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!

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM PREVIEW Italian Grand Prix Mugello, Italy 3rd, 4th & 5th June 2005 GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO HOME GRAND PRIX The Gauloises Yamaha Team’s MotoGP World Championship challenge resumes this weekend with the team in better shape than ever ahead of their home event, the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. Whilst a brief two-week respite has given riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards a vital opportunity to recharge their batteries, the team’s engineers have taken the chance to make further improvements to their YZR-M1 machines on the back of a valuable day of tests after the last round at Le Mans. The stop-start nature of the French circuit and the tight and twisty turns of Shanghai will be a distant memory as the riders now prepare to tackle three of the fastest racetracks in the world – Mugello, Catalunya and Assen over the next four weekends. The characteristics of the circuits will provide a wholly different challenge for the YZR-M1 and the team has worked specifically to adapt the machines accordingly in the recent test. Rossi reported positively on new engine parts that the factory’s engineers are now aiming to incorporate to the bikes in time for Mugello, a circuit that demands optimum horsepower down the second longest straight on the calendar measuring some 1,141m. Meanwhile, work has been continuing on the swiftly improving electronics and engine mapping as the engineers look to optimise the bike’s acceleration capabilities, with the riders aiming to hit incredible top speeds of over 330km/h. Whilst progress continues to be made with their machines, the riders are also growing in stature with every Grand Prix that goes by and they arrive in Italy in confident moods after a dominant showing at the last round in France, where they took the front two places on the starting grid and both finished on the podium in the race. Whilst Rossi’s third victory from four races extended his championship lead to 37 points over Marco Melandri (Honda), third place for Edwards saw him close in on fifth overall and made further steps up the championship standings ladder a realistic target over the coming weeks. As well as consolidating the riders’ positions in the World Championship standings, their success at Le Mans also extended the Gauloises Yamaha Team lead in the Teams’ World Championship and kept Yamaha on top in the Manufacturers’ rankings. It is an ideal base for the team to work from at Mugello, which lies deep in the Tuscan hills just over 300 kilometres from the team’s base at Gerno di Lesmo, near Milan. VALENTINO ROSSI: A BUSY WEEKEND AHEAD! As arguably the biggest name in Italian sport at the moment, Valentino Rossi is in for another busy weekend as his home Grand Prix brings a host of extra pressures. As well as an expectant capacity crowd, the demands of the local media are sure to make life harder for the reigning World Champion. “Mugello is always the busiest weekend of the year for me, but the most important thing is what happens on the track” explained Rossi, who took victory for Yamaha in a rain-interrupted race at Mugello last season. “Of course Mugello is very special because it is my home race, and I hope a lot of people will come. Last year was unbelievable it was hard to explain the emotion I felt when I heard the crowds cheering for me on the last few laps. It’s nice to arrive there on top of the championship and hopefully we can put on a good show.” After an energy-sapping start to the season, his best since 2002, Rossi says he was glad of the chance to relax for the past two weekends and is now ready to return to his best form at a crucial stage of the campaign. “We’ve had an extra week of holiday which has been really important because now we have three races coming up in four weekends, at Mugello, Catalunya and Assen, and they will all be very hard. When you have a few races so close together a lot of things can change in a short space of time, so it is important to keep the concentration and continue in the way we have started the season. “The test in Le Mans has given us some good things to take to Mugello and hopefully we’ll be able to use the new engine parts there and put to practice the things we’ve learnt. We continued to work on the general set-up and also tested some new tyres with Michelin, from which we found some good options to use in Mugello. We tried quite a lot of new things that I think will help us in Mugello so I am feeling positive.” COLIN EDWARDS: ONE STEP AT A TIME Colin Edwards arrives in Mugello as one of Rossi’s biggest rivals for victory, having finally broken his run of early season bad luck with a thrilling ride at Le Mans. The American led the way for much of the race in France before taking a creditable third place, his first podium appearance for Yamaha in MotoGP. He will not be short of local backing himself after making a lasting impression on Italian race fans with a title-clinching victory over Troy Bayliss in a breathtaking final round of the World Superbike series in 2002. “I’ve got a lot of fans in Italy after the win at Imola in 2002 and I always enjoy going back there,” says Edwards. “My chief mechanic is Italian, most of the team are too and we’re based just down the road from Mugello, so it’s a big race to do well in. Obviously it is Valentino’s home Grand Prix, which also makes it special. It pretty much goes crazy wherever he is in the world, so in Italy it should be bananas!” Like Rossi, Edwards’ progress at Le Mans extended to the extra day of testing as he concentrated his work on suspension and tyres. With Yamaha’s engineers endeavouring to provide the new engine parts for both riders at Mugello, the weekend should see more steps forward for the 31-year-old. “At the test we played around with the suspension and the mapping to try to find ways to make the bike easier to ride and more forgiving. It’s definitely getting better. We tested some tyres, found a new front that we’re happy with and spent a lot of time on the settings, so that we can hopefully just fire away when we get to Mugello. “I’m 100% positive that we’ve found a good setting to enable us to get there and be quick from the start just like we did at Le Mans. It’s been a tough start to the year for me but a lot of things came together in France and now we just want to take the next step on from there.” DAVIDE BRIVIO: BUSINESS AS USUAL Gauloises Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio admits the Italian Grand Prix is a special occasion – with family, friends and fans all set to descend on the Mugello paddock in their droves. However, the Italian recognises the importance of keeping his team’s focus on events on the track and says it will be business as usual once practice gets underway on Friday morning. “I don’t know about our biggest race of the year, but it’s definitely our busiest!” admits Brivio. “Many of the team members are Italian from Valentino all the way through to the staff so it will be a special atmosphere this weekend. It will be difficult to work in the paddock but at the same time it is always nice to know that there are so many fans supporting our riders. “Essentially, when the red lights go out at 2pm on Sunday we could be at any racetrack in the world, so we have to be sure that we are as prepared as we would be anywhere else. That means doing everything right from the first practice session. “This is the best shape we have been in all season we are leading the standings for the riders, the teams and the factory; the bike is constantly improving and both our riders are full of confidence after Le Mans. The target for us now is to maintain that level of performance and keep improving. “Hopefully the new engine parts we tested at Le Mans can be ready in time for Mugello, because it is a track where you need a lot of horsepower. Yamaha’s engineers are very busy trying to adapt the bike and it will be an interesting opportunity to compare our progress.” BLAST FROM THE PAST: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF YAMAHA GLORY Valentino Rossi’s memorable win at Mugello last year was the factory’s first at the Italian racetrack since the legendary Wayne Rainey swept his YZR500 to victory at the twelfth round of the 1991 season. Rainey’s win at the San Marino Grand Prix came at a crucial point of his first World Championship title defence and is fondly remembered by the Californian for the unique atmosphere generated by motorcycle fans in Italy. “Racing in Italy is very special because the passion the Italians have for motorcycle racing is like nowhere else in the world,” says Rainey. “I always felt that, unlike other nationalities that simply enjoy watching racing, the Italians actually understand what it is that we do. “In particular, the atmosphere at Mugello is incredible. The paddock is set down in the valley and I remember lying awake in my motorhome at night because of the amount of noise they were making in the hills surrounding the circuit. I didn’t care about losing sleep though it just felt so neat to be a part of it!” Whilst the huge crowds bank around the hills that surround the picturesque Mugello circuit, the track weaves and twists its way delightfully around the bottom of the valley and, Rainey remembers, it gave him the opportunity to escape from perennial pursuers Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan. The win also came at a crucial point of his first World Championship title defence, striking a psychological blow over the pair with just three rounds remaining. “I always remember the track layout because it had so many uphill and downhill sections, which a lot of tracks didn’t have at the time, and a very long straight where Kevin and Mick were able to catch me up! We were a bit down on top speed to them but the chassis and engine set-up we had were perfect and I was able to get away in the twisty sections. “I won six races that season and when you are fighting for a championship they are all as valuable as each other, but the Mugello win definitely came at a good time. I think it gave the whole team a massive boost just when we needed it and probably damaged the psyche of my competitors too. It gave us confidence for the end of the season and I was able to retain the title by taking a win and a podium in the next two rounds. I was very proud to win a race at Mugello.” TECHNICALLY SPEAKING At 5.245km the Mugello circuit is one of the longer contemporary MotoGP circuits, in no small part due to the fact that, unlike many other classically sculpted tracks, it has retained its original length and layout. Running across two sides of an impossibly scenic Tuscan valley, Mugello also differs from other super fast circuits in its frequent changes of gradient and the speed of its chicanes. There is a mix of slower and high-speed corners, although even the slowest corners are wide, allowing several ‘ideal’ lines. Having foregone the modern tendency to reduce speeds by creating ‘bus stops’, Mugello’s four significant chicanes are taken at a relatively high pace. Balancing out the need for firmer suspension on the high-speed sections, which compress front and rear suspension due to centrifugal forces, is the requirement for enough pliability to give tyre side grip and traction around the slower off-camber corners. The suspension set-up quest is further complicated by the fact that on one section of the track the approach to the corners is uphill, on the other half downhill, altering the parameters in the search for ideal spring and compression damping rates. Horsepower is a significant factor, with the long Mugello straight a possible passing place at top speeds of over 330kmph. Good top speed aside, the rideability and balance of the machine have to be second-to-none at Mugello, such are its spread of corners. A magnificent but stern test of the complete machine, Mugello demands perfection lap after lap, but rewards precise and spirited riding. VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION Age: 26 Lives: London, UK Bike: Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 GP victories: 71 (32 x MotoGP, 13 x 500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc) First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc) First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc) GP starts: 144 (52 x MotoGP, 32 x 500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc) Pole positions: 37 World Championships 6 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 3 x MotoGP) Mugello 2004 results (Yamaha): Grid: 3rd, Race: 1st COLIN EDWARDS: INFORMATION Age: 31 Lives: Conroe, Texas Bike: Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 GP victories: – First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP) GP starts: 36 Pole positions: – First pole: – World Championships – 2 World Superbike Mugello 2004 results (Honda): Grid: 12, Race: 12 Mugello MotoGP lap record: Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1:51.133 – 2004; Circuit best lap: Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1:49.553 2004.

DUCATI MARLBORO MEN ‘A TUTTO GAS’. The Ducati Marlboro Team comes home to Italy for some full-throttle action around majestic Mugello, arguably MotoGP’s greatest racetrack. Urged on by Italian oxygen and the cheers of the Ducatisti, the Bologna-based squad is ready to achieve the results that recent events have promised but not delivered. Riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa have both shown impressive speed at various stages during the first four GPs, they just need a little luck to bring them back to the front of the pack. “Both guys are very motivated and confident for the Italian GP,” says Ducati MotoGP project leader Livio Suppo. “We had a good test session at Le Mans after the French GP. We tried tyres that worked really well, with good durability. The weather so far this year has been dreadful – four GPs and three affected by rain – so we are really hoping for four hours of dry practice and then a dry race at Mugello. It would be fantastic to give the 3000 fans in the Ducati Grandstand a great performance!”. Mugello should be a great track for the team’s awesomely quick Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5. The circuit is fast and flowing, the kind of layout that really suits the GP5’s character. “I think the bike is well suited to Mugello,” affirms Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “The track’s dominant features are its fast straight and high-speed chicanes. But it’s a very complete circuit, with uphill and downhill sections, so you need a well-balanced bike. For sure it will be a crazy weekend with all the fans around, but we are looking forward to it.” Of course, the Ducati Marlboro Team can count on the support of thousands of Ducatisti who will throng the hillsides around the high-speed track. There’s even a special Ducati grandstand for 3000 Ducatisti at Correntaio, the 180-degree right-hander that sees riders begin the run back to the final corner. CAPIROSSI – ‘ARRABBIATA IS A REAL THRILL!’ An Italian rider on an Italian bike at an Italian racetrack – all eyes will be on Loris Capirossi at Mugello. But the 32-year-old Ducati Marlboro Team man is used to the pressures of racing in front of his countrymen, this is his 16th Italian Grand Prix. “Mugello is a great track and I still have great memories of 2003, when we finished second on the first Desmosedici,” smiles Capirossi. “I love the track, so does the bike and I’m confident that the Bridgestones will be really good there. Mugello is always a major challenge for riders and engineers, because there is so much to understand. You need a very well-balanced bike, so you have confidence to attack the fast, downhill corners with negative camber and bumps. My favourite part of the circuit is Arrabbiata, especially the final part, because it’s really fast, bumpy and difficult, plus the exit over the brow of the hill is totally blind. When you get it right it’s a real thrill!” Capirossi won the premier-class Italian GP in 2000 and finished second in 2001 and 2003. CHECA – FEELING FAST AND COMFORTABLE Carlos Checa comes to Mugello determined to put a recent run of bad luck behind him. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider has run an impressive pace at the last three GPs but hasn’t been able to show what he can do when it really counts – in the race. “I’ve always really liked the character of the Mugello circuit, and I think it should work well for the Ducati and me,” he says. “The track is very fast and so is the bike! It should go well there, though we’ll be working to improve the way the bike steers through the high-speed changes of direction. This is one area of performance we’ve been working on, though overall the bike is performing really well for me at the moment. I feel really fast and comfortable on it – all I need now is a little luck! We are also working on tyres with Bridgestone, they’re doing a good job, always moving forward. It will be great to race a Ducati in Italy for the first time. I know the fans really get into it at Mugello, so I want a really good result for them and, of course, for Ducati and myself.” Checa has scored one podium finish at Mugello, taking second place in the 2000 Italian GP. THE TRACK Mugello is one of the best events of the MotoGP season – a challenging, high-speed circuit situated in a stunningly beautiful Tuscan valley packed with thousands of enthusiastic fans. And just for good measure, the breathtaking Renaissance city of Florence is just down the road and the whole area is full of great restaurants and trattorias. The track features one of the world’s longest straights, where the fastest bikes exceed 330kmh, giving the Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici a chance to really stretch its legs. The fast and flowing circuit is one of the most demanding, with a thrilling blend of high-speed turns, rapid direction changes and plentiful off-camber corners. Mugello’s complexities are further heightened by a bumpy surface, which, combined with numerous adverse-camber corners, makes front-tyre choice particularly crucial. Mugello has been popular ever since it joined the GP calendar full-time in 1991, first as the San Marino round and then as the Italian GP. The circuit hosted its first bike GP in 1976 but only became a regular venue after total refurbishment in the early nineties. Mugello first hosted street races in 1914, when the course ran through local towns and villages. Pole position 2004: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 1m 49.553s Lap record (2004): Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1m 51.133s (169.905kmh/105.574kmh) DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS LORIS CAPIROSSI Age: 32 (born April 4, 1973) Lives: Monaco Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 GP victories: 23 (1xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125) First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125) First GP: Japan, 1990 (125) GP starts: 220 (50xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125) Pole positions: 36 (3xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125) First pole: Australia, 1991 (125) World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998) Mugello 2004 results: Grid: 8th. Race: 8th CARLOS CHECA Age: 32 (born October 15, 1972) Lives: London, England Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 GP victories: 2 (500) First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500) First GP: Europe, 1993 (125) GP starts: 172 (52xMotoGP, 92×500, 27×250, 1×125) Pole positions: 3 (2xMotoGP, 1×500) First pole: Spain, 1998 (500) Mugello 2004 results: Grid: 11th. Race: DNF

Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood took three pole positions, set two new class lap records and broke the overall track record during Formula USA qualifying Sunday at Summit Point Raceway, in West Virginia. Riding his GSX-R600 shod with DOT-labeled Dunlop Sportmax GP tires, Wood took the Sportbike (600cc) pole position with a new class lap record of 1:14.814. Riding the same bike fitted with 16.5-inch wheels and Dunlop slicks, which upset his set-up slightly, Wood took the Superbike (600cc) pole position with 1:14.930. Wood saved his best for last, however, in the 15-minute Formula Sportbike (750cc) qualifying session. Riding his GSX-R750, Wood turned a lap at 1:14.317, which not only secured pole position for Monday’s race, but also broke Robert Jensen’s overall track record time of 1:14.401, set on a Yamaha YZF-R1 during a WERA National Challenge event in 2004. “I’m happy we got the lap record,” said Wood, whose on-board lap timer showed an even quicker lap time. “We’ve got the right spot to start the races from. Hopefully, we can get some holeshots, put some steady laps in and win tomorrow.” Wood currently leads the F-USA Sportbike, Superbike and Formula Sportbike Championship point standings after two rounds. In addition to earning front-row starts in Sportbike, Superbike and Formula Sportbike, Jensen took pole position for the Unlimited Grand Prix while using well-worn DOT-labeled Michelins on his Kneedraggers.com Suzuki GSX-R750. Harding Harley-Davidson/Buell’s Dave Estok topped Thunderbike qualifying with a lap of 1:19.460 on his Pirelli-equipped XB12R. Formula USA Qualifying Results: Sportbike (600cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 1:14.814; 2. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.202; 3. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.075; 4. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:16.179; 5. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600), 1:16.298; 6. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.694; 7. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6), 1:17.218; 8. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R600), 1:17.341; 9. Trey Yonce (Yam YZF-R6), 1:18.510; 10. Chad Klock (Hon CBR600), 1:18.678. Superbike (600cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 1:14.930; 2. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.703; 3. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.113; 4. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:16.241; 5. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600), 1:16.507; 6. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.727; 7. Donny Kelley (Suz GSX-R600), 1:18.028; 8. Tim Bemisderfer (Hon CBR600RR), 1:18.508; 9. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6), 1:18.832; 10. Chris Rockwell (Yam YZF-R6), 1:19.243. Formula Sportbike (750cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R750), 1:14.317; 2. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R750), 1:14.778; 3. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R600), 1:15.657; 4. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R750), 1:15.785; 5. Jesse Janisch (Suz GSX-R750), 1:15.860; 6. Joseph Spina (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.075; 7. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.150; 8. Michael Garofalo (Suz GSX-R750), 1:17.069; 9. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6), 1:17.153; 10. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R750), 1:17.674. Thunderbike: 1.Dave Estok (Buell XB12R), 1:19.470; 2. David Yaakov (Suz SV650), 1:19.770; 3. Clint Brotz (Buell XB12R), 1:19.907; 4. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell XB12R), 1:19.978; 5. Edward Repkoe (Suz SV650), 1:21.455; 6. Walt Sipp (Buell XB12R), 1:21.464; 7. Randy Rega (Buell XB12R), 1:21.469; 8. Nate Kern (BMW), 1:21.629; 9. Dan Bilansky (Buell XB12R), 1:21.642; 10. Sam Rozynski (Buell XB12R), 1:22.118. Unlimited Grand Prix: 1. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750), 1:15.842; 2. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.113; 3. Ryan Gordon (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.582; 4. Michael Garofalo (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.673; 5. Tim Bemisderfer (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:16.870; 6. Jesse Janisch (Suz GSX-R750), 1:17.024; 7. David Loikits (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:17.865; 8. Michael Swank (Yam YZF-R1), 1:19.073; 9. Joseph Riberio (Suz GSX-R750), 1:19.728; 10. Jonathan Lawrence (Yam YZF-R6), 1:20.260.

Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood won two CCS races Sunday at Summit Point Raceway, in Summit Point, West Viriginia. Riding his Dunlop-shod GSX-R600, Wood grabbed the holeshot in the Middleweight Supersport sprint and steadily pulled away to win the seven-lap race by approximately nine seconds. Wood’s teammate Scott Harwell finished second, beating Champion Martin Moto Yamaha’s Michael Himmelsbach and Argo Cycles Kawasaki’s Scott Greenwood. Wood returned three races later in Heavyweight Supersport and, again, topped his teammate Harwell by two seconds, breaking the overall track record in the process. Harwell made a last-lap pass on World GSX-R Cup Champion Robert Jensen to secure second. Jensen, who is recovering from a big crash in wet conditions Saturday, finished third. Earlier in the day, Jensen rode his Michelin-fitted Kneedraggers.com Suzuki GSX-R750 to victory in GTO, and Himmelsbach bounced back to capture the Middleweight Superbike win. Other CCS race winners Sunday at Summit Point Raceway included: Harding H-D/Buell’s Dave Estok in Thunderbike, Stewart Aitken-Cade in 125cc Grand Prix, William Dietz in Ultra Light Superbike, Main Line BMW’s Nate Kern in Lightweight Supersport, Joey Thomas in Lightweight Superbike, Steve Keener in Lightweight Superbike, Tapeworks Graphics’ Russell Masecar in SuperTwins and Joseph Spina in Unlimited Superbike. Racers lucky to escape big crashes Sunday were Art Diaz and Ray Bowman, who both crashed at high speed in turn four. Diaz’s Buell tumbled down the track end-over-end, and Bowman’s 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 literally broke in half at the main frame spars when it hit a tire-fronted wall outside the turn. Both walked away from their respective crashes. Saturday’s CCS race winners included: Wood in Unlimited Supersport and GTU, Diaz in Formula 40 Lightweight, Randy Rega in Formula 40 and Kern in GT Lights. In addition, Team Performance Cycle’s Ray Bowman and Joe Romano won Saturday’s red-flag-shortened Formula USA Team Challenge, completing 54 laps on their Suzuki GSX-R1000. Team Yochum Motorsports (Shawn Conrad, Calvin Martinez, Kevin Gordon and Nate Kern) finished second overall and retained the F-USA Team Challenge Championship Point lead over Team Fast Lane Racing (Kevin Tate, Rick Beggs, David Hackenberry and Pete Moravek), which was third overall in the endurance event. More, from a press release issued by Main Line BMW: Main Line BMW Team Pro Motion Sportbike Club sponsored racer Nate Kern wins GTL and LWSS by 5 seconds at Summit Point Raceway on the a BMW Boxer Cup bike. Later in the day Kern was stripped of another 5 + second victory in LWGP when his bike went on track without a transponder!? In LWSB Kern lost his 3 second lead on fading 65 lap tires to finish 2nd. Later in the day Nate entered the big BMW in the MWSS race against 600’s and finished 16th out 40+ riders in the field. Nate’s BMWs are prepared by Michael Peter of Main Line BMW. The team has worked hard to get the dry weight down to 469lbs. and puts out 80RWHP on the former Boxer Cup machine. Kern and his sponsors are looking forward to a successful rest of the weekend. Main Line BMW Team Pro Motion Sportbike Club rider Nate Kern and team has had Vincent Haskovec in their thoughts and prayers all weekend. The talk of sympathy and support for Vincent over the PA system and in the paddock at Summit Point Raceway this weekend has been inspiring.

COATES GRABS SUZUKI GSX-R CUP WIN May 29, 2005. British ‘wild card’ rider Adrian Coates won the second round of the 2005 Suzuki GSX-R750 European Cup at Silverstone today, but it was runner-up, South African Hudson Kennaugh who scooped the maximum 25 points. Kennaugh made a superb start and led the 25-rider field away at the beginning of the 12-lap race. At the end of lap one, Coates – who wasn’t eligible for points – David Johnson, Carmelo Morales and Ismael Ortega led the charge behind with Coates pushing harder and harder as the race progressed. But although Coates turned on the pressure, Kennaugh led until the ninth lap when the British rider surged to the front. Kennaugh stayed with the Briton and waited for an opportunity: He closed in many times but was unable to make the decisive move back into the lead. In the end, Coates crossed the line nearly two seconds ahead of Kennaugh with Johnson third just a fraction of a second behind. Third place went to another ‘wild card’ Johnson with Spaniard Morales fourth ahead of fellow countrymen Ortega and first round winner David Salom, France’s David Fouloi, Italian Danilo Dell’omo, Briton Robert Barber and Italian ‘wild card’ Simone Castellani. Said Coates: “I got a good start but Kennaugh went past me off the start. I sat in behind and found a couple of places where I was faster and planned to use these at the end of the race but Morales passed me. I sat in behind him for few laps then passed him and Kennaugh, then banged in a couple of fast laps and then a steady last lap. “I’m very pleased and had a great weekend. This is a brilliant championship and we were treated like kings and thanks to Suzuki GB and Andy Parr for offering me the opportunity to ride.” Johnson said: “It was a tight race. I thought it was all over when Morales ran in to me into the ‘Esses’ on the first lap! Other than that it was a tidy race and I’m glad to get my first international podium.” Barber, who now holds eighth in the series said: “The race went well and I’ve got on really well with the tyre change. The last lap was one of the best I’ve ever done and there is loads more to come from me and the bike.” British Team Manager and Suzuki GB representative Andy Parr was delighted with his riders’ performances and said: “I’m obviously really pleased with how things have gone this weekend. The results couldn’t have been better: Kennaugh and Morales gave us one or two scares through the race but it just goes to show the amount of talent there is in the Suzuki European Cup. Many of these riders wouldn’t be out of place on the WSB grid!” The third round of the GSX-R European Cup takes place at the Misano World Superbike Championship round in Italy on June 26th. Silverstone Results: 1 Adrian Coates (GB), 2 Hudson Kennaugh (South Africa), 3 David Johnson (GB), 4 Carmelo Morales (Spain), 5 Ismael Ortega (Spain), 6 David Salom (Spain), 7 David Fouloi (France), 8 Danilo Dell’omo (Italy), 9 Robert Barber (GB), 10 Simone Castellani (Italy). Championship Points (after 2 of 5 rounds): 1 Hudson Kennaugh (South Africa) 45, 2 David Salom (Spain) 38, 3 Carmelo Morales (Spain) 33, 4 David Fouloi (France) 27, 5 Ismael Ortega (Spain) 25, 6 Joshua Noel Forster (Australia) 16, 7 Dominic Lammert (Germany) 14, 8 Robert Barber (GB) 13, 9 Mike Edwards (GB) 11, 10 Xavier Simeon (Belgium) 11.