuki GSX-R1000 Klein, Marjan, Bitter 805 laps 7th 9 Aprilia Motociclismo Test Team ITA Aprilia RSV1000 Pellizzon, Veghini, Aliverti 794 laps 8th 101 Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se 2 SWE Suzuki GSX-R1000 Hulth, Agombar, Carlberg – 794 laps 9th 43 ABBCO Hein Gericke GER Suzuki GSX-R1000 Marceletti, Schoenfelder, Walter 790 laps 10th 52 Engel Racing Team GER Suzuki GSX-R1000 Kittel, Koenig, Steinebach – 789 laps More, from a press release issued by Motorcycling Australia: Nowland and Cudlin ‘shafted’ after eight hours After a promising start, Australian duo Warwick Nowland and Damian Cudlin failed to complete the distance in the penultimate round of the Endurance World Championship on August 13-14 the torturous 24-hour classic at Oschersleben in Germany. Nowland and Cudlin were both cooling their heels in the pits when their British teammate, Andi Notman, rolled to a halt at 11.00pm on Saturday night with suspected crankshaft failure on the Yamaha Phase One Endurance YZF-R1. The DNF not only extinguished Phase One’s hopes in the toughest race on the world endurance calendar, but it also had to ignominiously sit by and watch major rival Suzuki Castrol (Vincent Philippe, Matthieu Lagrive and Keiichi Kitagawa, GSX-R1000) claim its third win in four rounds and an unbeatable lead in the championship. “After a great start to the race, several small problems in our pit stops robbed us of time, relegating us back to third place,” said Nowland. “Then when Andy came into the pits it was all over. Considering the resources Suzuki Castrol had, it should have won the championship. “I’m a bit annoyed but that’s racing and the best prepared team won. It’s time to forget about that now, enjoy the party and look forward to next year.” After qualifying in third position, courtesy of a Cudlin flying lap, Phase One’s early prospects looked positive when Suzuki Castrol (Philippe) and Yamaha Austria (YZF-R1) both crashed on oil in the first 15 minutes. However, the teams were able to re-join the race, although Philippe was now indisposed with a wrist injury. That didn’t put the brakes on Kitagawa, a world Superbike winner, and Lagrive, who were able to right the ship and go onto complete 855 laps, 23 in advance of second-placed Kawasaki Bolliger (Marcel Kellenberger, David Morillon, Roam Stamm and Patrick Muff). Another ZX-10R-riding team, Diablo 666 Bolliger (James Hutchins, Kevin Falcke, Steve Mizera and Russell Baker) completed 825 laps. Suzuki Castrol’s win gave the Japanese manufacturer its first win at Oschersleben since 2001, and the marque’s first world title since 2003. “I’m the first Japanese world endurance champion, so I’m very pleased,” said Kitagawa. “Some of my fans come over from Japan, and they have really helped to motivate me during this race.” Suzuki Castrol is now on an unassailable 109pts, ahead of Bolliger (64), Diablo 666 (48) and Yamaha Austria (46). Phase One dropped three spots in Germany, and is now back in sixth on 37pts. The final round will be held at Vallelunga, near Rome, on September 25.

Kneedraggers.com’s Robert Jensen won two CCS races Friday at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Alabama. Jensen won the 25-minute GTO final on a Michelin-shod Suzuki GSX-R750, beating young gun Jesse Janisch by 34 seconds. Joe Spina took third riding another Suzuki 750, like Janisch.. Jensen rode his Yamaha YZF-R6 in the 25-minute GTU contest, topping Geoff May by 1.587 seconds. Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood finished third on his Dunlop-fitted GSX-R600. May, riding a Pirelli-equipped Team M4 EMGO Suzuki GSX-R1000, came back later to win the six-lap Unlimited Superstock sprint by 1.279 seconds over Jensen, who rode his GSX-R750. May’s teammate Michael Barnes finished third on another GSX-R1000. Other CCS race winners Friday included Millville & Wildwood Harley-Davidson/Buell’s Dave Estok in Thunderbike, young gun Garrett Carter in the red-flag-shortened GT Lights event, Vallely Racing’s Joe Ribeiro in Formula 40 and Ross Ryals in Lightweight Formula 40. Team Vallely Racing rode a Suzuki GSX-R750 to the overall and GTO class wins in the 250-kilometer Formula USA Team Challenge Friday. Team Longevity Racing’s finished second overall and first in GTU on a Yamaha YZF-R6, while Team Vallely Racing II placed third overall and second in GTO on another GSX-R750. Team Happy Guts won the GT Lights class, seventh overall, on a Suzuki SV650. Team Hurtbyaccident.com’s Robert Fisher won the A&J Recognition Solo Challenge with 66 laps (five laps ahead of second place) on a Suzuki GSX-R600.

Barber Motorsports Park will roar with the sounds of the Formula USA motorcycle road race series August 12 – 14, 2005. The premiere motorcycle racing organization will make its sixth stop on an eight race schedule in Leeds, AL as the competition for the championship comes to a head. With only three more opportunities to earn points toward the championship, Jeff Wood of Mansfield, MA holds a commanding lead, but his challengers still have an opportunity to wrestle the championship away from him. Wood has been a consistent front runner in 2005, standing on the podium at tracks all over the country and taking home the majority of the cash and prizes available. Team Arclight Suzuki brought Wood aboard for the 2005 season, and he has proven to be an outstanding addition to the already formidable team. Now as Arclight’s top rider, Wood is in a good position to take the Formula USA Triple Crown of the Sport Bike, Formula Sport Bike and Super Bike Championships, a feat that has never been accomplished before. This weekend will be packed with challenges for all of the Formula USA riders. As most riders will work to tame the twist and turns of Barber, Wood’s challenge will be to keep the 2004 Formula USA Sport Bike and Super Bike Champion, Robert Jensen, at bay. Jensen of Chaffee, ND missed an event earlier this year and has been forced to play catch up with Wood’s point lead all season. Championship Cup Series, the nation’s largest sportsman level motorcycle road racing organization, will share the track with Formula USA offering up the chance to see some of tomorrow’s stars looking to move up from the CCS ranks to the Formula USA Championship Series. Each Formula USA weekend brings $90,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs between four premiere classes . Combine that with the CCS cash and prizes, and the racers at Barber Motorsports Park will be competing for over $200,000 in cash and contingency prizes. About Clear Channel Entertainment Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer of live entertainment events is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications (NYSE:CCU), a global leader in the out-of-home advertising industry. Clear Channel Entertainment currently owns, operates and/or exclusively books approximately 130 live entertainment venues, including nearly 100 in North America and more than 30 in Europe. Each year, 69 million people attend approximately 32,000 events promoted and/or produced by the company, including live music events; Broadway, West End and touring theatrical shows; family entertainment shows; museum exhibitions, and specialized sports and motor sports events. In addition, the company’s independently operated athlete representation business, SFX, provides management, marketing and financial consulting services to many of the world’s top professional athletes. Clear Channel Entertainment operates throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. More information may be found by visiting www.cc.com and www.clearchannel.com.

Austrian motorcycle company KTM has announced that it is no longer in a position to act as engine supplier to Team Roberts in the MotoGP World Championship. The decision was taken after careful consideration by KTM management but does not impact on KTM’s participation in other FIM Road Racing categories. KTM Chief Executive Officer, Mr Stefan Pierer, has confirmed that the company will continue to enter factory teams in the 125cc and 250cc world championships. In 2006, the KTM 250cc team will be expanded to a two rider squad following the successful debut of the new machine which finished second on the podium at last month’s British Grand Prix. And KTM’s three-rider 125cc grand prix team is currently dominating that championship, with three riders in the top six of the points. KTM have won five of the nine GPs so far this season. The decision to end the supply of the KTM 990cc, V4 engine is based on a number of factors, including the change to the new 800cc MotoGP engine regulations in 2007. For 2005 KTM’s sole aim was to be an engine supplier to a fully operational team. The company’s primary interest was engine supply, and not to support a factory-backed KTM MotoGP team. Team Roberts were free to raise additional sponsorship and funding for the project. KTM recognises that this undertaking has not been an easy task. To assist the project further KTM made available significant, and additional funding, over and above the cost of engine supply. KTM contracted and paid team rider Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and agreed to fund the supply of Michelin tyres for the MotoGP season. KTM’s current budgets do allow for any request for funding over and above these three key areas -engine supply, rider contract and cost of tyres. KTM management also considered the impact of short-term investment in further development of the 990cc motor, which would become extinct at the end of the 2006 season. For 2007, another significant investment would be required for an all-new 800cc motor for the MotoGP championship. For these reasons, and in an effort to focus on their 125 and 250 GP projects, KTM has decided to cease MotoGP engine supply. In light of the new 800cc regulations any future involvement in MotoGP will be taken after a further assessment of the competition requirements best suited for the promotion of the KTM brand. KTM would like wish Team Roberts every success in its future racing endeavours.

Sidecar Road Racing World Championship Last round at the Sachsenring Following the cancellation of the 8th round of the Sidecar World Championship in St. Petersburg, it will be replaced by an event with 2 races at the circuit of Sachsenring, Germany, on September 17-18 (together with an International German Championship round – IDM). Moreover, an additional 4th race will be held at the 6th round of the Championship in Rijeka (on August 21) to secure the total number of 16 races. The Championship will count 8 rounds, as follows: Dates Country Circuit May 8 * Great Britain Brands Hatch May 29 * Hungary Hungaroring June 19 * Germany Nürburgring July 10 * Germany Schleiz August 7 * Austria Salzburgring August 21 Croatia Rijeka September 4 Netherlands Assen September 18 Germany Sachsenring * : already run

THE CRESCENT 2005 Open Weekend starts tomorrow and promises to be the best celebration of motorcycling ever held at the fantastic Crescent Performance Centre in Verwood, Dorset. With free entry more than 10,000 visitors are expected to attend and there is a host of attractions and entertainment on offer that will satisfy everyone, including: Meet the racers and get close to their bikes: · Meet British Superbike Champion John Reynolds · Meet Rizla Suzuki racer James Haydon · Meet triple British Superbike Champion Niall Mackenzie · Meet Rizla Suzuki team manager Robert Wicks · See the 2005 Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 up close · The 2004 Championship winning Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 on display · Meet Team SUZUKI MotoGP manager Paul Denning · A frank question and answer session with racers and managers each day · See the Team SUZUKI MotoGP GSV-R in the flesh · Many 500cc two-stroke RGV race bikes on display · Selection of Crescent race bikes through the years · Arranged times for rider signings and photographs Enter the MotoGP and BSB race paddocks: · Team SUZUKI MotoGP race transporter on display · Rizla Suzuki race transporter on display · Dynojet mobile dyno test your bike for free · WP Suspension trucks and advice · Free Arai helmet service Visit the stands and displays: · Team SUZUKI MotoGP and Rizla Suzuki replica clothing · Shell Advance Oils · Suzuki GB technical support · Bikesafe Dorset and Hants · Express Insurance girls with free giveaways · Supagard display and exclusive cut-price product offer · Get £10 off your tickets to Round 9 of BSB at Silverstone the following weekend · Fast Bikes freebies · Canon free photo-prints of you enjoying the day Other attractions: · Win VIP passes to Cadwell Park BSB · Win a pillion ride with Niall Mackenzie at Oulton Park BSB · Win signed Team SUZUKI MotoGP kit · Win VIP passes to the final MotoGP race in 2005 at Valencia · Racer’s auction lots of kit up for grabs with proceeds going to Riders for Health · Drag bike demo runs”¦ For the family: · A bouncy castle for the kids · Catering with food, tea and coffee · Ice cream van on permanent stand-by Offers Galore: · Check in store for a host of fantastic offers on clearance lines · Special offers on Alpinestars, RST, Arai, RS Taichi, Yoshimura and many more · New Suzuki bikes order your September registration now and Crescent isn’t afraid to do a deal · 0% finance available on all 650 GSF, SV and DL, 1200 GSF and GSX1400 · Fantastic deals on GSX-R600K5 and GSX-R750K5 (excluding anniversary) · Used bikes huge selection to clear Dainese: · Crescent is proud to announce the official opening of the South coast’s premier Dainese Supercentre in its own store celebratory offers in store The Crescent Open Weekend will run on Saturday August 13th from 9am 5pm and on Sunday August 14th between 10am 4pm at The Crescent Performance Centre, 23 Blackmoor Road, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood, BH31 6AX. Visit www.crescent-suzuki.com or call 01202-820170 for more details.

Suzuki Castrol Pole Position Yamaha Austria Second, Yamaha Phase One Third Provisional pole position for tomorrow’s Oschersleben 24 Hours round of the FIM World Endurance Championship has been taken by Suzuki Castrol’s Matthieu Lagrive with a time of 1:29.960. He beat his team mate Vincent Philippe normally the star of world endurance qualifying by just one hundredth of a second. Second place went to Yamaha Austria’s Gwen Giabbani, half a second behind Suzuki Castrol and just under a tenth of a second faster than third placed Damian Cudlin for Yamaha Phase One Endurance. Tomorrow’s race looks set to be a battle between these three teams, with fourth in qualifying Kawasaki Bolliger fighting for fourth place in the race. Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se were fifth and JLC Ultimateam sixth. The latter bike is a Suzuki engined special with a radical hub-centre-steering front suspension system. Shell Endurance Academy’s Calvin Hogan was seventh, Yamaha Racing Team Hepelmann eighth, Ducati Spring Team ninth and Suzuki Bridgestone Bikers Profi tenth. Only three of the top ten teams’ first riders were fastest this morning, suggesting that the track may have warmed up over the course of the qualifying sessions. Crashers so far have included Fagersjo-el.se’s Paul Young during first qualifying, Aprilia Motociclismo Test Team who have had to source a new frame from a local dealer, and Suzuki No Limits & RT who returned from the first night practice session on the back of the recovery truck. Qualifying Quotes Matthieu Lagrive, Suzuki Castrol, first place: “I’m very happy; I’m doing this for the team and for the championship. I’m just doing my job; I came here for a ride and”¦ For sure I wanted to go faster; it’s very hard here because there is a lot of traffic and I lost time on a lot of laps. I wanted to do a 1:28. The bike is okay for the race, Vincent and Keiichi are okay, we will ride easy for the finish.” Gwen Giabbani, Yamaha Austria, second place: “Qualifying was okay. I aimed for a better result, to be closer to Suzuki Castrol, but second place on the grid is not so bad; I’m happy with that. I am confident for the race because I know the team is good in the pits, for refuelling and everything, and my team mates and I are all doing the same lap times.” Damian Culdin, Yamaha Phase One Endurance, third place: “Qualifying went to plan, really. I struggled a lot with the set-up of the bike when I first turned up here; it’s different to what it’s been all year and I wasn’t here for the testing. We tried something last night in the night practice session, and I found some more speed today. I managed to do the team’s quickest lap of the weekend; I actually feel like I’ve got a 1:29 in my bones, but when I was on a good lap I had to pass people.” Provisional Qualifying Top Ten 1st 2 – Suzuki Castrol Team FRA Suzuki GSX-R1000 M.Lagrive 1:29.960 2nd 7 – Yamaha Austria 7 AUT Yamaha YZF-R1 G. Giabanni 1:30.517 3rd 3 – Yamaha Phase One Endurance GBR Yamaha YZF-R1 D.Cudlin 1:30.608 4th 8 – Bolliger Team Switzerland SUI Kawasaki ZX10R R.Stamm 1:31.128 5th 12 – Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se SWE Suzuki GSX-R1000 M.Christer 1:31.687 6th 45 JLC Moto Ulteamatum FRA JBB Suzuki A.Delhalle 1:31.702 7th 6 Shell Endurance Academy GBR Yamaha YZF-R1 C.Hogan 1:32.368 8th 92 Racing Team Hepelmann GER Yamaha YZF-R1 R.Kraechter 1:32.405 9th 10 Ducati Team Spring ITA Ducati 999RS L.Mauri 1:32.719 10th 5 Suzuki Bridgestone Bikers GER Suzuki GSX-R1000 T. Roethig 1:32.875 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: Team Suzuki Castrol’s Matthieu Lagrive has taken pole position for tomorrow’s World Endurance fourth round at Oschersleben in Germany with a time of 1:29.960 after beating team-mate Vincent Philippe by a hundredth-of-a-second. The World Championship-leading GSX-R1000-mounted SERT team headed Yamaha Austria’s Gwen Giabbani by half a second with third-placed Damian Cudlin of the Yamaha Phase One Endurance squad a tenth-of-a-second further back. Tomorrow’s race looks set to be a battle between these three teams with Kawasaki Bolliger fighting for fourth place. Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se was fifth and JLC Ultimateam sixth riding a Suzuki-engined special with a radical hub-centre-steering front suspension system. Shell Endurance Academy’s Calvin Hogan was seventh, Yamaha Racing Team Hepel-mann eighth, Ducati Spring Team ninth and Suzuki Bridgestone Bikers Profi tenth. Only three of the top 10 teams’ first riders were fastest this morning, suggesting that the track may have warmed up over the course of the qualifying sessions. Crashers so far have included Fagersjo-el.se’s Paul Young during first qualifying, Aprilia Motociclismo Test Team who have had to source a new frame from a local dealer and Suzuki No Limits & RT who returned from the first night practice session on the back of the recovery truck. Said Lagrive: “I’m very happy. I’m doing this for the team and for the championship. I’m just doing my job. I came here for a ride and, for sure, I wanted to go faster. It’s very hard here because there is a lot of traffic and I lost time on a lot of laps. I wanted to do a 1:28. The bike is ok for the race, Vincent and Keiichi are okay and we will ride easy for the finish.” Suzuki Castrol team manager Dominique Meliand added: “We will race for the Championship, not just for a win at Oschersleben tomorrow. The World Endurance Championship is very important for the Suzuki factory.” Provisional Qualifying: 1 Suzuki Castrol Team – FRA – (Suzuki GSX-R1000) – M.Lagrive – 1:29.960. 2 Yamaha Austria 7 – AUT – (Yamaha YZF-R1) – G. Giabanni – 1:30.517. 3 Yamaha Phase One Endurance – GBR – (Yamaha YZF-R1) – D.Cudlin – 1:30.608. 4 Bolliger Team Switzerland – SUI – (Kawasaki ZX10R) – R.Stamm – 1:31.128. 5 Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se – SWE – (Suzuki GSX-R1000) – M.Christer – 1:31.687. 6 JLC Moto Ulteamatum – FRA – (JBB Suzuki) – A.Delhalle – 1:31.702. 7 Shell Endurance Academy – GBR – (Yamaha YZF-R1) – C.Hogan – 1:32.368. 8 Racing Team Hepelmann – GER – (Yamaha YZF-R1) – R.Kraechter – 1:32.405. 10 Ducati Team Spring – ITA – (Ducati 999RS) – L.Mauri – 1:32.719. 10 Suzuki Bridgestone Bikers – GER – (Suzuki GSX-R1000) – T. Roethig – 1:32.875.