The first AMA Superbike practice session Wednesday morning at Daytona International Speedway was stopped due to a light rain falling on the 2.95-mile infield road course. After a short wait, the rain stopped and practice was re-started for a full, 50-minute session. It continues to be cold and overcast at “The World Center of Racing.”

Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert was the fastest rider in Wednesday morning’s AMA Supersport practice. Gobert turned a 1:44.401 on his factory YZF-R6 before a light rain began to fall at the track, bringing the session to an early end. Kawasaki factory Supersport rider Roger Lee Hayden highsided at the exit of the International Horseshoe during the session, temporarily bringing out the red flag. Hayden walked into an ambulance and was examined and released from the Infield Care Center. Provisional Wednesday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times: 1. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R6, 1:44.401 2. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:44.428 3. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R6, 1:44.670 4. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R600, 1:45.180 5. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:45.989 6. Robert Jensen, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.199 7. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R6, 1:46.778 8. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6, 1:47.465 9. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R600, 1:47.470 10. Ben Attard, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:48.169 11. Danny Eslick, Suz GSX-R600, 1:48.178 12. Scott Greenwood, Yam YZF-R6, 1:48.335 13. Ryan Elleby, Suz GSX-R600, 1:48.450 14. Chris Peris, Yam YZF-R6, 1:48.571 15. Blake Young, Suz GSX-R600, 1:48.627 16. Barrett Long, Yam YZF-R6, 1:49.068 17. Pascal Picotte, Yam YZF-R6, 1:49.273 18. Giovanni Rojas, Yam YZF-R6, 1:49.306 19. Nathan Hester, Yam YZF-R6, 1:49.694 20. Trey Yonce, Yam YZF-R6, 1:49.745 21. Alan Schmidt, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.000 22. Pedro Valiente, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.005 23. Armando Ferrer, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.121 24. William Meyers, III, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.135 25. Ty Howard, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.556 26. Victor Chirinos, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.670 27. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.772 28. Michael Smith, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.927 29. Keith Marshall, Suz GSX-R600, 1:51.103 30. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R600, 1:51.185 There were 61 riders in Wednesday morning’s Supersport practice session.

Provisional Wednesday Morning AMA Superstock Practice Times: 1. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 1:40.621 2. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R1, 1:41.720 3. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:41.742 4. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, 1:41.791 5. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:42.312 6. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:42.550 7. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.166 8. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.495 9. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:43.888 10. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:43.893 11. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:44.147 12. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.763 13. Brent George, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:44.780 14. Lee Acree, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:45.059 15. Blake Young, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:45.358 16. Jason Perez, Yam YZF-R1, 1:45.997 17. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.216 18. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.528 19. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:46.610 20. Jeremy Haiduk, Yam YZF-R1, 1:49.269 21. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:49.640 22. David Loikits, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:49.664 23. Montez Stewart, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:49.990 24. Tony Meiring, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:50.025 25. Johnny Rock Page, Yam YZF-R1, 1:51.928 26. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:52.737 27. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, 1:53.294 28. Mark Vandel, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:53.382 29. Reno Karimian, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:53.551 30. Brian Boyd, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:54.337 31. James McConnell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:57.526 32. M. Ivan Garza, Suz GSX-R1000, 2:06.028 33. James Lee, Suz GSX-R1000, 2:28.704 Provisional Top Trap Speeds: 1. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 194.976 mph 2. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 193.365 mph 3. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, 191.863 mph 4. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 190.548 mph 5. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 190.058 mph 6. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R1000, 189.491 mph 7. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000, 188.767 mph 8. Lee Acree, Suz GSX-R1000, 188.287 mph 9. Jason Perez, Yam YZF-R1, 188.207 mph

Total Purse: $160,000 Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Purse: $100,000 The rider earning the Pole Position for the 2005 Daytona 200 will be awarded a Limited edition Rolex Daytona. 1. $9000 2. $6500 3. $5400 4. $4500 5. $4100 6. $3800 7. $3600 8. $3400 9. $3200 10. $3000 11. $2900 12. $2800 13. $2700 14. $2600 15. $2500 16. $2450 17. $2400 18. $2350 19. $2300 20. $2250 21. $2100 22. $2050 23. $2000 24. $1950 25. $1900 26. $1500 27. $1400 28. $1300 29. $1200 30. $1100 31. $850 32. $750 33. $650 34. $550 35. $450 Positions 36-40 $400 each Positions 41-45 $350 each Positions 46-50 $300 each Positions 51-55 $250 each Positions 56-60 $200 each Positions 61-70 $100 each AMA Superbike Purse: $30,000 1. $3000 2. $2400 3. $2000 4. $1800 5. $1700 6. $1600 7. $1500 8. $1400 9. $1300 10. $1200 11. $1150 12. $1100 13. $1050 14. $1000 15. $950 16. $900 17. $850 18. $800 19. $750 20. $700 21. $500 22. $450 23. $350 24. $300 25. $250 26. $200 Positions 27 30 $200 each Pro Honda Oils Supersport and Repsol Lubricants Superstock: Purse: $15,000 each 1. $1900 2. $1500 3. $1200 4. $1050 5. $950 6. $900 7. $850 8. $800 9. $750 10. $700 11. $650 12. $600 13. $550 14. $500 15. $475 16. $425 17. $375 18. $325 19. $275 20. $225 2005 AMA Superbike Championship Awards: AMA Superbike Championship Bonus: $120,000 Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship Bonus: $20,000 Repsol Lubricants Superstock Championship Bonus: $20,000 Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Championship Bonus: $20,000

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM TEST Phillip Island, Australia Wednesday, March 9, 2005 Ambient temperature: 20 degrees Track temperature: 27 degrees Humidity: 60% TRICKY TESTING CONDITIONS FOR YAMAHA IN GLOOMY PHILLIP ISLAND Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards were back in action for their fourth test of the year in Phillip Island, Australia, today. Unfortunately, low temperatures and some rain made for difficult testing conditions and the team were unable to work as effectively as they had hoped. After heavy rain yesterday, it had eased to a slow drizzle today before stopping mid-morning. However the sun failed to appear and as a result the track never dried out properly and remained slippery throughout the day. Despite the bad weather, Rossi and Edwards completed a total of 51 and 60 laps respectively, albeit with slightly slower lap times than at the last Phillip Island test two weeks ago. The riders focused mainly on testing tyres for Michelin and working on the set-up of their YZR-M1s. Edwards was slightly faster than Rossi, setting a best lap of 1:31.27, while the World Champion finished the day with a fastest time of 1:31.38. After three tests this year alongside most of their fellow MotoGP competitors, for this test the Yamaha Factory Team riders are joined only by the Spanish Fortuna Yamaha Team duo of Ruben Xaus and Toni Elias. Xaus was third fastest, completing 78 laps with a best time of 1:33.02, whilst Elias completed 80 laps and set a fastest time of 1:33.19. Colin Edwards (1:31.27, 60 laps) “The track conditions were really bad; it was so slick because it had rained all day yesterday. I did 60 laps but a lot of that was just trying to lay down some rubber on the track. We worked a bit on set-up and tried some tyres, but it was cold and therefore difficult to get the tyre temperature high enough to do much useful work. We were doing good things two weeks ago here but we didn’t have the same feeling today, but I am sure things will improve with the weather!” Valentino Rossi (1:31.38, 51 laps) “Today the weather was bad cold and raining so we couldn’t test as we wanted. We worked a bit on bike settings and tested some tyres, but with the weather like this it was difficult to judge any changes. It was much colder than the last time we were here, and this is why the lap times are slower. I hope tomorrow the temperature will improve and then we can do some proper testing.” Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director “Unfortunately the weather didn’t allow us to test properly, but we’ve got two more days to continue and we expected that we might lose one day to the rain. The forecast is better tomorrow. Despite all this, we were able to do some work and get some feedback from set-up changes and the tyres we’ve been testing for Michelin. However we need higher temperatures to confirm these things tomorrow.” Unofficial Lap Times: 1. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1:31.27 2. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1:31.38 3. Ruben Xaus (Yamaha) 1:33.02 4. Toni Elias (Yamaha) 1:33.19 More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha: FORTUNA YAMAHA CONTINUE TEST PROGRAMME IN AUSTRALIA Fortuna Yamaha today completed their first day of tests at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia just days after their most recent session at the same venue. Team riders Rubén Xaus and Toni Elías continued with their process of adaptation to their Yamaha YZR M1 machines in cold weather conditions. Fortuna Yamaha rider Rubén Xaus followed his intense programme with 78 laps of the Australian circuit with a best time of 1:33.02. Rubén, who is still learning his new bike, worked mainly on the overall set-up of the bike. His team-mate Toni Elías also tested different set-up configurations for his YZR M1 although his main objective for today was again to cover as many kilometres as possible as he looks to fully adapt to the premier-class machine. Gauloises Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi completed 51 laps with a best time of 1’31.38 whilst his team-mate Colin Edwards was slightly faster, with a time of 1’31.30 after 60 laps. Rubén Xaus, (1:33.02, 78 laps) “After resting for a few days I was looking forward to getting back on the bike again today. We’ve continued with the testing programme we had planned and we have to keep working in this way. The team is doing a great job and I am very happy.” Toni Elías (1:33.19, 80 laps) “I am happy although the track was around 1.5 seconds per lap slower than before because of the low temperatures we’ve had to deal with today. We’ve tested a few things in areas we knew we had to improve on after the recent tests at this same circuit and I think we’re on the right path. I’m happy because I’m getting a little closer every day!.”

HODGSON AND BOSTROM SEEK DAYTONA GLORY The Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team will kick off their 2005 AMA Superbike campaign this week at Daytona International Speedway in Saturday’s Superbike race. The team’s riders, Neil Hodgson and Eric Bostrom, look to keep up their testing momentum and make their mark early in the 2005 campaign at Daytona on board their factory Ducati 999s. Hodgson, a resident of the Isle of Man, raced at the Speedway in the early ’90s but this event marks his first as a full-time AMA racer. In winter testing leading up to this event, Neil was the fastest rider at Laguna Seca and was very quick at the Daytona test. “Things are going very well at the moment,” said the 2003 World Superbike champion. “I was able to test three times — two in the States — this off-season and everything has been very promising. I like the way the Ducati 999 is handling and making power. I’m looking forward to racing in America against some very tough competition this year.” For Bostrom, 2005 will serve as a comeback year after a shoulder injury ended his 2004 season early. Eric won pole for last year’s prestigious Daytona race. “We’re still trying to gel, but when the green flag drops, it’s on,” said Bostrom. “I’d love to win this race for Ducati and myself. I won pole last year and ran strong in the race, so we know it’s possible. The weather wasn’t too kind to us at our last test and we could have used every possible lap. The shoulder feels strong and I’m looking forward to getting more time on the bike.” “The team is looking forward to getting the season underway,” said team manager Tom Bodenbach. “Our two tests were productive, although we would have liked better weather for the Laguna Seca test. We feel good about how our test went at Daytona, though, and hope we can make the positive things that happened at the January test continue into the first race weekend of the year. The team has been working very hard preparing for Daytona and it will be exciting working with Neil and Eric this season,” he concluded. The Circuit The Daytona International Speedway circuit located on the eastern coast of Florida has been hosting motorcycle events since the 1960s when the historic race moved to the track from a combination road/beach course. Known for the high-speed drafting battles, the banked turns of the Speedway (which reach 31 degrees) have seen many exciting Superbike races over the years. A challenging series of infield turns counter the demands of the banking and make bike setup a tough compromise for the AMA riders and teams. For this season, a new track layout will debut. A new infield section replaces part of the banking, shortening the lap distance from 3.56 miles (5.7 kilometers) to 2.95 miles (4.7 kilometers). While Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom holds the current track record of 1:46.835 on the old course, a new track record will come from this year’s qualifying. Now that the flagship 200 Mile race is only run to Formula Extreme and Supersport format following a change in regulations by promoting body AMA, the Daytona Superbike race this Saturday will be held over 15 laps. More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: HASKOVEC AND MAY WIN AT DAYTONA In its first event on Pirelli tires, Team M4 EMGO Suzuki won three Formula USAraces last weekend at Daytona. The team also won two pole positions during the F-USA weekend and hopes to continue the momentum into AMA competition this week. Geoff May and Vincent Haskovec finished first and second on their 2005 GSX-R1000s in Unlimited Supersport, marking the first win for the new model Suzuki GSX-R1000 in North America. In Unlimited GP, Haskovec beat May in a two-rider breakaway. In F-USA Superbike, Haskovec came from row 10 on the grid to battle for the lead, moving up into the front of the pack on his Suzuki GSX-R600 before another rider drafted past and then dove for the pits on the last lap. “I didn’t know he was pulling in and there was a so close moment when he sat up on the banking as I was trying to make my move. “Both bikes are great and I can’t say enough about my team. I gave them some extra work when I crashed the 600 on the first day (of F-USA practice) and it took a lot of effort for them to get a bike ready to race for Sunday,” Vincent continued. “And that bike was good enough to win the race, which should tell you something about them.” May won pole and was credited with third place in the F-USA Sportbike race. “I think they had a little issue with their transponders. It was pretty clear to us that I finished second, and (scored-as-second) Jason Perez agreed. We’ll get it sorted out with the organizers. As for the race, I won pole and finished second on the track by about half a bike length. The bike is really working well and our times were faster than our times at the test, so it’s looking good for this weekend. “It was my first race weekend with the team and we had some good race results. I’m really happy,” said May. “I’m glad the team brought me on and now I want to help pay them back.” Team M4 EMGO Suzuki began its AMA season today, Wednesday, in Daytona.