TEAM MOVISTAR HONDA: READY FOR A NEW CHALLANGE team launch at Jerez de la Frontera The Team Movistar Honda presented itself for the first race of the 2005 Championship season with a renewed graphic design. In a completely urban atmosphere the new logo will be unveiled. The new Movistar logo will be used Internationally in every market where the colossal Spanish mobile phone leader is present. Telefonica Movistar renews itself for the 2005 season by taking on new challenges in the motorcycle world with three ambitious high level projects. These projects will allow them to challenge for Championship titles in the World of speed, the MotoGP and the 250cc class, in the Spanish championship with the MotoGp Accademy project and in the World and Spanish Championship of Motocross. “To conquer the World Championship title in MotoGp is still the main objective thanks to Sete Gibernau, twice World Vice Champion with the colours of Telefonica MoviStar.” said José Antonio Lombardia, Director of the Movistar Marketing division. The team, lead by Fausto Gresini, is completed with Marco Melandri. The Italian rider, World Champion in 2002 in the 250cc class, joins the team Movistar after having matured 2 years of experience in the MotoGp class and having conquered two podiums last season. With nine seasons of experience in the top of all classes, the last 5 as a Telefonica Movistar rider, Sete Gibernau renews his challenge for the 2005 season with one goal: to be World Champion of the MotoGp. Mr Ishii, General manager of Honda racing greated the riders and confirmed Honda’s support as they have always done in these years of partenership. Together with Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri, there are also Daniel Pedrosa and Hiroshi Aoyama who make up the team Movistar 2500cc. Dani will have to defend his World Championship title, conquered last year, and the Japanese is aiming towards prestigious results after a year of apprenticeship. The effort of Telefonica Movistar in the world of racing continues with the MotoGP Academy Project. The “azul” spirit of Telefonica MoviStar is also busy in the world of Motorcross with Javier Garcia Vico and Michael Pichon. SETE GIBERNAU: “It was a long pre-season, we have done a hard job but we are happy with the results accomplished. Thanks to the support of Movistar, Honda and HRC we are ready for a new season. i look forward to the first race, Sunday ” MARCO MELANDRI “I’m happy to have joined the Honda family. I like the bike and during the winter tests the feeling has improved evry time. now i’m ready for the first race.”

Belgian ace Weynand in line for TT debut Twenty eight year old Belgian road racer Michael Weynand is the latest top European rider signed up to make his debut at the Isle of Man TT Races this June. Weynand is a rider of considerable ability, who has gained vast experience in the highly competitive European Superstock Championship over the past few years, as well as taking part in selected World Endurance Championship (WEC) events with considerable distinction. This year he will again take part in the WEC riding as team mate to former World Superbike Champion Stefan Mertens. Michael is also one of the leading competitors on the European Pure Road Racing scene, taking victories at Oostend and finishing on the podium twice at Mettet during 2004. Last year he also finished a fine fifth place in a one off ride in the Masters of Endurance Championship at Magny Cours. Speaking about the prospect of riding in the world famous TT Races, Michael commented: “For a long time it has been an ambition for me to take part in the Isle of Man TT Races, but I never really knew how to go about doing it, and I was never in a situation with my other commitments which would allow it. I enjoy the road races in Belgium at places like Mettet and I have been very successful there, so hopefully I will be able to transfer some of that form to the TT. I realise that it is going to be a totally different type of event, but I am looking forward to the challenge of learning the circuit and I can’t wait for June.” TT Team and Rider Liaison Officer Paul Phillips added: “Michael is another guy who was very keen to take part in the TT, and who has therefore been very easy to deal with. He is an extremely talented rider who at twenty eight could become a top TT rider in the years to come. His achievements in European Superstock where he was regularly battling at the front of the field, and in World Endurance are proof of that and that added to his excellent results in the road races across Europe make him an ideal candidate for the Isle of Man TT Races.” David Cretney MHK, Minister for the Department of Tourism and Leisure and Chairman of the TT Co-ordinating Committee said: “It is great news to be adding another top continental rider to the list of entries received by the Manx Motor Cycle Club for this years TT Races. I think that some people thought that the changes to the TT on an organisational level would see the number of foreign competitors taking part in the event, start to dwindle. But that hasn’t been the case, and what we have actually seen happen, is an increase top quality riders from the continent and beyond, entering the TT for 2005.”

World’s elite converges on Jerez as MotoGP prepares to lift the curtain The fastest motorcycle racers on the planet were reunited on an afternoon of anticipation and expectation at the Spanish circuit of Jerez today, the eve of the 2005 MotoGP World Championship. The opening round of the season gets underway on Friday morning, with the first free practice session for Sunday’s Gran Premio Marlboro de España signalling an eagerly-awaited return to competitive action for the teams and riders after a long winter of testing and development. Twenty MotoGP riders lined up for the traditional preseason photograph in bright sunshine and strong winds with one objective in mind: dethroning the man in the middle of the picture, reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi. The Yamaha rider has now won the premier-class title for the past four years and has taken victory at Jerez on no fewer than five occasions in all categories, a record he is keen to defend in what he expects to be his most difficult season yet. “Last year we caused a surprise but this year it will be harder because everybody knows what to expect,” admitted Rossi, who became the first man since Eddie Lawson in 1989 to win consecutive titles for different manufacturers after switching from Honda to Yamaha last year. “Honda have worked very hard in the winter and they have a lot of strong riders but this sport is not about one factory against another every rider is alone. The winner at the end will be the person who stays consistent and arrives on the podium the most.” After months of preseason testing the fun-loving Italian added that he is looking forward to getting back to doing what he does best and promised plenty of entertainment for the season to come. “It’s been a long winter and sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated but in the race I will be giving 100%. Everybody is ready the riders are in good shape and the bikes are set up. This year will be another great show.” Despite Rossi’s ebullience there is no shortage of confidence throughout the remainder of the grid that this could be the year his dominance comes to an end. Sete Gibernau has run the World Champion closer than any other rider over the past two seasons and says he is better prepared than ever to challenge for the title. “My only aim is to raise my level of riding to a point where I don’t have to depend on anybody else, and I think my level is higher now than it has ever been,” said Gibernau, who took victory in a wet race at this circuit last season. “Valentino is obviously the man to beat because he has won the championship for the past few seasons by being the best. It’s up to us now to raise our level, stay focused and do the best job we can at every race.” Unlike past seasons the whole grid arrived at the opening Grand Prix reporting a clean bill of health, with Alex Barros claiming full strength after two years of injury troubles, John Hopkins recovering swiftly from operations to remove metal plates from his legs and Max Biaggi having made miraculous progress from a broken ankle he sustained in November. Even Carlos Checa, who missed the final official test of the preseason here at Jerez just over a week ago with a shoulder problem, remarked that he “should be 100 per cent fit for the race.” Dani Pedrosa is no stranger to miraculous recoveries having himself bounced back from two broken ankles just over one year ago to clinch the 250cc title in his first season. The Spanish youngster is predicting a tougher challenge this time around but is confident of getting off to the right start in front of a passionate home crowd expected to top last season’s stunning total of 125,000 after recent improvements to the spectator facilities on the outskirts of the circuit. “We’ve had a really good preseason, something I didn’t have last year, and we have taken a step forward in every aspect,” commented Pedrosa, who made a brief dash to Portugal for two days of tests at Estoril last week. “I’m starting the season defending the number 1 plate and I’m very motivated and excited about that. I know it will be a difficult season and I will be under the spotlight but I’m ready. Everybody is looking forward to the start of the season and if the atmosphere is usually impressive at Jerez, it should be unbelievable for the first race!” Local hopes in the 125cc class rest largely with the experienced Pablo Nieto, who has returned to Derbi in an all-Spanish line-up alongside rookie Nico Terol and is already one of the favourites for the title. “I’m on the verge of going crazy wanting the World Championship to start!” commented Nieto, the highest ranked rider in the class. “It’s been pretty tense over the past few weeks but I think I speak for all the riders when I say we just want to get on the bike tomorrow and start giving it some gas!”

Mat Mladin Motorsports Optimistic after Superbike Test at California Speedway FONTANA, Calif. (April 7, 2005) – Following a two-day test at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on April 5-6, five-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin and his newly formed Mat Mladin Motorsports Suzuki team are enthusiastic about the 2005 AMA Superbike season. Mladin went into the test after winning the series-opening round of AMA Superbike at Daytona International Speedway last month, and he finished the Fontana test with the fastest lap time of 1:24.4. Meanwhile, Mat Mladin Motorsports’ Superbike rider Marty Craggill posted an impressive 1:26.94 lap time. Mat Mladin, Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Even though Mladin was attending the Fontana test in the capacity of a racer and team owner, his priority is winning the AMA Superbike Championship with his Yoshimura Suzuki crew. “The test went well,” said Mladin afterward. “We had a bunch of stuff to get through and we got through a lot on the first day. On Wednesday, we messed around and tried some different set-ups and suspension settings. It definitely went well.” Throughout the two-day test, Mladin dipped into the 1:24 range numerous times on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. More importantly, his fastest lap – 1.24.4 – was better than his qualifying time of 1.24.7 from last year’s AMA Superbike race at Fontana. “I’ve have loved the new GSX-R1000 ever since I first through a leg over it,” Mladin said. “Now we’ve been working on getting the bike set up to an area where I feel comfortable. We found some settings we liked when we tested at Barber a few weeks ago that made it feel good. Now, we’ve found some settings that make it feel even better than when we tested here at Fontana two months ago. That’s why we’re here — to make the motorcycle feel better.” Marty Craggill, Mat Mladin Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 Although Craggill raced the AMA Superbike race at the series-opening round at Daytona last month, this test at Fontana was his first opportunity to spend some quality time with his new Mat Mladin Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000. “We started to really figure out what’s going on with the bike,” said Craggill after the test. “I haven’t spent a lot of time on the GSX-R1000, so I wanted to work on improving my riding. We also did a fair bit of work on the suspension. My lap times were pretty good – I did a 1.26.94 — and I really think the bike is coming along well. I’m happy we did the test because we learned a lot.” Not only was Craggill able to work on bike set-up, he also was able to better familiarize himself with the Fontana track and increase his confidence about the upcoming Southern California race. “We did 140 laps over the two days,” he explained. “I don’t want to make a prediction about where I’m going to finish, but I think I’ll be competitive and try to be top privateer.” Craggill gave a lot of credit to his success at the test to his friend and team owner, Mladin. “Mat worked with me quite a bit,” he said. “We talked about riding the track, set-up and just riding the bike — what he’s thinking while he’s riding the bike and explaining to me what he’s actually doing out there, which helps a lot.” Added Mladin about his new team and rider: “I was over there working with Marty a fair bit. Besides Daytona and a little bit at Infineon Raceway, he hasn’t had much time on the bike. It was important for him to put in the laps, which he did. It was important for him to find a base set-up to feel comfortable on the Suzuki, which he did. Marty and his mechanics are getting to know each other now, which is very important. There are only two of them and they busted butt for the two days to get through as much stuff as possible. Marty and his guys did a great job.” The next event for Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mladin and Mat Mladin Motorsports’ Craggill is the AMA Superbike race at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., April 22-24, 2005.

Rizla Suzuki’s John Reynolds and Scott Smart are in confident mood for this weekend’s second-round British Superbike Championship race at Thruxton near the team’s headquarters. Both are confident with the performance of their GSX-R1000 race bikes and are looking forward to the extra support from local fans. British Superbike Champion Reynolds was hailed as a hero after scoring two ninth place finishes at Brands Hatch with his right leg still broken in five places. Since then, the 39-year-old Nottingham rider has been spending time with his doctor and resting as much as possible to prepare himself for racing again. Smart is looking forward to Thruxton with relish. The 28-year-old York-based rider is sure the sheer horsepower of the GSX-R1000K5 will make it a difficult bike to beat at Thruxton – the fastest closed circuit on the BSB calendar with an average lap speed of 112mph. Thruxton in Hampshire is just a 45-minute drive from Rizla Suzuki’s headquarters in Verwood, Dorset and thanks to a tradition of producing exceptionally close racing; it is one of the most popular events of the year. John Reynolds: “I feel stronger with every passing day and hope the fast open nature of Thruxton will allow me to be more competitive than the tight turns at Brands Hatch. On a tight track you are leaning the bike as much as possible to maintain corner speed and my special Alpinestars boot and cast were limiting how far I could lean, meaning I wasn’t cornering as fast as I would normally. “At a higher-speed circuit like Thruxton, you are more upright and driving through the corners. The more upright the better for me as my boot and cast are thick and are limiting ground clearance. “I have been with my doctor and he says my leg continues to heal, which is good news. Thanks to all the fans for their words of support since the opening round. That makes a big difference to me. ” Scott Smart: “Thruxton is a track that will suit the Rizla Suzuki with its very powerful engine. I have the best bike and team in the paddock and this weekend I mean to back that statement up by getting good results. “At Brands Hatch, I proved that the GSX-R1000 was capable of fast lap times. Now the opening-round nerves are gone, we can concentrate on putting in fast laps every lap and fighting at the front where we belong. Thruxton is the home circuit for the Rizla Suzuki team and I am sure the extra fans in the crowd will give JR and me a real boost.”