FOUR-RIDER FIGHT HEADS EAST TORONTO, ON For the second time in the past three years the Parts Canada Superbike Championship is heading for a dramatic down to the wire finale. And once again Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS will be a key battleground in the war for the title. Four riders come into this weekend’s doubleheader event, the penultimate stop on the 2005 tour, with a solid shot at claiming Canada’s biggest motorcycle road racing prize. Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC leads the standings with 198 points, but just two points behind him is Brantford, ON ace Jordan Szoke. Calgary’s Clint McBain is just another two points behind with 194. Meanwhile, lurking in fourth in the standings with 179 points is Granby, QC rider Pascal Picotte, who shot into contention for the title after sweeping the doubleheader at the previous event at Mosport International Raceway. This weekend’s races are the sixth and seventh rounds of the eight-race series, which wraps up at Shannonville Motorsport Park on the Labour Day Weekend of Sept. 2-4. Picotte is bidding for a third straight Canadian Superbike crown, a feat not managed since Steve Crevier won three in a row from 1991-93. But his championship aspirations appeared to be over after he was injured in a practice fall at the Parts Canada Superbike season opener at Shannonville in May. Picotte was dominant at Mosport, however, qualifying on pole and leading both races lights-to-flag on his Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1. Riding the Snobgirls / Laval Moto Suzuki GSX-R1000, Martin won the Shannonville season opener and has two other podium finishes to his credit this season. He has never won at AMP, but is a past national Superbike champion, taking the title for Kawasaki in 1999. Although he hasn’t won yet in 2005, Szoke hasn’t finished lower than fourth in the first five races of the season on his Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR. The Canadian Superbike champion in 1998 and 2002, Szoke has won twice at AMP. McBain has been the other winner this season on the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000. He scored a popular home sweep at the second and third rounds of the series at Race City Motorsport Park but suffered a big crash in the first race of the Mosport doubleheader. He bounced back to claim second place behind Picotte the next day and stay in contention for a possible first Canadian Superbike crown. A succession of challengers will be eager to mix it up with this foursome and the tight 2.56km (1.6-mile), 11-turn AMP circuit has a tradition of serving up the closest races of the season. Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC sits fifth in points with 138 on the Diablo Performance Honda CBR1000RR. The six-time national champion has more AMP Superbike victories than any other racer with five. Just a point behind Crevier is McBain’s teammate on the Blackfoot Suzuki team, Kevin Lacombe. The Granby, QC rider won last year’s Superbike feature at AMP. The Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10Rs showed improved form at Mosport. Matt McBride of Mississauga, ON placed a career high fourth in the second race, while Tom Kipp of Chardon, OH was third a day earlier. They come to AMP seventh and ninth in points, respectively. Action this weekend will also include a doubleheader for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship. Honda rider Crevier leads the standings despite seeing his three-race win streak come to an end at Mosport. He has 216 points to the 193 of Suzuki’s McBain, while another Calgary racer, Chris Peris is creeping up in third after winning both Mosport rounds on his Topline Yamaha YZF-R6. Sunday’s racing will also include features for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike, Canadian Thunder and Suzuki SV650 National Cup competitors. Mark Douglas of Warkworth, ON holds a slim 11-point lead over Woodstock, ON’s James Collins, 125-114 in Amateur 600 Sport Bike after taking his first career series win at Mosport. Vancouver’s Olivier Spilborghs is third in points with 81. All three are aboard Yamahas. Buell rider Bill Card of Wellesley, ON leads the Canadian Thunder standings after sweeping the doubleheader at Mosport, while 15-year-old Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond, QC has won the last three SV650 Cup features to take command of that series. Qualifying for the Parts Canada Superbike and Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike series will take place Friday afternoon with feature races set for Saturday and Sunday. The International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike, Canadian Thunder and Suzuki SV650 National Cup competitors will qualify Saturday for their Sunday features. Action from this weekend will be shown later this summer in a one-hour show on TSN. For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com All Time Atlantic Motorsport Park Superbike Wins: Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC) 5; Don Munroe (Halifax, NS) 3; Rueben McMurter (London, ON) 2; Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON) 2; Gary Goodfellow (Vancouver, BC) 1; Miguel Duhamel (Repentigny, QC) 1; Michel Mercier (Thetford Mines, QC) 1; Mark Kowalski (Kitchener, ON) 1; Pascal Picotte (Granby, QC) 1; Kevin Lacombe (Granby, QC) 1 Atlantic Motorsport Park Fast Facts Win battle tightens up “¦Pascal Picotte’s sweep of the doubleheader at Mosport International Raceway moved him into a tie with Jordan Szoke for second on the all-time national Superbike win list. Both riders now have 15 career victories, while Steve Crevier leads with 22 wins. Crevier due? “¦Although Steve Crevier has won more Superbike nationals at AMP than any other rider with five, he has been shut out at the east coast venue since 2001, the year he also won the last of his six Canadian Superbike titles. Experience counts “¦When Kevin Lacombe won last year’s Parts Canada Superbike feature at AMP it ended a string of dominance by the three most successful racers in the history of the national series. Prior to that, Pascal Picotte won at the track in 2003, Jordan Szoke in 1999 and 2002, and Steve Crevier in 2000 and 2001. 2005 Point Standings Parts Canada Superbike: 1. Francis Martin (Suzuki) 198; 2. Jordan Szoke (Honda) 196; 3. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 194; 4. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 179; 5. Steve Crevier (Honda) 138 Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: 1. Steve Crevier (Honda) 216; 2. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 193; 3. Chris Peris (Yamaha) 185 International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: 1. Mark Douglas (Yamaha) 125; 2. James Collins (Yamaha) 114; 3. Olivier Spilborghs (Yamaha) 81 Canadian Thunder: 1. Bill Card (Buell) 145; 2. Darren James (Buell) 127; 3. Derek Vammus (Ducati) 120 Suzuki SV650 National Cup: 1. Karl Daigle 193; 2. Alain Lefebvre 170; 3. Norm Tang 136 Provisional Weekend Schedule Friday August 5 1:45 p.m. 2:10 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Qualifying 3:15 p.m. 3:55 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Qualifying Saturday August 6 1:20 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 1 16 laps 2:20 p.m. Canadian Thunder Qualifying Heat 8 laps 3:10 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Race 1 22 laps 4:00 p.m. 4:20 p.m. Suzuki SV650 National Cup Qualifying 4:30 p.m. 5:20 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Qualifying Sunday August 7 1:00 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 2 16 laps Canadian Thunder Race 12 laps International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Race 12 laps 3:00 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Race 2 22 laps Suzuki SV650 National Cup Race 12 laps

See it here: ~http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/050804/di20050802987207.html?.v=2~ Thanks to reader Louis Fellman (LRRS #995) for sending us the link.

TOSELAND AND LACONI (DUCATI XEROX TEAM) FACE BRANDS HATCH THRILLER IN WSBK ROUND 8 Brands Hatch (UK), Thursday 4 August: With the spectacular Brands Hatch circuit in Kent on the outskirts of London hosting this weekend’s eighth round of the World Superbike Championship, Frenchman Régis Laconi and in particular Britain’s reigning world champion James Toseland will be searching for further victories in this year’s series in front of another massive sell-out crowd. Both riders were on the podium in the last round at Brno three weeks ago, but a second and a third place in race 1 were not sufficient to make much of an impact on the series leader, Troy Corser (Suzuki). Ducati Corse Superbike Technical Director Ernesto Marinelli explains the varied nature of the Brands Hatch circuit: “Brands is a difficult track because there are a lot of ups and downs and, like Laguna Seca, it requires a good set-up for the different parts of the circuit, stiff in certain parts and softer wherever required. For sure the first curve, Paddock Hill Bend, is tough on the bike because you go down hard and then back up. At that point the bike undergoes incredible compression, and that’s the thing that creates the biggest problem, as well as the fact that there can sometimes be contact with other riders at that point.” Both Toseland and Laconi flew in directly to Brands after a two-day private testing session at Mugello, Italy on Tuesday and Wednesday, in which they mainly did development work for Pirelli. Both riders recorded excellent times of 1m54.4s on race tyres at the Tuscany circuit. 24-year-old Toseland is determined to make amends for his poor showing here last year: “It was important to do the tests at Mugello because time on the bike for me is paramount, even though as far as the championship is going, it looks like it’s in Troy’s hands. But all I want to do from now until the end of the season is win races, especially at Brands this weekend. We had problems here last year, it was my worst round, but not everything was my fault. I’ve got to get it together in qualifying this weekend but with the bike now feeling comfortable, I’m ready to go. The first half of the track is very technical, where you need the bike to steer well round Druids to Graham Hill and the second half is basically just fast and a bravery thing. Clearways is probably the most technical corner – off-camber, uphill, tightens up towards the end and you’ve got to get the drive down the straight. For all the fans out there, they have come to see me winning and I’m going to do my best to win this weekend!”. “For me the testing was just a little bit too close to the race but for sure it is a good help because it gets you to arrive at Brands in a good condition” declared Laconi. “I always enjoy racing at Brands Hatch because it is a track where the rider can make a big difference. The most important thing is to have a good feeling with the track because you don’t see many of the corners and you have to know where to go before you go through them. The more difficult place is Dingle Dell where they changed the corner, because you really have to have a good feeling through there. Last year I was fast but this year I am faster at all the corners and riding much better. The rest of the season is going to be tough and we will have to fight race by race, but the title battle is never over until it’s over. I think I will do nothing special in August, just training, a little bit on the beach and relax before the rest of the races.” BRANDS HATCH STATISTICS: Brands Hatch has been a permanent fixture in the WSBK calendar since 1993, and 24 races have been held there. One rider has won both races of the day on numerous occasions, starting with Giancarlo Falappa in 1993 and continuing with Carl Fogarty (1994), Colin Edwards (1999), Ben Bostrom (2001), Edwards (2002), Shane Byrne (2003) and Noriyuki Haga (2004). Edwards has won the most races, 6 compared to Fogarty’s 3, and the Texan also has the most podium finishes (9) and fastest laps (4). Neil Hodgson leads the pole position table, the Brit setting 4 straight poles between 2000 and 2002. Only Ducati and Honda have ever won races at Brands Hatch, the Italian manufacturer taking 18 wins to Honda’s 6. The lap record is held by Shane Byrne (Ducati) with a time of 1m26.755s (2003), and his qualifying mark to beat in qualifying stands at 1m26.248s, while Steve Martin’s (Ducati) Superpole mark stands at 1m27.213s. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after 7 of 12 rounds) : Riders – 1. Corser (Suzuki) 299; 2. Vermeulen (Honda) 205; 3. Laconi (Ducati Xerox) 187; 4. Kagayama (Suzuki) 158; 5. Toseland (Ducati Xerox) 152; 6. Haga (Yamaha) 122, etc. Manufacturers – 1. Suzuki 308; 2. Ducati 230; 3. Honda 221; 4. Yamaha 163; 5. Kawasaki 119; 6. Petronas 17.

Salinas, California-based West Coast Racing owner Brid Caveney will be racing this year’s Manx GP on the famous Mountain circuit with a WCR-built BSA B50. Caveney, an ex-IOM resident, is looking forward to the challenge of the TT course after a hiatus of 17 years. Since emigrating to the USA some 20 years ago, Caveney has won National (Vintage) road race and trials Championships. “The racing here is great, and I love being out there,” said Caveney, “BUT — the Isle of Man is the pinnacle of worldwide road racing, and there is no bigger challenge than the Mountain course. It is my time to go back and be re-united with my roots. The B50 might not be the most exotic bike in the field; however, it will be well suited to the TT course, and we are hoping–number one–to finish. Over there, that is a big deal. If we get in the top 20 (from 101 starters) and are the first pushrod motor–in a field of cammy exotics–I’ll be a happy camper!” Anybody interested in being part of the show can contact Brid at 831-484-7778 or [email protected] .

PROPOSED 2006 AMA SUPERBIKE RULES ANNOUNCED PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 3, 2005) — AMA Pro Racing has announced the proposed technical rule changes for the 2006 AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. Proposed rule changes were developed by AMA Pro Racing staff with input from the AMA Road Race advisory board which is comprised of representatives from teams and riders. Proposed technical rule changes for the 2006 season can be viewed at www.amasuperbike.com. AMA Pro Racing licensed riders and credential holders may comment on proposed rule changes during a 30-day period beginning Thursday, Aug. 4 through Saturday, Sept. 3. Comments can be made via FAX, mail or through the AMA Pro Racing’s RIDERS ONLY website at www.amaproracing.com/ridersonly. At the conclusion of the 30-day period, AMA Pro Racing will review submissions prior to forwarding the package to the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors for ratification. On May 26, AMA Pro Racing announced that 1000cc motorcycles would remain in AMA Superbike through the 2008 racing season. This announcement was followed up with another notification on June 17 that class structures for the AMA Superbike Championship were unchanged for 2006. The series is comprised of four classes. AMA Superbike is the premier class followed by three support classes: AMA Supersport, AMA Formula Xtreme and AMA Superstock. According to Merrill Vanderslice, AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition, bringing stability to the series has been a primary objective. “The manufacturers and top teams have asked us to provide them with as much lead time as possible so they could more easily formulate their planning,” said Vanderslice. “Announcing that AMA Superbike would be 1000cc-based for at least three more racing seasons is an example of that commitment.” Vanderslice also commented that the 30-day rules comment period was an important part of the rule-making process. “After AMA Pro Racing staff and advisory board members finalize the proposed rules for the upcoming season, the comment period adds another, vital level of input. In the past, comments received during this process have had a direct impact on the final rules package,” confirmed Vanderslice. (The rules proposals follow) The following rules change proposals were created utilizing input from AMA Pro Racing staff and the AMA Road Race Advisory Committee. AMA Pro Racing’s Board of Directors has given preliminary approval to submit the following rule change proposals for a 30-day comment period as required by our rules making procedures. The proposals involve technical and sporting aspects of various classes which make up the AMA Superbike Championship. Proposal 1 The maximum fuel tank capacity for Formula Xtreme motorcycles in the Daytona 200 is 19 liters (5.02 gallons) as determined by the AMA Pro Racing’s official testing equipment. OEM tanks must be utilized but may be modified to achieve the maximum capacity. Modifications to the fuel cap area for the installation of a single internal venting quick-fill coupler are also permitted. Fuel tanks modified in this manner may be used in all Formula Xtreme events throughout the season in place of the standard fuel tank. Aftermarket fuel tanks are not permitted. Twin-cylinder air-cooled motorcycles are allowed modified OEM tanks or an auxiliary tank to achieve the maximum capacity. This regulation is designed to help equalize the competition of the various brands of motorcycles competing in the Daytona 200. Proposal 2 In Superbike and Formula Xtreme, any modifications of engine components to alter the stock OEM firing order of the cylinders will not be permitted. This restriction will help reduce costs of equipment and help to maintain a level playing field between factory teams and support or private teams. Proposal 3 All road race motorcycles must be driven by rear wheel transmitted power only. Emerging technology involving front wheel drive could be detrimental to the balance of competition in road racing. Moreover, such equipment could dramatically increase the cost of racing. Proposal 4 A maximum of 36 riders will be placed on the grid at all Superbike final events except Daytona. Riders utilizing provisional starts per the rulebook procedures may be added to the back of the grid at the discretion of the Race Manager. This restriction will help ensure that only the most qualified riders will compete in the AMA Superbike Championship. Proposal 5 For timed qualifying events in Superbike, a rider’s best lap time must be within 108% of the fastest qualifying rider’s best lap time in order to pre-qualify for one of the available grid positions in the final. In the support classes, the qualifying limit will be 110%. The lowering of qualifying limits will help to build competent grids of riders and ultimately improve overall competition. Proposal 6 Each rider will be limited to two entries per meet. This regulation is designed to discourage riders from entering classes in which they have no intention of actually competing.

World Supersport and Superbike Championships 2005 Round 8, Brands Hatch Great Britain Race Preview 5 – 7 AUGUST 2005 UNRIVALLED ATMOSPHERE AWAITS HONDA RIDERS AT BRANDS With five races left to run in the 2005 World Supersport season, including Brands Hatch this weekend, there is no shortage of would-be winners from Honda’s supported rider line up at the biggest event on the current calendar. Of 21 podium places on offer in 2005 thus far, Honda CBR600RR riders have taken all but five of them, at such diverse tracks as Phillip Island and Valencia, and four of the top five positions in the championship table are occupied by Honda riders. Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has been enjoying an unprecedented level of personal success in the Supersport series this year, using his new model CBR peerlessly to sweep to five wins in only seven events. Just to add the final tier of icing to the cake, he has finished second in the only two races he has not won, at Qatar and Monza. His regular team-mate Katsuaki Fujiwara (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) was the victor in these other two events, and with the momentum of a second place finish at the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hour race last weekend, he will be out for win number three. The Winston Ten Kate Honda riders have not had it all their own way in the most recent events, as Fujiwara missed the previous Brno round through injury, and the Team Italia Megabike Honda squad has found some missing early season pace the very top of the range. Hence Fabien Foret (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) and Michel Fabrizio (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) sit fourth and fifth overall respectively, despite losing points due to DNFs at key races. Class rookie Tatu Lauslehto (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) approaches Brands as the only Klaffi Honda rider once more, and Brands is yet another new track for the reigning European Champion to learn at race pace. It is Charpentier that we must look to as the most likely victor, despite his strong clutch of challengers. After a recent test session, he feels even more prepared than usual to take his first Brands Hatch win in the full FIM World Championship. “We had a good test at Lausitzring and managed a very good lap time as we continue to look for new ways to improve the bike,” said an understandably buoyed Charpentier. “I’m looking forward to seeing Kats back in the team after his injury and his good performance at Suzuka. I like Brands Hatch very much the track is good and there are so many people, including a lot of French fans who make the trip over. I have been on the podium for the last two years there, third in 2003 and second behind Karl Muggeridge last year, but only after I led for nearly all the race. I’m hoping to go to the top step this year and to improve my championship advantage again.” Fujiwara is rapt in his anticipation of a good result at Brands, and knows he’s got what it takes after securing the race win in 2002. “I’m looking forward to joining the team again after what seems like a long time out,” said Fujiwara. “After Misano, I hurt my back testing for the 8-hour but I’ve had some good recovery time at home in Japan and I’ve been taking heaps of calcium to speed up the healing process. Chris (Vermeulen) and I got a good result at Suzuka, which was my best ever finish there, so I’m hoping to bring that form back to Europe. It will be a little strange riding the CBR600RR again after six weeks away but Brands Hatch is OK for me and I won the Supersport race there in 2002. I want to win to close the gap on Sébastien, so I’ll be trying my hardest again this weekend.” Foret loves the surroundings of Brands Hatch, even if it is not his absolute best circuit in terms of previous results. “Brands is a track not so lucky for me but I have always enjoyed beautiful races in the last years,” said Honda’s second fast French rider. “I hope to return on the podium in Brands Hatch because I want to cancel the bad race of Brno. I don’t know what’s happened to my rear tyre there, but I know that I will give my all to take the second position in championship. I’m satisfied for the feeling with the guys of my team and for the level of my Honda CBR. It’s now near to the two Winston Ten Kate machines. I hope for a lot from Brands”. Fabrizio, energised by a fine second at Brno, is ready to continue his fightback. “Now I am going through a good period,” said a relieved Fabrizio, after two previous no scores. “I will arrive in Brands Hatch after a fantastic race at Brno, where I finished not so far from Charpentier. The level of my bike has increased during the last rounds and I believe that will improve again at this difficult English track. I’ve never run there but I know that is similar to Mugello and Imola, tracks I love so much. My target will be to learn the corners of Brands quickly and, after, I want to attack the podium again.” Lauslehto, learning every weekend in this most intense of racing academies, is in for another high-speed semester this weekend but has two good tutors helping him with his homework. “Brands is one the tracks which is new for me again, like many of them this year. My team-mates in the Superbike side of the garage, Frankie Chili and Max Neukirchner, have already given me a lot of tips and the track looks fantastic on TV. After all of their comments about the circuit, I really can’t wait to ride there.” World Superbike Round 8 of 12 BRANDS HATCH CHALLENGE OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES The endless rolling curvature of Brands Hatch, plus the lack of places to relax along its 4.2km length makes the British track an intense experience on a 1000cc Superbike – yet all Honda’s supported CBR1000RR riders approach it with a keen sense of anticipation. After some difficult periods at the start of the year Chris Vermeulen (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) has notched up a race win, and most recently a podium at Brno, to sit second in the championship series, 94 points behind distant leader Troy Corser. World Superbike’s charismatic elder-statesman, Pierfrancesco Chili (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR) matches his start number of seven with his championship position right now, and is still looking for his first 2005 podium. A true fan of Brands, and with many true fans of Frankie in the stands, the quintessentially English track may be his best chance of a podium yet. In 11th and 12th places respectively Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) and Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR) have had up and down seasons in the rookie SBK campaigns, with Neukirchner already on the podium and Muggeridge (a double Brands Supersport winner) yet to land a finish inside the top three. Former double Brands World Superbike race winner Ben Bostrom (Renegade Honda Koji CBR1000RR) hopes for a great improvement in his overall package to allow him to challenge in the fashion of seasons gone by. Vermeulen acknowledges that along with the unique charm of Brands Hatch, there are additional pressures on this particular weekend. “I’m feeling pretty pumped after the good result for Kats (Fujiwara) and I at the Suzuka 8-hour,” said Vermeulen, still running on adrenaline from his Suzuka weekend. “Now I have to make the switch back to my Ten Kate Honda, which feels like a completely different machine to the full HRC bike I rode in Japan on Michelin tyres. We had a good test at Lausitzring before going to the 8-hour, though, and made some more progress with the bike. There’s a lot of work to do in the championship and I have to be aiming at finishing in front of Troy (Corser) to try and close the gap on him. But it’s going to be tough because I’ve never done well at Brands Hatch. I like the layout of the track but it’s dangerous in places. I’ll have a lot of friends supporting me though, which will be important because it’s a big event and the British crowd will be cheering for Walker and Toseland. But England is like my second home really, so, as always, I’ll just be trying as hard as I can.” Memories of a close run second at Brands Hatch in 2004 are all the motivation Chili requires to dig that bit deeper in qualifying and racing to secure a much-desired podium. “The 2004 race was a crazy thing. After only three laps there was a crash and a restart was necessary,” said Chili. “I started from 5th position in the second part of the race – and opened the throttle hard! After a few laps I was second, with only Noriyuki Haga in front of me. In the last lap I passed him and was the first to cross the finishing line. But we had an aggregate of the two parts of the race and so I was only second on the podium. Haga was declared the winner by a very, very small margin. Brands Hatch is great and I like the track very much. I hope to be on the podium again this year and for sure this would be a pleasure for all my fans in Great Britain.” Another former UK-based Aussie rider returns to his second alma mater of the year, after Silverstone in late May. He knows he has unfinished machine set-up business to take care of, but is another rider with positive recent memories of Brands. “Our test at Lausitzring after the last round at Brno gave us the chance to do some more work at finding grip and durability from the tyres in a race situation and that should help us to move forward at Brands Hatch,” he acknowledged. “We still need to find something with the front of the bike but we know what we’re looking for and we’ll use the first sessions at Brands to develop that. I got my first World Supersport win at Brands Hatch and I won again there last year on my way to the title, so I have good memories of the place. It’s the biggest event on the calendar but this my first time here on the Superbike so I’ll do what I’ve been doing all season and work steadily towards a good set-up for race day. I need a couple of solid results here, so the team and I are going to be working really hard to achieve that.” Fast young German rider Neukirchner only knows Brands from his lone World Supersport season in 2004, but even now he is a fan of its intricacies, on and off track. “Brands is always a challenge. It is like a roller coaster and a real attraction,” he beamed. “At Brands the fans liven things up a lot. Many of them stay the whole weekend at the racetrack and it is like an immense party. It’s a hard circuit to ride by my physical feeling is good and I am ready.” Both Superbike and Supersport series enjoy a three-weekend break from on-track action for the remainder of August. Another classic SBK venue, Assen, will host round nine of each 12-round series, from 2 4 September. The championship then returns to the Lausitzring in Germany one weekend after that.

Camier Turning Japanese Suzuka Eight-Hour – 31st July 2005 18-year-old Ashford based rider Leon Camier returned from the tough Endurance race in Japan yesterday having successfully completed the Suzuka Eight-Hour Race and with his team-mate Naoki Matsudo they gained an impressive 15th place finish from 70 qualified teams. Riding for Moriwaki Honda the pairing were a strong force to be reckoned with, qualifying in 10th position on the grid the two were set for a strong result. In the pre race testing temperatures soared to a huge 40 degrees C with track temperatures hitting 60 degrees C over the course of the week. Camier had to adjust himself to the excessive heat and also the time differences. He was only 0.04 of a second off the qualifying time of World Superbike Star Chris Vermeulen proving that he can certainly run amongst the best riders in the World. Typically during the race the heavens opened and in the third hour the rain was coming down extremely heavy on the Japanese Circuit. Whilst lying in third position overall Camier touched the wet white line which saw him slide off into the gravel. Fortunately he was able to pick up the Honda and carry on back to the pits to repair the damage. The team dropped down to 46th position before clambering their way back through the field to gain a very creditable 15th place. Commenting, Camier said “It’s one of the best experiences of my racing career so far and something I will not forget. I was given a fantastic opportunity and I am extremely grateful for this chance. I met some incredible people out there who gained my respect and admiration. I must specially thank the whole Moriwaki Team, Midori the Team Manager was a fantastic help and encouraged me throughout the week and couldn’t have done enough for me. I felt extremely bad for crashing out and losing the opportunity of a podium finish, it was my first time that I had ridden a thousand in the rain as well as trying to dice with slower riders, I was just caught out. “The team could not have been more professional, more helpful or more informative than what they were. I’m so happy that I got the chance to ride with them and would like to think that they might invite me back next year. Physically I felt fine throughout the race although I was suffering with pain in my feet. I have learnt so much from the whole trip and hope I can rely what I have learnt in Japan back into my racing in the UK for the rest of the season.” Camier’s next outing will be at Silverstone British Superbike meeting (21st August) where he will be hoping to extend his lead in the British Supersport Championship.

TrackDaz Schedule Changes and Additions Including Turkey Weekend! Riverside, CA – Due to a scheduling conflict at Willow Springs, and entirely beyond our control, we must, unfortunately, cancel the upcoming weekend date at Willow Springs International Raceway on August 13th and 14th. We are sorry that we could not provide an event for you on this date. We know there were more than a few folks that were interested in doing this trackday. We have secured alternate dates to add to our schedule to provide all you riders with valuable track time. The November 26 date at Streets of Willow has been canceled, and has been replaced by a full weekend at WSIR the “Big Track” on November 26th and 27th. In case you did not know, that is Thanksgiving weekend, so after you stuff yourself with all that turkey, or tofurkey, or whatever you eat on gobble gobble day, come out and work off the excess pounds at the track! Send the wife or husband off to the big shopping weekend, and get thyself out there with us! The weather should be awesome for that weekend it usually is. We predict mid 70s, and we are probably about as “right on” as any weather forecaster. Also, we have added a weekend at Streets of Willow on December 10-11. Also again, should be a nice high desert weekend, with plenty of track time. For those of you that are affected by the cancellation for August 13th and 14th, give us a call at 909.234.4713 and we can work out the details. If you want a refund, we can handle that. If you want to transfer to the new trackday in November, or one of our other trackdays that is scheduled, and still open, we can handle that too. So come on out and have fun with TrackDaz. You know you want it!

WERA National Points Battles Heat Up as Series Heads to Summit Point SUMMIT POINT, W. Va. The hot summer weather is no match for the points battles shaping up in the WERA National Series as round seven gets underway this weekend, August 6-7, at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia. The WERA Dunlop National Endurance Series begins the weekend of racing with a six-hour race on Saturday, July 6, beginning at 11:15 a.m. Vesrah Suzuki still leads the overall championship, but Team Velocity Racing has won the previous two rounds. Only 10.385 points separate the two teams. Team Velocity won at Summit Point last season, while Vesrah had uncharacteristic problems during the race. Vesrah hopes to turn the tables this year and pull a bigger gap over the rest of the championship contenders. The Mediumweight Superbike class points chase is even closer, with just 7.83 points between class leader Army of Darkness and newcomer Red Star. Army of Darkness is the defending multi-time champion, while Red Star is in their rookie season as a team. Sunday, August 7 will feature the WERA Michelin National Challenge Series eight-lap sprint races, which get underway at 12:30 p.m. A number of National Challenge Series competitors are locked in tight battles for class championships. The closest is in 600 Superstock, where Mark Junge leads his teammate John Jacobi by just three points. In Lightweight Twins Superstock, Chris Parrish is holding onto his lead by just seven points. Open Superstock is one of the top classes in the series, and after six rounds Ben Thompson is leading by 12 points over Junge. Tickets for the WERA National Series at Summit Point are $25 for Friday’s practice day and the two days of racing, and $15 for Sunday only. Camping is also available. More information about the track, including driving directions, can be found at www.SummitPoint-Raceway.com. Fans can keep up with all of the WERA National Series championships at www.WERA.com .

WERA Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Summit Point Date Change The Summit Point date of September 24/25 has been moved up one week to the 17th and 18th of September. The Sportsman event will run on the long Summit Point Course, not the Shenandoah Course. If you have any questions please contact WERA at (770) 720-5010.