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1. Yamaha announces 2006 roadrace team, which adds Eric Bostrom
Yamaha Motor Company is pleased to announce its AMA Roadracing plans for 2006 which will be centered around the introduction of both the all-new YZF-R6 and the new race-specYZF-R1 LE.  Veteran rider and 2003 Supersport Champion Jamie Hacking returns to Team Blue and White competing on the potent new R6 in the AMA Supersport Class and the new R1 LE in the Superstock Class. "I'm just pumped to ride both these classes this year," said Jamie, "and with these unbelievable new bikes, I'm ready to bring home Yamaha at least one Championship."

Twenty one year-old hot shot Jason DiSalvo also returns and will compete this year on a fully prepped YZF-R6 in the Formula Extreme Class including the prestigious Daytona 200. Jason will also pilot the new R1 LE in an effort to improve his overall second place finishing position in 2005 in the AMA Superstock Class. "We've just started testing the new R6 and it's already miles ahead of last year's bike," said and exuberant DiSalvo. "I'm confident and so looking forward to the season ahead."

Finally, Yamaha is pleased to welcome the charismatic Eric Bostrom, who will round out the Yamaha squad competing in both the Formula Extreme and Superstock classes. "I just saw the new bikes and they are awesome." Said Bostrom.  "I feel great and Yamaha has already made me feel so much a part of their family. I just can't wait to start riding."

Graves Motorsports will continue to maintain the Superstock effort in the coming year.

"We are extremely excited about the year ahead," said Racing Division Manager Keith McCarty, "We feel that our new team will have great dynamics and with two new bikes, tremendous potential to win multiple championships."

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2. Neil Hodgson to remain, Ben Bostrom to join Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin Team in 2006 AMA Superbike Championship
Bologna (Italy), Saturday 29 October 2005: Ben Bostrom is to partner the already-confirmed Neil Hodgson in the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team that will compete in next year's AMA Superbike Championship with factory Ducati 999 bikes.

2006 will mark the second season in America's premier racing category for Hodgson, 31 years old from Burnley, England. The former World Superbike champion finished sixth in his debut AMA Superbike season, winning one race at Road America and stepping onto the podium a further five times in the 10 round/17 race series.

Hodgson now has a great opportunity to make use of his learning year to aim for the title and thus fulfill his ambition of becoming the only rider to win the 'triple crown' of British, American and World Superbike titles.

"I'm really looking forward to the challenge in 2006" commented Neil. "I know the 999 will be improved and now I understand how to approach AMA. It's going to be tough to beat Mladin but I've studied everything hard this year and I've got a plan for how to beat him! I really enjoyed working with Eric and it will be equally great to work with his brother Ben .... It's just a pity he's not better-looking!"

Bostrom, also 31 years old and born in Redding (California) in 1974, will step onto a factory Ducati Corse machine again after a three-year gap in which he rode for Honda in AMA Superbike and the World Superbike championship. He returns home after one year on the world stage to take the place of his younger brother Eric, who won four races with the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin 999 in the last two seasons of AMA racing.

"You know, this year was a tough one on the racetrack" declared Ben. "So I'm real excited to be back with a factory that I've had so much success with in the past. We've shared lots of good memories, Ducati and I, and I'm looking forward to a strong season together, and to creating new memories with them."

Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin owner Terry Gregoricka commented on his team's new line-up: "Neil had a great first season with us, winning one race and always fighting hard throughout the season and I'm convinced he can challenge for the title in 2006. Ben has had great success with Ducati in the past and I feel sure he will remember that and get on the gas! His crew chief Gary Medley has worked with him before and that's also sure to be an advantage. I believe Neil and Ben will work well together as a team and knowing each other will certainly help. 2006 is going to be even tougher than this year but I am convinced that our two riders will go well and that they can both win races throughout the season."

Ducati Corse Superbike director Paolo Ciabatti added: "We are officially involved in the AMA Superbike Championship for a second year with the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team and once again we will have two world-class riders. The American market is very important to Ducati: our participation in the AMA championship with a factory effort shows our strong commitment to the series and is a key element of the company's marketing strategies in this area of the world."

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3. KTM announces factory off-road helmet
The KTM Factory Helmet by M2R is is an advanced off-road high performance helmet. It was developed in conjunction with leading riders and manufacturing engineers to create head protection that features the highest level of fit and function. Utilizing a MIT (Multiple Inclusion Technology) shell, it's lightweight at just 1,275 grams and meets or exceeds DOT Standards and is Snell M 2000 Certified. The KTM Factory helmet also features a D-Ring Retention System, Advantix Stabilizer, Flotec Ventilation and a new chrome chin vent. Said to feature improved sizing, the lining is fully removable and washable. Removable color coordinated visor.
Product name: KTM Factory Helmet/ Retail price $199.00

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4. AMA'S RASOR ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF FIM
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that AMA President Robert Rasor has been elected to the position of Vice President of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the international governing body for motorcycle sport and touring.

Rasor was elected during the 2005 FIM Biennial Session, held October 21 - 24 in Geneva, Switzerland. The AMA is the sole US affiliate to the FIM, which comprises nearly 70 national organizations, called federations, from countries around the world.

A member of the AMA staff since 1973, Rasor served as Vice President of AMA Government Relations from the early 1980s until his appointment as the Association's President in 2000. He's served the FIM as the first president of its Commission on Mobility, Transport, Road Safety and Public Policy, increasing the organization's involvement in motorcyclists' rights, and is president of the North American Motorcycle Union, one of six such regional groups within the FIM.

The Geneva-based FIM establishes and enforces rules for international motorcycle competition, and monitors motorcycling legislation and lobbying for riders' rights. The FIM also is involved with international touring, facilitates international travel, and is taking a more active role in vintage motorcycling.

Several other members of the AMA staff also serve on various FIM commissions. Through its affiliation with the FIM, the AMA licenses its riders to compete in international events and coordinates world-championship competition held in the United States. In his over 35 years of motorcycling experience, Rasor been an amateur motocross racer and has toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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5. TEDESCO EARNS AMA PRO RACING SPEED CHANNEL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINATION
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Oct. 25, 2005)  After a standout 2005 campaign Ivan Tedesco has earned his first nomination for the AMA Pro Racing SPEED Channel Athlete of the Year. Tedesco's dream season included defending his AMA 125 West Supercross title, winning his first AMA 125 Motocross Championship and closing the year as a member of the triumphant Team USA Motocross of Nations squad.

Long considered a supercross specialist, Tedesco, a New Mexico native who now resides in Southern California, furthered that belief by winning his second AMA 125 West Supercross Series in April. The 24-year-old Monster Energy Drink/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, who rides the No. 30 bike, took six straight podium finishes in the 125 West class, including wins at Anaheim II and III in Angel Stadium. That consistency earned him the championship, wrapping up the series with a round remaining.

While it was no surprise that Tedesco scored another supercross title, his big breakthrough came during the grueling AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF, where he proved that he could be a motocross champion. Tedesco went 1-1 at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, Colo., in July to score his first national victory. That win catapulted him into the series lead, a position he would never relinquish. He followed his Thunder Valley National victory with a win at Washougal to build a large points lead, which he held to the end of the season with solid finishes throughout the final rounds.

Based in part on his performance in motocross, Tedesco was named to join Ricky Carmichael and Kevin Windham to represent the United States in the prestigious Motocross of Nations. The trio brought back the trophy to America for the first time in five years.

It feels good to be recognized with my first Athlete of the Year nomination, Tedesco said. This season will be one I'll never forget. To win the West Supercross title, the outdoor nationals and then the Motocross of Nations was really more than I could have hoped for. The only bad thing about it is that it's going to be hard to top this season.

Emerging as motocross champion in his sixth year of pro racing was the highlight of the year for Tedesco. I worked really hard to improve my motocross skills and it paid off, Tedesco explained. I knew I'd put in the work, but there were a lot of talented riders in the class and to be able to come out on top was a great personal accomplishment. Tedesco plans on moving up and contesting the AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships next year.

The AMA Pro Racing SPEED Channel Athlete of the Year Award is the highest honor an AMA racer can receive. Past recipients include such legendary names as Bob Hannah, Scott Parker and Kenny Roberts, among others. Generally speaking, the award goes to the rider judged to have had the most successful racing year. A lifetime achievement approach can also be considered if the season complements a remarkable career.

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6. JURGEN KUNZEL WINS 2005 AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP,
Former AMA Motocross star Micky Dymond takes Supermoto Unlimited class
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Oct. 5, 2005)  Jurgen Kunzel and Micky Dymond wrapped up a spectacular weekend of racing in the AMA Red Bull Supermoto A-Go-Go season finale in front of a crowd estimated to be in excess of 40,000 fans on the downtown streets of Reno. Both the AMA Supermoto and Supermoto Unlimited Championships were won in dramatic fashion.

Kunzel had undoubtedly the best week of his racing career. The 31-year-old German won his first AMA Supermoto race in Nashville on Sept. 24 riding his Red Bull KTM and a week later he scored a come-from-behind championship in Reno. Kunzel came into the Reno final 31-points behind series leader and defending champ Jeff Ward. After finishing third in the first race to Ward's second, Kunzel needed a major break in the double-points paying finale to steal away the championship from Ward.

In the finale Kunzel got just the opening he needed when Ward crashed and struggled for a long time to restart his bike. In the meantime Kunzel rode hard to a solid second-place result behind doubleheader winner Mark Burkhart. That gave Kunzel enough points to earn the title, finishing 16 points ahead of Ward in the final standings.

As Kunzel rode up to the podium his Red Bull KTM team members were celebrating, but Kunzel smiled nervously, not yet believing the title was actually his. When AMA Pro Racing's Michele Rossi finally handed him the No. 1 plate, he jumped for joy into the arms of teammate Kurt Nicoll.

I could not believe that I won the championship, said an elated Kunzel. I felt very bad for Jeff (Ward). He had a great season and it was a tough way for him to lose the championship. At the same time I'm overjoyed for my team. They put so much work into this. I've worked hard for three years to get to this point. I had so much bad luck in my racing career over here, perhaps I was due for a little good luck.

Kunzel gave KTM its first individual AMA Supermoto Championship. Red Bull KTM also earned the team championship.

Kunzel, who scored seven podium finishes in the 12-round series including the Nashville win, is the first German to win an AMA championship in over 30 years. Adolph Weil won the Trans-AMA Motocross Championship in 1973.

Micky Dymond won the AMA Supermoto Unlimited Championship in the final turn of the final lap of the Reno race. He and New Zealander Darryl Atkins battled wheel to wheel for the victory. Whoever won the race would win the title. Atkins charged hard into the final turn and ran just a tad wide. That allowed Dymond to run underneath Atkins. The two made contact and Atkins slid off into the hay bales. Atkins picked up his bike and pushed it across the start-finish line to score third, but Diamond's victory gave him the title by four points over Atkins.

This is amazing to come back and win another AMA championship after so many years, said Dymond, who was a two-time AMA 125 Motocross Champion in the mid-1980s. I'm having so much fun with racing right now just doing things that I like to do. To win this title is just a bonus. Supermoto is definitely a up-and-coming sport and I'm glad to get my name in the record books in this series.

Dymond was a picture of consistency in 2005, scoring five podiums in the six-race series. His Reno win was his first-career victory in the series.

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