Hopkins is on target for Brno Team SUZUKI MotoGP racer John Hopkins is well on target to be fit for the next round of the MotoGP World Championship following an operation last week to repair his broken left foot. Hopkins crashed heavily during the Sachsenring race last month and broke a metatarsal bone. Upon returning to America the Suzuki star visited Dr Ting in San Francisco and Ting immediately operated on Hopkins’ foot and plated the broken bone. Hopkins left the hospital two hours after surgery and was able to drive home the next day. He immediately began his rehabilitation to enable him to gain full fitness to race his Suzuki GSV-R at Brno in the Czech Republic on August 28th. A strict training programme of cycling, swimming and gym work will help the Anglo-American rider to reach his goal of being on the start-line for the race. John Hopkins: “The operation went well and all I’ve got is a small splint on my foot. I am working hard on my fitness as I really want to be ready for Brno as I have a lot of fun there and know I can go well. “Dean Miller is helping with my rehab and I’m doing a lot of work, I’m not running yet but that will come soon. I was disappointed that the injury has caused me to miss the Red Bull seat swap that I was due to take part in. It was a great opportunity to be able drive the Red Bull Formula 1 car and I hope we can re-schedule it for later in the year. “I have seen my crash from Sachsenring and I’m sure I should have earned Air Miles for going that high! Probably I shouldn’t have been racing due to my injuries from Friday which was an even bigger crash but I just love racing and if I can get out there I will. That is why I am so determined to be at Brno.”

FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via e-mail: My wife and I attended The U.S.GP this year and would love to return for 2006. However, we have just discovered that the hotel we stayed in has tripled in price with a minimum 4-night stay. Essentially, we would almost pay the same amount for Friday night next year as we did for all 4 nights this year. The website of the hotel (Residence Inn Salinas) also shows no open rooms. I was number 4 on the list that was provided during check-in this year to be contacted once the dates were announced. We have received no call. They had told us at check-in that prices would change from this year since it was a “promotional rate” for this year’s race. I had a great time at the GP and would love to go back. I just find it very hard to justify plane tickets, race tickets, food and then $1460 for a hotel. Even if we got more people to split the room, the expense is a bit much. I am a very big fan of motorcycle racing and attend numerous rounds a year. Attending race weekends is essentially the only vacations my wife and I take. As much as I loved the U.S.GP, for that amount of money I could attend one in Spain. Thank you, Nate Church Xenia, Ohio

AMA PRO RACING ON TV THIS WEEK (August 11-18, 2005) (All times Eastern) AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF (125 class), Unadilla Valley Sports Center, New Berlin, New York Thursday, August 11, 5-6 p.m. (OLN) AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF (250 class), Thunder Valley Motocross Park, Lakewood, Colorado Saturday, August 13, 3-4 p.m. (OLN) AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California Tuesday, August 16 1-2 p.m. (SPEED Channel) AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio Tuesday, August 16, 2-3 p.m. (SPEED Channel) AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF (125 class), Thunder Valley Motocross Park, Lakewood, Colorado Thursday, August 18, 5-6 p.m. (OLN) All times subject to change. Check local listings.

Brontos Vintage Racing Group completed its first test in 4 months at Summit Point last weekend, with guest rider Michael Himmelsbach of Champions Yamaha in the seat for the first time. The multi-time WERA/F-USA champ was impressed with the awesome power and handling of the nimble Spondon TZ/YZR750. An example of his belief in the machine was obvious as Mike immediately dropped into competitive lap times- on a machine that is over 30 years young (Michael was making many at the track believers in vintage machinery). Himmelsbach is no stranger to two-stoke machines, having raced in AMA 250cc GP series for several years on the YAMAHA TZ250 and Aprillia RSV250. The team will regroup for a second test in the upcoming months. We will continue testing for our ultimate goal of competing in the Toyota 200 at Willow Springs, and we are currently seeking out sponsorship. Interested parties please e-mail or call us at: [email protected] Brontos YAMAHA 233 Hillcrest Dr Milford, NJ 08848 [email protected] 908-995-4462 Shop

Nicky Wimbauer finishes 6th in Brands Hatch, SBK European SuperStock 600 Team Moto1 Racing’s Young Gun, Nicky Wimbauer (17) achieves his best European result with a 6th place finish in Brands Hatch, England. After an impressive qualifying effort, Wimbauer took the starting grid on the second row in 7th position. After a brilliant start, Wimbauer found himself and his Suzuki GSX-R 600 in 5th position in turn two. Running within a group of 4 riders, positions changed every lap and made for some very exciting racing. “I tried to hold off McDougall, who attacked almost every turn and almost lost touch with the riders in front of me. Then I put my head down and focused on catching Simeon and Antonelli again,” commented Wimbauer. “Once I caught up, I knew I could go faster than them and wanted to start attacking but unfortunately the checkered flag came too soon.” Wimbauer posted the 4th-fastest lap of the race and fastest Suzuki GSX-R600 race lap time which meant an improvement of 0.9-second over his qualifying time. “I am extremely happy about this result. I had an awesome bike in Brands Hatch and the team did a great job. I feel like I made another step in my riding performance and know that I can run with these guys now,” said Wimbauer. Wimbauer is back in the top ten of the championship with a 4-point gap to 7th place. The next race will be held in Assen, Netherlands on September 5, 2005.

MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM PRESENTS “BMW: The Mastery of Speed” New exhibit features rare motorcycles, great stories and never-before shown artifacts from BMW’s own archives PICKERINGTON, OHIO The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has unveiled its newest exhibit, “BMW: The Mastery of Speed,” a celebration of the Bavarian marque’s sporting heritage. The exhibit features seldom seen and historically significant machines from nearly every decade of the company’s 80 years of motorcycle production, from a 1927 overhead-valve R47 twin to the recently introduced K1200R in-line four sport bike. Also featured is a valuable, never-before-shown collection of trophies and cups on loan from BMW’s own archives in Munich, Germany, as well as memorabilia and historic images from BMW’s Mobile Tradition division. “In addition to presenting some of the finest vintage BMW sports bikes available in the country, we’re excited to be the first Museum in the world to show BMW’s collection of storied racing trophies,” said Mark Mederski, executive director, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “Telling the stories of motorcycling legends like BMW racing great and multiple world record setter Ernst Henne who just recently passed away at the age of 101 – is an import part of our ongoing mission.” “BMW: The Mastery of Speed” has been curated by Peter Nettesheim, an internationally acclaimed BMW historian, aficionado and collector based in Huntington, NY. The exhibit includes seven historic BMW motorcycles from his private collection. “It’s tremendously satisfying to share what I’ve learned and admired about BMW motorcycles with visitors to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum,” said Nettesheim. “There’s a serious focus on education and preservation here that made curating duties a labor of love. I think visitors will understand that sentiment when they tour the exhibit.” Visitors will enjoy some exceptional early and rare BMW designs. Particularly significant is the oldest motorcycle on display, a 1927 BMW R47, one of 1,720 machines sold between 1927 and 1928. As early as 1921, BMW was producing power plants like the two cylinder 494cc flat twin in the R47, which launched the bike to a then-sizzling top speed of nearly 70 mph. Motorcycles from nearly every decade of the company’s history are on view, including the R5, the road-going twin cam sport model based on BMW’s consistent race winner, the R5SS (Super Sport). BMW offered a sport motorcycle in each of its eight decades and it is this sporting heritage that enabled them to accomplish their “Mastery of Speed.” In addition, the exhibit includes an illustrative diorama of a BMW factory scene, as well as several technical displays that explore how designs not only contributed to BMW motorcycles’ performance cache, but also to the bikes’ reliability and safety. Advertising art from early brochures explains BMW’s driveline and enthusiasts will immediately recognize the familiar horizontally-opposed twin, direct bolted transmission with a right side driveshaft to a bevel rear drive. Most BMWs use a similar shaft drive layout to this day. The exhibit also presents period photos of BMW’s innovators in pursuit of performance. “BMW: The Mastery of Speed” is sponsored by BMW of North America and Federal Motorcycle Transport. It is on display through June 2006 along with “Motocross America,” a colorful chronicle of America’s original action sport. About the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum The goal of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed notably to the sport, and three major exhibition halls showcase the machines and memorabilia that have shaped motorcycling. The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; and is closed on New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adult admission is $10 per person; students 12 17, $3. AMA members $5. Seniors receive a $2 discount and members of motorcycle clubs and organizations are eligible for a $1 discount per ticket. A $25.00 family rate and group rates are also available. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Museum’s website at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

Oschersleben 24 Hours 13/14 August Championship Introduction The FIM World Endurance Championship is a unique and gruelling test of motorcycle and rider power and endurance – a worldwide phenomenon that’s a massive hit with race fans, riders and teams alike. The Championship is one of only three world road racing championships officially sanctioned by the FIM. World Endurance races are known for their spectacular starts, which see the riders sprint across the track to their waiting motorcycles. Race weekends are hugely popular festivals with music and all kinds of entertainment for spectators. Last year saw production based motorcycles from twelve manufacturers ridden by competitors from twenty different nations competing for overall honour. Suzuki Castrol, winners of the Assen 500 and Albacete 8 Horas races, extended their championship lead after finishing seventh at the Suzuka 8 Hours ten days ago. Yamaha Austria have moved up to second in the championship after Suzuka, and Yamaha Phase One Endurance up to third. Oschersleben Race Weekend The “24 Stunden von Oschersleben” race is the finale to German Speedweek, a festival of motorcycle racing which takes place at the circuit every year. The support races include track action for KTM Dukes, Aprilia RSV1000s, the ADAC Juniors, the European SuperMono single cylinder championship, the Yamaha Cup and classic solos and sidecars. Off-track there’s the usual mix of stunt shows and live music, as well as the chance to meet the teams and riders during the pit walks or in the paddock. 24 Hours of Racing Twenty four hours of non-stop racing is a real challenge, and one that brings a full entry to Oschersleben every year. Joining the permanent teams on the grid are many strong and experienced teams from around the world who will be content with just completing the race. Germany is particularly well represented, with some real endurance experts coming out of the woodwork for this race. A number of manufacturers will also be making one-off appearances at Oschersleben. Quite apart from the length of the race, Oschersleben presents a number of other challenges. The circuit is very demanding, with series of bends which fold back on themselves leaving riders little chance to rest and giving the bikes’ gearboxes and transmissions a hard time. The weather is also likely to make its presence felt, with a possibility of thunderstorms over the weekend and temperatures expected to range from the high twenties for the start to the low teens as night falls. For the riders and pit crew staying cool during the day and warm at night will be a real issue, but it is unlikely to bother the many thousands of spectators who will gather to watch the race. With the many attractions running alongside the main event at Oschersleben from SuperMono racing to the Bikini Bike Wash race goers are guaranteed a great weekend. For the competitors the only focus will be the 24 hours of racing, and the points and glory that will come with a good result. Quotes Gwen Giabbani, Yamaha Austria: “The Oschersleben bikes were already being prepared in Europe while we were at Suzuka. It will be the main event of the championship so we are looking forward to it. The future is good.” Russell Benney, team manager, Yamaha Phase One Endurance: “Oschersleben is a great chance for us to springboard our way up to second in the championship. The testing we did there before Suzuka will mean that we will be on the pace straight away. This is the most important race in the championship for us.” Race Curiosity Eleven manufacturers are represented in the Oschersleben 24 Hours entry list. The usual suspects from Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, Aprilia, Ducati and MV Agusta are joined by one-off entries from BMW, KTM, Triumph and MZ. Three different models of BMW will compete a K1200R, a K1200S and an R1100S based KB35. Five MZ1000Ss have been entered by three teams; a single example of the model entered last year, finishing in a creditable 17th place overall. Last Year’s Race The Oschersleben 24 Hours was a pivotal race in last year’s season. Going into the race Suzuki Castrol held a comfortable lead in the championship standings; by the time it was over, Yamaha GMT94 had secured the World Endurance Championship title. The two teams fought for the lead from the off, but the race was over for Suzuki Castrol by the early hours of Sunday morning. Yamaha GMT94 went on to win the race by a comfortable margin, in front of second placed Yamaha Austria. Yamaha Phase One Endurance and Kawasaki Bolliger were among the many experienced teams who failed to finish the toughest race of the year. Championship Standings The current World Endurance Championship standings are shown below: Pos’n No. Team Nat. Bike Total 1 2 Suzuki-Castrol Team FRA Suzuki GSX-R1000 74 2 7 Yamaha Austria Racing Team AUT Yamaha YZF-R1 46 3 3 Yamaha Phase One Endurance GBR Yamaha YZF-R1 37 4 8 Bolliger Team Switzerland SUI Kawasaki ZX10R 36 5 7j Seven Stars Honda 7 JPN Honda CBR1000RRW 30 6 6 Shell Endurance Academy GBR Yamaha YZF-R1 28 7 666 Diablo 666 Bolliger GBR Kawasaki ZX10R 26 8 23 Folch Endurance 23 SPA Yamaha YZF-R1 24 9 11j Seven Stars Honda 11 JPN Honda CBR1000RRW 24 10 44 No Limits & RT Racing Team ITA Suzuki GSX-R1000 18 11 12j Yoshimura Suzuki Jomo Srixon JPN Suzuki GSX-R1000 13 12 112 Sapeurs Pompiers 18 FRA Suzuki GSX-R1000 12 13 57j Int Power Factory Roadway JPN Suzuki GSX-R1000 12 14 12 Team Fagersjo-el.se SWE Suzuki GSX-R1000 10 15 30 Akai Sanrinsha Racing Club JPN Honda CBR1000RR 10 16 4 Team X-One ITA Yamaha YZF-R1 8 17 68 Team Power Bike FRA Yamaha YZF-R1 8 18 21 Team RMT 21 GER Kawasaki ZX10R 7 19 51 Fabi Corse ITA Suzuki GSX-R1000 7 20 877j DRT Banana Hands JPN Yamaha YZF-R1 7 21 19 Team Suzuki Nederland NED Suzuki GSX-R1000 6 22 5 Bridgestone Bikers Profi GER Suzuki GSX-R1000 6 23 89j Team Twenty One Meister Evolve JPN Suzuki GSX-R1000 6 24 10 Ducati Spring Team ITA Ducati 999 5 25 9 Aprilia Motociclismo Test Team ITA Aprilia RSV1000R 4 26 88 Race Support Achterhoek NED Suzuki GSX-R1000 3 27 47 Bridgestone Bikers Profi II GER Suzuki GSX-R1000 2 28 11 Burger King Lust GER MV Agusta 1000 F4 2 29 27j Team Surf Suzuki JPN Suzuki GSX-R1000 2 30 76 Suzuki Austria Team 76 AUT Suzuki GSX-R1000 1 31 20 Projecteam Honda GER Honda CBR1000RR 1 32 555j HMF Verity JPN Suzuki GSX-R1000 1 8th August 2005

British Superbikes roar into Silverstone The Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads to Silverstone on 20-21 August for round nine of one of the most exciting and fiercely contested domestic bike series in the world. Boasting one of the strongest rider line-ups in two wheeled motorsport, the double-race weekend promises breathtaking action with riders battling it out peg to peg around Silverstone’s 2.249 mile International Circuit. In addition to two Superbike races fans attending the two day event will be treated to a feast of top British motorcycle racing that includes rounds of the British Supersport, National Superstock and British 125GP Championships, two rounds of the National Superstock Cup, and action from the Virgin Mobile Cup. After eight rounds of the championship HM Plant Honda is the team making all the running, with British rider Michael Rutter leading the fight for the title. Following closely in Rutter’s tracks is team mate Ryuichi Kiyonari who is the man in form, having powered his way to more race wins than any other rider in the series. The Silverstone crowd will also be looking forward to seeing reigning Champion John Reynolds back at the Home of British Motor Racing. The Rizla Suzuki rider set the fastest time at a recent test session and will be keen to put on a strong show for the fans after missing much of the season through injury. Reynolds broke his leg in five places in a pre-season testing accident, but was back racing just 39 days later with his leg in a protective cast and wearing a specially made boot. The 39-year-old made a miraculous recovery from four breaks to his tibia and a single break to the fibula. Reynolds and his medical team later agreed that, rather than riding through the injury, John should rest and heal properly. However, after a six week break Reynolds returned to racing and will ride out at Silverstone 12th in the Championship and determined to make up for lost time. Silverstone promises to be one of the best races of the year and always provides the riders with a challenge. Reynolds in particular is looking forward to one of the biggest rounds of the season: “[Silverstone is] 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.” Silverstone will also be a big weekend for Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha rider Sean Emmett. Like Reynolds, the rider’s season has been seriously disrupted by injury. After breaking his elbow during the opening round of the season Emmett later underwent surgery and will return at Silverstone to ride with three screws in his elbow. The team currently lies fifth in the manufacturers’ championship something Emmett and his team mates Tommy Hill and Richard Wren, will be keen to improve on. Airwaves Ducati riders Gregorio Lavilla and Leon Haslam, lying third and fourth respectively, will also keep fans on the edge of their seats as they attempt to narrow the points gap between themselves and the HM Plant Honda riders. Aussies Glen Richards and Dean Thomas will lead the charge for Hawk Kawasaki, while James Haydon will continue on board the second Rizla Suzuki. Haydon recently replaced Scott Smart nephew of the legendary Barry Sheen who left Rizla Suzuki earlier in the season to jump back on a Kawasaki with Vivaldi Racing. Fans’ favourite Steve Plater will also make a welcome return to Silverstone, also aboard a Kawasaki with the Sendo Superbike Team. After a six week break the season looks set to be re-ignited, with adrenaline pumping on the grid and an electric atmosphere in the stands. With the riders gunning for glory, British Superbikes at Silverstone will provide an unforgettable weekend of family entertainment. Silverstone’s open paddock policy, along with free access to the centre of the circuit and Sunday’s pit lane walkabout, provide fans with unrivalled access to the riders, bikes and team personnel. There’s also plenty to keep the family entertained away from the track. Silverstone’s ‘E-Zone’ (Entertainment Zone) will provide something for fans of all ages, including a display from the Red Devils, Xtreme Bikes, an awesome demonstration of stunt riding, Rock Climbing wall, Bungee Run, Rodeo Bull, Bouncy Castle, Face Painter, Kids Quads, simulators and helicopter pleasure flights. There’s also a giant screen enabling spectators to keep up-to-speed with all the action, wherever it happens on the track. To book tickets for round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone on 20-21 August, or for further information, visit www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk, or contact the ticket hotline on 08704 588 290. Tickets will also be available at the main gate on each day. ~http://www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk~