Friday Morning 250cc GP Practice Times: 1. Jorge LORENZO, Honda, 1:47.274 2. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:47.393 3. Casey STONER, Aprilia, 1:47.505 4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 1:47.594 5. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:47.691 6. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:47.945 7. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:48.167 8. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:48.286 9. Hector BARBERA, Honda, 1:48.716 10. Simone CORSI, Aprilia, 1:48.935 11. Andrea BALLERINI, Aprilia, 1:49.108 12. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:49.419 13. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 1:49.592 14. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 1:49.651 15. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:49.738

TT Circuit Assen secures MotoGP for 10 more years A special ceremony took place on June 8th in Assen, Holland, where a new ten-year contract between the Dutch circuit and Dorna Sports was announced, meaning that MotoGP will be hosted in Assen until at least 2016. The announcement was made by the TT Circuit Assen president, Jos Vaessen, and Dorna Sports CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta. The same event was used to officially open the new floating grandstand that was built in front of the start/finish line, allowing the run-off area required for safety reasons to be underneath it. This new facility is called the Geert Timmer Grandstand. The Gauloises TT Assen reaches its 75th anniversary in 2005 with round number 7 of the MotoGP World Championship. Assen is the only racetrack that has been present in every single edition of the FIM World Championship since 1949.

Friday Morning MotoGP Practice Times: 1. Colin EDWARDS, Yamaha, 1:43.651 2. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, 1:43.652 3. Marco MELANDRI, Honda, 1:43.694 4. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:43.928 5. Alex BARROS, Honda, 1:44.105 6. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:44.138 7. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:44.139 8. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:44.157 9. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:44.268 10. Troy BAYLISS, Honda, 1:44.448 11. Carlos CHECA, Ducati, 1:44.569 12. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:44.720 13. Roberto ROLFO, Ducati, 1:44.793 14. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:44.854 15. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:44.906 16. Ruben XAUS, Yamaha, 1:45.061 17. Alex HOFMANN, Kawasaki, 1:45.193 18. Toni ELIAS, Yamaha, 1:46.702 19. Shane BYRNE, Proton KR, 1:46.703 20. Franco BATTAINI, Blata, 1:48.259 21. James ELLISON, Blata, 1:48.274

Red Bull gives Team SUZUKI MotoGP wings in America! Team SUZUKI MotoGP has teamed up with world-leading energy drink brand Red Bull for a one-off partnership at the Red Bull US Grand Prix on July 10th at Laguna Seca. Red Bull is already title sponsor of the US Grand Prix – the first time the race has been in the States for 10 years. It has now further developed its participation in the event that it helped to re-create, by forming an alliance with the Suzuki Factory team. Team SUZUKI MotoGP racer John Hopkins is already a Red Bull athlete. He was introduced into MotoGP by Red Bull in 2002 and has been with Red Bull since. His helmet design features the same famous sun and bull graphics which will now fully adorn the Suzuki GSV-R at Laguna Seca. Hopkins said: “Red Bull is such a great company to be with, they are always into all forms of extreme sport and it doesn’t get a lot more extreme than MotoGP! I can’t wait until Laguna, I’ve been doing laps in my head since the date was announced. I was excited when I heard Red Bull were partnering the event, now I’ve heard I’m riding a Red Bull Suzuki in the race I desperately want to show them that they’ve made a great decision. I’m ready to get my wings at Laguna!” Hopkins’ team-mate and 2000 World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr will also run in full Red Bull livery, while the title of the team will change to `Red Bull Suzuki’. Suzuki’s team Manager Paul Denning is excited by the announcement: “Suzuki and Red Bull have a lot of synergies and we are honoured to be representing them so closely at the USGP. “Red Bull has put a lot of effort into making the USGP happen and by teaming up with John, Kenny and Suzuki it will now also be in the thick of the MotoGP action. We are going to Laguna to get a great result for Suzuki and for Red Bull, as well as for our other loyal partners. “Red Bull is one the most recognised brands in the world and to see the charging bull on the side of the GSV-R, with two American riders going full gas on their home-track, will be just fantastic!” The Red Bull US Grand Prix, including John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts Jr on their Red Bull Suzukis, will be held at Laguna Seca near Monterey in California on Sunday 10th July.

Friday Morning 125cc GP Practice Times: 1. Gabor TALMACSI, KTM, 1:52.461 2. Mattia PASINI, Aprilia, 1:52.836 3. Thomas LUTHI, Honda, 1:53.138 4. Tomoyoshi KOYAMA, Honda, 1:53.215 5. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 1:53.458 6. Fabrizio LAI, Honda, 1:53.478 7. Julian SIMON, KTM, 1:53.548 8. Sergio GADEA, Aprilia, 1:53.587 9. Lukas PESEK, Derbi, 1:53.728 10. Hector FAUBEL, Aprilia, 1:53.794

OFFICIAL WEB SITE FOR RED BULL U.S. GRAND PRIX LAUNCHED AT www.RedBullUSGrandPrix.com MONTEREY, Calif. (June 9, 2005) Race fans counting down the days until next month’s U.S. round of the MotoGP World Championship can now get the latest news and other information about the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix on the event’s official Web site www.RedBullUSGrandPrix.com. The site contains information on the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix July 8-10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, including details on the MotoGP World Championship, bios of MotoGP riders, a link to ticket information, a gallery of MotoGP images, a forum for fans to interact within, and information on The Rallye, a collection of Red Bull Energy Stops across the U.S. for motorcyclists road-tripping to the event. The 2005 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix marks the return of the MotoGP World Championship to the United States for the first time since 1994. Support events include the AMA Superbike, Superstock and Supersport races, as well as the Yamaha & GE-sponsored Superstars of Super Karts featuring Grand Prix motorcycle legends Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Kevin Schwantz competing in racing karts powered with 250cc Yamaha engines with semi-enclosed bodywork and rear wings. Tickets are available for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix on the official Web site www.RedBullUSGrandPrix.com, by calling (800) 327-SECA or logging onto www.laguna-seca.com or www.ticketmaster.com. More information on the MotoGP World Championship is available at www.motogp.com.

BARNES SIGNS WITH M4 EMGO SUZUKI FOR THE REST OF 2005 Team M4 EMGO Suzuki is pleased to announce that Michael Barnes has signed a contract to race with the team through the remainder of the 2005 season as he substitutes for the injured Vincent Haskovec. Barnes, who led both the Formula Xtreme and Superstock races last weekend, filled in for Haskovec starting at Pikes Peak. He finished in the top five in Superstock that weekend despite little track time, then followed that race weekend with his runs at the front at Road America. “Barney is a very impressive rider,” said Crew Chief Keith Perry. “He’s gone fast from the start and has a wealth of racing experience. The team was at a low point after Vincent’s injuries but Mike running up front has helped lift our spirits as Vincent goes through his recovery.” The team also has an option on Michael’s services for the 2006 season as well. Barnes and his teammate Geoff May will next race at the combined AMA/MotoGP weekend at Laguna Seca July 8-10.

FORTUNA TEAM PRESENTS NEW IMAGE The teams which form the FORTUNA RACING set-up today unveiled their new image from this weekend’s Catalunya Grand Prix onwards, at an event which took place at the Miró Foundation, in the centre of the historic Montjuic Park in Barcelona. As had already happened at the opening round of the season, the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, both the Yamaha MotoGP bikes as well as the Honda 250s which make up TEAM FORTUNA RACING, will ride with the special livery from this weekend. The image is inspired by the creativity of the universally popular painter Joan Miró, one of Spain’s most well-known artist on an international scale. The event was presented by model Paloma Lago, and took place in the most appropriate setting. The Miró Foundation is a building which is emblematic in Barcelona built by architect Josep Lluís Sert in 1975 and which houses one of the most important tourist and cultural centres in the city. With the impact of the livery in Andalucia, the FORTUNA management were moved to choose the modern style, which is both unique and daring, until the end of the current season. It will be present on all machines of the Spanish “Dream Team”, a set-up which focuses on national sporting stars. JORGE LORENZO, beaming after the second place he achieved last Sunday in Mugello, HECTOR BARBERA, RUBEN XAUS and TONI ELIAS were the main protagonists alongside the striking new decoration of the FORTUNA HONDA and YAMAHA FORTUNA machines, teams managed by Dani Amatriaín and Hervé Poncharal respectively. Elías, in fact, revealed that on Friday morning he would weigh up his chances of completing the weekend after the crash he suffered in tests following the French GP just three weeks ago and which prevented him from participating in Italy. As such, the Spanish rider will try the first free practice, using some specially adapted gloves and boots which will accommodate his injuries. Elías has medical approval for his decision to try the injuries tomorrow, thanks to the respected Doctor Xavier Mir. If the Yamaha rider is eventually unable to continue due to his physical conditions, he will once again be substituted by DAVID CHECA, who took his place last weekend. XAVIER MIR: “First of all I had my doubts, but Toni has once again surprised me with his recovery speed. The fractures are virtually healed but they won’t be completely bonded for another four weeks. On Friday Toni will test the bike and we will see what he feels like after.” TONI ELIAS: “Maybe I’m returning a little quickly, but I want to give it a try. I wanted to be there for the fans, this is a special Grand Prix. It’s worth trying out at least. I will ride with some special gloves and boots, thanks to Alpinestars. I want to thank everyone for their great support I have had throughout this time.” RUBEN XAUS: “I’m so motivated by the team around us! The results will come, it’s just a matter of time. We are working towards that moment. To ride here, in front of the fans, it gives you wings!” JORGE LORENZO: “We are not obliged to win races this year. It will be a difficult year, but I am obsessed by winning, and I won’t stop until I do so.” HECTOR BARBERA “The Catalunya race is a very special Grand Prix and I hope I can fight for the podium. I hope all the spectators enjoy themselves. If they have fun, it means that I will be enjoying riding the bike here.”

The MotoGP World Championship paddock has been assembled in record time this week as the series prepares for the second race in consecutive weekends at the Gran Premi Gauloises de Catalunya in Barcelona. Whilst several of the trucks and motorhomes have made their way from the Mugello circuit in Italy across firm European soil through France to Spain, the majority of the 260 tonnes of material required by the teams and organisers for each round of the championship was shipped over by boat, crossing the Mediterranean sea directly from the Italian port of Civitavecchia to Barcelona. The teams have worked feverishly since their arrival on Tuesday afternoon to prepare the team offices, hospitality units, pit boxes and machines in time for this weekend’s event, which gets underway with first free practice for the 125cc class at 9am on Friday. For some of the riders, the past two days have presented a brief chance for rest ahead of another intense weekend whilst for others, the demands of the Grand Prix have already begun. In particular the home favourite, Sete Gibernau, runner-up in the MotoGP World Championship for the past two seasons, has been under the spotlight after a crash in the last round at Mugello virtually wrecked his hopes of challenging Valentino Rossi for the title this time around. The Spaniard was back in his home city of Barcelona today for a charity football match with his MotoGP team-mate Marco Melandri against a team of Spanish celebrities and refused to admit that his championship is over. “My aim this weekend is to show anybody who thought that this championship was already over is wrong,” said Gibernau, who lies fourth in the championship behind Rossi, Melandri and Max Biaggi. “Barcelona is an important event for me but at the end of the day it is like any other race in that we need to start winning.” Gibernau’s compatriot Dani Pedrosa also took part in the football match, which involved major Spanish sports stars including Rafa Alkorta, Luis Enrique, Nani Roma and Ángel Nieto, as he prepares for his home Grand Prix in somewhat more favourable circumstances. The reigning 250cc World Champion leads the quarter-litre standings by 21 points from Andrea Dovizioso and is looking to extend his advantage still further in front of a crowd expected to exceed 100,000 people with all grandstand tickets sold out. “To not do well in front of so many people who are there for you is difficult to accept,” said Pedrosa, who was denied victory in last season’s 250cc race on the final lap by Randy de Puniet. “I remember my victory in 2003, which was very special, and I’m looking forward to enjoying this Grand Prix. It’s more difficult to concentrate because everybody wants to see you and be with you – you have to contain the euphoria, imagine that you’re not at home and just enjoy the atmosphere.” On the other side of the city a group of Gibernau’s MotoGP rivals were taking in the sights of one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks, the Sagrada Familia temple, designed by the legendary architect Antoni Gaudí. Rubén Xaus, Alex Barros and Kenny Roberts, who all have homes in the area, all visited the world-famous cathedral as they enjoyed a relaxing start to the weekend. Later, the riders came together at the Circuit de Catalunya, on the northern limits of the region’s capital, as they plotted to overturn Valentino Rossi for only the second time this season. “For sure Sete will be going for it here so I will have to maintain my full focus throughout the weekend,” predicted Rossi. “Last year was a really hard race at the top level, and we went at a very hard pace – Sete and I were more than ten seconds ahead of the others. He is not my main rival in the championship at the moment because Melandri and Biaggi are closer but he will be very dangerous at his home circuit. Whoever is at the front, I hope I can be there and provide another great show.” Joining Rossi in the Yamaha camp this weekend is Toni Elías, who is planning to ride just over three weeks after breaking his wrist and fracturing his leg in a testing crash at Le Mans. Elías was given the green light by Dr Xavier Mir, who operated on the injuries at the Dexeus Clinic in Barcelona. Meanwhile, Olivier Jacque has been confirmed by Kawasaki as a full-time test rider for the rest of this season after his impressive performances as a substitute for Alex Hofmann at Shanghai and Le Mans. Jacque is also scheduled to race at Sachsenring and Valencia as a wildcard entry later in the year. One local rider who will not race this weekend is 125cc youngster Julián Miralles, who is recovering from a broken leg sustained in the last round at Mugello. Héctor Faubel and Mika Kallio, who both crashed out after fighting for the lead in the final corner of the race in Italy, are expected to ride as Kallio aims to recover his championship lead from Thomas Lüthi.

CHARPENTIER AT HOME IN FRENCH TEST Current World Supersport championship leader, Sébastien Charpentier, says he and his team have improved even further his Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR after a two-day test at his ‘home’ circuit of Magny-Cours in France. Alongside his Japanese team-mate, Katsuaki Fujiwara, the French rider spent yesterday and today testing new ignition and fuel-injection mapping components, as well as several new Supersport tyres from Pirelli. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “I’m very satisfied with the results of this test where both riders and team have worked very hard. We’ve been testing a new ignition system and fuel-injection mapping and have found more control for the riders and a little improvement in acceleration. We came here with a good basic set-up so we’ve been trying different extremes and getting the riders used to other settings to see if there is anywhere we can improve. Quite early, Sébastien was improving the lap times from last year’s Supersport race and went half a second faster than the pole position time. On day two, we’ve been confirming yesterday’s findings, doing longer stints on the new Pirellis and concentrating on a good setting for the race here in October. I’m very happy with our progress and now we go home to prepare for Misano.” Sébastien Charpentier best time, 1:43.2 “It’s fantastic for me to be testing in France and the good weather here has allowed us to get through a lot of work. I am very happy with the way the season has started and I feel very comfortable with the team and the CBR. But there are always areas to improve and we have worked hard with Pirelli here at Magny-Cours to test the new tyres they have brought. There were several new fronts to try because this has been an area of problem for me, especially at the first round in Qatar. The test has gone well and I think a 43.2s lap here is a good time. I am confident that the season can continue well for me when we get to Misano in two weeks.” Katsuaki Fujiwara best time, 1:43.9 “This has been very valuable for me as the tests in Spain at the beginning of the season were affected by bad weather. I am with a new team this season and on the Honda CBR for the first time so these two days have been good experience for me. During race meetings there is not so much time to test different settings on the bike so we have used the test to try perhaps more than fifty combinations which has helped me to understand the CBR a lot better. My mechanics must be very tired from making all the changes but it has been a worthwhile exercise because we go to Misano with a really good feeling.” Magny-Cours, France (4.41km) 2004 pole position time: Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda) 1:43.825 2004 fastest race lap: Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda) 1:44.457