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CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM UNVEILS FINAL LIVERY WITH SPECTACULAR SHOW IN ITALY
Milan, Italy, 28/2/2006 - With exactly one month to go before the first race of the new MotoGP season, the Camel Yamaha Team today celebrated the start of its 2006 campaign with a Team Presentation in Milan, in front of 300 guests and international media. World Champion Valentino Rossi and his American team-mate Colin Edwards, who was celebrating his 32nd birthday today, were joined on stage by VIP guests from Yamaha and Japan Tobacco International, as well as Italian TV presenter Marco Mazzocchi, who compered the presentation.

The bikes were uncovered by the Festi group of acrobats, who descended from the roof to reveal the M1s of Rossi and Edwards in their final 2006 livery. Mazzocchi then welcomed Masao Furusawa, Executive Officer for Engineering Operations at Yamaha Motor Company and Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl, onto the stage.
"Even though the basic M1 concept for 2006 is the same", commented Furusawa, "this is a more sophisticated bike, especially with the increasing RPM of the engine. It is very important for the progression of the bike to keep Valentino and Colin together, as they are not just riders for us, but a key part of the development of the M1."

"Last year we got everything right with this team," added Jarvis. "The rider combination, the bike and every other element. Now our goal with our new title sponsor Camel is to achieve all this once again and win the championship."

Roberto Zanni, European Regional President for Japan Tobacco International, spoke about the exciting new partnership between Camel and Yamaha. "The feeling has been very good with Yamaha right from the beginning. Everything is very professional but also very friendly, it's a good atmosphere. I expect that the passion this year within this team will be very great and with two riders as successful as Valentino and Colin, we can expect great things."

Davide Brivio, the Team Director for the Yamaha Factory Team for the fifth year running, then took to the stage to talk about his goals for the season. "I think that everybody will really like the new livery, and especially the riders' numbers on the white squares. We needed to come up with something original for the livery without moving away from the Camel yellow, which we all really like, and now I think this final livery is going to look really spectacular on track. For the season, we're ready! We've done some important and successful tests, and now we will just make the most of the six remaining days of testing before the first race to make some final improvements to the new M1."

The audience was then treated to a spectacular video of the team and riders, before Rossi and Edwards mounted the stage together for their part in the day. "This new bike is really beautiful!" exclaimed Rossi, who this season aims to win a sixth consecutive World Championship title. "It's exciting to be starting another season with Yamaha; these last two seasons together with them have probably been the best of my career. It's also nice to be with Colin again, we're very close in our team. The new M1 is already very good and we've been working very closely to develop it with Yamaha. Yamaha has done a very good job. This year I have many new young adversaries who will be challenging me, and I think there is going to be some spectacular racing!"

His team-mate Edwards, seeking to improve on his fourth-place in the championship last year, said "I really like the new bike design, it looks really great. I had the retro-style number five like this on the bike at Laguna Seca last year and I've used it again for this year. The new bike in general has been fantastic throughout the winter tests, I'm really excited. Yamaha has done a great job and everything about it feels better than last year. I honestly can't wait to get back on board this week in Barcelona, we have a few things to work on still but we're in good shape. My promise for the year is to win at least a few races and have a one-two for the Camel Yamaha Team at the end of the year!"

Marijuana Smokers Rejoice as Rizla and Suzuki join forces in MotoGP
28/02/2006 - Suzuki has teamed up with Rizla – the world’s premier rolling papers brand – and agreed a two-year partnership for the title sponsorship of its premier motorcycle race team in the prestigious MotoGP World Championship. The title of the team will be Rizla Suzuki MotoGP.

The all-new 2006 Suzuki GSV-R prototype race machines and riders John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen will roll out in ultra-distinctive ‘Rizla blue’ livery in the 17-race 2006 MotoGP series.

The new-look team will be unveiled at the Official MotoGP Test at Catalunya on 2nd - 4th March, shortly before Rizla Suzuki MotoGP makes its race debut in Jerez on Sunday 26th March, where Hopkins and Vermeulen will be aiming for glory.

Rizla and Suzuki have a successful on-going partnership in British Superbike racing and the partnership’s expansion onto MotoGP’s global stage is seen as a natural progression. Starting in 2002, the Crescent operated Rizla Suzuki British Superbike team has won more than 30 races, in addition to the rider and manufacturer 2004 British Superbike titles.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will be holding an Official Team Launch Presentation at the Circuit De Catalunya on Thursday 2nd March at 19.00hrs. All members of the media are invited to join Rizla Suzuki MotoGP in its hospitality facility for this presentation, which includes the official public unveiling of the all-new 2006 specification Rizla Suzuki GSV-R XRE4.

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“This is an exciting and significant step forward for Suzuki in MotoGP, and for the Rizla Suzuki partnership. Rizla is a colourful and exciting brand that fits in well with Suzuki’s racing ethos and identity. The added pressure of a sponsor to support Suzuki’s racing programme will also bring a welcome impetus to improve performance both on and off the track.

“Suzuki has been working with Rizla since 2002 in the British Championship and we are now very pleased to be extending the association to the worldwide stage in MotoGP. Rizla and Suzuki also have historical links, which include Kevin Schwantz making his Grand Prix debut aboard a Rizla-backed RG500. Our dynamic and ambitious 2006 racers take to the track aiming to replicate the level of excitement and success that developed from there. I know that with the dedication and commitment of Suzuki and the support of Rizla and everybody involved, we can now take the team to a much-improved level throughout 2006.”

Graham Blashill – Rizla Group Sales & Marketing Director:

“We are entering a new phase in our Sponsorship of Motorcycle sport. For the last four years in the UK, Rizla has sponsored the Suzuki British Superbike Team creating Rizla Suzuki, which won Championship honours in 2004, at which time Paul Denning was managing the team. We have decided to compliment this initiative and roll out our successful partnership with motorcycle racing and Suzuki at the very pinnacle of its sport – MotoGP. Just as Rizla is a premium rolling paper with a Global distribution, MotoGP is a championship that has a global reach and appeal, with international flare and highly sophisticated technological advances, with a friendly, approachable and competitive nature that personifies the Rizla brand.

“We are looking forward to the 2006 season and working with Suzuki over the next couple of years as they strive to get back to winning ways. “

Hirotaka Ono – Suzuki Board Member & Director, America/Europe Motorcycle Marketing:

“Suzuki is delighted to be entering into this new partnership with ITL and its Rizla brand. This marks a new and exciting stage in the history of Suzuki as it sets out to take great steps forward to further success in MotoGP.

“Rizla is the number one brand in its market worldwide. We are excited to work with such a reliable partner and all members of the Suzuki team – both in the factory and at trackside – are very motivated by this new partnership.

“We all now look forward to the new challenge of enhancing the Rizla Suzuki brand at a world racing level and seeing the distinctive blue machines fighting for success.

Motorcycle Hall of Fame Announces 2006 Events
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, Pickerington, Ohio, has announced an expanded calendar of events and activities for 2006. Located just minutes from Columbus, Ohio, on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association, the Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed notably to the sport, and three major exhibition halls showcase the machines and memorabilia that have shaped motorcycling.

All 2006 events at the non-profit Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum are open to the public.

Through December 2006 - “Motocross America” Exhibit. See, hear and connect with the action-packed history of America's original action sport at this expansive exhibit. More than 60 legendary motocross machines, hundreds of artifacts, and personal treasures on loan from racing and industry stars, rare original images and special interactive sections, such as a Motocross Resource Center designed to help parents and kids get involved in racing.

June 3 - Japanese Motorcycle Saturday. Japanese sport bike, café racer, cruiser and off-road enthusiasts gather at the Museum to celebrate their favorite marques. From the rare to today's most popular Japanese bikes, visitors are invited to bring their favorite Japanese motorcycles and enjoy the free, unjudged bike show from vintage machines to 2006 models. East coast enthusiasts will want to check out the Larz Anderson Auto Museum's simultaneous Japanese Motorcycle Day (www.mot.org). Special guests, food vendors and more.

June 9-10 - British & European Motorcycle Weekend, presented by DomiRacer Distributors. From BSA to Zundapp, this two-day event is a must for any fan of British and European - especially German - bikes. Visitors have one final chance to see the exhibit “BMW: The Mastery of Speed” during a Friday evening reception. The exhibit features rare ephemera, seldom seen and historically significant sport machines from nearly every decade of BMW's eighty years of motorcycle production. Saturday, visitors are invited to bring their favorite British and European motorcycles and enjoy an unjudged bike show for machines from vintage to 2006 models.

July 27, 5pm - “SuperMann” Exhibit Dedication. Dick Mann is one of the great universal motorcyclists of the last century. Tuner, dirt tracker, road racer, motocrosser and trials rider, Mann did it all. This new exhibit pays respect to Mann, the modern-day legend. Join Dick Mann and friends for the exhibit dedication, then head to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days for the weekend.

July 28-30 - Held at the nearby Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is scheduled too attract 40,000 motorcycle enthusiasts, making it the biggest vintage motorcycle event in America. The Museum's Motorhead Café is a great place to hang out with your friends and meet the legends of the sport. Bid on rare classics and memorabilia at the world-class Vintage Motorcycle Auction (Saturday), watch AHRMA racing greats battle it out on four race tracks, browse the world's largest motorcycle swap meet, try the latest motorcycles from today's leading manufacturers, shop dozens of new gear and accessory vendors, learn at seminars. MV Agusta is the 2006 Featured Marque.

August 19 - Custom and Cruiser Culture Saturday. Whether box-stock, chopped or tricked-out and over-the-top, custom and cruiser motorcycles reflect the unique personalities of their owners. That fact makes these bikes some of the most visually stunning works of art on wheels. Enjoy the culture, lifestyle and craftsmanship of these popular bikes - as well as the people who design, build, tune and accessorize them at this first annual custom bike show. Demonstrations, vendors and more.

October 6-7 - Motorcycle Hall of Fame Weekend and Concours d'Elegance. Meet and mingle with motorcycling's most famous names at the annual Hall of Fame Induction, plus enjoy over 100 of the nation's rarest motorcycles at the 5th annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d'Elegance (all day Saturday). The weekend includes a Friday “Evening of Stars and Legends” reception at the Museum, autograph sessions, Saturday gala Induction dinner and ceremony.

The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; and is closed on New Year's, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adult admission is $10 per person; students 12-17, $3. AMA members $5. Seniors receive a $2 discount and members of motorcycle clubs and organizations are eligible for a $1 discount per ticket. A $25 family rate and group rates are also available. For more information, call 614/856-2222, or visit the Museum's website at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

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The two Aussie World Champs Corser (1) and Bayliss (21) had a wheel to bank up battle in Race Two. Corser took the race win, but Bayiss the early points lead by virtue of a better finish is Race One.

2006 SBK Corona Extra Superbike World Championship - Losail Qatar

World Superbike 2006 Kicks off in Qatar - Troy Bayliss takes SuperPole & Points Lead!!!
BUMPER CROP OF SBK TALENT FOR 2006 SEASON OPENER

James Toseland and Troy Corser Emerge as Victors
from an Exciting 2-Race Multi-Rider Slug Fest in the Desert

Losail, Qatar, Saturday February 25th - It was an exciting start to the 2006 World Superbike Championship at the Losial Circuit in Qatar as 3 World Champions battled for the race wins among a hard hitting field of contenders in what is sure to be a history making season.

The First Race start went to the R1s of Yamaha Motor Italia team, Noriyuki Haga and Andew Pitt, as Yamaha pilots batted for the first two places. Immediately another fight began with Suzuki, Honda and Ducati attacking in force. With only 1 lap to go Haga’s front-end slide took out the other Japanese Kagayama, leaving the way to the podium to Toseland, Bayliss and Pitt (respectively first, second and third). “Only” fourth came World Champion Troy Corser with his Suzuki. Reading the time sheets the first data of significance is the total race time: 40 seconds faster than last season.

Race Two was almost as exciting with 18 laps at an incredible rhythm, fought like it was a title decider, making for a great show. Times were again improved: Noriyuki Haga scored a 2’00.061, a pace which finally deleted the fastest lap from 2005, that of Gimbert, (2’01.852). The top riders could hold 2’00-2’01 pace for the whole race. Final Result, race two was 11” faster than Race 1. To inflame the public the great battle between the two Troys, was a masterpiece of bravery and riding, and the third position went to a photo finish, taken by Haga over Toseland, by butterfly wing: 0.2 thousandths of a second. The World Champion again celebrated on the highest step of the podium, but the next race, in Australia, will be a great challenge again.

Can Troy Corser hold on to his crown in 2006? It's going to be a great year of Superbike racing.

Losail, Tuesday 21th February 2006 - The 2006 SBK World Superbike Championship® kicks off this forthcoming weekend at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, the first of 13-rounds in what is expected to be one of the most closely contested series ever held. A high-class entry of almost 30 permanent riders, representing six manufacturers’ best hopes for ultimate glory in the most prestigious SBK™ racing series on the planet, will gather in Qatar, each with the knowledge that they are competing in the most evenly balanced Motorsports World Championship on two wheels. Riders young and old will add unrivalled variety to the field, from hopefuls barely out of their teens to seasoned veterans with more than 40 years and up to 20 racing seasons under their belts. The ever-present line-up of regulars will be added to by wildcards at certain rounds, but with each and every rider choosing from an extensive pool of control Pirelli tyres, to even-out the playing field in the fairest way possible.

More than the Usual Suspects - Click for giant Screensavers 1008 • 1728

LOSAIL MAGNIFICENT - BY NO MYSTERY FOR TOP RIDERS Some teams have elected to make Losail one of their pre-season test tracks this year but for most of the other competitors the impressive 5.4km circuit, located near Qatari capital city Doha, will be already be a known quantity. Most gained experience of its contrasting fast and slow sections during last year’s inaugural SBK™  visit, while some others have ridden there in different global motorcycle competitions. With the race held on a Saturday once more, Losail is unique in many ways. Its 10 right and six left handed corners offer a host of differing challenges, while the featureless desert setting gives little away in terms of braking markers or corner entry points. A power-sapping 1.068km main straight allows the machines to sing in the higher octaves of their repertoires, even in top gear, while many of the faster corners offer a rare challenge in these days of tighter, slower circuits, most of which are built on a compact scale compared to Losail’s expanses.

CORSER PLANS HIGH SPEED DEFENCE IN TITLE-WINNING TEAM 2005 World Champion Troy Corser (Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) returns to Qatar alongside the same team-mate with whom he shared individual Losail race wins last year, Yukio Kagayama. Despite facing a solid wall of competition on all levels this year, Corser is confident after some dazzling pre-season testing performances. Also champion in 1996, Corser goes for title number three this time around. Kagayama, fifth overall in his ‘rookie’ SBK™  season in 2005, will be out to prove that his mid-season dip in form was a never-to-be-repeated aberration, as he sets about his task with his usual mix of experience and unrivalled exuberance. Four permanent Suzuki riders this year include a third rider in Alstare colours, 2002 SS SBK™ World Champion Fabien Foret, plus the Celani Team Suzuki Italia GSX-R1000 of 2002 season European Superstock® Champion, Vittorio Iannuzzo.

HONDA RIDERS LED BY TWO PROVEN CHAMPIONS Honda field five officially supported entries in this year’s series, from SBK™  first timers to the most experienced man in the entire championship. In the Winston Ten Kate Honda team, 2004 World Champion James Toseland undertakes his first ever four-cylinder season in SBK Superike World Championship®, aiming to finish higher up than his 2005 fourth. An SBK debutant last year, 2004 season World SS™ Champion Karl Muggeridge is just one of a raft of fast Aussie riders in the championship again, and yet another rider of proven class. He was part of the team that saw outgoing rider Chris Vermeulen score multiple race wins on his way to championship runner-up status in 2005, and Muggeridge now returns to continue his steep learning curve, hunting for his first SBK race win.

Alex Barros moves to SBK from MotoGP

HONDA RIDERS FORM STRONG CHALLENGE A one man Klaffi Honda team will feature the astonishingly experienced former MotoGP rider Alex Barros, with the popular Brazilian already a welcome addition to the SBK family. The Sao Paolo Superstar, who has great experience of SBK™ spec machinery (thanks to successful appearances in the Suzuka 8-Hour race in Japan), is nonetheless a rookie this season, if one with enough ability to challenge from the very outset.

Despite being 36 years of age, Barros is by no means the elder statesman of SBK™ racing. That honour, along with many race wins over the years, goes to a certain Pierfrancesco Chili, who is currently 41 years young. Chili’s latest challenge is to run in an all-Italian Honda team, in conjunction with traditional SBK™ participants, DFX Treme. He shares garage space with a new talent to the Superbike ranks, Michel Fabrizio. The squad thus features the oldest rider in the series with one of the youngest, as Fabrizio is only 21. He gets a promotion from World SS™, where he enjoyed a modicum of success last year. Fabrizio’s raw talents have already delivered him the 2003 European Superstock® Championship, and his experience also includes four-stoke MotoGP rides, despite his tender years.

A shrimp for the barbie? Toseland and Bayliss wanted to show us just how cut throat the season will be.

BAYLISS AND LANZI HEAD DUCATI CHARGE Few riders have made such an impact in pre-season testing as 2001 World Champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox). Returning to his ‘alma mater’ after a MotoGP career punctuated by podium finishes, Bayliss has been on fire in testing, readapting to the latest Ducati twin in record time; all despite the lingering effects of a severe left forearm injury, suffered late last year. Forming the second prong in a fierce factory Ducati Xerox attack is double race winner Lorenzo Lanzi. His two 2005 SBK™  race wins came in his rookie season, and each success underlined that a new talent was in town, one with an intense desire to succeed and with little respect for reputations.

DUCATI TEAMS IN ABUNDANCE Eight full time Ducati riders will be in attendance at Qatar, the factory squad heading an impressive array of proven desmo-powered talent, plus the odd new inductee. Spanish star Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik Ducati) teams up with Marco Borciani this year, even if he may not be able to ride in the first couple of rounds, thanks to an injury suffered in training. A serial race winner in the 2003 season, Xaus is expected to make a strong impact once fully fit. A serious challenge to the 250GP crown in previous years, Roberto Rolfo is another fast SBK™  rookie in the 2006 series, as he takes the field for the Ducati SC Caracchi squad. A one-man effort, the new partnership is nonetheless laden with exciting possibilities. His single rider effort is in great contrast to the three-rider festival of speed fielded by the Pedercini Ducati squad. The eponymous team-leader Lucio Pedercini heads up his countryman Ivan Clementi and the already proven talents of young German rider, Max Neukirchner. The latter is a first time Ducati pilot, yet has already impressed in winter testing - despite not having the newest tyres or a full factory machine at his immediate disposal.

YAMAHA RIDERS OFFER TOP CLASS CHALLENGE  Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) form a formidable obstacle to any would-be world champion. In Haga, Yamaha has a proven multiple race winner, and now he has opted to come back on the same machines as 2005, he is expected to at least replicate his third place finish of last year. Pitt’s battling qualities and front-running in ’05 got him re-signed for his second SBK™  season, and a podium finish is his first priority for 2006. Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) is a rider who needs little introduction, despite struggling somewhat in his first SBK™  season last year. His team-mate of 2005, Sebastien Gimbert is back once more and the team also features more new talent, Japanese rider Shinichi Nakatomi, who will run a different suspension set-up from his immediate peers.

KAWASAKI’s THREE POINTED STARS PROVE SHARP IN PRE-SEASON
The PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse squad return to a green livery in Qatar, and more importantly, enjoys the benefits of a new design of ZX-10R machine, complete with greater manufacturer support than in 2005. The team has increased to a three-rider set-up, each of them a proven entity in many forms of motorcycle sport. Chris Walker scored a podium on the 2005 PSG-1 Kawasaki, and has already voted the 2006 version as a distinct improvement after good tests in Sepang and Phillip Island. Regis Laconi, 2004 season runner up, multiple SBK™  race winner last year, and one of the few riders in history to have SBK™  and MotoGP race wins to his credit, is a new face in the squad. Spanish star Fonsi Nieto carries on in the team he joined for just two races in 2005, and has already matched times with the more experienced Walker, as the man from Madrid continues the transition from a 250cc past to an SBK™ shaped future. Franco Battaini (Kawasaki Bertocchi) is another proven MotoGP and 250GP rider to opt for the charms of SBK™  in 2006, and much is expected of the privateer rider in his first SBK™  year.

FOGGY SQUAD THREE BUT NOT EASY The orgy of technology that is the Petronas FP-1 triple will once more be campaigned by the Foggy Petronas team in the SBK™  series. 2005 signing Steve Martin returns after successful kidney surgery, having set impressive test times at Phillip Island in January. Young Briton Craig Jones may find the outgunned FP-1 not an ideal platform from which to launch his rookie SBK™ season, thanks solely to its 100cc capacity handicap compared to all other types of eligible SBK™  machines. His youthful enthusiasm will nonetheless see him gunning for the maximum possible rewards.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® Champion in 2005, Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) may not have things all his own way this year, as a frontal assault of talent and all-new machines attempt to depose last year’s clear winner.
Charpentier’s new team-mate is the Superstock 1000 FIM CUP™ runner up from 2005, Kenan Sofuoglu, but his greatest challenge may come from the two-rider Yamaha Motor Germany squad, now equipped with the all-new R6. Both Broc Parkes and Kevin Curtain won races in 2005, despite their machines’ relative venerability, and with a full 15 new R6s on the grid, plus 13 well-proven Hondas, this year’s contest is expected to be a true class act on all levels. An all new Suzuki GSX-R600, plus some fast Ducatis and Kawasakis, makes WSS™ a five cornered manufacturers’ fight again, in what is a massively resurgent class.


SATURDAY RACE FOR ALL IN QATAR Both Superbike and Supersport classes will race on Saturday at Losail, not the more traditional Sunday of all other venues. This means track action begins on Thursday 23, with Superpole® for the Superbike class on Friday and points scoring races on Saturday 25th. Shortly thereafter, the paddock decamps to Phillip Island for round two, on Sunday 5 March.

Qatar Provisional Entry List 23-24-25 February 2006

The former 2001 World Superbike Champion is on pole at Losail

Prodical Son Troy Bayliss Takes Superpole at Qatar
Ducati teammate Lanzi is 2nd, Pitt on Yamaha 3rd
Losail, Friday 24th February 2006 - Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) continued his fast pace from day one to record the fastest lap in regulation qualifying today, and subsequently the Superpole win, marking his return to SBK racing in the best possible style. Bayliss was also quickest earlier in regular qualifying. His team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi made it a superb day of action for twin-cylinder faction, running to second place, some 0.332 seconds from Bayliss. The 2001 World Champion’s Superpole lap of 1’59.696 is a new track best in qualifying, and was posted on race tyres, not qualifiers. Bayliss preferred the feel of tyres he was used to after extensive winter testing, and with only one day of dry testing at this race, he opted for a softer race tyre.

Lanzi (left) and Bayliss (right) are on fire as the Ducati mates tag team the Pole for Saturday's races.

Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) was a startling effective third in Superpole, after finishing official qualifying in the same position. He was to beat the Winston Ten Kate Honda of James Toseland by only 0.002 seconds, with Pitt himself 0.414 seconds from Bayliss’ best-ever performance. Toseland’s pace in Superpole counteracted the disappointment of his team-mate Karl Muggeridge, who fell on his Superpole lap, having been second fastest after the final regular qualifying session this morning, and fastest in the free session in the afternoon. Despite his fall, Muggeridge will start the two 18-lap Losail Superbike races on Saturday from the back of the second row.

Such was the pace of Superpole that even the winner of one race last year, Troy Corser, was ousted from a front row start, running his Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra machine to fifth place, just over half a second from Bayliss. His ride put four different makes of machine in the top five places. Troy missed out on a front row place by the narrowest of margins at Qatar today, but is determined that it will not stop him finishing on the podium tomorrow. He used a very soft front tyre on his Superpole lap - one that he had not tried before - and was not fully confident about it in some of the turns, so couldn’t push as hard as he wanted to.


TROY - 5th, 2:00.206 - There were possibly a combination of things that prevented me from taking a front row grid place today. We used a soft front we hadn’t tried before because I wasn’t happy with the feeling of the harder ones. The track was a bit dirty off the main race line and so I couldn’t use my natural lines - the ones I used in the December tests here. Instead I had to follow everybody else’s lines and that probably cost me a bit of time. Finally, I am five kilos lighter now than December and that may mean that we have to change the bike settings a little bit. The soft front gave me a better feel, but I don’t think we could use it for the race because it wouldn’t last. It’s important to get a good start tomorrow because, if anybody were to make a break from the rest, it would be difficult to catch them up. But if I get a couple of good starts, there is no reason why I couldn’t get a podium or two. That’s what I’m aiming for.

Behind him on row two will start Noriyuki Haga. Despite some pessimistic expectations, the 900cc Petronas triple was up to the task of not just qualifying for Superpole, but almost allowing Steve Martin to claim a second row starting position. The tough and rapid Aussie rider scored ninth place, 1.2 seconds from pole at one of the fastest and longest tracks of the year. Behind Martin the welcome presence of Alex Barros and his Klaffi Honda took tenth best time, an impressive showing on a bike which is still undergoing development, in Barros’ first ever SBK Superpole. Another former MotoGP rider and SBK rookie, Roberto Rolfo, excelled at Superpole, improving from his regulation position of 14th to start the races in 11th, one whole row closer to the best qualifiers. The last place on row three went to the fastest ZX-10R rider on show, and the PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse machine of Chris Walker.

A lack of testing time on dry 2006 spec tyres held back the dry qualifying efforts of Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse), as he scored 13th fastest time after a cautious Superpole. Behind the Spaniard, three Italian riders finished the Superpole contest off, with DFX Honda riders Pierfrancesco Chili and Michel Fabrizio 14th and 15th respectively, while Marco Borciani (Sterilgarda Berik) was 16th after a steady ride. Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) was surprise omission from Superpole, just missing the cut-off time by one position, but with many other big names behind him, at the start of this most competitive season imaginable.

WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
After a conservative opening day Winston Ten Kate Honda rider Sebastien Charpentier unleashed his abilities on a dry track in final qualifying, recording a new best lap of 2.03.093. It was his 12th career pole, making him second equal in the all-time standings, alongside Paolo Casoli. Charpentier’s team-mate, Kenan Sofuoglu scored a magnificent second place in dry conditions, with a lap just under second from Charpentier’s unapproachable best. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) scored top Yamaha placing on the grid, in fourth position, while former Ten Kate Honda rider and 2005 Qatar race winner, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda), went fourth. Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany was just under two seconds from Charpentier, and fifth fastest, while former Suzuki rider Javier Fores (SLM Racing) was an impressive sixth for his new team. Norwegian rider Kai Borre Andersen (Hoegee Team Suzuki) was best GSX-R pilot on show, in sixth, with Christian Zaiser’s 11th place on the LBR Ducati the fastest twin-cylinder performance.

Toseland Takes Stunning Race One Win at Season Opener
SATURDAY SUPERBIKE RACE ONE
James Toseland won today's first race from Qatar on his debut ride for the Winston Ten Kate team after a dramatic last lap. Toseland had looked to be heading for third place on the last lap, behind Nori Haga and Yukio Kagayama. However Haga lost the front of his Yamaha and clipped the back of Kagayama's Suzuki taking both Japanese riders out.Toseland probably couldn't believe his luck and he managed to hold off a charging Troy Bayliss to take the chequered flag to the delight of his new team.

At the start it looked like it was going to be a straight race between the Suzuki's, Yamaha's and Ducati's with all of the three factories riders battling it out. It was the Yamaha which that took the lead at first with Andrew
Pitt ahead of his team mate Haga, then Troy Corser followed by Bayliss, Kagayama and Lorenzo Lanzi. Pitt and Haga proceeded to swap the lead between them with the rest looking menacing. On the fourth lap Lanzi had a massive highside that he luckily walked away from, which left Bayliss as the sole Ducati in the leading pack.

Yukio Kagayama started to drop off a little on the Alstare Corona Suzuki, but then surged back and threw his machine under Bayliss to take fourth place and set his sights on the next man, his team mate, Troy Corser. Two
laps later Corser got to see the rear end of his team mates bike, something which didn't happen much last year! Meanwhile Bayliss had run wide allowing James Toseland, who had charged up, to take fourth place from the ex world champion. On the same lap Kagayama passed Pitt to go into second place and had his sights on his friend Nori Haga.

On lap 15 Kagayama finally got passed Haga but there was no way that the Yamaha rider was going to give up and sure enough on the next lap he retook the lead. This exhilarating action continued, with at one point on lap 17 the lead changed three times in three corners. Haga made his move at the start of the last lap but Kagayama was not going to be denied and re-took the lead. Going into the next corner Haga started to push his bike under the Suzuki but the front washed out and he collected Kagayama as well. The clearly upset Haga went straight over to his friend but their races were done!

Toseland and Bayliss continued their battle and in an aggressive move Toseland pushed Corser wide allowing Bayliss to pass the defending champion. Both of them then passed Andrew Pitt and were pushing hard, when the two leaders crashed out both of them could taste victory but try what may Bayliss could not pass Toseland and the Englishman took the win. Pitt brought his Yamaha over the line for a well deserved third place, with
Corser in fourth.

Special mention goes to Michel Fabrizio who took fifth place on the DFX Treme Honda in his first Superbike race. Also MotoGP veteran Alex Barros came home in sixth place after a poor start saw him drop down the field. A determined ride saw hi m claw his way back for a good result in his first Superbike race.

It was a very exciting race to watch and bodes very well for the rest of the season. Some pundits had predicted that Bayliss would walk away with the championship but it looks like he's going to have a real fight on his hands if Race one is any indicator of how the season will play out.

Round: 1 - Qatar, Circuit: Losail Circuit , Circuit Length: 5380
Lap Record: 2' 0.061 (Noriyuki Haga, 2006), Fastest Lap Ever: 2' 0.061 (Noriyuki Haga, 2006)

Can Troy Corser hold on to his crown in 2006? It's going to be a great year of Superbike racing.

Aussie Stars Corser and Bayliss Trade Paint and Elbows in Race Two
SATURDAY SUPERBIKE RACE TWO
Troy Corser takes the win in the second race of the day after a titanic battle with Troy Bayliss over the last few laps. Corser and Bayliss put on a riding master class for the last four nail bitting laps of race two in Qatar. The two Australians did everything they could to be the one to take the flag, but it was Corser who triumphed at the end. The current and former champions threw their bikes under each other, traded paint and could probably have traded leathers so close was the racing.

At the start it had been Pitt, Haga and Toseland who had got away followed by Bayliss and Corser. On lap five Corser started to charge and passed Toseland and Pitt to take second place. He then charged down Nori Haga to
take the lead on the seventh lap and he then started to pull away from the pack as he did so many times last year.

Bayliss meanwhile was all over the back of Toseland but seemed unable to get passed the Honda rider. Qatar is a circuit where it is notoriously difficult to pass at the best of times. On lap 12 Bayliss managed to pass Toseland and was soon attached to the rear of Pitt's Yamaha. He passed Pitt but ran wide allowing his fellow countryman to retake his position. On the next lap he managed to pass both the Yamaha's of Pitt and Haga which left him with a clear track up to Corser.

Bayliss then proceeded to destroy the gap that Corser had built in just under two laps and then battle commenced! On the penultimate lap Bayliss pushed his Ducati past Corser but ran slightly wide allowing Corser to charge straight back. The same happened on the final lap with both bikes touching, luckily there was no repeat of race one. Bayliss pushed and pushed but again ran wide allowing Corser to pull away slightly and take the win.

Behind, the battle for third was being fought with as much determination between Haga, Pitt and Toseland. Toseland managed to get past Pitt on the penultimate lap and then on the final lap he got past Haga going into the
final corner. It looked like the Englishman would be on the podium again but Haga drafted him down the straight and timing his move perfectly beat him to the line by 0.001 of a second!

Lanzi brought his Ducati home rounding out the top six. Alex Barros had another good ride after again dropping back at the start. He had a battle with Fabrizio which he won and finished the race in seventh place just ahead of the Italian.

The Foggy Petronas team had a disappointing day with Steve Martin finishing 18th in both races and Craig Jones not finishing both. Jones is a great talent and will produce good results once he settles into the superbike
series, definitely one to watch.

Special mention goes to Ruben Xaus who is riding with an injured knee after an off road accident. He's walking around on crutches but still finished in tenth place. When he's fully fit he'll be back looking to have a podium finish. Frankie Chili started what will possibly be his final season off with a huge crash which he thankfully walked away from.

The next round sees us at Phillip Island in a weeks time. Corser, Bayliss and Pitt will all want to stand on the top step of the podium at their home round but Haga and Toseland will have other ideas. Will we see the first double of the season? Will Barros start to shine? Who knows but it will all become clear, right here on FastDates.com

LeeAnn Tweeden Gets Naked (almost) for Budweiser in Sports Illustrated
This Bud's for you! Former FastDates.com Calendar Kitten, former Frederick's of Hollywood Lingerie model and former girlfriend to former AMA Superbike Champion Ben Bostrom, our very own LeeAnn Tweeden is featured in a giant 4-page fold out magazine ad for Budweiser beer in the annual 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition which went on newstand sale this past week. LeeAnn looks resplended as she spreads out on a bed of Budweiser bottle caps with stragetically placed caps just concealing her wonderful attributes. The SI Swimsuit issue will remain on newstands for many months, selling millions of copies and assuring that LeeAnn gets more exposure than her current gig on TV's Fox Sports. You'll want to get your own copy of LeeAnn's Budweiser poster to hangup in your race pits and help distract Ben as he walks past to the starting grid. And you can visit LeeAnn's Calendar Model Portfolio in Members Corner right now to get your very own giant screensaver of LeeAnn's Bud poster.

SBK World Supersport Round 1 of 13

Carpentier Scores First Supersport Win of the Season
Losail, Qatar, February 25th - Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR rider Sebastien Charpentier started his championship defence in the best fashion possible by winning the Losail race, setting a new lap record and scoring pole position in final qualifying. The Frenchman ran out a five second winner over Yamaha rider Kevin Curtain, after 18-laps in desert sunshine at Qatar. Charpentier took a new lap record of 2'03.921, having set pole with a 2'03.093. Charpentier led every one of the race's 18-laps.

A successful day for the Winston Ten Kate Honda team saw their newest Supersport recruit, Kenan Sofuoglu, score a podium in his first Honda CBR600RR Supersport ride, taking a safe third after challenging for the lead in the first few laps.

Katsuaki Fujiwara (Team Megabike Honda CBR600RR) was fully in contention in the early stages, as he led off the line before being swamped by Charpentier's pace. He was to fall at high speed on lap five, breaking a scaphoid bone in his wrist and will now miss the Phillip Island round in Australia. Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda CBR600RR) was forced to miss the Qatar race in its entirety after suffering a cycling injury, but is heading of to Australia, hoping to be fit in time.

For Charpentier the race, conducted at a high pace throughout, was a vindication of not only his machine, but the preparations of his team in pre-season. "In testing in December we made a lot of improvements and set some good times here in Qatar," said the 2005 champion. "We pushed very hard for many laps, and today we did 2'04s consistently, with some 2'03s, so I am very pleased about that. It improved on last year and proved to us that we have many possibilities this year. I felt very comfortable on the bike and we are in a good condition. Kenan did very well; he is young and hungry to finish on the podium so it's perfect for me. You need a fast rider in your team to compare yourself against."

Sofuoglu, fast from first to last this weekend, raced with a maturity in the final few laps, taking an outstanding podium in his first ride for his new team. "I am very happy with this result, even after we knew would could be fast after the pole time I set," said the charging Kenan, who played it safe towards the end. "I ran in the first group in the race, and even though it was very difficult in the first laps, I knew I could go with them. After ten laps I was in third position and I realised that I had to keep the podium, so I stopped trying to challenge Kevin Curtain for second. This is a good result for us and thanks to the team for providing me with such a fast bike. The bike is completely different from my 2005 Superstock machine, there are many things you can change in Supersport, and more you can do with suspension."

Fujiwara was firmly on course for a strong finish after a fourth place qualifying, but his crash stopped not only his race, but his ambitions for the next round in Australia. "It's a shame for this to happen, not only crashing out but losing the chance to race in Australia," said Fujiwara. "I am going home to Japan now to have an operation to pin my wrist, so it should be OK for the Valencia round."

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