1. Mattia PASINI, Apr, 1:51.538 2. Thomas LUTHI, Hon, 1:51.547 3. Marco SIMONCELLI, Apr, 1:52.005 4. Gabor TALMACSI, KTM, 1:52.405 5. Hector FAUBEL, Apr, 1:52.545 6. Fabrizio LAI, Hon, 1:52.567 7. Pablo NIETO, Der, 1:52.764 8. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 1:52.811 9. Julian SIMON, KTM, 1:52.984 10. Tomoyoshi KOYAMA, Hon, 1:52.997 11. Manuel POGGIALI, Gil, 1:53.036 12. Lukas PESEK, Der, 1:53.078 13. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Apr, 1:53.113 14. Mike DI MEGLIO, Hon, 1:53.322 15. Raffael DE ROSA, Apr, 1:53.387 16. Imre TOTH, Apr, 1:53.467 17. Toshihisa KUZUHARA, Hon, 1:53.474 18. Julian MIRALLES, Apr, 1:53.638 19. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Hon, 1:53.713 20. Federico SANDI, Hon, 1:53.777

British Superbike Test Brands Hatch Indy Circuit Unofficial Tuesday Afternoon Practice Times: 1. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Hon CBR1000RR, 45.973 seconds 2. Sean Emmett, Yam YZF-R1, 46.174 seconds 3. Gregorio Lavilla, Suz GSX-R1000, 46.405 seconds 4. Michael Rutter, Hon CBR1000RR, 46.447 seconds 5. Karl Harris, Hon CBR1000RR, 46.733 seconds 6. Scott Smart, Suz GSX-R1000, 46.853 seconds 7. Gary Mason, Hon CBR1000RR, 46.857 seconds 8. Jeremy McWilliams, Hon CBR1000RR, 47.164 seconds 9. Tommy Hill, Yam YZF-R1, 47.460 seconds 10. Michael Laverty, Hon CBR1000RR, 47.501 seconds 11. Ben Wilson, Kaw ZX-10R, 47.541 seconds 12. John McGuinness, Yam YZF-R1, 47.557 seconds 13. James Buckingham, Suz GSX-R1000, 47.586 seconds 14. John Laverty, Hon CBR1000RR, 47.638 seconds 15. Tristan Palmer, Kaw ZX-10R, 47.871 seconds 16. Stuart Easton, Duc 999RS, 47.890 seconds 17. Eugene Laverty, Hon CBR1000RR, 47.920 seconds 18. Jonathan Rea, Hon CBR1000RR, 47.955 seconds 19. Danny Beaumont, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.112 seconds 20. Dennis Hobbs, Yam YZF-R1, 48.142 seconds More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki: Rizla Suzuki relaxed as pre-season testing finishes RIZLA SUZUKI racer Scott Smart finished pre-season testing at Brands Hatch today and is in a relaxed mood for the start of the racing season in just two week’s time. The 28-year-old York based Londoner set the sixth fastest time during the cloudy test sessions and made significant progress in developing the GSX-R1000K5 to match his all-action riding style. Former Suzuki World Superbike star Gregorio Lavilla joined Rizla Suzuki to test alongside Scott and his feedback has helped accelerate the development of the all-new GSX-R1000K5. Finishing third on the time sheets, he has also been measured to fit the motorcycle in case Rizla Suzuki’s British Champion John Reynolds, who is recovering from a broken right leg sustained in testing last month, is unable to race at the opening round. The Official British Superbike Championship Series Launch takes place at the Audi Forum in London tomorrow, Wednesday, March 16th, and the team will be in attendance. The first round of the 2005 Championship is at Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent on Bank Holiday Monday, March 28th. Scott Smart: “We have used this test very productively. For us today wasn’t about outright lap times, it was about getting the best possible setting for Brands Hatch Indy circuit for when we come to race here at the opening round in a fortnight. “On race tyres and riding within myself, we are right on the pace. We will just get faster and faster as we complete more laps and there is still a lot of pure performance to come from the GSX-R1000K5 – we have only scratched the surface! “I didn’t go flat out today, there are no points for finishing first in testing. When we come back here to race though, I’ll not be holding back and I think we have a package with my GSX-R1000 and Rizla Suzuki team that is going to be difficult to beat. I can’t wait for the racing.” Gregorio Lavilla: “The Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000K5 is a very fast motorcycle and I have enjoyed riding it. Thank you to Rizla Suzuki for inviting me to this test. We finished the day with a faster setting than when we started, which is good progress and helps the team.” Niall Mackenzie, Team Performance Co-ordinator: “Rizla Suzuki has taken another step forward in the development of the GSX-R1000K5 and we are getting quicker with every lap completed. “Scott is happy with his set-up and dialing himself in nicely on his Rizla Suzuki. We tried a few specific changes to his bike and have a direction to follow when we return here in two weeks time for the first round of the Championship. “Our thanks to Gregorio for joining us, his feedback has been invaluable. It has been a big benefit having a second rider on our bike getting through some hard testing work. “JR came to support the team this morning and is keener than ever to be racing at the opening round after watching Gregorio and Scott on track. He plans to be with his doctors for the rest of the week receiving specialist treatment and Alpinestars is providing him with a reinforced boot in a bid to help him to race at the opening round. All our fingers are crossed for JR, we want him defending his title from the off.” Brands Hatch test times: 1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 45.973, 2: Sean Emmett (Yamaha) +0.201, 3: GREGORIO LAVILLA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.432, 4: Michael Rutter (Honda) + 0.474, 5: Karl Harris (Honda) +0.760, 6: SCOTT SMART (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.880

Lüthi sets pace on first day of official 125cc test Swiss teenager Thomas Lüthi was the quickest 125cc rider on the first day of official tests at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday. The Honda youngster, preparing for his fourth season in the World Championship, set a time of 1:52.789 to oust Aprilia rival Mattia Pasini from top spot after the Italian had dominated the time sheets for much of a cloudy but dry day. “This is a track I really like and the conditions today were perfect for testing,” commented Lüthi, who enjoyed his best ever career finish at this circuit with second place after a last-lap battle for victory with eventual World Champion Dani Pedrosa in 2003. “I had a small crash but it was nothing serious and I was able to get back on the bike and set my fastest time,” he continued. “Last season was a bit of a disaster for me but I have worked hard over the winter to make sure I am in top physical shape. I had a plate removed from my collarbone two weeks ago and I feel great. Hopefully this can be a good season for myself and the team.” With bright sunshine emerging for the final hour of the test, the majority of riders lapped until the track closed at 6pm. It provided an entertaining end to the day’s action, with riders from five different factories establishing their top six credentials for what promises to be another open and entertaining season. Whilst Gabor Talmacsi is entering his first season as a factory rider with KTM, former World Champion Manuel Poggiali returns to the class with Gilera, the factory with which he won the title in 2001, and Pablo Nieto is back at Derbi, where he made his entrance to Grand Prix back in 1999. Mattia Pasini and Marco Simoncelli, meanwhile, are two of Aprilia’s main hopes for glory, with the former having being crowned Rookie of the Year last season whilst the latter clinched his first victory at Jerez. The 125cc official test continues on Wednesday until 14.00h before making way for their 250cc counterparts. The premier-class MotoGP machines take to the track for three days of tests on Friday morning at 10.00h. 125cc Test Times: 1. Thomas LUTHI, Hon, 1:52.789 2. Mattia PASINI, Apr, 1:52.797 3. Gabor TALMACSI, KTM, 1:52.879 4. Marco SIMONCELLI, Apr, 1:53.022 5. Manuel POGGIALI, Gil, 1:53.117 6. Pablo NIETO, Derbi, 1:53.163 7. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 1:53.191 8. Mike DI MEGLIO, Hon, 1:53.201 9. Fabrizio LAI, Hon, 1:53.348 10. Hector FAUBEL, Apr, 1:53.357 11. Julian SIMON, KTM, 1:53.390 12. Lukas PESEK, Der, 1:53.482 13. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Apr, 1:53.801 14. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Hon, 1:53.847 15. Tomoyoshi KOYAMA, Hon, 1:53.863 16. Federico SANDI, Hon, 1:53.925 17. Andrea IANNONE, Apr, 1:54.124 18. Toshihisa KUZUHARA, Hon, 1:54.189 19. Jordi CARCHANO, Apr, 1:54.220 20. Imre TOTH, Apr, 1:54.231

British Superbike Test Brands Hatch Indy Circuit Unofficial Tuesday Morning Practice Times: 1. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Hon CBR1000RR, 46.319 seconds 2. Sean Emmett, Yam YZF-R1, 46.676 seconds 3. Michael Rutter, Hon CBR1000RR, 46.834 seconds 4. Karl Harris, Hon CBR1000RR, 47.142 seconds 5. Gregorio Lavilla, Suz GSX-R1000, 47.417 seconds 6. Scott Smart, Suz GSX-R1000, 47.457 seconds 7. Gary Mason, Hon CBR1000RR, 47.844 seconds 8. Tristan Palmer, Kaw ZX-10R, 48.087 seconds 9. Ben Wilson, Kaw ZX-10R, 48.195 seconds 10. Danny Beaumont, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.311 seconds 11. Jeremy McWilliams, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.354 seconds 12. John Laverty, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.403 seconds 13. Cal Crutchlow, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.421 seconds 14. Michael Laverty, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.515 seconds 15. Eugene Laverty, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.568 seconds 16. Jonathan Rea, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.602 seconds 17. John McGuinness, Yam YZF-R1, 48.676 seconds 18. Marty Nutt, Hon CBR1000RR, 48.832 seconds 19. Dennis Hobbs, Yam YZF-R1, 48.968 seconds 20. James Buckingham, Suz GSX-R1000, 49.017 seconds

Three vastly experienced riders from the World Endurance and Masters of Endurance Championships will take part in this year’s Isle of Man TT Races with Amaury Baratin and Emmanual Cheron from France and German rider Frank Spenner the latest star names added to the entry list for TT 2005. Baratin and Cheron are team mates who have finished sixth for the last two years at the infamous Bol D’Or 24 Hour event and are regular top ten finishers in the break away Masters of Endurance series. Together they finished fourth in the overall standings in 2003, with three factory backed teams ahead of them. German star Spenner is a regular point scorer in the World Endurance series and has also scored impressive results in some of the Pure Road Races on the continent. The TT continues to have strong links to Endurance Racing with current TT stars John McGuinness, Ian Lougher, John Barton, Bruno Bonhuil, Jun Maeda, Gus Scott and Mirko Kalsek all competing in the World Endurance and/or Masters of Endurance Championships in recent years. Commenting on the three riders, TT Team and Rider Liaison Officer Paul Phillips said: “Endurance racing has some similarities to the TT, as riders require the same high, sustained levels of concentration. Therefore it is inevitable that some riders from these championships will consider racing at the TT. Amaury, Emmanual and Frank have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years in Endurance Racing and I am sure they will turn out to be excellent TT riders in the years ahead. We hope to bring over more talented riders from Endurance racing in the future, and we have spoken to a number of prime candidates already who would greatly enhance the TT entry, some of whom may join these three lads on the entry for this year.” David Cretney MHK, Minister for the Department of Tourism and Leisure and Chairman of the TT Co-ordinating Committee added: “It is great to see more talented overseas riders taking up the TT challenge. I am sure that Amaury Baratin, Emmanual Cheron and Frank Spenner will rise to that challenge having already shown their credentials in the competitive Endurance Championships on the continent. I have said it many times already this year, but I will say it again; TT 2005 is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory and I can’t wait for it all to start for another year.”

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RETURNS TO EUROPE FOR IRTA TEST AT BARCELONA, FIRST OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT OF THE 2005 MOTOGP SEASON After a lengthy series of winter tests, Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa are ready for the first official confrontation of the season. After a positive conclusion to the winter test schedule, which saw the Ducati Marlboro Team involved at faraway circuits in Sepang, Phillip Island and Doha, the Italian squad returns to Europe for the first official appointments of the 2005 MotoGP season: the IRTA Tests at Barcelona and Jerez. Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa will be back on their Desmosedici GP5 machines, ready to face up to their rivals in what promises to be a long season ahead but motivation is high due to the excellent results achieved by both riders in the past at the Montmelò circuit. Loris, on his debut with Ducati, set quickest time in the IRTA Test two years ago and then, a few months later, took the top podium slot in the race. Carlos, in front of his home crowd, scored a first-ever 500 win here in 1996. The positive results of the winter tests have helped fuel the motivation of Ducati Marlboro Team engineers and riders in view of the start of the 2005 MotoGP championship. “It is with great pleasure that we return to Barcelona. On this track Loris has given us some incredible moments of joy, such as the surprising fastest lap he set during the 2003 IRTA Test or the first win of the Ducati Marlboro Team in the sixth Gp of the same year. This is also Carlos’s home track and it is particularly dear to him as he scored his first 500 win here in 1996. I am sure that both our riders can’t wait to take part in this first real confrontation” declared Livio Suppo, MotoGP project manager. “The results of the winter tests are very encouraging and they demonstrate that the technical decisions taken have put the development of the Desmosedici on the right track. The collaboration with Bridgestone is also continuing well and is giving great satisfaction to both parties. I believe that all the conditions are there for an interesting season ahead! Now all we have to do is wait for Sunday afternoon, when we will see what the lap times are like”. Encouraged and motivated by the pre-season tests, Loris Capirossi is raring to get back onto his Desmosedici GP5 at the Spanish circuit. “We worked a lot during the winter, both on the track and in the company, and I am curious to see how we go against all the other riders at what is universally considered to be more or less the first ‘race’ of the season” declared Loris. “I have splendid memories of Barcelona and hopefully I’ll be able to add some new ones!”. Ready for his first official outing on a factory Ducati machine, Carlos Checa is also anxious to face up to all his rivals. “Here I took part in my first race in the 125 world championship as a wild-card and three years later I scored my first win in 500. All of my friends will be there to cheer me on and this year they will see me on a Ducati: that’s an emotional feeling!” commented Carlos. “I am pleased with the way the bike improved over the winter, I know that we still have to work hard to be up with the front-runners but I am ready. I know that the Desmosedici adapts well to this track and I hope that we can get the most out of these three days of testing”. At Barcelona the Ducati Marlboro Team factory riders will also be flanked by Vittoriano Guareschi with the Development Team and Shinichi Ito, who will be working with the Bridgestone technicians. Vitto will continue the development, which began at Jerez in February, of a new system of engine braking modulation. This is a special software designed by Ducati Corse that acts on engine and clutch management parameters to give greater stability under braking by reducing the rear-wheel braking effect which is common with four-stroke machines. MotoGP Test Schedule Friday 10.00 – 18.00 Free Practice 1 Saturday 10.00 – 18.00 Free Practice 2 Sunday 10.00 – 13.00 Free Practice 3 13.30 – 13.50 Photo opportunity 14.05 – 14.45 Televised MotoGP Practice session 14.45 – 15.00 BMW award ceremony 15.15 – 18.00 Free Practice 4 Circuit de Catalunya: Lap record: Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1m44.641s, 162.624 km/h (101.050 mph) Pole position 2004: Sete Gibernau (Honda), 1m 42.596s Inaugurated in 1991 Modified in 1995 Length: 4.727 km. Length of pit straight: 1.047 km Corners left: 5 Corners right: 8

Daytona: New bike, new team.great results The first Yamaha across the finish line in the 2005 Daytona 200 was piloted by Chris Peris, the Calgary resident snaring fifth place in the 71-rider field. Peris’ debut in the two-hour-long race was a veteran performance and bringing the Topline Printing R6 home in the top five was the culmination of a winter’s worth of training. “I knew that 68 laps at Daytona would be tough mentally and physically so I really trained hard over the winter,” Peris admitted. A mix of bicycling, gym work and monthly races at Willow Springs put last-year’s top-ten Supersport rider in great shape, and it all paid off March 12. Peris comes off a great year with Valvoline Emgo Suzuki and credits that team with a large spike in his learning curve. “I had a great Supersport team last year and the Valvoline guys were great to work with. I was always in contention to get in the top 10,” said Peris. Topline Printing put together a Yamaha program for the ’05 season that adds Formula Xtreme to Peris’ Supersport duties, putting the young rider in both 600cc classes. Max McAllister of Traxxion Dynamics came on board to handle suspension and chassis duties, while Willie Vass, of Vass Performance got the nod for his detail-oriented engine work. That team, along with the very fast and very calm rear-tire-man, Geoff Cesmat, knocked out three great pit stops to get Peris in and out of the Daytona pits in record time. The team’s third stop was so quick, Peris didn’t have time for a sip of water! Earlier in Speed Week, Peris lined up in the 11th qualifying spot for Supersport and battled up into the top ten, eventually finishing 11th, within sniffing distance of ninth. “Racing with Pascal Picotte and Danny Eslick was really great, those guys are fantastic riders,” Peris enthused after the race. “The weather really hurt everyone’s track time and I think quite a few of us were on new bikes that need a bit more development.” Development is the goal of Topline’s FX R6 before the race at Barber Motorsports Park, because the bike Peris ran into fifth spot at Daytona was in Supersport trim, including DOT tires. “I knew our bike would be down on power compared to most FX bikes, but we weren’t confident in making many changes because we didn’t have a chance to test before the 200,” Peris explains. “I love the Supersport R6 and knew it would be a good bike for 200 miles.” Good enough for fifth place in America’s most prestigious road race. More, from a press release issued by the Team Suzuki Press Office: HASKOVEC LEADS SUZUKI 1-2-3 M4 EMGO Suzuki rider Vincent Haskovec started the team’s 25th anniversary season by leading a Suzuki GSX-R1000 one-two-three in the opening AMA Superstock round at Daytona, Florida on Thursday. The Czech-born racer tracked down and overhauled the top factory riders after clawing his way up from sixth on the opening lap to lead by lap 10. He built up just enough of a gap over the final laps to prevent any of his rivals from counter-attacking with a last-gasp drafting manoeuvre. Using a clever race strategy, he settled in during the first five laps so that he could readjust to his fire-breathing GSX-R1000 after immediately coming from his Formula Xtreme qualifying session and, after doing so, his Pirelli tyres offered him more grip than his opponents could muster in the race’s late stages. Haskovec raved about the all-new bike that took a clean sweep of the podium: “As soon as I got up to the leaders, I sat behind them for five or six laps,” he explained. “I told myself, ‘everything feels good, and I should start to roll forward.’ The Suzuki is unbelievable. It’s like they made it for me. I didn’t have the best time in practice as I struggled a lot, but everything came together for the race. “I knew three or four laps from the end that I was going to have some rubber on them. I could drive off the corners much better. The motorcycle was amazing and the tyres worked real well with the set-up we found. The team gave me the perfect motorcycle today.” Haskovec’s team mate Geoff May diced with the leaders in the early stages of the Superstock race as well before claiming a clear sixth place in his AMA racing debut as a member of the squad. The Georgian then went straight back out onto the 2.95-mile circuit and picked up his second top-ten finish of the day, taking eighth in the 22-lap Supersport final. But perhaps his most impressive accomplishment of the day was his showing during qualifying for Saturday’s Superbike final. May ripped off a 1:40.608 aboard his GSX-R1000 to set the fifth best time, outpacing several full-factory and factory-supported Superbike stars. More, from a press release issued by Joe Rocket: ROCKET RULES DAYTONA! The Rocket Racing Team rolled out of the AMA Superbike series opener in Daytona Beach Florida, taking with it the plunders of victory. The Rocket Racing Team brought their best game and dominated the Winner’s Circle at Daytona International Speedway during Bike Week 2005. American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel won the Daytona 200 for the 5th time in his illustrious career after starting the race from the pole position. Duhamel won the 64th running of this prestigious race with a comfortable margin over the second place finisher and has now extended his career victories tally to a total of 83 race wins. Miguel owns 7 AMA Championships and has won at Daytona 12 times, in three different classes. AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin began his chase for a record 6th AMA Championship and started 2005 right where he left off by winning the Daytona Superbike race in his typically dominate manner. Mladin started the race from the pole position and on lap two, took the lead from Aaron Yates. Never once was Mladin challenged for the front. Triumphantly, Mladin was joined on the podium by Yoshimura Suzuki’s Superbike rookie sensation, Ben Spies, who finished third in his very first Daytona Superbike race. Mat Mladin has now won Daytona 4 times; his career Superbike wins tally consists of a lofty 33 AMA Superbike victories. In Supersport action, defending AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden – did just that. Aboard his Kawasaki ZX6RR, Tommy fortified his title defense with this season’s inaugural Supersport victory. Hayden started the race from pole position and led from flight to finish. Jason Pridmore of Jordan Suzuki fought hard to earn a podium and finished 3rd place in the Daytona Superstock race. In his first outing aboard the Jordan Suzuki GSXR 1000, Pridmore battled the field to commendably take his place on the podium. The Rocket Racing Team will next engage for Superbike supremacy April 22 and 23rd as the AMA Superbike series heads to Barber Motorposrts Park in Birmingham Alabama. Stay tuned to www.joerocket.com for all the details

Foggy thrills the Kuala Lumpur crowds Carl Fogarty thrilled the Malaysian crowds during a rare outing in his race leathers for the PETRONAS annual public demonstration to promote the PETRONAS Malaysian F1 Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur. The FPR owner, riding the PETRONAS FP1 road bike while his team tested the race bike in Spain, overcame heavy rain to entertain tens of thousands of spectators lining the streets outside the PETRONAS Twin Towers for an event that was televised live in Malaysia. He said: “It was a shame that there was a heavy shower just as we were about to set off and that made the newly tarmaced road quite slippy so I wasn’t able to do all the tricks that I intended. But it was great fun to be here again and the response from the Malaysian crowds is always great. “This was an extra special event for Petronas as this year marks the tenth anniversary of their involvement in F1 with the Sauber Petronas team. So it was a good feeling to be part of those celebrations and I wish their drivers, Felipe Massa and Jacques Villeneuve, all the best for next weekend’s PETRONAS Malaysian GP at Sepang.” On Saturday night Carl was a guest at a special ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary, at which he heard speeches from Petronas president YBhg Tan Sri Dato Mohd Hassan Marican and Malaysian prime minister YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Hj. Badawi.

MotoGP battle cry to sound at Catalunya The roar of the world’s most advanced 990cc four-stroke prototype motorcycles will once again be heard this weekend as MotoGP officially returns to action after the long winter break. Almost five months since the final round of Valentino Rossi’s title-winning first season with Yamaha at Valencia, the full complement of teams and riders will be back in Spain as they launch the first stage of their quest to end the Italian’s reign as World Champion at the MotoGP Official Test at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. Whilst the majority of teams and factories have continued with their intense testing programmes all around the world during the winter, this is the first official date on the 2005 calendar and has become a traditionally competitive prologue to recent seasons. The introduction of the BMW Award – MotoGP Best Qualifier two years ago has added an extra edge to the test, with a televised 40-minute session offering a brand new 1 series model to the fastest rider. The BMW Award – MotoGP Test has produced shock winners in both of its previous two editions, with Loris Capirossi driving away with the inaugural prize on an early version of the Ducati Desmosedici in 2003 and Rossi stunning his rivals in his first official appearance with Yamaha YZR-M1 last year. Rossi also won the overall BMW Award – MotoGP Best Qualifier of the Year, which is presented at the end of the season to the rider with the lowest accumulated qualifying times over the course of the World Championship, including their effort from the MotoGP Official Test. Rossi’s rivals will be keen to ensure that both his garage and trophy cabinet are not extended any further in 2005, starting with this weekend’s test, which gets underway at 10.00h on Friday 18th March. The timed session is scheduled to start at 14.05h on Sunday afternoon. Leading the quest to stop Rossi are his two greatest rivals from recent seasons, Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau. Both riders have finished runner-up to Rossi in the MotoGP World Championship and have full factory support from Honda in 2005 as they look to finally lift the title. HRC have brought out new versions of their RC211V machines during the winter tests and have enjoyed encouraging results, with Nicky Hayden also showing good form and Makoto Tamada adapting quickly to Michelin tyres after switching from Bridgestone. Honda is not the only factory to have updated its machinery during preseason, with Yamaha, Ducati, Kawasaki and Suzuki all rolling out futuristic new prototypes in tests at circuits including Sepang, Phillip Island and Qatar. Meanwhile, Team Roberts took to the track at Valencia last week for a shakedown test with their new Proton motorcycle, powered by a KTM engine, whilst WCM expect their new Blata V6 machine to be ready for the first round of the season at Jerez on 10th April. As well as witnessing all of the new machines on track together for the first time this year, fans at Catalunya will also get their first glimpse of several exciting new rider line-ups. Whilst Colin Edwards has replaced Carlos Checa as team-mate to Valentino Rossi at Yamaha, Checa has taken the place of Troy Bayliss at Ducati and Bayliss himself has switched to Honda. Marco Melandri will also be making his first official MotoGP appearance for Honda after switching from Yamaha’s satellite team, which will this season be represented by Rubén Xaus and Toni Elías, contesting his rookie season in the premier-class alongside the former Ducati rider after moving up from 250cc. Elías’ former quarter-litre rivals will also be at Catalunya this week, starting a day and a half of tests on Wednesday afternoon. Dani Pedrosa will defend the number 1 plate this season but has several new rivals including Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo, Hector Barberá, Simone Corsi and Casey Stoner, who have all moved up from the 125cc class, as well as Japanese Champion Yuki Takahashi and regular frontrunners from last season such as Sebastian Porto, Randy de Puniet and Alex de Angelis. The exodus of riders from the 125cc class promises another open and exciting season, with the experienced Pablo Nieto the highest ranked rider in the class from last year. Nieto promises to be a strong contender in 2005 having returned to the Derbi factory but will no doubt have to contend with former World Champion Manuel Poggiali, who is back with Gilera after a disastrous defence of the 250cc crown, as well as promising youngsters such as Mika Kallio, Álvaro Bautista, Sergio Gadea and Marco Simoncelli. The 125cc category opens the action at the Circuit de Catalunya this week with a day and a half of tests beginning on Tuesday 15th March at 10.00h.

Alice signs title sponsor for two rounds of MotoGP Italy’s leading telecommunications company Telecom Italia has signed a two year agreement with MotoGP’s commercial right holders Dorna Sports to acquire the title sponsorship package for two of the MotoGP World Championship’s most prestigious rounds. The brand that will be exposed to the world through the French and Italian events will be Alice, Telecom Italia’s ADSL product. Therefore, the races scheduled in the famous Le Mans and Mugello racetracks will be officially called “Alice Grand Prix de France” and “Gran Premio Alice d’Italia” scheduled respectively on May 15th and June 5th. The contract also includes the same conditions for 2006. Alice will benefit of a complete sponsorship package that includes not only the right to name the events, but also trackside brand exposure presences, corporate hospitality and promotional actions in the public area. In addition to this commercial partnership, Telecom Italia has also agreed with Dorna to become the Internet Supplier of MotoGP, which means that they will provide all the technology, servers, hosting and streaming for the series’ official website www.motogp.com. Dorna takes care of the contents, available in eight languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, German and Dutch. Through their contract with Dorna Sports, Telecom Italia and Alice extend their current relationship with MotoGP, where they were already present with their sponsorship of the Ducati factory team and having World Champion Valentino Rossi as their testimonial for advertising campaigns.