JR aims high on his return for Rizla Suzuki RIZLA SUZUKI’S British Superbike Champion John Reynolds is aiming for the top step of the podium when he returns to racing his GSX-R1000 in the sixth round of the British Superbike Championship at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire this Sunday. JR missed the last two rounds of the series as he continued his recovery from a broken right leg. He rode his Rizla Suzuki at an official test at the 2.1-mile long Croft Circuit last week and was fourth quickest and bubbling with enthusiasm at the end of the day. Croft Circuit is close to Rizla Suzuki racer Scott Smart’s hometown of York and he is hoping that the support of his home fans will give him a boost as he continues to get to grips with his GSX-R1000. One of the most popular events on the BSB calendar, a bumper crowd is expected to attend Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire. Superbike racing starts at 1:20pm on Sunday, June 5th. It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. A highlights package of all the racing will be shown by Channel 4 one week later. JR: “I am so hungry to race that I can hardly sleep thinking about this weekend at Croft. If people are expecting me to make a half-hearted return to racing then they are sadly mistaken. I am going to Croft and aiming for the top step of the podium and nothing less. My Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000’s good enough and I want to do it justice.” Scott: “Croft is almost on my doorstep and is very much my home track. I’ll be looking for support from the local fans on Sunday and want to repeat my podium performance from last year at the same track. “I like Croft, it is fast and flowing and I am coming to it with more confidence and experience on my Rizla Suzuki than at any time previously this season. I so want this to be the weekend it all comes good for my team, they deserve silverware for the efforts the have put in.”

YAMAHA AND GE TO SPONSOR SUPERSTARS OF SUPER KARTS FEATURING GRAND PRIX MOTORCYCLE LEGENDS Rainey, Lawson, Schwantz and Chandler Back on Track Together at Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix MONTEREY, Calif. (May 31, 2005) Fans attending the 2005 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix July 8-10 will think it is “déjà vu all over again,” as former grand prix motorcycle world champions Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Kevin Schwantz, along with three-time U.S. Superbike champion Doug Chandler, will once again be mixing it up on track during the Yamaha and GE Superstars of Super Karts race. “This event is a chance to see our road racing heroes competing again on the racetrack,” said Bob Starr, Corporate Communications Manager for Yamaha Motor Company. “On behalf of GE’s Consumer and Commercial Finance businesses, as well as Yamaha during its 50th Anniversary Celebration, we’re proud to be a part of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend through this sponsorship as well as our contribution to the track improvement program.” With thanks to Superstars of Super Karts race sponsors Yamaha and GE, the motorcycle champions will compete head-to-head with some of the world’s best Super Kart racers. They’ll all be piloting 250cc racing karts that feature semi-enclosed bodywork and rear wings and can reach speeds up to 140 mph around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course. “People look at these Super Karts and think they are cute little toys, but they haul butt around here,” according to Lawson. The four-time world champion (1984, ’86, ’88, ’89) set the Super Kart lap record at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2003 – 1 minute, 23.875 seconds, an average speed of 100.864 mph. (Troy Bayliss turned the fastest official lap on a motorcycle at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca when he road his Ducati around the circuit in 1 minute, 24.833 seconds during the 2002 World Superbike Championship event.) Lawson will be competing with three-time world champion Wayne Rainey (1990-92), 1993 world champion Kevin Schwantz and three-time U.S. Superbike champion (1984, ’86, ’88, ’89) Doug Chandler, who tested a Super Kart for the first time back in January. “Driving a Super Kart around here is completely different than racing a motorcycle,” said Chandler, who is new to Super Karts. “These karts have so much more grip than a bike through the corners. It is going to take some getting used to, physically. But this is just a good opportunity for us (Rainey, Lawson, Schwantz and himself) to get together on the race track again.” The motorcycle racing legends will be competing against some of the top Super Kart racers in the world, including Gerald Siebert, an eight-time Australian Super Kart champion, and American Larry Kurpiewski, a five-time International Karting Federation (IKF) Grand National champion. All of the Super Kart racers take to the track on Friday, July 8, for a pair of practice sessions. They’ll be on track three times on Saturday, July 9, with a morning warm-up, qualifying session and a 25-minute race scheduled for 3:10 p.m., immediately following MotoGP qualifying. The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix features round 8 of 17 in the MotoGP World Championship, the fastest two-wheel sport in the world, along with support races from AMA Pro Racing and the Yamaha and GE Superstars of Super Karts. A complete schedule of the weekend’s events is available online at www.laguna-seca.com. Tickets to the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix are on sale now by calling (800) 327-SECA or (831) 648-5111, or logging on to www.ticketmaster.com or www.laguna-seca.com. And now, some reader reaction… FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I can’t understand how karts fit into an international motorcycle event. It’s unfortunate that our money for tickets and time will be used up by what could be considered an exhibition race to promote kart racing. Who at SCRAMP looked at this kart race and figured it would be great to have this during a motorcycle event? The only reason it was considered is because of the participation of ex-superstars of motorcycle racing. Take the four guys out of the race and it wouldn’t have been considered. Motorcycle race enthusiasts purchasing tickets to a motorcycle event want to see “motorcycle” racing. Take the karts to a kart event where people are interested in watching four wheelers and stop wasting our time and money. Seriously, are there any kart racing enthusiasts traveling to Monterey just to watch the kart race? Come on, SCRAMP! The next time you want to add value to your events you might check to see if has any value to your customers. By the way, this has nothing to do with Lawson, Rainey, Schwantz, Chandler or any other Super Kart driver attending this event. I have respect for all these superstars but this is not the correct venue to show off their Super Kart skills. In addition, I’m guessing the company responsible for spending millions of dollars upgrading Laguna Seca has forgotten to address the paddock area. Perhaps they will have to cancel another AMA class to make room for the karts….. Chris Scott Laguna Niguel, California

FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Just a note to let you know the results for the Vintage Class AFM at Infineon May 29th are not posted correctly in the “Stanton” news clip. (Updated: Stanton Wins AFM Formula Pacific At Infineon Raceway, May 30, 2005) ~https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=23008~ There are 3 AFM Vintage classes: 0-250 251-500 501-Unlimited. The 251-500 results are as follows :- #31 VINT 251-500Pos Pts AFM # Lic Name Mk/Yr Best Lap 1 40 133 E MELTON, RON NOR62 2:05:161 2 33 358R E BRODIE, PAUL AER72 2:06:998 3 27 144R E CAVENEY, BRID BSA72 2:11:701 4 22 498 N SPENCER, RALPH S75 2:12:720 5 17 284 E ECHOLS, CRAIG AER66 2:15:719 Thanks. Brid Caveney 2004 AHRMA Classic 60’s 650 National Champion www.westcoastracing.net Salinas, California

Pihokken Puts It On the Podium By Lisa Theobald Jim Pihokken used his Prieto Racing prepped GSX-R1000 to win the Unlimited Grand Prix race at Moroso Motorsports Park yesterday. The Unlimited Grand Prix was the most thunderous race of the day, and not just because rain clouds moved into the area and threatened to unload on the track. The purse offered a bonus payment for those who made the top 10 while running MotoGP style, with open, muffler-free exhaust systems. This bonus will continue to be offered at all of the remaining CCS Florida Region events run at Moroso Motorsports Park and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dave McEnery used his brand new, Kinetic Motorsports prepped GSX-R1000 to nail the holeshot and lead the first lap of the race. Hot on his tail was Scott Ritchey on another brand-new GSX-R1000, Pihokken and Marco Martinez. Martinez brought out last year’s Championship-winning GSX-R1000 for the race instead of the Desmomaniacs Ducati 998 he had been riding throughout the day, which could not be run without the exhaust canister. Ritchey took over the lead early in the second lap and Pihokken also maneuvered his machine around McEnery to take over second place. Ritchey continued to lead until the halfway mark, when Pihokken maneuvered around him between turns one and two. As the white flag came out, Martinez also seized the opportunity to pass Ritchey and take over the number two spot. Pihokken maintained his advantage in the final run for the checkered flag to take the victory. Martinez finished second, followed by Ritchey, McEnery and Darren Luck. After the race, Pihokken commented, “Yeah, I knew Marco was coming. He’s on his bike and he’s fast on that bike. I was really worried about him. And then Scott, he got such a good start. I got a horrible start and it was everything I could do to get around Scott. He was holding it deep on the brakes. But, man, it was fun. It was a blast.” Pihokken also won the Unlimited Superbike race and finished second in the GTO race.

HAYDEN CAN SET NEW RECORD AT ROAD AMERICA SUPERSPORT RACE PICKERINGTON, Ohio (May 30, 2005) — There have been some great names who have won the AMA Supersport race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., over the years, but this weekend, June 2-5 at the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, Tommy Hayden has an opportunity to set himself apart. If the defending series champ wins he will become the first rider to earn three Supersport race wins in a row at the storied circuit. Hayden, 26, of Owensboro, Ky., rides his Kawasaki ZX-6RR into Road America holding a slim eight-point lead over rival Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking in the series standings. Hayden comes into Elkhart Lake with the confidence that a two-time winner of the event naturally has. “I enjoy racing at Road America,” said the oldest of the three racing Hayden brothers. “It’s such a big track that there’s a lot to learn there and it seems like I figure out something new every year.” Hayden realizes he’s in a dogfight with Hacking over this year’s championship. “It’s going to be tough to hold Jamie off,” Hayden explained. “We’re halfway through the season now and he’s been solid and consistent all year. I think it’s going to come down to who can keep from making a mistake. If you make one error in this series it can drop you out of the picture for the championship.” Hayden could become the second all-time winner in AMA Supersport with a victory this weekend. Hacking has matched Hayden with two wins so far this season and finished on the podium in all five races. The British-born rider earned his very first AMA Supersport win at Road America and is hoping to get back atop the podium this Sunday. “Our bike handles really well,” Hacking said of his factory Yamaha R6. “At Road America it will be a question of horsepower more than handling. Hopefully I’ll be able to get in Tommy’s draft and we can get away from the field and have our own little race. That’s probably wishful thinking with the talent in the Supersport field. I’m just going to hope to have a good qualifying run and pick up points anyway I can.” If Hacking finds a way to win at Road America it would mark the first win for Yamaha in the race since Hacking’s 1999 victory. After finishing 21st at Daytona with equipment problems, Roger Lee Hayden has sprinted all the way back to third in the standings. He’s coming off a victory at the last round in Colorado and feels confident going into the second half of the season. “We really needed that win at Pikes Peak,” said the youngest Hayden bother. “I came into the season injured from a bicycling training accident, but my team and Kawasaki stuck by me and things are really starting to go my way. My brother has a pretty good lead in the championship, but I’m just going to keep trying to win races and see what happens.” Ben Spies on his Yoshimura Suzuki is fourth in the standings. The speedy Texan is still looking for his first win this season. There is a great “race within a race” for the top non-factory rider in the series. Currently Australian Ben Attard is leading the way ranked seventh on the Attack Kawasaki team, but he is closely followed in the points by Topline Printing Yamaha’s Chris Peris, Geoff May of the M4 EMGO Suzuki squad, Kneedraggers.com Yamaha’s Robert Jensen and flat tracker Danny Eslick on the MPTracing.com Suzuki. Only 15 points separate those five riders as the series enters the second half. Attard has been steadily getting better with each round and scored a season best fifth at Pikes Peak. His Attack Kawasaki has the kind of power that could put him in a real position to win at Road America. If he does he would be the first privateer rider to win the race since Todd Harrington did it on a Kawasaki in 1996. The Road America Supersport race will be televised live Sunday, June 5 on SPEED Channel beginning at 2 p.m. EST. For ticket information on the Suzuki Superbike Doubleheader call 1-800-365-RACE or visit www.roadamerica.com.

Schwantz to ride with Team EMGO Taiwan for Caylor at Road America Elkhart Lake, WI ( 31 May, 05) — 1993 MotoGP World Champion Kevin Schwantz will be returning to AMA road-racing at Road America this weekend aboard the Team EMGO Taiwan, Formula Xtreme, Suzuki GSX-R 600. Schwantz will be subbing for Chris “Opie” Caylor who will be with his wife Tracy at home awaiting their now over-due baby. “I have a responsibility to my sponsors but not only do they completely understand my situation, it’s actually them that are telling me to stay at home with my wife and soon to be family,” said Caylor. “There’s only a few people I would completely trust with my program and Kevin is definitely on the top of that list. He’s been helping me and Team EMGO Taiwan at every round with advice and mentoring and he was actually the one that brought up him riding for me!” “I look forward to returning to the fiercely competitive racing in AMA,” said Schwantz from his Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School at Road Atlanta. “Ope’s been an instructor for the school since the day it opened and I’m glad I can help him by riding for his team at [Road America]”. Schwantz’ return to the AMA will be assisted by Caylor’s and Team EMGO Taiwan’s crew chief: Craig “Huey” Stewart. “Of course, I wish Opie was here continuing to build his points but I certainly respect his commitment to his growing family,” said Stewart. “Who could ask for a better sub than a true icon?” More information about Kevin Schwantz and the Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School can be found on the web at www.SchwantzSchool.com.

MotoGP expecting warm welcome at Gran Premio Alice d’Italia The MotoGP World Championship resumes after a two-week break this weekend as the planet’s premier motorcycles and riders head for the heart of racing fanaticism in the hills of Tuscany, Italy. Traditionally one of the most colourful and passionate events of the year, the Gran Premio Alice d’Italia this season welcomes two home riders on top of the standings after four rounds, with Valentino Rossi leading the way from Marco Melandri by 37 points – the largest lead any rider has had at this stage of the year since 1993. The stunning scenery of the Mugello circuit will provide the backdrop to the latest chapter of an intriguing season as Melandri looks to add to 125cc and 250cc victories here and continue his pursuit of Yamaha’s reigning World Champion, with his Honda team-mate Sete Gibernau desperate to join the chase. Rossi has taken three victories already this season and it is imperative that Gibernau opens his account sooner rather than later as he looks to improve on his status as runner-up to the Italian for the past two campaigns. Whilst Gibernau produced his best performance of the season so far with a close second place in the last round at Le Mans, moving up to third in the championship, Rossi’s record at his home Grand Prix is impressive, having won twice for Honda before clinching Yamaha’s first win at Mugello in over a decade last season. The Italian is now looking to make his home circuit the sixth track at which he has scored four MotoGP victories and the first that he has won twice on a Yamaha. Rossi and Melandri are not the only two riders with their sights set on home victory, however, with Max Biaggi and Loris Capirossi both looking to ignite their seasons after disappointing starts for Honda and Ducati respectively. Capirossi is the only Italian rider other than Rossi to win at Mugello in the premier-class whilst Biaggi has had more podium finishes there than any other rider, having finished in the top three on ten occasions including his appearances in the 250cc class. One rider who will not be challenging for the podium this weekend is Spanish youngster Toni Elías. After making an encouraging start to his rookie MotoGP season, Elías crashed during a day of tests following the last round at Le Mans and fractured the radius and scaphoid of his left wrist, also rupturing ligaments and fracturing the outside of his left fibula. The Yamaha rider is battling to be fit in time for his home round at Catalunya next weekend and will be replaced at Mugello by David Checa, the reigning World Endurance Champion and brother to MotoGP regular Carlos. Meanwhile, Honda rider Makoto Tamada and Kawasaki’s Alex Hofmann are both set to return to MotoGP race action for the first time since missing the second round at Estoril. Both riders have been undergoing intense physiotherapy on wrist injuries and were replaced for the last two rounds by Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh and Olivier Jacque respectively, Tamada making a brief appearance in the first free practice session at Le Mans before ruling himself out for the rest of the weekend. Honda’s Dani Pedrosa arrives at the fifth round of the 250cc World Championship looking to break a run of eight years of Aprilia dominance at a circuit he has yet to enjoy victory in any class. The reigning World Champion recovered the series lead by four points from Andrea Dovizioso with victory in the last round at Le Mans but faces a stern challenge this weekend as his factory colleague looks to respond with home glory and seal his first win in the class. Pedrosa, who has finished in second place for the last two years at Mugello in the 125cc and 250cc class, will also be up against another strong front from Aprilia, who will look to defend their excellent record on home soil with Casey Stoner, Sebastián Porto and Randy De Puniet amongst the factory riders in with a chance of victory. Stoner, who will be making his 50th Grand Prix start, scored his first ever Grand Prix pole at Mugello when riding in the 125cc class in 2003 whilst Porto’s victory there last year was his first ever in dry conditions. This season’s 125cc World Championship is so far one of the closest in history, with the first four rounds having been won by four different riders, including three debut winners. The latest of those was Swiss teenager Thomas Lüthi, who took victory in the last round at Le Mans to move up to second place in the championship, 12 points adrift of early leader Mika Kallio. The racing promises to be as close as ever this weekend with the Mugello circuit having witnessed one of the tightest finishes of all time in last year’s 125cc race, when the top six riders were covered by less than one second.