JR focused on the podium at Knockhill RIZLA SUZUKI’S John Reynolds knows exactly what he needs to do to get on the podium when he races in the seventh round of the British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland this Sunday, June 26th. The reigning British Superbike Champion completed a productive test day at Donington Park last week and plans to use the second half of the racing season to prove he is a force to be reckoned with. “I am now completely focused on fighting for podium places at Knockhill and for the rest of the season,” explained JR. “And I know where I can find a lot of performance straight away – from within myself. “I have not really raced all season because of my leg injury and now it is healed and it is not a factor any more. I have the ability, I have my Rizla Suzuki and now I need to dig very, very deep and make that extra commitment that is required to be a Champion. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again and Knockhill is the race meeting where I am coming out more determined than ever before.” Alongside a revitalized JR is new Rizla Suzuki rider James Haydon. He has stepped into the team for the rest of the season to replace Scott Smart and is keen to see what he can achieve with his GSX-R1000 after setting competitive lap times in last week’s Donington test. James said: “This for me is the start of my season. I now belong to the best team, have a bike that is mine and mine alone and I have an opportunity to prove myself. I absolutely cannot wait to get racing at Knockhill. “Last year I won and finished second in the races at Knockhill and I like the circuit, it’s just ace. I’m going to do my talking on track and would advise the fans to come and watch the racing – it’s going to be worth it.” Superbike racing starts at 1:15pm on Sunday, June 26th, at Knockhill, near Edinburgh in Scotland. It will be shown on Sky Sports 3 at 18:30 on the same day. A highlights package will be broadcast by Channel 4 one week later.

AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – July 8-10, 2005 Friday, July 8 8:00am-8:30am Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets Practice 9:00am-11:00am Moto GP Free Practice 1 11:10am-11:40am Superstars of Super Karts Practice 11:55am-12:45pm AMA Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited Practice 12:45pm-1:30pm Lunch Break 1:00pm Mandatory Rider Briefing at Tech Inspection 1:30pm-3:00pm Moto GP Free Practice 2 3:15pm-3:50pm Superstars of Super Karts Practice 4:00pm-5:00pm Repsol Lubricants Superstock Practice Saturday, July 9 8:30am-8:50am Superstars of Super Karts Warm-up 9:00am-9:30am Repsol Lubricants Superstock Qualifying 10:00am-11:00am Moto GP Free Practice 3 11:15am-11:40am Superstars of Super Karts Qualifying 11:50am-12:30pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Qualifying 12:30pm-1:30pm Lunch Break 2:00pm-3:00pm Moto GP Qualifying 3:10pm-3:35pm Superstars of Super Karts Race 3:45pm-4:20pm Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets Practice 4:35pm AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race (28 laps, 100k) Sunday, July 10 9:00am-9:30am Repsol Lubricants Superstock Practice 10:00am-10:20am Moto GP Warm-up 10:40am-11:10am Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Qualifying 11:30am Repsol Lubricants Superstock Race (17 laps, 60k) Noon-12:30pm Track Entertainment 12:35pm-1:30pm Lunch Break 2:00pm Moto GP Race (28 laps) 3:30pm Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Race (17 laps, 60k)

Virginia Festival of Speed Returns to VIR This Weekend Alton, Va. (June 22) Two-wheeled enthusiasts in the Southside Virginia area have a treat in store this weekend, June 24-26, as Formula USA and the Championship Cup Series return to beautiful VIRginia International Raceway for the fifth annual Virginia Festival of Speed. Formula USA is a premier motorcycle road racing organization for professional riders. The Championship Cup Series has been the leader in Sportsman level motorcycle road racing since 1984. The Virginia Festival of Speed will provide a combination of the best sportsman and professional motorcycle road racers going handlebar-to-handlebar at up to 160mph over the 2.25-mile VIR North Course for their share of more than $190,000 in purse and prizes. “VIR is truly one of the favorite venues for the competitors in the Championship Cup Series and Formula USA,” said series promotions manager Ryan Hoyler. “The facility is just beautiful, and the track layout demands that our riders have both finesse and horsepower if they hope for a win. Formula USA events always provide the highest level of competition as pros dash for cash and prizes, and the fans are in for a great weekend of racing.” Jeff Wood has dominated Formula USA this season, as he seems to break lap records and climb to the top of the podium at every track. Wood had to squeeze a little more from his Suzuki last weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway when Robert Jensen’s Yamaha shadowed him almost every race. Jensen, the 2004 Formula USA Champion, stole the checkered flag in the Formula Sportbike event. Fans can expect fierce competition between these two at VIR. The action will get underway on Friday morning with practice sessions for all groups. Racing will start at noon with a 250km race for the FUSA Team Challenge competitors, followed by sprint races for the CCS groups. Saturday’s schedule includes warm-ups in the morning, with seven-lap CCS feature races starting at noon. The day will conclude with 15-minute qualifying sessions for the Formula USA groups. Sunday morning will have warm-ups followed by another group of seven-lap CCS sprint races, with the Formula USA feature races commencing at noon. Tickets for the Virginia Festival of Speed will be available at the gate, priced at $35 for a three-day ticket, $25 for a two-day (Saturday and Sunday) ticket and $15 for a single-day (Sunday) ticket. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult. Ticket prices include onsite parking and pedestrian paddock access. Camping fees are $25 for the weekend. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, which is a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; the VIR Safety and Security Institute, which provides specialized training for U.S. Government and military groups; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room hotel overlooking the track; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. VIR made history from 1957 to 1974 and is doing so again. The renovated original circuit has 17 challenging turns and 130 feet of elevation change. In addition to spectator events, the track is also available to rent for testing, driving schools and club days. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or contact VIR at 434-822-7700. For more information on Formula USA and the Championship Cup Series, visit their website at www.formulausa.com.

Early summer sunshine welcomes MotoGP to Holland The MotoGP World Championship paddock has filtered into the Assen circuit on the crest of a Dutch heat wave this week as summer arrived uncharacteristically early to Northern Europe. More accustomed to swiftly bolting their hospitality awnings and tents to the ground in wet and windy conditions at the historic TT Circuit, the Grand Prix team members and organisational staff have seemingly brought the Mediterranean weather with them from the last two rounds in Italy and Spain as temperatures touched 30ºC. A group of riders made the most of the conditions yesterday afternoon to take a traditional barge trip along the canals of Amsterdam, taking in the sights of one of Europe’s most colourful cities. Nicky Hayden, Alex Hofmann and Marco Melandri were joined by Dutch 125cc youngster Raymond Schouten for the excursion, although all four will be forgiven for being too preoccupied with thoughts of this weekend’s racing to take in the architectural details of Holland’s capital. For Melandri in particular the 75th anniversary Gauloises TT Assen holds a special significance as he looks to improve on his impressive start to the season and targets a first MotoGP victory at the scene of his maiden 125cc triumph back in 1998. “Up to now we have been consistent, we’re constantly growing, so now is the time to take the next step forward,” said Melandri, who has taken three podium finishes and three fourth places from the opening six rounds. “I know it is a difficult step and I don’t want to get ahead of myself but I feel more and more comfortable every time. Hopefully it can be this weekend at Assen, one of my favourite circuits.” The Italian’s biggest challenge will be overturning a sensational run of form for the series leader Valentino Rossi, himself a regular visitor to the top step of the podium at Assen. The World Champion made his first visit there in the arms of his father Graziano, who won the 500cc race in 1979, and has since taken victory himself in the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP categories. So far this season he has taken five victories and one second place. “I was only four months old when Graziano won here so it is a special circuit for me, but I think it is also a special circuit for everybody,” reflected Rossi today. “It the oldest track in the World Championship, it’s an old style circuit and it is always a pleasure to ride here. You need to be very brave and ride at 100%, but it is a great feeling when you get it right.” One rider who won’t be experiencing that feeling this weekend is Yamaha rookie Toni Elías, who has stayed at home in Barcelona to continue his recovery from wrist and leg fractures. Fellow Spaniard David Checa will again deputise for Elías, who took his first Grand Prix victory in the 125cc race here in 2001. Whilst it would have taken a superman performance from Elías to race at Assen this weekend, the fans that flock to the circuit for tomorrow’s free practice sessions will be forgiven for rubbing their eyes at the sight of another action hero on track. Makoto Tamada’s helmet, leathers, boots and motorcycle have all been specially designed around the Batman theme as part of a promotion for the movie Batman Begins, and will be auctioned off for the MotoGP charity Riders for Health at the Donington Park Day of Champions next month. Like Melandri and Elías, Dani Pedrosa also took his first victory at this circuit and the 250cc World Champion is hoping for a timely repeat this Saturday. The Spaniard leads the series by 27 points from Casey Stoner and is counting on vast travelling support to help extend his winning run to four races. “It will always be a very special Grand Prix for me because I won my first race at Assen in 2002 on the 125,” said Pedrosa. “Fans from all over Europe gather in Holland and the Spanish always make themselves heard, which I like. Apart from that, it’s a bit of a strange weekend because of the fact that we race on a Saturday.” A host of local wildcards will be looking forward to measuring themselves against Pedrosa in the 250cc class this weekend, with no fewer than four Dutch riders facing the intense media spotlight today. A further four home hopefuls were also on hand to pose for photographs as they prepare to compete alongside Schouten in the 125cc series, which is currently led by Mattia Pasini. The Italian is the only rider to win two races so far this season although Thomas Lüthi and Mika Kallio will be looking to follow in his footsteps as they aim to overturn a deficit of one and two points respectively.

Ford Quality Checked-backed Chris Carr Wins Prestigious Syracuse Mile; Next Up Is Lima (Ohio) For AMA Flat Track Series Points Leader ‘Emotional’ victory for Carr a tribute to the late Aaron Creamer FLEETWOOD, Pa., (June 22, 2005) Defending AMA/Ford Quality Checked Certfied Pre-owned Flat Track Championship series champion Chris Carr and the Ford Quality Checked Team won the inaugural Aaron Creamer Memorial Syracuse Mile on Sunday by a mere four inches over Rich King at the New York State Fairgrounds. “I’ve won by that close of a margin, and lost by that close a margin many times,” said Carr of the exciting sport of flat track racing. “And even before we had photo finishes, I’ve lost when I thought I won and won when I thought I lost. That’s just how close flat track can be.” Carr’s weekend, as did all of the racers, started off slowly as heavy rains made for some sketchy conditions. “They called the race on Saturday and postponed it until Sunday which was a good decision,” said Carr. “The promoters did a real good job getting the track prepped for Sunday’s racing.” On Sunday Carr got things rolling well early, putting up some of the day’s fastest practice times, then won his scratch race and followed that up with a qualifier heat win including the fastest overall time which gave him first pick on the front line of the main event. Carr’s teammate, Willy McCoy, finished in second place in the heat and started on the first row next to Carr. Carr on the race: “I got a good start, moved up front and settled in to save the tires. In year’s past this track’s been a tire-eater. Took it easy after leading a couple laps early, but never fell below fourth or fifth. (Jay) Springsteen and King were the only two guys I saw for the last 15 laps. On lap 19 I took the lead and went on a mini break, led each of the last six laps through the checkers.” Note: With the win Carr extended his series points lead to 24 points over second place Kenny Coolbeth. The win for Carr, his second of the year, was a special one in that it was the first memorial contest honoring fallen racer Aaron Creamer. “It was a great end to a long weekend and it was really special to win at Aaron’s home. Having a race there in his honor reminds us all what a great person and great racer he was.” ‘Two-for-two’ on Father’s Day, according to Carr, the eldest of the Carr clan eight-year-old Cale took a victory lap with Chris in honor of his win. This weekend Carr, McCoy and the Ford Quality Checked Team travel to Lima, Ohio, for the Lima Half Mile – aka “The Lima National.” The longstanding course is one of the more difficult on the tour, according to Carr especially when you consider the unique surface the racers have to battle on. “They’ve run for 25 years there on a pea gravel-cushioned half mile,” said Carr, who’s won Lima four times and finished third there last year. “It’s a unique track, not a whole lot of them left on the schedule. A different style of riding where your really let it hang out and steer with the rear wheel.” With the broad sliding technique and loose surface, roost becomes a definite problem at Lima. “You definitely want to get a good start and get out front early,” said Carr. “That allows you to be hosing the other guys down with dirt instead of visa-versa.” The current AMA Flat Track champion, winningest active racer in the sport with 70 wins and six AMA Flat Track championship titles, the Chris Carr legend continues. For more information on Chris Carr, visit his website at www.chriscarr.com

Team Morse Racing *wins* in the sweltering heat of the Colorado summer! Team Morse Racing took home more wins in the Colorado-based MRA this past weekend at Continental Divide Raceway in Mead Colorado. With temperatures well into the mid-nineties, it was a true test of endurance for both man and machine. Regular spectators of the MRA’s Saturday endurance races now expect to see a good battle between Dave Gallant and Mike Applehans aboard their SV650s, and this weekend the two Team Morse racers did not let them down. Right from the drop of the green flag, both racers were trading positions while working their way through the first wave of the middleweight endurance class running at the same time. The fans were treated to multiple passes per lap in some cases with both Dave and Mike leading a good number of laps. When the checkered flag was thrown, it was Mike Applehans in the lead to take home the CDR Lightweight Endurance class win. “As usual, I had a great time out there. I put on a new set of Pirelli’s for this race and they really did the trick. When racing these little bikes we both have to be perfect lap after lap – if we make one mistake the other will take advantage of it and slip by! I can’t say enough about the bike as a total package – the EBC Brakes, the Suspension Solutions suspension, the Pirelli tires – they really make it easy to concentrate on winning.” said Mike Applehans of his LW Endurance win. Sunday greeted the team with more high temperatures and more stiff competition. Dave’s RacerSupply.com GSXR 600 suffered what turned out to be an ECU failure in the morning warm-up, so he was relegated to racing his Suzuki SV650 in all the classes of the day. He made the best of it however, winning the first race of the day, Lightweight Grand Prix. “Mike and I got out to a good start, but by lap two his bike didn’t sound quite right and I tried to break away and not allow any of the rest of the grid to lock onto my tail section. A TZ250 however was able to make up quite a bit of time on my Supersport SV650 in a straight line at this horsepower track, so I knew I had a race on my hands by halfway distance. After racing TZ’s for so long I knew the line he would have to take – so I did my best to make sure I was always just slightly slower at the points on the track he wanted to be slightly faster. I am sure it was frustrating for him, but I have been on that end of the deal many times on my TZ and it made me a better racer because of it. I tried the new Pirelli slick for the first time this weekend and it was phenomenal. The profile of the front is perfect for these bikes, and the rear-end grip basically let me hold it wide-open on every exit. Shane & Joe there at The Racer Supply Company really take care of us with these tires and I can’t thank them enough.” The heat wore on the racers as the day went on, and both Dave and Mike put in solid top-ten finishes in many of their classes. Most notably, Mike Applehans put in a fantastic performance in Heavyweight Supersport spending a few laps showing last season’s class champion the fast way around the circuit, finishing in a strong 5th place. When asked about the weekend, Scott Morse of Morse Racing Products/GP Composites commented, “These conditions are hard on everyone. It is hard work finding the right tire, finding the right suspension setup, and making sure the riders and machinery keep as cool as they can. We tend to forget we don’t have much experience with any of our new bikes so finding a good baseline setting is still the hardest part of the weekend, and the conditions like we had this weekend do not help the situation. The one thing this weekend has reminded the team however is that testing at our tracks well in advance is a necessity. I am amazed at how fast both Mike and Dave adapt to their machines as they change from track to track, so with some more testing before the next round I am confident we will be well prepared for almost anything thrown at us” Team Morse Racing will compete next in round five of the MRA series at La Junta Raceway on July 16th & 17th.

Circuit: Misano, San Marino Country: San Marino Track length: 4060 m Opened: 1972 Fastest Lap Ever: 1:33.525 (Troy Bayliss, 2002) WSB lap record: 1:34.913 (Troy Bayliss, 2002) Last year WSB winner: Regis Laconi, Pierfrancesco Chili Round six of the Superbike World Championship takes place at the Misano Adriatica circuit near Rimini in Italy. The Yamaha Motor Italia team goes into the event in high spirits after Noriyuki Haga took the team’s first podium finish of the season at Silverstone last time out. Haga and team-mate Andrew Pitt recently completed a two-day test at Brno in the Czech Republic where they were able to test a new specification gearbox and revised chassis settings to further increase their confidence in the R1. Also testing since the last round was Yamaha Motor France rider Norick Abe, who spent two days at the Magny Cours circuit in France. Like his counterparts in the Yamaha Motor Italia team, the Japanese was able to try out a range of new parts and settings ahead of his debut at Misano circuit. The Japanese rider did test at the Adriatic circuit two weeks ago, but torrential rain meant he was unable to gather any meaningful data. Just eight points separate the three riders in the R1’s first full year in the championship. Pitt is the leading Yamaha rider, with 70 points and seventh in the championship. Haga is two points adrift on 68 while Abe is tenth on 62. Rider’s view – Andrew Pitt’s guide to Misano “Misano is a circuit that I enjoy going to. It’s normally very hot there, which along with the fact that you’re on the left side of the tyre so long, means that it’s a hard track on the tyres. It’s also hard on the rider. I’ve only raced supersport there so this is my first time doing two races there in one day, but if you’re not doing your training then you’re going to be found out at Misano. “It’s mostly left hand corners around here and you’re on the side of the tyre for a big part of the lap. There are only one or two right handers and a couple of chicanes. The most critical part at Misano is the triple left hand corner leading into the back straight. You need to get that right to get a good run onto the back straight, because in the race that’s really the only chance you get to overtake. The place to overtake is into the slow left at the end of the straight. You have to push hard here as you are braking from probably over 270kph on a superbike. Other than that it’s pretty much a simple one line circuit. “We haven’t had the R1 at Misano yet, so we’ll have to work to find a good setting, but it is quite bumpy, so we’ll be looking for a set-up that works well over the bumps, but the main thing is that it must be stable on the brakes, because as I said there is really only one good overtaking place here and you must make sure that you can pass here – and not be passed by other riders.” Supersport World Championship Kevin Curtain goes to Misano as the leading R6 rider in this year’s Supersport World Championship. The 39-year-old Australian has proved to be one of only two riders capable of taking the fight to series leader Sebastien Charpentier this year finished and is looking at the very least for another podium finish to go alongside the three he already collected this year. Curtain finished second at a wet Misano last year, after Broc Parkes crashed out while holding a commanding lead. This season Parkes is riding alongside his fellow countryman in the Yamaha Motor Germany squad and lies just two places behind in the race to the championship. While Parkes has yet to score a podium finish this season, the 23-year-old has proved to be ultra consistent as he adapts to the revvy characteristics of the R6. With a season’s best finish of fifth last time out in Silverstone and two full days of testing at Brno, Parkes believes he is now ready for the podium on his Yamaha. Both riders were also able to get in some additional track time at last weekend’s Nurburgring round of the German superbike championship, where Curtain showed the regulars the way by winning both races on an R1. FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Misano is the home round for Yamaha’s Massimo Roccoli, who hails from nearby Rimini. The youngster was the man of the match in Silverstone, winning an exciting race as well as making his superbike debut at the tight British circuit. He goes to Misano second in the championship and fired up to take the series lead from Yamaha Motor Germany’s Turkish hotshot Kenan Sofuoglu, who will be absent after breaking his left scaphoid in an off track accident. The Turkish rider underwent an operation in Cologne two weeks ago as he aims to be fit for the following round in Brno. “It was an unfortunate accident on my motocross bike. I would like to race this weekend but I know it is better to sit it out and come back fit to Brno. I know that I will probably lose my championship lead but with six races to go after Misano I know that things will still be in my own hands.” Replacing Sofuoglu at Misano will be German superbike championship leader Stefan Nebel. The 23-year-old is no stranger to the squad as his national championship squad is also backed by Yamaha Motor Germany and run by superstock team coordinator Michael Gallinski. More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing: World Supersport and Superbike Championships 2005 Round 6, Misano Adriatico Italy Race Preview 24 26 JUNE 2005 HONDA RIDERS SET FOR INTENSE WEEKEND BY THE SEASIDE Few of the venues on the 2005 World Supersport calendar offer the same mix of contrasts as Misano, both on and off track. The demanding 4.060km circuit layout features some of the most tortuous twists, turns and chicanes imaginable, yet is also host to the awesome Curvone corner, where riders accelerate through the gearbox around three increasing velocity left hand corners, ending up at top speed on the back straight. The almost entirely flat layout of the Santamonica circuit nonetheless features a mix of cambers on the asphalt itself, making set-up a sometimes-tricky affair. Off track Misano and its surrounding holiday resorts offer a sun-kissed playground for the locals, but with the championship entering the critical middle section, riders and teams will have little chance to relax and cool off until their tasks are completed on Sunday evening. Honda CBR600RR riders may be largely dominating the standings in World Supersport, but nothing can be taken for granted at a circuit that has thrown up some peculiarities in years gone by. Even allowing for this, the strong favourites to continue their monopoly of the top step of the podium are Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) and Katsuaki Fujiwara (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), currently first and second in the rankings, having taken three and two race wins respectively. A sometimes-dramatic season for 2002 Honda-mounted World Champion Fabien Foret (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) sees him in fourth position overall, on 54 points, as he endeavours to make his particular machinery package fully competitive. Twice a winner at Misano, once in breathtaking fashion on a previously uncompetitive machine, Foret is always a committed competitor. Michel Fabrizio (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) had a superb start to his first full rookie season in World Supersport, but bad luck and a relative lack of experience have dropped him down the rankings to seventh, on 42 points. On one of his home circuits, however, he will be nothing short of a podium favourite. Finnish pilot Tatu Lauslehto (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) is even less experienced than Fabrizio, but the latest rider to be talent spotted by former World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenbock has already shown his burgeoning pace. Racing with, and often beating, big names in this most overheated of championship classes; he is currently ninth, on 30 points. Charpentier, the class act of the year, with three wins and two second places so far, is out to build on his momentum for another weekend, at a place he knows well. A recent test at Magny Cours has given him another reason to be cheerful, as have his personal pre-race preparations. “I just want to continue with more of the same this weekend, because the start to the season has been a dream,” said Charpentier in the run-up to Misano. “Three wins and two second places is fantastic for me, and with Kats second in the championship, that’s also great for the team. There is a fantastic atmosphere in the garage. Everyone is very relaxed and after our test at Magny-Cours, we are confident that we can continue with our good performances. The last round at Silverstone was perfect for me, with pole position, the fastest lap and a win. I would like to repeat that at Misano this weekend, so I have been doing some cycling in the hot weather in France, to prepare the conditions this weekend.” Fujiwara, riding a Honda for the first time in World Supersport, has been an immediate hit, only giving ground to Charpentier, who is a more experienced CBR600RR pilot. ‘Kats’ had a tough last round in England, making him more determined than ever to overhaul his team-mate, and tie the win count at 3-3. “Silverstone was not so good for me because I had a crash during practice and a bit of a cold as well,” said a rueful Fujiwara. “In the race I experienced some gear selection problems and that allowed Sebastien to have a bigger lead in the championship. I have to try very hard for another win this weekend to close the gap and after the test in France I think I have a good chance. I am feeling fit now and the shoulder that I injured at Silverstone is much better. I’m looking forward to Misano, where I have been on the podium before. Now I would like to win there.” Foret, a rider of outright Supersport genius on occasion, harks back to previous Misano glories for additional inspiration. “Misano is always a lucky track for me,” said a clearly motivated Foret. “Two years ago I won my first and last race with the Kawasaki and I hope that on Sunday I can repeat the performance. After the bad experience at Monza I want to continue the positive moment, which started with the podium position at Silverstone. At the Santamonica circuit I want to take more important points for the championship. My target is to secure one of the first three positions.” Fabrizio, another charging rider and one learning more of his craft with every passing weekend, was reserved in his pre-race comments. Despite his caution, and some recent bad luck, he is sure to fly on home tarmac. “I don’t know what I must hope for, as it has not been a positive period for me,” said a reflective Fabrizio. “I hope that the unlucky run will stop soon. In Silverstone I ran a good race but a technical problem stopped me before the end. Now I want to take important points and get back into the top three by the end of the season. I hope that on my home circuit I can make a fantastic result. My team and I both need this, as we have all worked so hard to reach the same level as the first two bikes in the series.” Lauslehto will be in learning-while-racing mode once more, something he has grown used to this year. The confidence of his youth shines through, and beyond, his pre-race comments. “It will be my first race at Misano and I’m very eager to do my first laps,” said the Finn. “Last week we were testing at Brno and I’m very content. The Klaffi Honda CBR600RR is super-fast, and our set-up and suspension feel perfect. I really like my bike!” World Superbike Round 6 of 12 HALF WAY POINT FOR HONDA’S FAMOUS SUPERBIKE FIVE All of Honda’s five supported World Superbike riders feature in the top half of the championship table as the mid season race approaches, in what is the most competitive and densely packed Superbike series for a number of years. Despite an early season illness, lack of preparation time for his team and the very early start to the championship season in general, Chris Vermeulen (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR), has nonetheless shown he can win on the big CBR, taking race two at Monza in May, one of his four podium finishes so far. Within three points of second position overall, Vermeulen approaches Misano with two clear desires – to overtake Yukio Kagayama for second, and narrow the points gap on leader Troy Corser. For the other four Honda riders, the start of the 2005 season has been sometimes rewarding, yet equally frustrating, as each has celebrated and suffered. Pierfrancesco Chili (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR), went ninth overall in the championship at Silverstone, thanks to two fifth place race finishes, while his team-mate Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR), had only one scoring ride in England, and now sits 11th overall. Both Klaffi Honda riders have been injured and faced restorative operations this year, missing points scoring opportunities, which have held back their overall challenges. Chili (the oldest competitor in the series at 41) and Neukirchner (the youngest at 22) have nonetheless demonstrated their combined strength, as they bounced back from suffering a broken collarbone and hand respectively. Neukirchner, a rookie in the class, scored a magnificent podium in Australia before his heavy fall in Spain, while Chili approaches his home round with the knowledge that he won a Misano race last year. Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) has taken a leap from a championship winning Supersport career into Superbike this season, with mixed fortunes so far. A personal best of fourth could well be beaten by the 2004 Misano Supersport race winner, as he endeavours to move on from 12th overall in the standings. Ben Bostrom (Renegade Honda Koji CBR1000RR) carries on his work with his new team, with sixth place in race two at Valencia the highlight of his half-year, which sees him 15th. Vermeulen knows that Misano is a considerable physical challenge for all riders, such is the heat of Italy in late June, and that the competition for race wins will come from the usual suspects. “I’ve spent the last few days in Florence with my leathers supplier so I’m getting acclimatised,” said Vermeulen, “but I still think it’ll be pretty hot this weekend. We’ve definitely made some improvements to the bike which I hope will help me fight for at least a couple of podiums. I like Misano but I’ve never had much luck here and never finished on the podium in Supersport – although I did qualify on the front row in 2003. As far as this year’s championship goes, I have to be looking at podium finishes and would like another win this weekend. Troy Corser is fast at Misano and the Ducatis will be strong here as well, so I’ll be looking to get the most of the recent improvements we’ve made.” Misano is a literal home race for Chili, as his wife Romina owns a beach in Misano itself. The weekend is all the more meaningful as he is on schedule to pass the mark of 250 career Superbike races. Home or away, Chili nonetheless knows Misano will be a hard challenge once more, but his aim is to celebrate from the podium nonetheless. “It is my 250th race in the Superbike Championship and for me a ‘home’ game,” said Chili. “I want to make a good race, and to be on the podium would be great. We will give our all but whatever the result on Sunday, after the race we will have a beer or two.” Neukirchner’s recovery from an awkwardly broken thumb socket, on his throttle and braking hand, will continue at Misano. A fan of the Misano circuit, despite being taken out in the Supersport race last year, he aims to improve his standing once more, without taking undue risks with the recovery of his hand. “I’m already dreaming of Misano – Italian food, a lot of sun, a day at the beach and for sure some fast laps at Santa Monica circuit,” said the youthful Neukirchner. “Last year I had a lot of bad luck at Misano but I like the track very much. Only the chicanes are tricky and it is risky to underestimate them. A top ten position would be OK at present, a top five even better. The fracture of my right thumb is nearly healed. It is not yet perfect but it is okay. I still have some problems with the flexibility of the thumb but I don’t worry about it.” Muggeridge, fresh from a test at Magny Cours in France, is more at home on his machine now, after some critical set-up breakthroughs for the rookie SBK rider. “The two day test at Magny-Cours were really good for me we got to test properly for the first time and tried a load of new things on the rear of the bike to improve grip and the driveability out of corners,” said 2004 Supersport champ Muggeridge. “We need as much grip as possible this weekend because when it’s hot in Misano, any problems you have seem to get exaggerated. The test came at just the right time of the season for us. I think the new swingarm and linkage combination we’ve gone for should work well here. I really like the place because I had my first official World Supersport race here for Castrol Honda in 1998 and I won the race last year.” Bostrom’s season of contrasts is expected to firm up into regular top tens from now on, after a positive test session at Magny Cours. “I’m excited about Misano but always a little nervous,” said the popular Bostrom, a returee to SBK this season. “I expect results and the biggest thing we made progress with at Magny Cours was the clutch. It’s now much better than it’s been all season. The bike’s going well now and the team is really gelling.” Round seven of both Supersport and Superbike series will take place at a returnee World Superbike circuit, Brno, on Sunday 17 July. Brno has been used for World Superbike races on two previous occasions, in 1993 and 1996.

Assen June 22nd, 2005 Dutch TT Preview New tyres and new hope on Grand Prix racing’s oldest and most famous track Located 200 kilometres north-east of Amsterdam, the famous Dutch TT in Assen is one of the true classics in the MotoGP calendar. 2005 marks the 75th anniversary of the “Tourist Trophy”, and even though the track underwent safety modifications since last year, with unique new “floating” grandstands that bridge bigger and improved run-off zones, the 5.997-kilometre-track still maintains the feel and the spirit of its origin as a true public-road-circuit. However, the transformation into the future is set to continue, with a shortened track and a new visitor’s centre and amusement park for next year’s edition. The massive investments in the future of motorcycle racing were rewarded recently, with Grand Prix organiser DORNA and the Assen event promoter signing a new 10-year-agreement that ensures the future of the Dutch TT until the year 2016. The Assen circuit doesn’t feature a very long main straight, but its ultra-fast kinks and bends, some of them slightly banked, make it the circuit with the highest average speed of more than 182 kph for the fastest MotoGP bikes. Threading a 250 hp-motorcycle through the S-turns at high speed on a relatively narrow track is not only exhilarating for the riders, but also awesome to watch for the spectators. The high-speed direction changes require bravery and special riding skills, but also good handling of bikes and tyres. Turning characteristics, braking performance and rear tyre traction are especially crucial, and Bridgestone pulled all strings to offer its three MotoGP teams and six MotoGP riders a suitable tyre selection: No less than 1200 tyres were shipped to Assen, with 3-4 different tyre specifications for the front, and 6-8 different rear tyre specs to choose from. After a weekend with unexpected difficulties in Barcelona, all Bridgestone teams are confident of their return back to success with the new modified spec tyres and new compound mixtures. The fast and flowing Assen circuit reminds Ducati’s riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa of the Mugello track in Italy, where they had celebrated a podium finish and their best team result so far three weeks ago. “At Mugello, we showed what we can do when everything is good”, beams Loris Capirossi with new confidence. Hiroshi Yamada – Motorcycle Racing Manager Bridgestone Motorsport “The last Grand Prix in Catalunya was difficult for us. Shinya Nakano in 9th and Carlos Checa in 11th position were our top riders, which is obviously much less than we expected after our success in Mugello. Grip consistency was the main issue in Catalunya, but we’ve immediately analysed all data, and since then made another significant step in our development program. In Assen there are different demands for the tyres, so we’ve brought new modified specs in order to support our teams with a tyre selection that should suit the unique characteristics of this track perfectly. We are looking forward to good results!”

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama head to the San Marino sixth round of the World Superbike Championship holding the top two positions and a 77-point lead in the Manufacturers Championship on their GSX-R1000s. Former World Champion Corser – who has finished on the rostrum at every round so far with six race wins, two seconds and two thirds – holds the series lead on 222 points from Kagayama on 144 points. This weekend’s race at Autodromo di Misano has been home to the San Marino round ever since 1991 and is a popular fixture with riders and fans alike – no doubt partly due to circuit’s proximity to the beautiful beaches of the Adriatic. The 4.06 kilometre circuit runs in an anti-clockwise direction and features a mixture of fast straights and flowing turns and is notoriously tricky in the wet. Corser has been particularly successful at Misano, racking up 11 podiums including a memorable double victory in 2000. Kagayama has no history at the circuit but he is a quick track learner and will be all-out for a pair of podiums to challenge the series leader. Troy Corser: “I have good memories of Misano and taking the double there in 2000 was one of the highlights of my career, especially as it was done on Ducati’s doorstep! It is quite a technical track and it can also be a handful in the wet partly because there is a change of surface about two-thirds the way round. Now that we are approaching the halfway mark, I am happy to have a healthy lead in the championship. That is due to all the hard work we all put in over the winter months and at the start of the season. That doesn’t mean that our work is over – far from it – because we are striving all the time to make the best overall package this year even better. “We knew our competitors would get stronger as the season progressed, but we are up to the task. I know what it’s going to take to win the title and I am focussed on doing my best to make sure that happens.” Yukio Kagayama: “Misano is unknown to me but it’s not a big problem because I learn tracks pretty quickly. I was disappointed with my results at Silverstone and especially unhappy because I have many fans in England. But Silverstone is over for this year and I am ready for my next challenge – Misano. Troy-san tells me that it is quite technical so I hope I can learn something from him during practice. My Alstare Suzuki should be well-suited to the track and if I can learn the circuit quickly, there is no reason why I cannot take a podium or maybe two!” 2004 results: Race 1: Troy Corser (Petronas) – 2nd, Yukio Kagayama – DNS. Race 2: Troy Corser (Petronas) – 7th, Yukio Kagayama – DNS.