Rizla Suzuki has the right tools for the job RIZLA SUZUKI British Superbike technicians have the right tools to get their jobs done quicker and faster than ever before thanks to a new partnership with Mac Tools, one of the world’s leading automotive tool and equipment companies. Mac Tools’ state-of-the-art equipment will give the Rizla Suzuki technicians an edge on the competition when it comes to fast work in the pits in 2005. The high performance tools will allow swift alterations to the set-up of the all-new GSX-R1000K5 race bikes of British Superbike Champion John Reynolds and Scott Smart, ensuring the riders can get back on track as quickly as possible. Mac Tools boasts more than 11,000 products and will be adding to this during the 2005 British Superbike season with a `Limited Edition Toolbox’ to mark its partnership with Rizla Suzuki. These toolboxes will be available exclusively through the fleet of Mac Tools franchised distributors. Mac Tools supports many race teams around the world, including the Formula One BAR team and many drivers within American NASCAR. The Mac Tools brand has become famous on racetracks worldwide due to its pride in providing these teams with the best tools in the industry. Mac Tools has been a supplier of quality hand and power tools in the UK since 1990. Its customers work in all areas of automotive, repair, motorsport and light industrial businesses. They are supplied in the UK through over 150 franchised van-based distributors, each of whom enjoys an exclusive territory and a protected sole distribution rights arrangement. A lifetime warranty also supports the majority of Mac branded products. Mac Tools (www.mactools.com) is part of the Stanleyworks Corporation (www.stanleyworks.com), a $3 bn turnover organisation quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. Mac Tools is one of its trading divisions, with a global turnover of $300m – $19m of which comes from Europe. Adrian O’Nion, Managing Director, Mac Tools Europe: “Mac Tools is delighted to be joining Rizla Suzuki. This new partnership provides us with further endorsement of the high quality of our professional hand and power tools. It brings to three the number of major motorsport partnership arrangements that the Northampton-based tools specialist now has in place. “To be associated with the British Championship winning team is of major importance for Mac. This is the most competitive Superbike Championship in the world and this agreement shows our commitment to racing and puts us at the forefront of tool technology by meeting the needs of a premier race team. We look forward to working with the team and a highly successful and rewarding season.” Simon Green, Rizla Suzuki Team Co-ordinator: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Rizla Suzuki to be allied with a world leading brand such as Mac Tools. Its product range and quality are second to none and all of the technicians are already praising the tools for making their jobs easier. We now have the best tools for the job!”

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM TEST Phillip Island, Australia Friday, March 11, 2005 Ambient temperature: 25 degrees Track temperature: 34 degrees Humidity: 66% ROSSI AND EDWARDS COMPLETE OVERSEAS PHASE OF TESTING Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards completed the last day of a three-day test in Phillip Island, Australia today, both improving slightly on their times from yesterday. They took advantage of an improvement in the weather with some sunny, if windy, conditions today. But the rain that the team has had to cope with for the last two days left a legacy of poor grip at the picturesque track south of Melbourne. Sharing the circuit again with fellow Yamaha riders Ruben Xaus and Toni Elias, Rossi and his new team-mate Edwards worked hard throughout the day on settings and tyre testing and were able to complete 83 and 79 laps respectively. Rossi set the fastest time of the day with a lap of 1:30.44; two-tenths faster than his time from yesterday but still slower than the 1:29.68 he recorded at the last test in Phillip Island when conditions were better. Edwards set a best lap of 1:30.50, one-tenth of a second faster than his best time from the last test and a half-second improvement on his time from yesterday. Spaniard and MotoGP rookie Toni Elias completed 73 laps with a best of 1:31.85 and his fellow countryman and last year’s MotoGP Rookie of the Year, Ruben Xaus, finished the day with a best lap of 1:32.61 from 118 laps. The Gauloises Yamaha Team now returns to Europe for the first time since the Valencia Grand Prix last November for two official IRTA Tests in Barcelona from 18th to 20th March and Jerez from 25th to 27th March. This will be the first time the bikes will run in their new 2005 livery, which was unveiled by the riders and Yamaha senior management on Monday at a press conference in Tokyo.. Valentino Rossi (1:30.44, 83 laps) “Today the weather was better but the track conditions were still not very good. The track has been so affected by all the rain before on the previous days that it was still quite difficult and this is why we didn’t improve the lap times much. We were able to do some good work however, and continue working on the bike settings and testing tyres for Michelin, so it was a worthwhile day. Now I’m really looking forward to moving on to Barcelona with everyone else and continuing to develop the new bike as we move closer to the first race.” Colin Edwards (1:30.50, 79 laps) “The sun shone today but the track still wasn’t great. With all the rain and just four bikes on the track for only a couple of days, there wasn’t enough rubber laid down to have a really good surface to test on today. Despite that I’m really happy with my progress and we’ve had some really good stuff to work with from both Yamaha and Michelin; I feel I’m going totally in the right direction. This is the last ‘quiet’ test and from here on out it’s getting serious! It’s now on to Barcelona with everyone else; I just need to buckle down and start getting some consistently good lap times.” Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director “Unfortunately the weather has not been on our side during these three days, but it’s always good to test anyway and gather more information. Both riders have definitely made some progress at this test despite the bad weather; we’ve continued to improve the settings on the new bike and learn more about it. Now we’ve completed 15 days in total of overseas testing since the end of last season and it’s time to move back to Europe and start the new season properly.” Unofficial Lap Times: 1. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1:30.44 2. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1:30.50 3. Toni Elias (Yamaha) 1:31.85 4. Ruben Xaus (Yamaha) 1:32.61 More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha: FORTUNA YAMAHA COMPLETE TESTS AT PHILLIP ISLAND Fortuna Yamaha completed their testing programme in satisfactory fashion at Phillip Island today despite the tough weather conditions which the riders had contended with on the first two days. Sunshine and high temperatures today meant that Fortuna Yamaha riders Toni Elías and Ruben Xaus were able to continue working on the set-up of their YZR-M1 machines throughout the majority of the day. Toni Elías completed 73 laps of the Australian circuit with a best time of 1:31.85, making him the third fastest rider at the test overall. Toni concentrated mainly on suspension settings and the set-up of the bike in general. His Fortuna Yamaha team-mate Rubén Xaus completed 118 laps aboard his YZR M1, clocking a best time of 1:32.61 at one of the most demanding circuits on the World Championship calendar. Gauloises Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi set the best time of the day with a lap of 1:30.44 after completing 83 circulations of the Australian circuit. His team-mate Colin Edwards, meanwhile, set a best time of 1:30.50 after 79 laps. Toni Elías (1:31.85, 73 laps) “We have to keep going like this because we’re doing a good job. Phillip Island is one of the toughest circuits in this championship and I think that, despite the weather, we’ve worked really well. Today we worked on the configuration of the suspension and the set-up of the bike in general. I feel much more comfortable on the bike although we’ve still got a lot of work to do. I am happy.” Ruben Xaus (1:32.61, 118 laps) “The weather improved substantially today. We were able to ride much more comfortably and we followed the testing programme we had for today. I’m adapting more and more to the YZR M1. We have to improve the set-up of the bike and the basic secret to that is to work hard every day to keep evolving.” Hervé Poncharal Fortuna Yamaha Team Director “The weather on the first two days makes it difficult to compare the results from this session to when we were here a couple of weeks ago. We know Toni Elías has made a lot of progress, though, because he’s knocking almost a second per lap off his times every day. I think the most important thing right now is the communication that exists within the team and the job we are all doing, along with the potential shown by our riders, means we can look ahead to the IRTA tests in good shape”.

Provisional AMA Supersport Race Results: 1. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 22 laps 2. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R6, -3.723 seconds 3. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R6, -14.307 seconds 4. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R600, -14.390 seconds 5. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R6, -22.712 seconds 6. Robert Jensen, Yam YZF-R6, -38.419 seconds 7. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6, -39.820 seconds 8. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R600, -41.709 seconds 9. Pascal Picotte, Yam YZF-R6, -46.800 seconds 10. Danny Eslick, Suz GSX-R600, -47.142 seconds 11. Chris Peris, Yam YZF-R6, -47.227 seconds 12. Ben Attard, Kaw ZX-6RR, -52.896 seconds 13. Scott Greenwood, Kaw ZX-6RR, -57.263 seconds 14. Mike Smith, Yam YZF-R6, -57.748 seconds 15. Nicky Moore, Yam YZF-R6, -83.341 seconds 16. Blake Young, Suz GSX-R600, -87.251 seconds 17. Alan Schmidt, Yam YZF-R6, -87.308 seconds 18. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6, -88.425 seconds 19. Trey Yonce, Yam YZF-R6, -107.178 seconds 20. Giovanni Rojas, Yam YZF-R6, -107.307 seconds 21. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, -1 lap, mechanical

Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec took the victory in the AMA Superstock race Thursday at Daytona International Speedway on a 2005-model GSX-R1000 shod with Pirelli tires. Haskovec was sixth during the early laps, caught the lead group on lap five and first took the lead on lap 10 of 13. From there, Haskovec was never headed again and took his second career AMA race win. Pole-sitter Aaron Yates finished second on his Dunlop-equipped Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore was third on another one of the new GSX-R1000s shod with Dunlop tires. Graves Yamaha riders Jamie Hacking, fourth, and Jason DiSalvo, fifth, ran with the lead Suzukis but ran off track and lost ground in the late going. Haskovec’s teammate Geoff May finished sixth on another Pirelli-sponsored GSX-R1000, ahead of Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden, Pridmore’s teammate Steve Rapp (who picked up his crashed bike and continued in the race), Corona Extra Suzuki’s Brent George and Lion Racing’s Jake Holden, who rounded out the top 10. Provisional AMA Superstock Race Results: 1. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R1000, 13 laps 2. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, -0.302 second 3. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, -0.634 second 4. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R1, -3.349 seconds 5. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, -3.359 seconds 6. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, -7.545 seconds 7. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, -12.577 seconds 8. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000, -24.361 seconds, crash 9. Brent George, Suz GSX-R1000, -25.481 seconds 10. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, -33.343 seconds 11. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, -34.818 seconds 12. Jason Perez, Yam YZF-R1, -40.537 seconds 13. Lee Acree, Suz GSX-R1000, -40.529 seconds 14. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, -40.915 seconds 15. Blake Young, Suz GSX-R1000, -41.357 seconds 16. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, -41.841 seconds 17. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, -43.411 seconds 18. Tony Meiring, Suz GSX-R1000, -45.845 seconds 19. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000, -54.558 seconds 20. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, -54.776 seconds 21. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, -90.588 seconds 22. Eric Haugo, Suz GSX-R1000, -93.040 seconds 23. Johnny Rock Page, Yam YZF-R1, -105.324 seconds 24. David Loikits, Suz GSX-R1000, -105.787 seconds 25. Brian Boyd, Suz GSX-R1000, -106.030 seconds 26. Reno Karimian, Suz GSX-R1000, -1 lap 27. Mark Vandal, Hon CBR1000RR, -1 lap 28. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, -1 lap 29. Jeremy Haiduk, Yam YZF-R1, -4 laps, DNF 30. Montez Stewart, Suz GSX-R1000, -7 laps, DNF 31. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, -12 laps, DNF, mechanical Provisional AMA Superstock Championship Standings: 1. Haskovec, 36 points 2. Yates, 34 points 3. Pridmore, 29 points 4. Hacking, 27 points 5. DiSalvo, 26 points 6. May, 25 points 7. Tommy Hayden, 24 points 8. Rapp, 23 points 9. George, 22 points 10. Holden, 21 points

American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel took pole for Saturday’s Daytona 200, leapfrogging teammate Jake Zemke in the closing moments of Thursday’s qualifying session. Josh Hayes put an Attack Kawasaki in third place and Kurtis Roberts put his Erion Honda in the final position on the front row. Michael Barnes heads the second row of the grid on his Venemotos Yamaha. More results will be listed as they become available. 1. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR600RR, 1:42.593 2. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR600RR, 1:42.599 3. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:43.012 4. Kurtis Roberts, Hon CBR600RR, 1:43.551 5. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6, 1:43.384 6. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R600, 1:44.191 7. Robert Jensen, Yam YZF-R6, 1:44.330 8. Danny Eslick, Suz GSX-R600, 1:44.623 9. Pascal Picotte, Yam YZF-R6, 1:44.937 10. Chris Peris, Yam YZF-R6, 1:45.178 11. Jason Perez, Yam YZF-R6, 1:45.999 12. Ben Attard, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:46.367 13. Simon Turner, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.405 14. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR, 1:46.406 15. Ty Howard, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.585 16. Michael Smith, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.811 17. Alan Schmidt, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.844 18. Armando Ferrer, Yam YZF-R6, 1:47.021 19. Matt Furtek, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:47.084 20. Scott Jensen, Yam YZF-R6, 1:47.183 More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Miguel Duhamel Wins First Daytona 200 By Honda Pole DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (March 10, 2005) — Canadian Miguel Duhamel captured his first Daytona 200 By Honda pole on Thursday touring the new 2.95-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway in one minute, 42.593 seconds, 103.516 mph aboard his No. 1 Honda CBR600RR. Duhamel, who is chasing his fifth Daytona 200 By Honda victory which would tie him for the all-time lead with Scott Russell, will be awarded with a Rolex watch for his pole winning effort during Saturday’s pre-race ceremonies. “I’ve been close,” Duhamel said. “91, I had the pole and Doug Polen comes around on a Ducati and steals it away. I thought I’ll get it next year but it took a little bit longer. It feels great to get the Daytona Rolex. It was something that was missing from souvenir tray. Finally, I’m able to get it.” Rounding out the front row for the 64th edition of the motorcycle classic will be factory Honda rider Jake Zemke (103.510), Attack Kawasaki’s Josh Hayes (103.095) and Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts (102.558). Duhamel waited until late in the 50-minute qualifying session to have the stickiest qualifying tires mounted on his Honda. The pole lap was set on his very last circuit of the new course. Duhamel saw his name go to the top of the leader board, but he decided not to celebrate until he rode back into the pits for confirmation. “On the cool off lap, I wasn’t going to be celebrating too hard because I knew Jake went out almost the same time as me,” Duhamel said. “I was thinking he probably timed it better. I still thought there was a really good chance he was going to beat my time. I kept looking at the board and looking at the board. I was first but I was just fearing the 98 was going to get back on the 1 because he went out with new tires too. I didn’t want to celebrate but it turned out it was alright.” For Duhamel, winning a record Daytona 200 By Honda would special. “I’m not going to celebrate or think too much about something I haven’t accomplished yet,” Duhamel said. “I’m going to drop the clutch for the 200. I’ve got a great team. We did some great pit stops. Hopefully at the end if we win it we’re probably going to tear one up pretty good.” AMA Superbike Qualifying — Mladin Leads Suzuki Parade In Superbike Qualifying: Aussie Mat Mladin ripped a fast lap of one minute, 38.232 seconds, 108.111 mph on Daytona International Speedway’s new 2.95-mile motorcycle road course to win the pole for Saturday’s AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. Mladin, a five-time AMA Superbike champion who earned his second Superbike pole at the legendary facility and the 38th of his AMA career, wasn’t the only rider that was fast on a Suzuki during the qualifying session. Yoshimura Suzuki teammates Ben Spies and Aaron Yates also cracked the front row for Saturday’s 15-lap event. Spies qualified second with a lap of 107.313 mph while Yates qualified fourth with a speed of 106.313. “We have a great motorcycle this year and to have three Suzuki’s on the front row is amazing,” Mladin said. “It just goes to show the strength of the Suzuki and what Suzuki has given us for this year’s race season. I couldn’t have done a better lap.” England’s Neil Hodgson was the only non-Suzuki rider to qualify on the front row with a lap of 106.323 on his Ducati. Hodgson, who has made only one previous trip to Daytona International Speedway in 1995, was delighted with his third-place qualifying effort. “My strategy was to go fast as fast as I could,” Hodgson said. “I didn’t really want to even follow anybody. I tired to do my own thing. I was working on the setting a little bit. I needed to concentrate on me and my bike and sort of get the feeling and understand it.” Tickets for any of the motorcycle events at Daytona International Speedway are available online at ~http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com~ or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

1. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:38.232 2. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:38.962 3. Neil Hodgson, Duc 999R, 1:38.884 4. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:39.894 5. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:40.608* 6. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:40.875 7. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:40.891 8. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:41.429 9. Eric Bostrom, Duc 999R, 1:41.654 10. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:41.691 11. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 1:41.846 12. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:41.925* 13. Kurtis Roberts, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:42.110 14. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, 1:42.171* 15. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:42.216* 16. John McGuinness, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:42.529 17. Larry Pegram, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:42.712 18. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:42.999* 19. Marty Craggill, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.060 20. Brent George, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.552* 21. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.670* 22. Cory West, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.121* 23. Lee Acree, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.366* 24. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.392* 25. Steve Crevier, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.510* 26. Scott Jensen, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.921* 27. Brian Stokes, Yam YZF-R1, 1:45.026 28. Tony Meiring, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:45.032* 29. Roger Bell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:45.422 30. Michael Smith, Yam YZF-R1, 1:45.739 31. Francis Martin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.188 32. Dean Mizdal, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.277 33. Jeremy Toye, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:46.328 34. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.386 35. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.393 36. Anthony Fania, Jr., Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.482 37. Scott Carpenter, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:47.139 38. Brian Boyd, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:47.576 39. C.R. Gittere, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:47.775 110 percent of fastest time: 1:48.055 40. Byron Barbour, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:48.222 41. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:48.362 42. Rick Shaw, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:49.036 43. Eric Haugo, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:49.556 44. Marco Martinez, Duc 999R, 1:49.696 45. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, 1:49.832 46. Reno Karimian, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:50.089 47. Adam Vella, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:50.741 48. Rick Narup, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:51.408 49. Roberto Concepcion, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:52.776 50. Steve Scott, Yam YZF-R1, 1:54.963 *Superstock-spec racebike More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: Team Suzuki’s AMA Superbike Champion, Mat Mladin took the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 to the fastest ever lap of the 2.95-mile Daytona International Speedway to qualify for pole position for Saturday morning’s AMA Superbike National. In fact, the Suzuki GSX-R1000 dominated the top places in qualifying, with Team Yoshimura’s Ben Spies taking second place on the grid, teammate Aaron Yates, taking fourth place and Team M4 Emgo Suzuki’s Geoff may taking fifth place. DAYTONA SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING 1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 1:38.232 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 1:38.962 3. Neil Hodgson (Ducati) 1:39.884 4. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 1:39.894 5. Geoff May (Suzuki) 1:40.608 6. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 1:40.875 7. Jake Zemke (Honda) 1:1:40.891 8. Josh Hayes (Kawasaki) 1:41.429 9. Eric Bostrom (Ducati) 1:41.654 10. Jason Pridmore (Suzuki) 1:41.691

Provisional Thursday Morning AMA Formula Xtreme Practice Times: 1. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR600RR, 1:41.683 2. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R6, 1:43.405 3. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:43.529 4. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:43.820 5. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R6, 1:43.929 6. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR600RR, 1:44.215 7. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6, 1:44.741 8. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R600, 1:44.954 9. Robert Jensen, Yam YZF-R6, 1:45.102 10. Kurtis Roberts, Hon CBR600RR, 1:45.248 11. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R6, 1:45.671 12. Danny Eslick, Suz GSX-R600, 1:46.101 13. Jason Perez, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.396 14. Chris Peris, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.482 15. Pascal Picotte, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.664 16. Ben Attard, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:46.750 17. Armando Ferrer, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.930 18. Nicky Moore, Yam YZF-R6, 1:47.092 19. Ty Howard, Yam YZF-R6, 1:47.303 20. Ryan Andrews, Duc 749R, 1:47.635 21. Nate Hester, Yam YZF-R6, 1:47.777 22. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:47.781 23. Simon Turner, Yam YZF-R6, 1:47.811 24. Jason Farrell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:47.892 25. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R600, 1:47.932 26. Gio Rojas, Suz GSX-R600, 1:47.947 27. William Meyers, Yam YZF-R6, 1:48.168 28. Alan Schmidt, Yam YZF-R6, 1:48.213 29. Tony Fania, Yam YZF-R6, 1:48.284 30. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR, 1:48.367

Scott puts comfort before the lap record RIZLA SUZUKI racer Scott Smart has told his team he wants to use this Sunday’s official British Superbike test at Donington Park to get more comfortable on his GSX-R1000K5 rather than looking to shatter the lap record. The 28-year-old Londoner who now lives in York is focused on getting ready for the start of the racing season at Brands Hatch in just over a fortnight. Scott said: “I am excited about riding again. After Valencia I left my Chief Technician, Norris Farrow, with plenty of changes that I wanted made to my Rizla Suzuki and he and the team have worked through what needs to be done. “My most important goal is to find a comfortable setting on the bike rather than setting a new lap record. We already know that the team is great and we work well together – so I don’t need to concern myself with that. Once I have a comfortable base setting, then we can take it to any circuit and go for outright lap times depending on the individual circuit, weather and other conditions. “It is a bonus that I now have two bikes with exactly the same settings to test back-to-back. That will make progress twice as fast and allows me to use every minute productively on track. “JR was overjoyed with the performance of his GSX-R before he crashed at Valencia and his enthusiasm has been reinforced by Yuki and Troy dominating in World Superbikes. I know the Rizla Suzuki is up to the job, but I am still familiarising myself with the machine. I have a personal target that by the end of the upcoming test sessions at Donington and then Brands Hatch, I will have a bike that I am comfortable with and ready to push to the limit in the races – after all, that’s when lap records count!” Scott will be on track at Donington Park, Leicestershire, on Sunday March 13th between 10:20am – 11:20am and 14:45pm – 15:45pm. The test day is open to the public with track action taking place from 9:00am – 17:30pm. Admission is £10 with accompanied children under 15 enjoying free entrance. Rizla Suzuki then moves to Brands Hatch for its final pre-season test on Tuesday March 15th. The British Superbike season starts at Brands Hatch on Bank Holiday Monday, March 28th.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates took pole position for the AMA Superstock race during qualifying Thursday morning at Daytona International Speedway. Yates had a clear track and caught a tow from a slower rider on the back straightaway, helping him record a 1:39.667 on his all-new 2005 GSX-R1000. Graves Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo (1:39.910), Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore (1:40.544) and DiSalvo’s teammate Jamie Hacking (1:40.695) will also start from the front row in Thursday’s Superstock race. Provisional AMA Superstock Qualifying Times: 1. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:39.667, 106.555 mph average speed 2. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 1:39.910 3. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:40.544 4. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R1, 1:40.695 5. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:40.763 6. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, 1:40.783 7. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:41.104 8. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:41.116 9. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:41.337 10. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:42.296 11. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:42.780 12. Lee Acree, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.219 13. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.232 14. Brent George, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.669 15. Jason Perez, Yam YZF-R1, 1:44.136 16. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.363 17. Blake Young, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.558 18. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.560 19. Tony Meiring, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.024 20. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.438 21. Jeremy Haiduk, Yam YZF-R1, 1:46.471 22. JJ Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.654 23. Montez Stewart, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:48.275 24. David Loikits, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:48.282 25. Eric Haugo, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:48.344 26. Brian Boyd, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:49.010 27. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:49.337 28. Johnny Rock Page, Yam YZF-R1, 1:50.170 29. Reno Karimian, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:50.580 30. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, 1:50.931 31. Mark Vandal, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:51.059 32. Ivan Garza, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:52.747, Did Not Qualify (DNQ) 33. James McConnell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:55.678, 91.907 mph average speed, DNQ 34. James Lee, Suz GSX-R1000, 2:25.957, 72.761 mph average speed, DNQ