The Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki team joins the MotoGP circus and the rest of the AMA Superbike Championship regulars this weekend, July 8-10, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for what promises to be a very special event. For the first time in over 10 years, the top class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing will compete on American tarmac, backed up by some of the best national series riders and racing in the world. The Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki team will be back in full force with riders Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp and Montez Stewart, as well as special guests and executives from Nike/Jordan Brand, Upper Deck and other team corporate sponsors. In addition, the Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki team is proud to welcome Giant RV on board as a team sponsor. Giant RV is the # 1 RV dealer in California, and they are providing four 40-foot motorhomes for the team’s use during the event. Along with the racing and other activities, look for the launch of the 2006 Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki apparel line by Joe Rocket on Saturday, July 9. Through a licensing agreement with Jordan Brand (a division of Nike, Inc.), many of the graphics seen on and around team riders Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp, and Montez Stewart will be utilized in the all new Michael Jordan Motorsports apparel brand. Jason Pridmore “I’m ready to go,” said Pridmore. “I’m feeling good, I’m fit and I really like Laguna Seca. I tested last week and we made some big improvements on the bike, so I’m looking forward to riding. The only downside to the weekend is being so close to Pebble Beach and not getting to play golf.” Steve Rapp “I’ve done pretty well at Laguna in the past,” said Rapp. “The only downside for this year is that we didn’t get to test there. So, the first day we may be a little off the pace while we sort out the gearing and stuff. We did test at Mid-Ohio a couple of weeks ago, so we’ll start with that set-up and go from there.” Montez Stewart “I was at Laguna Seca last year for the first time, and it was culture shock,” said Stewart. “The track is so technical, and the Corkscrew is something else. But I’ve been doing laps around Laguna on my Playstation, so I’m ready for it this year. The MotoGP is going to be cool, so awesome. It’s going to be crowded, so I’m staying at the racetrack.” Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. And now, some reader reaction: FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: It’s nice to know that with the limited pit space at Laguna it will be fairly parsed (as per this from the press release): “The Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki team will be back in full force with riders Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp and Montez Stewart, as well as special guests and executives from Nike/Jordan Brand, Upper Deck and other team corporate sponsors. In addition, the Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki team is proud to welcome Giant RV on board as a team sponsor. Giant RV is the # 1 RV dealer in California, and they are providing four 40-foot motorhomes for the team’s use during the event.” Will Eikenberry Littletrock, California

AMA PRO RACING ON TV THIS WEEK (July 10-July 14, 2005) (All times Eastern) AMA Repsol Lubricants Superstock Series, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Sunday, July 10, 4 p.m. (SPEED Channel) AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Sunday, July 10, 6 p.m. (SPEED Channel) AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Tuesday, July 12, 1 p.m. (SPEED Channel) AMA Repsol Lubricants Superstock Series, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Wednesday, July 13, 4 a.m. (SPEED Channel) AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Thursday, July 14, 4 a.m. (SPEED Channel) All times subject to change. Check local listings.

JASON PRIDMORE: READY FOR LAGUNA SECA AND BEYOND Jason Pridmore is fully recovered and ready to race at this weekend’s combined MotoGP / AMA Superbike Championship event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Pridmore broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in a freak accident at Road America on June 2nd, and had a plate and seven screws installed by Dr. Arthur Ting three days later to stabilize the bone. Jason stayed off the foot for a couple of weeks, then got back to work, training in Arizona and testing his Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada. With three more AMA races and a full schedule of STAR Motorcycle Schools coming up, Jason has a busy summer and fall ahead of him. We got him to stop long enough to ask him a few questions. Q: How’s the foot? A: It’s great! It doesn’t bother me at all. Q: How have you been training? A: I’ve been in Arizona for the last week or so, training outside in the heat. I was in Scottsdale and Flagstaff, I’ve got friends there. I went mountain biking every morning, and I even hiked down into the Grand Canyon about an hour or so, it was beautiful. I went to the gym every day, and I got in some golf as well. Q: How’s your golf game going? A: Really, really well. My last seven or eight rounds have all been under par. I even tied a course record at one of the courses. I’ve got sponsorship from Titlist now for clubs and other stuff, and I’m pretty excited about that. Q: You were able to get on your racebike last week. How did that go? A: It was good. It felt good to get back on the bike. It was just me and my crew. We made some big improvements in the suspension, getting it to feel like it did early in the season. The new shock really suits me, it’s a lot more compliant. Q: Are you looking forward to this weekend at Laguna Seca? A: Yeah, I’m looking forward to the energy and seeing some friends from MotoGP. Logistically, it’s going to be a tough weekend, with such a tight schedule. I just hope everyone, the officials, the racers and fans just have a little patience and it’ll be good. I’m just going to concentrate on Superstock, no Superbike this time. Q: You’ve got some STAR Schools coming up soon? A: Yeah, we’ve got a school a week after Laguna at the new Autobahn track in Joliet, Illinois, then a bunch up North and in the Mid-West in August and September, then back out West in October and November. I’ll be at them all.

The Road to Suzuka Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Aprilia Teams Head for Japan Aprilia’s De Nardi First Women Competitor at Suzuka 8H The Suzuka 8 Hour round of the FIM World Endurance Championship takes place at the end of this month, and for the permanent world championship teams making the long trip out to Japan preparations are already well under way. Eight teams will be travelling out from Europe to join the 72 Japanese entries in what is widely regarded as the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. Suzuki Castrol’s Vincent Phillipe and Keiichi Kitagawa have already taken part in last month’s Suzuka 300km warm-up race. This is the 20th anniversary year for the GSX-R model range and the Suzuki factory is putting all its resources behind securing a Suzuka 8 Hour victory and the World Endurance Championship title in 2005. Yamaha Phase One have recruited Suzuka veteran Paul Young to ride alongside Warwick Nowland and Damien Cudlin, while Yamaha Austria will take their regular team of Igor Jerman, Gwen Giabbani and Horst Saiger to Japan. Both teams have taken part in additional testing sessions ahead of the eight hour race. The full Yamaha Shell Endurance Academy line up of Marko Rohtlaan, Ben Wylie and Calvin Hogan are also entered this year, after Rohtlaan’s success in 2004. Five permanent teams will be making their first trip to Japan this year. The Aprilia Motociclismo Test Team riders will be Federico Alverti, Daniele Veghini and Samuela de Nardi, the first European women to compete at Suzuka. Kawasaki Bolliger Team are currently holding second place in the championship standings, and will run David Morillon, Roman Stamm and Fred Moreira. Their sister team Kawasaki Diablo’s James Hutchins and Steve Mizera will be joined by BSB rider Gary Mason, and Suzuki No Limits & RT have entered Roberto Ruozi, Andrea Giachino and Moreno Codeluppi. Factory supported entries from all of the major Japanese manufacturers and tuning companies will be the main challenge to the European competitors, but weird and wonderful wildcard entries are always a feature of Suzuka. Twin cylinder bikes from Ducati, BMW and Over will line up alongside the factory HRC Hondas, Yoshimura Suzukis and endurance specialist permanent teams, in front of the biggest World Endurance Championship crowd of the year. The Suzuka 8 Hour race takes place on the 31st of July.

MEETING UP WITH AN OLD FLAME Both partners are a little nervous. Going back to Laguna Seca is a more like preparing for a meeting with an old girlfriend who you’ve not seen for eleven long years. Will you hit it off straight away, will there be a few moments of embarrassing silence or worst of all, arguments about just why the partnership split up. MotoGP and Laguna Seca renew a relationship this weekend that is so important to both parties. Neither partner really knows what to expect. Laguna is a stunning venue but was ruled too dangerous for modern day MotoGP monsters. The required safety changes have been made and the MotoGP circus rolls into town for the eighth round of the Championship. Only on Friday morning when the four stroke MotoGP machines wake up the residents of Monterey for their extended first practice will we know just how significant those changes are. The MotoGP class is the main attraction but there will also be a full programme of the AMA Championships including the Superbikes. The American spectators have never seen a MotoGP machine in action. Once they have got to grips with the new circuit, Valentino Rossi and Co. are certain to woo their new audience who will whoop and scream at the noise speed and sheer excitement generated by the new breed of grand prix motorcycles. While the machinery will be new to American ears, many of the MotoGP riders flying into California will be well known. In addition to the home bred stars Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden, John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts, a couple of the older members of the MotoGP Club competed at Laguna last time round. Both Brazilian Alex Barros and Max Biaggi rode in 1994. Barros, who competes on the Camel Honda this year, finished eighth on the Suzuki in the 500cc race while Biaggi was second in the 250’s won by Dariano Romboni. That was a long time ago and perhaps the best people to judge just what an impact MotoGP is going to have not only in California but throughout North America are the riders who rode in the World Superbike Championship races at Laguna in recent years. Former World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss has not doubt about the impact MotoGP will make with the America fans. “This will be the biggest bike race ever held in America,” prophesied the Australian who returns to Laguna riding for the Camel Honda team. “Superbikes have always been big there but MotoGP will be awesome and everybody is so excited about going back there and you can certainly include me with them.” Bayliss won the first race at the World Superbike meeting at Laguna in 2002 and finished second to his great rival Colin Edwards in the second race the same year. He loves the 3.610km track in the hills above the Pacific ocean and the beautiful town of Monterey but he also has a word of caution for his fellow MotoGP gladiators. “Safety is vital and I’m sure the changes they have made will make the track a lot safer but the fact the track is a little bit dangerous does add that little extra edge to the proceedings,” explained Bayliss who last rode there in 2002. “I love going to Laguna and to go there with a MotoGP will be a fantastic experience.” While Assen has the old Veenslang corner, Spa Francorchamps Eau Rouge, Laguna has the Corkscrew. A left and right downhill swoop after a very fast approach, that is written into motorcycle racing folklore. Many a Champion has come to grief at the Corkscrew although Bayliss warns there are some even more demanding corners waiting for his colleagues on Friday morning. “The corkscrew is fantastic with such a fast approach and is very technical but I think turn one will be the place to watch,” enthused Bayliss just at the thought of it. “It’s very fast and I could take it absolutely flat out on a Superbike with a little bit of air between the tyres and tarmac. It could be a bit messy on a MotoGP machine.” He then continued with the lap. “Turns two, three and four are not that exciting but then you start climbing up through turn five and six which are awesome, towards the straight which leads to the Corkscrew. I love the next section down through the Rainey curve and turn ten to the last turn which is a bit stop and start into the start and finish straight.” Bayliss’s excitement about returning to California reflects the mood of the MotoGP paddock. Everybody wants to put on a special show for a market and audience that is so used to glamour and glitz and to show them just what they have been missing. So will the old partners jump straight back into bed together (perhaps not literally), will there be moments of embarrassing silence or will old arguments re-surface. One thing for sure, both partners are really looking forward to the reunion. It appears to be the perfect partnership and for certain they will put on a better show than their Formula One counterparts for the American audience.

MotoGP heading back to Laguna Seca for enticing Red Bull US Grand Prix The MotoGP World Championship will return to the USA this weekend after an absence of over a decade as the red carpet is rolled out at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the eagerly awaited Red Bull US Grand Prix. The Californian circuit has undergone a major winter facelift, including crucial safety updates, that has allowed the world’s premier motorcycle road racing series to return to one of its most spectacular circuits for the first time since 1994. On that occasion Yamaha rider Luca Cadalora become the first non-American to take Grand Prix victory at the legendary circuit and this weekend Valentino Rossi will aim to pick up where his fellow Italian left off by upstaging the likes of local favourites Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden, John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts to provide the icing on Yamaha’s 50th birthday cake. The Japanese factory are celebrating half a century, virtually to the day, since making their competitive race debut and arrive at the eighth round of the current season leading the way on all fronts. As well as Rossi’s 63-point advantage over Honda rival Marco Melandri in the riders’ standings, Yamaha also lead the teams’ and manufacturers’ championships thanks largely to the reigning World Champion’s stunning start to the season. Following his fifth successive victory in the last round at Assen, Rossi has now won six out of the seven races so far this season and boasts an uninterrupted run of podium finishes that stretches back to last October. However, Melandri once again proved that he is growing stronger with every passing round thanks to the best result of his MotoGP career in Holland. After taking a close second place to Rossi, the Italian youngster could be Honda’s best bet for their first ever Grand Prix win at Laguna Seca. One factor that could work against both Melandri and Rossi this weekend is their complete lack of experience at the 3,602m circuit. No fewer than ten of their rivals have ridden there before, despite eleven years of MotoGP exile, although Alex Barros is the only survivor from the last premier-class Grand Prix in 1994. Barros’ Honda colleague Max Biaggi finished on the podium in the 250cc race that season, when current Ducati pair Carlos Checa and Loris Capirossi also competed in the quarter-litre category. Colin Edwards took victory in the last of his fourteen World Superbike appearances at Laguna Seca in 2002, whilst both Troy Bayliss and Rubén Xaus have won races there in the same series. Meanwhile, Edwards’ fellow Americans Nicky Hayden and John Hopkins gained extensive experience of the track during their formative years in the AMA national series, whilst Kenny Roberts Jr. made his Grand Prix debut there as a 250cc wildcard in 1993. Makoto Tamada and Toni Elías are both hopeful of making their first race appearances in the USA after struggling with injury problems over the past few rounds. Tamada underwent surgery on an arm problem in Barcelona last Thursday after his recovery from a broken wrist was delayed by hardening of his forearm muscle, whilst Elías has confirmed that he will be returning to action after also breaking his wrist and missing the last three races at Mugello, Catalunya and Assen. Whilst MotoGP is making its long awaited return to the USA, there will be no 125cc or 250cc races this weekend. The eighth round of the season for the two minor categories will continue at Donington Park in just over two weeks’ time, with support action at Laguna Seca to be provided by a Superstars of Super Karts race, featuring Grand Prix legends such as Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Rainey, and a round of the AMA Superbike series on Saturday and the AMA Supersport and Superstock races on Sunday. Lawson, who won the first ever 500cc race at Laguna Seca in 1988, will be officially inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame on Saturday lunchtime. Interest in one of the year’s most eagerly-anticipated MotoGP events is reaching fever pitch in the USA, where promotion is continuing this week with a tour of Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles for Edwards and Checa on Wednesday and a trip to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco for Rossi, Hopkins, Tamada and Xaus on Thursday. Whilst a limited number of general admission tickets for both weekend days are still available at official outlets, the ticket office at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has now sold their entire 53,900 allocation for both Saturday and Sunday the first time they have ever announced a sell-out previous to an event in the 49-year history of the circuit.

Tickets sold out for MotoGP’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca officials announced last Friday that tickets for Saturday, July 9th and Sunday, July 10th of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix are no longer available for purchase through the circuit’s ticket office. A very limited number of general admission tickets will be available for sale at the official 2005 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix ticket outlets while their supplies last. Approximately 53,900 tickets have been sold to spectators for each of the weekend days. General admission tickets are still available for the practice day on Friday, July 8th, the first opportunity for two-wheeled fans to see the MotoGP World Championship in its first appearance in the United States since 1994. “With almost 150,000 people expected to be here, next week’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix will be the largest event in the 49-year history of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca,” said Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of the historic track. “The combination of MotoGP, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the Monterey Peninsula has proven irresistible. Our phones have barely stopped ringing since we announced the event last August.” Only once before has a sellout been announced at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. That was the 1998 Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races with Porsche as the event’s featured marque. That announcement was not made, however, until after a large walk-up crowd on Sunday of the event. Next weekend’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix marks the first time a sellout announcement has been made prior to the event weekend in the 49-year history of the world-renowned circuit.

WAYNE RAINEY SIDELINED FOR SUPER KART RACE AT RED BULL U.S. GRAND PRIX Cypress, Calif.-“”Three-time World GP Champion Wayne Rainey has recently suffered minor injuries that will prevent him from competing in this weekend’s Yamaha and GE sponsored Superstars of Super Karts race, part of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix July 8-10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Rainey expressed disappointment at being unable to race, “It’s just a small injury, but the TZ 250-powered karts are so powerful and put such a load on the body that my doctor strongly recommended against driving” said Rainey. “I plan to be at the track each day, join the Yamaha Weekend of Champions autograph sessions and hope to see as many fans as possible.” The Super Stars of Super Karts race with Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, and Doug Chandler among others, will take place on Saturday, July 9th at 3:10 p.m. Other Yamaha scheduled events are listed on the Yamaha website at www.yamaha-motor.com. The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix features round 8 of 17 in the MotoGP World Championship. More information is available at www.RedBullUSGrandPrix.com.

Come see and hear Honda history at Laguna Seca Torrance, CA: After a 10-year absence, motorcycle Grand Prix racing returns to American soil with more pomp and fanfare than ever at the Red Bull USGP July 8-10, 2005, and once again Honda will lead this celebration of technical prowess. No other manufacturer begins to approach the dominant championship record Honda has earned over the decades in GP racing, which gives the company good cause to celebrate this race’s return to Monterey, California by featuring the largest Honda display tent ever to grace the infield of Laguna Seca Raceway. Under the tent, fans will thrill to Honda’s museum-quality racing heritage display, featuring championship bikes from 1966 forward, including the incredible five-cylinder 125cc RC149 and Mike Hailwood’s six-cylinder RC166 250 racer and his 500cc four-cylinder RC181, plus modern-era GP machines piloted by America’s Freddie Spencer and Nicky Hayden. In addition, some of these historic machines will be fired up at various times throughout the race weekend to give GP aficionados a chance to relive the past-at least auditorially. Be sure to check at the Honda tent for the daily schedule because this is one opportunity you won’t want to miss. This impressive display also features a big lineup of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and PWCs, plus an array of Honda autos and the new Ridgeline truck, plus Dan Wheldon’s race-winning Indy car. The Honda Rider’s Club of America will also feature a hospitality tent where HRCA Members can take a break from the action and enjoy some shade. Immediately following Saturday’s AMA Superbike race, which is scheduled to wave off at 4:35, all fans are invited to an autograph signing by Honda GP Red Riders past and present, plus a big party to cap off the day’s activities. Participants in this Saturday rider autograph session, which runs from 5:30 until 6:20, include Nicky Hayden, Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau, Marco Melandri, Makoto Tamada, Troy Bayliss, Alex Barros, Freddie Spencer, Jimmy Felice and Bubba Shobert. This very special time will end on Saturday evening with the Honda Power Jam Party, which will also be held in the Honda Display, and will go full speed ahead until 8:00 in the evening. To add even more star power to the weekend, on Sunday Honda AMA Superbike racers Miguel Duhamel, Jake Zemke and Kurtis Roberts will hold an autograph session from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm. And to crown the weekend’s activities, some lucky fan will leave the USGP as the winner of a brand-new Honda CBR1000RR Repsol Replica, a giveaway that’s part of the weekend’s fundraising effort to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation/Ride for Kids. All in all, the 2005 Red Bull USGP will certainly be an event to remember, and a visit to the Honda display will only make the weekend all the more enjoyable.