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.

Yamaha/Graves Yamaha rider Jamie Hacking will miss the AMA round June 3-5 at Road America after injuring both of his elbows in a bicycle crash while training Saturday, May 28 near Fort Collins, Colorado. In a telephone call to Roadracingworld.com, Hacking’s wife Rachel said that Jamie Hacking was riding bicycles with Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies. Hacking was following Spies at a relatively high speed. Spies swerved to avoid an object in the road, but Hacking was unable to miss the object and was sent over the bars of his bicycle. Hacking landed with his hands outstretched and dislocated both elbows upon impact. Spies called Rachel Hacking, who came to the scene and transported Jamie Hacking to a local hospital. Hacking was able to pop his right elbow back into place at the crash site, but the left elbow was more severely displaced and had to be relocated by emergency room physicians. At the hospital, it was also found that Hacking suffered small fractures to bones in both forearms, near the elbow. “He’s pretty devastated. He’s in a lot of pain,” said Rachel Hacking. Amazingly, famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting was in Denver, Colorado over the weekend and was able to examine Hacking immediately. According to Rachel Hacking, Dr. Ting said Hacking will have to undergo surgery to set the displaced bone fragment in his left elbow, and an MRI will have to be done to see the full extent of the damage to Hacking’s ligaments and tendons. Hacking is scheduled to fly from Colorado to California Tuesday and undergo the MRI, followed by surgery at Dr. Ting’s Fremont, California offices. Dr. Ting has given Hacking an approximate recovery time of three to six weeks, ruling him out of the AMA races at Road America but making a return at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca round July 8-10 possible. “Luckily, we have that break after Road America and before Laguna,” said Rachel Hacking.

Jeff Wood swept all three of his Formula USA races Monday at Summit Point Raceway, in West Virginia, extending his Championship point lead in each class. Hometown boy Bryan Bemisderfer, meanwhile, took a significant victory in Thunderbike. Riding an Arclight Suzuki GSX-R600 shod with 16.5-inch Dunlop slicks, Wood came from behind in Superbike to overtake defending class Champion Robert Jensen and win by just under three seconds. In his run up to the front, Wood lowered his own overall motorcycle track record from 1:14.317 (which he set Sunday on his GSX-R750) to 1:14.303. Jensen took second in Superbike with Champions Martin Moto Yamaha’s Michael Himmelsbach third. Argo Cycles’ Scott Greenwood crashed his new Kawasaki ZX-6R on the first lap of the 20-lap Superbike final, and Greenwood’s sliding bike took out Wood’s teammate Scott Harwell. Greenwood and Harwell suffered mild concussions but were otherwise uninjured in the incident. In the Sportbike final, which ran under threatening and occasionally spitting skies, Wood and Kneedraggers.com Yamaha’s Greenwood ran nose-to-tail until the race was stopped on lap 16 of 20. The race was re-started, a controversial decision, for six more laps. Wood and Jensen raced closely, but Wood made a last-lap move and beat Jensen to the checkered flag by a fraction of a second. Himmelsbach, who ran a distant third in the main portion of the race, finished third, just ahead of Harwell and Greenwood. The rain came down before the start of the Formula Sportbike final, which was shortened from 20 to 10 laps. Wood, a specialist in rain riding, took the holeshot and ran away to win. Harwell and Team Stargel’s Brian Stokes swapped second several times until Stokes pulled away late in the race to secure the runner-up position. Harwell finished third, two seconds behind Stokes and well ahead of Jensen, who does not like riding at Summit Point in the rain. Earlier in the day, Harding Harley-Davidson/Buell teammates Bemisderfer and Dave Estok had a terrific race in Thunderbike. Unlike most Thunderbike races, which are often decided by attrition, the 16-lap final at Summit Point went right down to the last lap, and defending F-USA Thunderbike Champion Bemisderfer took his first Thunderbike victory at Summit Point, his hometrack. Estok finished runner-up, less than a second behind Bemisderfer. CAD Racing’s David Yaakov finished third on his Phil-Dodd-tuned Suzuki SV650, maintaining his Thunderbike Championship point lead. The day ended with the wet, seven-lap Unlimited Grand Prix, which was won by Stokes on his Michelin-rain-tire-equipped Suzuki GSX-R750. The big news, however, was that Tim Bemisderfer (who rode a Dunlop-backed Shenandoah Honda CBR1000RR) finished second (in spite of running off the track) in his first race back after undergoing a kidney transplant in February. Spina finished third. Jensen sat out the Unlimited GP even though there was Suzuki contingency money available. Formula USA Race Results: Sportbike (600cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 20 laps; 2. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), -0.209 second; 3. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600); 5. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6R); 6. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R600); 7. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6); 8. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R600); 9. Scott Harwood (Hon CBR600RR); 10. Chad Klock (Hon CBR600RR), -1 lap; 11. Alan Nelson (Kaw ZX-6), -1 lap; 12. John Vaccaro (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap; 13. Donny Kelley (Suz GSX-R600), -3 laps; 14. Jonathan Lawrence (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps; 15. Steve Vento (Kaw ZX-6), -6 laps; 16. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6), -7 laps; 17. Trey Yonce (Yam YZF-R6), -9 laps; 18. Brian Roach (Yam YZF-R6), -10 laps. Superbike (600cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 20 laps; 2. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), -1.900 seconds; 3. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R600); 6. Donny Kelley (Suz GSX-R600); 7. Ryan Patterson (Yam YZF-R6); 8. Ned Brown (Kaw ZX-6), -1 lap; 9. Alan Nelson (Kaw ZX-6), -1 lap; 10. Chris Rockwell (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap; 11. Robert Lombardi (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap; 12. Jim Bonner (Yam TZ250), -1 lap; 13. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, DNF, crash; 14. Roy Cadoo, Jr. (Kaw ZX-6), -10 laps; 15. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6), -16 laps, DNF, crash; 16. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600), -20 laps, DNF, crash. Formula Sportbike (750cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R750), 10 laps; 2. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750), -2.503 seconds; 3. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750); 5. Joseph Spina (Suz GSX-R750); 6. Joe Ribeiro (Suz GSX-R750); 7. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R750), -1 lap; 8. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R750), -3 laps, two crashes; 9. Rick Beggs (Kaw ZX-6), -9 laps, DNF. Thunderbike: 1. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell XB9R), 16 laps; 2. Dave Estok (Buell XB12R), -0.198 second; 3. David Yaakov (Suz SV650); 4. Randy Rega (Buell XB12R); 5. Arthur Diaz (Buell XB9R); 6. Clint Brotz (Buell XB12R); 7. Sam Rozynski (Buell XB12R); 8. Russell Masecar (Suz SV650); 9. Joe Rozynski, III (Buell XB12R); 10. Darren Danilowicz (Suz SV650); 11. Jeff Gochenour (Buell XB12R); 12. Greg Avello (Buell XB12R); 13. Gary Bunner (Duc 748); 14. Chris Kalb (Suz SV650), -1 lap; 15. Mark Evry (Suz SV650), -1 lap; 16. Daniel Riter (Suz SV650), -1 lap; 17. Walt Sipp (Buell XB12R), -1 lap; 18. Peter Alesso (Buell XB12R), -1 lap; 19. Matthew Buck (Suz SV650), -1 lap; 20. Dan Bilansky (Buell XB12R), -4 laps, DNF, mechanical. Unlimited Grand Prix: 1. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750), 7 laps; 2. Tim Bemisderfer (Hon CBR1000RR), -15.069 seconds; 3. Joseph Spina (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Joe Ribeiro (Suz GSX-R750); 5. Michael Swank (Yam YZF-R1); 6. Arnold Hastings (Suz GSX-R750); 7. David Loikits (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap; 8. Robert Lombardi (Suz GSX-R750), -1 lap; 9. Ivan Iverson (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap; 10. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750), DNS. Sportbike Championship Point Standings: 1. Wood, 95 points; 2. TIE, Jensen/Greenwood, 65 points; 4. Harwell, 62 points; 5. Elleby, 45 points; 6. Himmelsbach, 44 points; 7. Shawn Conrad, 43 points; 8. David Weber, 36 points; 9. TIE, Parrish/Geoff May, 31 points. Superbike Championship Point Standings: 1. Wood, 98 points; 2. Greenwood, 48 points; 3. Himmelsbach, 47 points; 4. Parrish, 46 points; 5. Rockwell, 39 points; 6. TIE, Jensen/Vincent Haskovec, 35 points; 8. Lombardi, 33 points; 9. Michael Barnes, 31 points; 10. TIE, Patterson/Dolney/Shawn Conrad, 30 points. Formula Sportbike Championship Point Standings: 1. Wood, 108 points; 2. Harwell, 82 points; 3. Elleby, 58 points; 4. Parrish, 51 points; 5. Jensen, 46 points; 6. Shawn Conrad, 43 points; 7. Ribeiro, 40 points; 8. Spina, 32 points; 9. TIE, Beggs/David Weber, 31 points. Thunderbike Championship Point Standings: 1. Yaakov, 79 points; 2. Bemisderfer, 64 points; 3. Estok, 62 points; 4. Brotz, 57 points; 5. Joe Rozynski, III, 54 points; 6. Danilowicz, 48 points; 7. Sam Rozynski, 41 points; 8. Robert Fisher, 38 points; 9. Michael Barnes, 36 points; 10. Ed Key, 35 points.

ROUND 5 – ITALIAN GP – PREVIEW SETE’S CHALLENGE AT MUGELLO Protagonist of an extraordinary race which led to a podium finish during the last GP of France on the historic track of the 24 hours of Le Mans, Sete Gibernau has returned to take up the position which best suits him: up front every Sunday, fighting for the victory. Able to use his RC211V to the maximum of its potential, Sete Gibernau finds himself recuperating positions in the championship and fighting again on June 5th on the Mugello track. A track where generally ‘home riders’ are favoured. Gibernau doesn’t let this bother him though. The Spanish rider has in fact an extraordinary feeling with the Italian fans and on the track of Mugello he can consider himself almost at home: Sete in fact racers for an Italian team, he is loved in Italy, so much that he is considered to be the fifth Italian rider in the MotoGP championship, by the Italian press. “I am taking on the Italian GP with my usual motivation. I am sure of my potential and the potential of my team. It will be a difficult race as the Italian riders, riding for their home fans, will have an extra motivation factor. Mugello isn’t really a track I particularly love, but this is irrelevant as every time I get onto the race track, I am there to race. I have many Italian fans and it would be a wonderful gift for my Italian mechanics and for my team if I win here. Last season the Mugello race was one of the best of the 2004 season: we were quickest on both Friday and Saturday qualifying sessions. I hope to boast the same good work this year as well. The Italian riders are extremely competitive on their home track, but they are also under a lot more pressure. On our side, we have to take advantage of their tension, it will be a very challenging weekend, but at the end of the day, it really isn’t very different than any other race. To be able to dispute a good race we will need a good qualifyin! g position, so that means we have to do a very good job during qualifying. The Italian riders will in fact try to obtain a good race pace from the very beginning; for this reason it is important to start from the first row or, at most, from the second row, in order to fight for the title.” READY FOR HIS HOME GP With two podiums and two fourth places Marco Melandri is defending his second place in the championship with 37 points dividing him and the leader, Valentino Rossi, and 5 points diving him with his team mate, twice vice world champion, Sete Gibernau. The twenty two year old rider, ex 250 World Champion, has demonstrated his best aspects : quick, consistent, in continuous growth Marco Melandri continues to acquire confidence with his RC211V and thanks to the support of HRC, Michelin and under the expert guide of his head tech, Fabrizio Cecchini, Marco has once again started to enjoy riding his bike, and, most importantly! , riding it quickly. MARCO MELANDRI’S COMMENTS ABOUT THE MUGELLO TRACK “The Mugello track can be defined as a real MotoGP circuit because it is quick, there is space to take advantage of the full gears and it gives a lot of riding satisfaction. The track is really good. The sessions I prefer are the Casanova Savelli and the two Arrabbiata corners. These two corners distinguish the track. Mugello is a fun track to ride on, there are different areas where it is possible to overtake: in particular while braking for the first corner, the San Donato, and the first variation as well. The secret to a good lap? To be quick here at Mugello you need to have a good rhythm, be fluid while taking on the corners but without being too aggressive. The part that makes the biggest difference is the downhill “s” and the Arrabbiata corners. It is fundamental to ride through these sectors well in order to make a quick lap time. The biggest! problem of the track? The only negative thing about this track is the condition of the tarmac. In fact there is quite a bit of unevenness to it. The atmosphere: it’s probably because I’m Italian and this is my home race, but it is an incredible feeling to ride looking at all those people all over the hills. When you ride a bike you can feel the warmth of the fans that come to fill the hills that surround the track, it is incredible. My best memory? My victory in 2002 when I was racing in 250cc class. My worst memory? The 2004 GP: I was racing with the leaders, I was in third place for a while, and after a while the front part of my arms just blocked and I could no longer ride.” A curiosity: 4 times in his career has Marco Melandri stepped onto the podium of the Mugello: the first time in 1998 in the 125 class at the age of 16. Marco steps up onto the second step of the podium in 1998 and repeats himself again the following year, again ! with a second place finish in the 125 class. In 2000 he finishes 4th, but returns to the podium in 2001 (3rd place 250 cc class) and in 2002 he wins the Italian GP in the 250 class. In the MotoGP class his best result was in 2004 when Marco Melandri finishes the race after having kept up for the most part with the leaders. A problem with his arms was the cause of his relenting and losing the pace with the front runners. THE TRACK On the hills of Mugello, not very far from Florence, is one of the most beautiful tracks of the championship: spectacular, very technical, and a track where the rider can make a difference during every moment of the race. But it is also a difficult track, characterized by slopes, very quick chicanes, speed changes, sloping corners and a very long straight where riders obtain some of the fastest speeds of the entire championship. Due to all the characteristics, time is a valuable asset when learning the secrets to! this track. “This is a challenging track, very technical. From a riders’ point of view it is amongst the toughest of the championship. The track is characterized by some of the most difficult and quickest sessions of the championship. The best point to overtake is definitely the San Donato corner, the first right corner at the end of the starting straight, but the session I prefer is the Arrabbiata 1 and 2. This is the Mugello ‘trade mark’, it is a quick session, unique of the entire championship. The best memory I have of this track? My pole in the 2004 GP with a time of 1’49″920. The Mugello is the home GP for the Italian ridres and the support of the ‘tifosi’ is very felt. It is lucky that I have a lot of Italian fans, my team is Italian and I have always received a warm welcome from the Italian public” comments Sete Gibernau. TECHNICAL DATA Name of the circuit: Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello Opened: 1974 Modified: 1999 Lenght: 5.245 m Width: 14 m Pole position: right Right corners: 9 Left corners: 6 Longest straight: 1141 meters Motogp race: 23 laps = 120,635 kms RECORD: Track record: 2004 Gibernau (Honda) 1’51″133 pole position: 2004 Gibernau (Honda) 1’49″920 2004 race: 1° Rossi (Yamaha) 2°Gibernau (Honda) 3° Biaggi (Honda)

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th June 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Round 6 SUPERBIKES ROAR INTO CROFT FOR THE BIG ONE! Britain’s premier motorsport series makes a welcome return to the race-starved North East when round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship rolls into Croft Circuit near Darlington this weekend (3/4/5 June). Last year, Croft was the best attended out of all thirteen rounds of the series with just short of 30,000 fans turning up to witness works HM Plant Honda rider Michael Rutter claim a pair of victories aboard his 1000cc Honda and the Birmingham rider will be looking forward to returning north, this time as series leader by 46 points. But with the most competitive field ever assembled in the history of the series, Rutter can expect stiff opposition from any amount of rivals as 2005 continues to provide some superb racing at lap record pace in most cases with plenty of twists and turns that so epitomises this thrilling spectacle. HM Plant Honda Racing team mate Ryuichi Kiyonari from Japan won the opening four races before being injured and missing four races which allowed Rutter to capitalise by winning three of them but with the Airwaves Ducati pairing of Derbyshire rider Leon Haslam and Spaniard Gregorio Lavilla straddling Kiyonari’s fifth win of the season two weeks ago at Mondello Park, then there is still all to play for. Reigning British Champion John Reynolds makes his comeback at Croft after a broken leg sustained in pre-season testing effectively ruled out a concerted title defence and the 39 year old Nottingham rider is full of confidence following the official test day last week. His York based team mate Scott Smart, however, has struggled to come to terms with the Rizla Suzuki but will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s podium at Croft. The Cumbrian based Stobart Honda team will be looking to continue their recent run of form with young Ulsterman Michael Laverty and Lichfield’s Gary Mason hoping to climb the podium for the first time this season whilst their team mate Jeremy McWilliams looks set to miss the Croft race due to a recurrence of a shoulder injury. Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha field a replacement for the injured Sean Emmett in the shape of ‘rent-a-racer’ James Haydon who has already ridden for both the Airwaves Ducati team as well as Rizla Suzuki this season and he will join team mates Tommy Hill and Richard Wren, both from London. Throw in the two Australian Hawk Kawasaki riders Glen Richards and Dean Thomas, the Honda UK bikes of Karl Harris (who used to leave near Harrogate) and Ulsterman Jonathan Rea, as well as the Leeds based Sendo Superbike Team of Steve Plater and John Kirkham and the new Vivaldi Kawasaki Team of Ben Wilson (Boston) and Tristan Palmer (Nuneaton), both feature races are sure to be fiercely competitive. Hoping to maintain local interest is Guisborough rider Dennis Hobbs aboard the Team Nvidia Yamaha although the 22 year old Teessider is facing a race against time to be fit for his local round. Hobbs broke a bone in his wrist a month ago and still has it in a cast as he waits to see if he is given medical clearance to race. If not, then upholding local honour will be Middlesbrough rider Paul Veazey who holds seventh place in the National Superstock Cup aboard his Astro Kawasaki whilst Knaresborough’s Dan Linfoot (16) lies in third in the British 125cc GP class and leads the ACU Academy Cup following on from two successive wins. As well as the two, twenty two lap feature races, a full support race programme is included during the weekend. Cheshire rider Christian Elkin (E3 Honda) leads the 125cc class whilst Devonian James Buckingham makes the long trip north to defend his lead in the British Superbike Cup. Northwich’s Craig Jones (Northpoint Honda) leads the Metabo British Supersport Championship by a single point ahead of Yorkshireman Tom Sykes (TAS Suzuki) with Broughton rider Gary Johnson (GTR Kawasaki) leading the Supersport Cup series. Lincoln rider Lee Jackson heads the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship aboard his Krystal Racing Yamaha with Kenny Gilbertson from Swindon heading the Superstock Cup and Australian teenager Billy McConnell leads the Virgin Mobile Cup. Admission costs £12.00 per adult on Saturday and £25.00 per adult on Sunday which includes access to the paddock. A weekend ticket costs just £30.00 per adult and limited grandstand seating (£8.00 per person) is still available. Children aged 15 and under are admitted FREE and for further information call Croft Circuit on 01325 721815. Timetable Saturday 4th June 09.30 09.55 National Superstock Cup Qualifying 1 10.05 10.45 British Supersport Qualifying 1 10.50 11.40 British Superbikes Qualifying 1 11.50 12.15 Virgin Mobile Cup Free Practice 12.25 12.50 National Superstock Cup Qualifying 2 Interval 13.50 14.15 British 125cc Qualifying 2 14.25 14.50 National Superstock C’ship Qualifying 2 15.00 15.50 British Superbike Qualifying 2 16.05 Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Cup Race 1 15 laps 16.35 17.10 British Supersport Qualifying 2 17.20 17.45 Virgin Mobile Cup Qualifying Sunday 5th June 07.00 Gates Open 10.00 11.00 Pit Lane Walkabout 12.05 12.15 British Superbike Warm Up 12.20 12.30 Virgin Mobile Cup Warm Up 12.35 12.45 British Supersport Warm Up 12.50 13.00 British 125cc Warm Up 13.20 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race 2 22 laps 14.10 Virgin Mobile Cup Race 3 14 laps 14.55 Metabo British Supersport Championship Race 4 – 20 laps 15.45 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race 5 22 laps 16.35 British 125cc GP Championship Race 6 16 laps 17.15 Metzeler Racetec National Superstock C’ship Race 7 18 laps

Lougher and Honda challenge for new look TT Superbike glory The annual Isle of Man TT Racing Festival has a new a look and massive 500,000 prize fund with the traditional two weeks of action over the demanding 37.73 mile Mountain Course already underway, with the competitors beginning practice for the actual racing that begins on Saturday 4 June and continues through to Friday 10 June with the prestigious Senior race. The racing programme moves with the current trend towards more production based machinery, introducing TT Superbikes, having two races for Supersport 600 machines, a Superstock race, while the Senior remains open to all three classes. As always, Sidecars are a traditional part of the action, with two races during the week. This has resulted in strong entries with John McGuinness, from Lancashire, the outright laprecord holder, returning to the Island where last year with three victories he doubled his winning pedigree in the event. McGuinness will be riding Yamaha. The Lancastrian expects tough challenges coming in, none more so than from Ian Lougher who began his ‘warm-up’ for the TT with a Superstock victory aboard his Honda Fireblade in the recent NorthWest 200 event. Like McGuinness, he has won six times on the Mountain Course, and with Honda supported machinery, prepared by Des Moore Race and Rally, has high expectations, particularly wanting to win the inaugural Superbike race to ensure a place in the sporting annals. “That would be great, I want to win at least one of the two big-bike races, though the Senior would be nice,” smiled the TT veteran who has been racing on the Island since 1984. “There’s something about the event that once you have raced here, you have to keep coming back. “The atmosphere is great, there is a real buzz, the speed, the mental preparation – it is all so different to anywhere else. It is a case of you, on your own, against the circuit and the elements. You are not forced to ride here, you do it because you want to, and because you want to enjoy it,” Lougher added. Joining him in the Honda equipe is Richard Britton, who is racing in the event for the eighth year – the Ulsterman is long overdue success and sees this as his best year to take the top step of the podium, with probably his best chances coming in either the Supersport 600 or Superstock races. Martin Finnegan, a Manx Grand Prix winner, also has Honda Fireblade power, and should make a real impact with his maturing style. Honda have a strong pedigree on the Island, totalling 122 victories in their 44 years of competition, and they are backing their riders with top machinery again as they bid to head off the obvious threat of McGuinness and his Yamaha team-mate Jason Griffiths. “Really, I am focussed on winning, and there is talk about a 130mph lap, but for me a victory at the slowest speed necessary would suffice, though there will be some riders out there wanting to go faster,” explained McGuinness who will be riding in all five solo classes. However both marques faces a real threat to their supremacy from Adrian Archibald and Bruce Anstey aboard the TAS Suzukis. Archibald, from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, took a dominant double in 2003 in both the TTF1 and Senior events while last year he took Senior glory – he has lapped 126.82mph and is capable of more. Anstey, from New Zealand, enjoyed victory in last year’s 1000cc Production race amid five podium finishes, and he is raring to go following his superb victory, in difficult conditions of the feature race at the NorthWest 200. And, keep an eye on Ryan Farquhar who is determined to add to his single triumph at the TT as he rides the MSS Kawasaki in the Superbike and Senior races. On three wheels, Manxman Dave Molyneux will be aiming to add to his ten race winning pedigree, although 2002 World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenbock could have a big say in the outcome of the two races, as could Nick Crowe. Both crews race Honda powered outfits. The promise is for classic confrontations across the seven races as the event nears its century – while the first ever motorcycle race was held on the Island in May 1905, the first actual Isle of Man TT motorcycle race was staged in 1907 and the organisers of this year’s event are confident that their revisions will power the event forward into its next century. However, for lovers of class machines, and the historic flavour that is a vital part of the TT, there is a further new element with the introduction of the TT Classic Nostalgia Weekend following on from the end of the race programme. The racing programme is Saturday June 4. TT Superbike race – six laps Sidecar Race “A” – three laps Monday June 6. TT Superstock race – three laps Supersport Junior TT race “A” – four laps Wednesday June 8. Supersport Junior TT race “B” – four laps Sidecar Race “A” – three laps Friday June 10. Senior TT race – six laps

USGPRU announces the MotoGP Teen Challenge Odenton, MD. May 30, 2005 The USGPRU powered by AlwaysOnline.net today announced the MotoGP Teen Challenge. The USGPRU will be presenting MotoGP weekend passes to the top two high-school-aged riders from the USGPRU races at Portland International Raceway on June 25 & 26. Each winner will receive airfare, hotel, pit passes, and VIP access to the Red Bull US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, CA on July 8-10 for themselves and a parent. Working with industry partners the USGPRU has set up a program to get winners of the MotoGP Teen Challenge access to the superstars of the motorcycle racing world. “Our objective is to provide a MotoGP experience that they might not otherwise get,” said series president, Stewart Aitken-Cade. “By exposing them to a real GP environment, our hope is they will push even harder in their career with an ultimate goal of winning their own MotoGP race. The USGPRU looks forward to the day that one of our own graduates rides in the Red Bull US Grand Prix.” The 2005 USGPRU National Series sponsors include AlwaysOnline.net, Dialitintracktime.com, Acid Cigars, Roadracingworld.com, Revit Leathers, Bridgestone, Dunlop, EBC Brakes, GPC Moto, Hjelm Motorsports, Ian Emberton Engineering, Motion Pro Cables and Tools, Redline Cycle Imports, Repsol YPF, Rising Sun Cycles, Silkolene, Zambrana Performance, and VP Fuel. About USGPRU The USGPRU, Powered by AlwaysOnline.net, is the officially recognized Motorcycle 125 Grand Prix National Championship ® and 250 Grand Prix National Championship TM series. The USGPRU emulates true World MotoGP racing experience and serves to attract young riders to gain experience in a professional environment and provide a path to world-class motorcycle racing. The USGPRU structures events with extended length grand prix racing exclusive to the GP machines, timed qualifying and strong contingency and sponsor support. For additional details, visit www.USGPRU.net About Red Bull US Grand Prix The premier two wheel series; MotoGP makes its return to U.S. soil after over a decade at the historic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Races featuring the AMA Superbike and Superstock classes are the prelude to the marquee event, and additional activities will take place throughout the race weekend. More information is available at www.redbullusgrandprix.com

By Mike Solis AFM Round 3 @ Infineon Raceway David Stanton took a decisive victory in the Mach 1 Motorsports Formula Pacific race at Infineon Raceway last weekend, increasing his points lead in his bid for his Formula Pacific title defense. Stanton took the lead early in the race on his 2005 Arclight Suzuki GSX-R1000 and immediately opened up a gap on the rest of the field, crossing the line 11 seconds ahead of second place at the checkered flag. “I don’t play well with others so I do my best to run and hide when I can,” joked Stanton in his speech from the winner’s circle. “We went back to the stock forks, after struggling with the Superbike forks for the last few events. What a difference that made the bike actually goes where I want it to now!” Despite being at a 250cc disadvantage to the competition, Jon Bawden managed his first Formula Pacific podium with a second place finish. Two-time Formula Pacific champion Rob Mesa took the final spot on the podium, in his first ride on his 2005 GSX-R1000. Former AFM number one Jeff Tigert looked to challenge Stanton early in the race, moving his way up to third place before pulling off with mechanical problems on his Marin Cycleworks CBR1000RR. Tigert salvaged the weekend by taking the win in the Keigwins@theTrack 600 Production race later in the day, despite his 13th row grid spot in the 58th position. Jack Pfeifer had an excellent weekend, riding his Pirelli-shod Wheel Two Wheel Aprilia RSV1000 Mille to a first place finish in the Desmoto Sport Open Twins race. Class points leader Eric Gulbransen held the early lead on his Munroe Motors Ducati 749R, but lost the lead early in the race before eventually crashing out in Turn 9. Kurt Spencer was awarded the win in 650 Twins on his Twin Works Factory SV650, after BARF Racing’s Felipe Cabezas and Pacific Tracktime’s Michael Earnest crashed out of the top two positions. Cabezas and Earnest were two of seven riders who went down in a nasty oil spill in Turn 3. The next round of AFM action takes place on June 18-19 at Thunderhill Park in Willows California. AFM Round 3 May 30, 2005 Infineon Raceway Unofficial Results Mach 1 Motorsports Formula Pacific 1. David Stanton (Suz 1000) 2. Jon Bawden (Suz 750) 3. Rob Mesa (Suz 1000) 4. Jack Pfeifer (Apr 1000) 5. Chris Siglin (Suz 600) 6. Eric Gulbransen (Duc 749) Scuderia West Formula 1 1. Jon Bawden (Suz 750) 2. Jack Pfeifer (Apr 1000) 3. Garry Combs (Suz 750) 4. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 5. William Morton (Hon 250) 6. John Davis (Yam 250) Mazda Tech / Shawn Herrera Formula 2 1. John Davis (Yam 250) 2. William Morton (Hon 250) 3. Jeffry Hanford (Hon 250) 4. Sean Case (Hon 250) 5. Richard Denman (Hon 250) 6. Jove Shapiro (Yam 250) Formula 3 1. Carlos Neves (Hon 125) 2. Michael Jarrard (Hon 125) 3. Stephen Bowline (Hon 125) 4. Jonathan Schendel (Yam 125) 5. Mark Goodrich (Hon 125) 6. Jeffrey Lim (Hon 125) Zoom Zoom Trackdays Formula 4 1. Michael Lohmeyer (Hon 400) 2. Kurt Spencer (Suz 650) 3. Brian Long (Suz 650) 4. Jason Butler (Suz 650) 5. Shawn Reilly (HD 1200) 6. John Daker (Suz 650) Open Grand Prix 1. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 2. Scott Wilson (Suz 1000) 3. Robert Mesa (Suz 1000) 4. Kim Nakashima (Yam 1000) 5. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 6. Gary Stewart (Yam 1000) Hare Racing Open Superbike 1. David Stanton (Suz 1000) 2. Jack Pfeifer (Apr 1000) 3. Rob Mesa (Suz 1000) 4. Harley Barnes (Suz 1000) 5. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 6. Scott Wilson (Suz 1000) Dial It In Tracktime 750 Superbike 1. David Stanton (Suz 750) 2. Jon Bawden (Suz 750) 3. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 4. Garry Combs (Suz 750) 5. David Bell (Suz 750) 6. Jeremiah Grant (Suz 750) Pacific Tracktime 600 Superbike 1. Chris Siglin (Suz 600) 2. Grant Riggs (Yam 600) 3. Andy Carman (Yam 600) 4. John Daley (Yam 600) 5. Berto Wooldridge (Suz 600) 6. Kenny Carlotta (Suz 600) 450 Superbike 1. Tim Wheeler (Kaw 400) 2. Mike Lohmeyer (Hon 400) 3. Paul Yoshimune (Hon 450) 4. Kenyon Kluge (Hon 400) 5. Richard Moore (Yam 442) 6. Mark Elrod (Hon 400) Kilowatt Bar 250 Superbike 1. Jove Shapiro (Yam 250) 2. Cliff Farrar (Yam 250) 3. Shawn Herrera (Yam 250) 4. Tommy Okuhira (Yam 250) 5. Dylan Benjamin (Hon 250) 6. Clif Jordan (Apr 250) Take It 2 The Track Open Production 1. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 2. Mike Mullin (Suz 1000) 3. Kim Nakashima (Yam 1000) 4. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 5. James J. King (Suz 1000) 6. William Scott (Kaw 1000) Strictly Sport 750 Production 1. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 2. Craig Wierman (Suz 750) 3. Jeremiah Grant (Suz 750) 4. Don Rudolfs (Suz 750) 5. Alex Florea (Suz 750) 6. Gary Hatfield (Suz 750) Keigwins@thetrack 600 Production 1. Jeff Tigert (Hon 600) 2. Grant Riggs (Yam 600) 3. Andy Carman (Yam 600) 4. Kenny Carlotta (Suz 600) 5. Berto Wooldridge (Suz 600) 6. Mikey Judkins (Yam 600) 450 Production 1. Dave Norgard (Yam 400) 2. Douglas Goldman (Yam 400) 3. Peter Licht (Yam 400) 4. Karolyn Bachelor (Yam 400) 5. Ross Wells (Yam 400) 6. Ed Yoast (Yam 400) Aftershocks Suspension 250 Production 1. Jay Kinberger (Kaw 250) 2. David Crone (Hon 250) 3. Bob Simmons (Kaw 250) 4. John Anner (Kaw 250) 5. Rick Cramer (Kaw 250) 6. Thomas Hicks (Hon 250) Desmoto Sport Open Twins 1. Jack Pfeifer (Apr 1000) 2. Brian Long (Suz 1000) 3. Bud Anderson (Hon 1000) 4. Kurt Spencer (Suz 1000) 5. Scott Schwanbeck (Apr 1000) 6. Simon Williams (Duc 998) 650 Twins 1. Kurt Spencer (Suz 650) 2. Brian Long (Suz 650) 3. Jason Butler (Suz 650) 4. John Daker (Suz 650) 5. Michael Metcalf (Suz 650) 6. Michael Rosa (Suz 650) 500 Twins 1. Bobby Lee Broussard (Suz 500) 2. Jon Forman (Suz 500) 3. Jay Jacobsen (Suz 500) 4. Joe Sickle (Suz 500) 5. Josuf Zobairi (AND 500) 6. Patrick Aldinger (Kaw 500) Formula Singles 1. Jeffry Schnapp (Yam 700) 2. Chris Keane (Hon 450) 3. Charles Statman (Hon 650) 4. Chris Van Andel (Hon 450) Super Dinosaur 1. Ross Wells (Yam 400) 2. David Worthington (Suz 750) 3. Dave Norgard (Yam 400) 4. Rob Mac Castro Jr (Yam 400) 5. David Crussel (Kaw 748) Theresa McKinney Realtor Formula 40 1. Mike Thompson (Yam 1000) 2. Greg Davis (Yam 1000) 3. Gary Stewart (Yam 1000) 4. Pete Demas (Suz 600) 5. Bud Anderson (Hon 1000) 6. Jeff Gruetter (Hon 1000) Vintage 251-500 1. Charles Sexton (Bul 250) 2. Eirik Nielsen (Hon 160) 3. Chris Page (Hon 160) 4. Richard Weidenback (CA 250) 5. Michael Polkabla (Hon 160) 6. Dean Willoughby (Hon 160) Vintage 501-Open 1. David Crussel (Kaw 748) 2. Mick Hart (Hon 600) 3. Tom Mellor (Tri 750) 4. Duncan Craick (SEE 750) 5. Robert Blum (Hon 750) 6. John Martin (Nor 750) More, from a press release issued by Scuderia West: Jack Pfeifer and Scuderia West A Winning Pair! AFM round 3 / May 29, 2005 Infineon Raceway In Sunday’s third round of the the AFM series Scuderia West’s Jack Pfeifer showed the true potential of the Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory. Open Twins 1ST Formula 1 2ND Open SuperBike 2ND Formula Pacific 4TH Taking the lead on the first lap of the Formula One race Jack held the lead for the first four laps to end up second to John Bawden in Jack’s first race of the day. Later on Jack knocked two full seconds off of last month’s times while holding off Rob Mesa on his new GSXR 1000 to finish second behind the GSXR of Dave Stanton in the Open Superbike race. A small mechanical glitch prevented a repeat in Formula Pacific where Jack was forced to short shift the bike from the second lap on to finish 4th behind Stanton, Bowden and Mesa in the day’s premier race Finally, with the electrical gremlins cleared for the Open Twins race Jack was able to take the top spot in his final race of the day. Eric Gulbransen took the holeshot only to have Jack come by exiting the carousel before turn 7. A late braking effort by Gulbransen in turn 9 ended the Ducati challenge for the day and Jack took the win by some 24 seconds at the end. Scuderia’s Scott Schwanbeck moved up a spot this month to claim 5th. Jack now takes control of the points lead in the Aprilia USA contingency class with a better position for collecting the $10,000 purse at the end of the year. Be sure to look for Jack and the Archille’s racing/Scuderia West Pirelli sponsored Aprilia, and don’t be afraid to stop by and say hello. See you at the races!