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.

Suzuki’s 20th Anniversary of the GSX-R to Highlight Superbike Weekend FONTANA, Calif. (March 8, 2005) — The American Suzuki Motor Corporation has entered a multi-year agreement to be the title sponsor for the AMA Superbike doubleheader race weekend at California Speedway. The Suzuki Superbike Championship Weekend is scheduled for April 29 – May 1, 2005, and will take place on the 2.3-mile, 21-turn Motorcycle Competition Course at California Speedway. California Speedway President Bill Miller and American Suzuki Motor Corporation Vice-President of the Motorcycle/ATV Division, Mel Harris made the announcement. “California Speedway welcomes the addition of our new partner Suzuki to a strong list of businesses who work with us to bring great events, like the Suzuki Superbike Challenge, to the wonderful race fans in Southern California,” Miller said. “With Suzuki’s strong presence in the marketplace and the company’s energy behind this event, I am sure the momentum that has been established for the AMA weekend here throughout the motorcycle community over the last few years will continue to grow.” A total of five racing events will be featured during the weekend, including Rounds Four and Five of the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited – the Southern California Area Suzuki Dealers 100k events on Saturday and Sunday. Other races include the AMA Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme 60k on Saturday, AMA Repsol Superstock Series 60k on Sunday and AMA Supersport Championship 60k on Sunday. “We are excited about the 2005 road race season in general and about racing at California Speedway in Fontana in particular,” Harris said. “First of all, Yoshimura Suzuki has a strong team led by the only five time AMA Superbike Champion ever – Mat Mladin. Second, Mat and his teammates, Aaron Yates and Ben Spies, will be racing the brand new 2005 GSX R1000 this year, which is improved over last year’s championship winning motorcycle. Finally, Southern California is a hotbed of sportbike action, and since Suzuki is number one in the sportbike market with the GSX R line, California Speedway is the perfect race to promote and to show our customers how much we appreciate them.” This year’s Suzuki Superbike Challenge coincides with the 20th Anniversary of Suzuki’s GSX-R. In 1985, Suzuki introduced the GSX-R750, the first true race bike that could be safely ridden on the street. The motorcycle manufacturer has been instrumental in the creation of the “racer replica” category, and changed the industry. The GSX-R brings the finest craftsmanship, latest technology and motorcycling passion to racers and motorcyclists, alike. Over the past 20 years, Suzuki has won the Superbike class titles (eight) more than any other manufacturer, including five out of the last six championships (1999-2001 & 2003-2004) with defending California Speedway winner Mathew Mladin, who has won the last four races of only six contested at the motorsports facility. Suzuki’s 20th Anniversary celebration will take place throughout the weekend for both current owners of Suzuki sportbikes as well as all AMA Superbike fans. For more information about American Suzuki Motor Corporation, visit your local Suzuki dealer, or log on to www.suzuki.com. Tickets for the April 29-May 1 Suzuki Superbike Challenge are currently on sale via the speedway’s website at www.californiaspeedway.com, in person at the speedway’s box office or by calling 800-944-RACE [7223]. California Speedway is owned by International Speedway Corporation, a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United States, currently promoting more than 100 events annually. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.iscmotorsports.com.

From a press release issued by Walt Sipp: Sipp has the Daytona curse strike again! Daytona, FL – Walt Sipp finished 14th in the opening round of the Formula USA Thunderbike Championship. Qualifying was held on Sunday morning due to a time shortage making for a full day. The day was full of ups and downs for the Blue Springs Harley-Davidson sponsored Buell rider. After his best Daytona qualifying to date; 7th 1:54.650 things appeared to be going well. “I’m real happy with the way the bike ran in qualifying. It looks like to curse has been lifted,” said Sipp. The curse looked to be a thing of the past through the halfway point in the race, “I was catching the 3rd place rider through the new, more technical infield. I knew my first Daytona podium was in sight.” That seemed to be the turning point though. Three laps from the end, the engine started running poorly and began dumping oil on the left side of the bike. He slowly started losing ground to third and fell into the clutches of a battle for fifth on the white flag lap. As he entered the new west horseshoe, the oil on the rear tire became too much and he low sided. After the help from the corner workers, he was able to pick the bike up and make it across the line 14th, albeit with no shift lever. After the race, Sipp found he had damaged his hand, “I stopped in the care center to get my pinky finger looked at. I basically ground the knuckle down to the bone. I had to head to Halifax Hospital for a small operation, but it will be fine for Road America.” Look for Walt and the Blue Springs crew to better there position at the next round April 22-24 at Road America. He will also be visiting Daytona again in October to see if he can finally conquer the curse! Find out more at ~http://www.waltsipp.com/~ More, from a press release issued by Buell: BILANSKY PUTS BUELL ON F-USA THUNDERBIKE PODIUM AT DAYTONA Five Buells in Top Ten with Hal’s Rider Finishing Third DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 6, 2005) – Hal’s Performance Advantage rider Dan Bilansky opened the 2005 Formula-USA Thunderbike season with a third-place finish aboard a Buell Firebolt. Bilansky was one of five Buell riders to place in the top ten of the 10-lap race at Daytona International Speedway. The race was won by Prieto Racing rider Michael Barnes on a Suzuki. Barnes was also the top qualifier for the race. David Yaakov was second, also on a Suzuki. Hal’s Performance Advantage riders Sam Rozynski and Joe Rozynski finished fourth and fifth on Buell Firebolts, followed by Richie Morris Racing/Daytona Harley-Davidson rider Clint Brotz, also on a Buell Firebolt. Darren Danilowicz finished seventh and Robert Fisher placed eighth, both on Suzukis. Nate Kern placed ninth on a BMW, and Jim’s Harley-Davidson/Buell of St. Petersburg, Fla. rider Tim Hall was tenth on a Buell Firebolt. Evo-Twin Racing/Harding Harley-Davidson riders David Estok, who won the 2004 Daytona Thunderbike race, and Bryan Bemisderfer, the defending F-USA Thunderbike champion, both had a disappointing race after qualifying Buell Firebolts second and third behind Barnes. Estok was running in second position with four laps to go when his clutch failed, perhaps a result of making three race starts, as red flags for accidents stopped the race twice on the first lap. Bemisderfer was slowed by a mechanical problem early in the race and was making laps for points when he was forced to retire on lap eight. Bartels’ Harley-Davidson/Newcastle Harley-Davidson rider Shawn Higbee qualified fifth on his Buell Firebolt, but crashed on the first lap of the final. The next event on the eight-race Formula-USA Thunderbike schedule is April 23-25 at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. The Formula USA National Thunderbike series is a horsepower-to-weight ratio restricted class, open to a variety of production-based motorcycles. Buell-mounted riders competing in the eight-event 2005 Thunderbike series race for a share of the $70,500 contingency fund posted by Buell Motorcycle Company. To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com. More, from a press release issued by Plummer-Menapace Group on behalf of Pirelli: PIRELLI VERY PLEASED WITH DAYTONA F-USA/CCS RESULTS (Rome, GA) Pirelli comes away from the recently-completed Formula USA / CCS weekend in Daytona leading two of the four F-USA classes holding the top two slots in one, the top four in the other – and getting seven expert-class CCS wins, including two sweeps and two first-and-seconds. “We’re very pleased,” said Robert Henderson, Pirelli’s U.S. Road Racing Coordinator. “This is the way we wanted to begin the season on the charge. Not everybody posts their sponsors, so we might have even won more.” Michael Barnes, CAD Racing’s David Yaakov, Dan Bilansky, and Sound Waves/Parsi-IAP/Kenwood USA/Sirius Radio/Pirelli/ Hal’s H-D’s Sam Rozynski, respectively, gave Pirelli the top four positions in Formula-USA Thunderbike. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec and Barnes put Pirelli one-two in Superbike. In addition, KWS Racing’s Lee Acree posted a second in Formula Sportbike, and M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Geoff May crossed the line in second in the Sportbike final, but was listed as third pending the result of a protest. In the weekend’s CCS racing, Pirelli swept the top three spots in Unlimited GP Expert with Haskovec, May, and Hotbodies Racing’s Cory West, and Unlimited Superbike with Haskovec, West, and Hotbodies’ Heath Small. And it was Pirelli first and second in Unlimited Supersport Expert with May and Haskovec, Lightweight Supersport Expert with Yaakov and Nate Kern, and Lightweight Superbike Expert with David Estok and Yaakov. As you’ve read, David Yaakov and his CAD-Racing Suzuki SV-650 had a huge weekend. Besides his results already reported, he gave Pirelli two big wins in Lightweight Superbike and Lightweight Supersport. The lone Pirelli amateur who posted his sponsors, Andrew Robert Moates, from Casselberry, FL, won the Unlimited GP Amateur race on his Dri Rite / Full Spectrum Racing / Pirelli / EBC / VP Fuels / Hotbodies / Lockhart Phillips-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R750. All of DOT-class racers were mounted on Pirelli’s latest Supercorsa PRO race radial about which more news will follow. More, from a press release issued by Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell: This past weekend was very successful for rider Dan Bilansky and team Hal’s. Qualifying was scheduled to take place on Saturday, however Dan’s Thunderbike class was delayed because CCS had the track time for qualifying prior to them. Dan now found himself having to qualify on Sunday morning-the same day as race day. He had to face colder air, which didn’t give him the ideal conditions, as he would’ve liked had he been able to qualify the evening prior. Knowing that track time would now be less, Dan decided to keep his old tires on and qualified 8th. Come race time, Dan was grid in the second row on the outside. On the first hole shot coming out of the third turn, Jerry Wood on a Ducati high-sided; and within the same lap in a prior turn, Shawn Higbee high-sided. These two incidents needless to say produced the red flag to temporary stop the race for cleanup. Once the track was cleaned, all bikes were re-grid just as they were at the start of the race. When Dan went to hole shot, now for the second time, his bike went into a false neutral meaning that he had to get his bike immediately to 2nd gear due to a mechanical/rider error that did not allow him to shift down to first! Dan was now in 25th place after all the bikes had passed him. On the first lap, going into the chicane, there was a wipeout of bikes. You guessed it, another red flag. This time around after the third start, Dan managed to get himself up to 7th position after turn one. During the remainder of the race, Dave Estok’s bike broke, and Dan continued to pick off the bikes ahead of him, one by one, where he went through the first 3 or 4 laps, ultimately getting himself up to 3rd position. He wasn’t able to gain on 2nd position, so he decided to pace himself, leaving a good gap between him and 4th. Dan secured 3rd place giving him a great start in points as he begins the 2005 season. Dan says, “I found that both my bikes, which are identical as far as chassis and chassis set-up goes, handled well throughout the race. I am very comfortable with both of them and everything seems to be on the up and up!” Terry Galagan, crew chief for Mike Ciccotto in the AMA Formula Extreme class, did some post race calculations upon Dan’s return. Terry discovered that three of Dan’s competitors had the same motors identical to Dan’s (that were also built at Hal’s Speed Shop). The gear ratios on these bikes were 22 for the front sprocket and 44 for the rear, producing 149.1mph at 7,000rpm. Dan’s bike, with the only difference being Hal’s V-Force Induction (Ram Air) was a ratio of 22 front sprocket and 40 rear producing 164mph!!! That’s 15mph faster! Hal’s V-Force Induction is available to all of you exclusively through our Speed Shop (Racers, give Hal’s Speed Shop a call and find out about special race discounts).

Damon Buckmaster should learn the full extent of his shoulder injury after Dr. Arthur Ting examines the Yamaha/Graves Yamaha rider’s X-rays today in California. “We don’t know how serious it is yet. It might be very minor,” Yamaha Team Manager Tom Halverson told Roadracingworld.com late Monday evening. “We FedEx’ed the X-rays to Ting, so we should know more (Tuesday)” As for Buckmaster’s bruised lung, or pulmonary contusion, he is breathing normally on his own. “All things considered,” said Halverson, “he really looks pretty good.” Buckmaster was not endurance testing tires, as originally speculated by his teammate Jason DiSalvo, and was on a new tire at the time of the crash, said Halverson. “He just got too greedy with the throttle in a bad spot. The track drops away just a little bit there, and the guys have to wait just an instant before they get on the throttle the way that they are used to.” After an overnight stay, Buckmaster was released from Halifax Medical Center mid-day Monday.

Full Entry List for World Endurance Championship The full list of permanent teams competing in the World Endurance Championship has now been confirmed by the FIM. The 21 teams who will take part in the full championship represent seven manufacturers Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, MV Agusta, Suzuki and Yamaha and 17 nations. Riders and teams from Europe, Australia and Japan pack the entry list, with Germany and Italy the most frequently represented. Yamaha – in the shape of French team GMT94 – took the World Endurance Championship crown last year, ending a run of title successes for Suzuki. With increasingly serious entries from Kawasaki, Honda and the Italian manufacturers MV Agusta, Ducati and Aprilia, the 2005 championship is set to bring us close racing for the whole season. Suzuki are determined to win back their crown, with a new GSX-R1000 and top Japanese rider Keiichi Kitagawa recruited to ride alongside French ace Vincent Philippe. German teams Bridgestone Bikers and Innodrom, along with and Italian squad No Limits, will also campaign Suzukis but the strongest competition will come from two Yamaha teams. Phase One Endurance are already triple World Endurance Champions, and with popular Aussie Warwick Nowland (himself a double world champion) back on their YZF-R1, confidence levels in the British team are high. Yamaha Austria have also strengthened their rider line-up, with fast Frenchman Gwen Giabbani joining Slovenian Igor Jerman. The depth of talent continues throughout the rest of the field, with French team Powerbike joining the World Endurance Championship for the first time and Italian squad X-One switching from Benelli to Yamaha. The three Italian factories represented in the championship will be going head to head for national honour at every round. MV Agusta start their second year in the series with backing from Burger King and the German MV importers, Ducati Spring Team are a stronger outfit this year, but perhaps the most interesting entry is the Motociclismo magazine backed Aprilia squad, with riders Fabrizio Pellizzon and double motocross world champion Frederic Bolley. The sole Honda entry comes from the German Project Team Honda Endurance, while Kawasaki are represented by Swiss team Bolliger, their British partners Diablo, and the German RMT21 squad. The experience and consistency of Bolliger in particular leads many to expect podium results and race wins for Kawasaki in 2005. The championship begins with the now traditional Easter Monday date for the Assen 500km race, before moving on to the Albacete 8 Hour, Suzuka 8 Hour, Oschersleben 24 Hour and the season finale 200 Miglia di Vallelunga. 2005 Permanent Teams 2, Suzuki Castrol Team, FRA, Suz GSX-R1000, Vincent Philippe, FRA, Matthieu Lagrive, FRA, Keiichi Kitagawa, JAP 3, Yamaha Phase One Endurance, GBR, Yam YZF-R1, Andi Notman, GBR, Damian Cudlin, AUS, Warwick Nowland, AUS 4, Yamaha X – One, ITA, Yam YZF-R1, Paolo Tessari, ITA, Riccardo Ricci, ITA, tba 5, Bridgestone Bikers Profi Team, GER, Suz GSX-R1000, Tim Roethig, GER, Thomas Cziborra, GER, Stefan Strauch, GER, Ame Tode, GER 6, Shell Endurance Academy, GBR, Yam YZF-R1, Henry Ficher, GBR, Marko Rohtlaan, EST, Alek Buseski, POL 7, Yamaha Austria Racing Team, AUT, Yam YZF-R1, Horst Saiger, AUT, Igor Jerman, SLO, Gwen Giabbani, FRA, Thomas Hinterreiter, AUT 8, Bolliger Team Switzerland, SUI, Kaw ZX-10R, Marcel Kellenbeger, SUI, David Morillon, FRA, tba 9, Aprilia Motociclismo Test Team, ITA, Apr RSV1000, Antonio Calasso, ITA, Federico Aliverti, ITA, Frederic Bolley, FRA, Fabrizio Pellizzon, ITA 10, Ducati Spring Team, ITA, Duc 999, Matteo Colombo, ITA, Lorenzo Mauri, ITA, tba 11, MV Agusta Burger King Lust Rac., GER, MV Agusta 1000, Gerd P. Meyer, GER, Stefan Meyer, GER, tba 12, Team Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se, SWE, Suz GSX-R1000, Niklas Carlberg, SWE, Tobias Andersson, SWE, Martin Johansson, SWE, Lars Carlbark, SWE 14, Maco Moto Racing Team, SLK, Yam YZF-R1, Martin Kuzma, SLK, Milos Cihak, CZE, Marek Svoboda, CZE 15, Team Innodrom Racing, GER, Suz GSX-R1000, NiggiSchmassmann, SUI, Lars Albrecht, GER, tba 18, Suzuki Eurosport Benelux, NED, Suz GSX-R1000, Ruud Van Stralen, NED, Lex Van Dijk, NED, tba 20, Projecteam Honda Endurance, GER, Hon CBR1000RR, Hubertus Junker, GER, Philipp Ludwig, GER, Roger Maher, IRL 21, RMT 21, GER, Kaw ZX-10R, Mark Bruning, GER, Thomas Roth, GER, tba 44, No Limits & R.T. Motor Team, ITA, Suz GSX-R1000, Roberto Ruozi, ITA, Moreno Codeluppi, ITA, Andrea Giachino, ITA 51, Suzuki Fabi Corse, ITA, Suz GSX-R1000, Patrizio Fabi, ITA, Eric Monot, FRA, tba 68, Team Power Bike, FRA, Yam YZF-R1, David Barrot, FRA, Patrick Viera, FRA, tba 76, Suzuki Austria Team 76, AUT, Suz GSX-R1000, Sandor Bitter, HUN, Gerhard Klein, AUT, Marjan Malec, SLO 666, Kawasaki Diablo 666, GBR, Kaw ZX-10R, James Hutchins, GBR, Kevin Falcke, GBR, Steve Mizera, GER, Mike Edwards, GBR