Alex Asigno

Gauloises Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi took his fifteenth podium from sixteen races this season after finishing second in the inaugural Grand Prix of Turkey. Whilst Marco Melandri (Honda) backed up his practice pace with a strong victory at the front, Rossi overcame a series of set-up problems and a bad start in the race to push his fellow Italian hard over the final few laps. Rossi's Gauloises Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards finished seventh today, improving his pace towards the end of the race as he continued to adapt to a new riding style. Starting from the second row of the grid Rossi, did not get the ideal jump from the line and had dropped two places to sixth by the end of the first lap. As the Italian made his way through the field Sete Gibernau (Honda) took the lead, only to run off the track two laps later and allow Melandri, Nicky Hayden (Honda) and Rossi through. Rossi passed Hayden on lap eight and began an intense pursuit of Melandri over the final two thirds of the race, although he was unable to make up the gap between the pair and could do nothing to prevent the youngster from clinching his first ever MotoGP victory. Valentino Rossi (2nd +1.513) "On Friday and Saturday we struggled to find a good setting for the bike; yesterday morning I felt like I wanted to go home! It wasn't until qualifying practice yesterday afternoon that we began to understand what the problem was. We made some more steps forward in the warm-up this morning and went in a slightly different direction with the setting, which in the end wasn't so bad. Unfortunately I made a big mistake at the start and conceded a couple of seconds to the leader, which proved to be a big gap to make up. Melandri was very fast throughout the race and in certain points of the track I knew he was faster than me, so it would have been very hard to pass him. Anyway, I am satisfied with second place - it is a good result for us after all the troubles we've had this weekend and I'm really pleased with the way the team worked to overcome a difficult situation." Colin Edwards (7th +29.255) "I struggled today. I've been trying a new riding style this weekend which has really helped me find some more pace from the bike, but my instinct took over at the start of the race and I just went back to my old superbike style, trying to squeeze everything out of the bike. Once I had calmed down and focused on the new style I managed to get it together and I actually set my fastest lap of the race on lap 20, which tells its own story. I hate to say that this Grand Prix has been like a test but we have to look to improving our performances next season and I firmly believe we have contributed to that here, even though the race result was not what we were after." Davide Brivio - Gauloises Yamaha Team Director "Valentino had a very difficult weekend so second place in the race today is a good result. After the problems we had on Friday and Saturday morning the team worked very hard right up to the start of the race, as they always do, and helped Vale find some more speed. Second place is not so bad and now he has one more race to try to make it twelve wins for the season. Colin also had a few problems this weekend but he has tried something completely new to him and this race was like a transition. I think we will see the benefit of it next season." Toni Elias - 6th "I got away well, but it was impossible to keep up with the rhythm of the top three of four riders - I'm still not at that level yet. I was going along comfortably with Checa and we left behind the group who were chasing us. Then I made a mistake and he got away from me. From that moment I fought hard and got ahead of Tamada and Barros and, on the last lap, caught up with Edwards. I got past him two corners from the end in a section I knew I was quicker than him. This morning I got up and noticed that the temperature was about five degrees higher and we decided to use a hard Michelin tyre during the warm-up and then in the race also. It was a bit risky, but after five laps of the race they had warmed up and after that they worked very well. I am very happy with our progression and I hope to continue like this in the final race of the season." Ruben Xaus - 14th "After starting badly I fought my way up through the field and the fact that my best lap was my last lap says it all. It took me 12 laps to get past Rolfo and in the end I was able to pass Hopkins also." Round: 16 - Turkish Grand Prix Circuit: Istanbul Circuit Length: 5378 Lap Record: 1' 53.111 (Marco Melandri, 2005) Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 52.334 (Sete Gibernau, 2005) Race: 22 Laps Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time 1 M. Melandri Honda ITA 41' 44.139 2 V. Rossi Yamaha ITA +1.513 3 N. Hayden Honda USA +6.873 4 S. Gibernau Honda ESP +12.420 5 C. Checa Ducati ESP +26.963 6 T. Elias Yamaha ESP +29.105 7 C. Edwards Yamaha USA +29.255 8 M. Tamada Honda JPN +33.345 9 A. Barros Honda BRA +33.790 10 S. Nakano Kawasaki JPN +44.225 11 C. Vermeulen Honda AUS +46.099 12 M. Biaggi Honda ITA +50.184 13 O. Jacque Kawasaki FRA +56.766 14 R. Xaus Yamaha ESP +1' 1.360 15 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA +1' 3.391 Fastest Race Lap: Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time 1 M. Melandri Honda ITA 1' 53.111 Championship standings MotoGP Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points 1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 351 2 Marco Melandri Honda ITA 195 3 Nicky Hayden Honda USA 186 4 Colin Edwards Yamaha USA 171 5 Max Biaggi Honda ITA 163 6 Sete Gibernau Honda ESP 150 7 Loris Capirossi Ducati ITA 148 8 Alex Barros Honda BRA 136 9 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 125 10 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki JPN 93 11 Makato Tamada Honda JPN 84 12 Toni Elias Yamaha ESP 68 13 Kenny Roberts Suzuki USA 63 14 John Hopkins Suzuki USA 60 15 Troy Bayliss Honda AUS 54 16 Ruben Xaus Yamaha ESP 51 Manufacturers standings MotoGP Pos. Manufacturer Points 1 Yamaha 365 2 Honda 316 3 Ducati 189 4 Kawasaki 121 5 Suzuki 97 6 Blata WCM 13 7 Proton KR 1 7 Moriwaki 1 Team standings MotoGP Pos. Team Points 1 Gauloises Yamaha Team 522 2 Repsol Honda Team 349 3 Team Movistar Honda MotoGP 345 4 Ducati Marlboro Team 273 5 Honda Camel 205 6 Kawasaki Racing Team 143 7 Fortuna Yamaha Team 123 8 Team Suzuki MotoGP 123 9 Konica Minolta Honda 96 10 D'Antin MotoGP 25 11 Blata WCM 14 12 Team Roberts KR 1 Race classification GP250 Round: 16 - Turkish Grand Prix - GP250 Circuit: Istanbul Circuit Length: 5378 Lap Record: 1' 57.595 (Daniel Pedrosa, 2005) Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 56.930 (Daniel Pedrosa, 2005) Race: 20 Laps Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time 1 C. Stoner Aprilia AUS 39' 28.243 2 D. Pedrosa Honda ESP +0.093 3 H. Aoyama Honda JPN +11.647 4 J. Lorenzo Honda ESP +21.861 5 A. Dovizioso Honda ITA +21.940 6 H. Barbera Honda ESP +22.258 7 A. de Angelis Aprilia SMR +43.755 8 R. Locatelli Aprilia ITA +44.105 9 S. Guintoli Aprilia FRA +48.918 10 C. Davies Aprilia GBR +54.376 11 A. Baldolini Aprilia ITA +54.651 12 A. Debon Honda ESP +59.791 13 A. Ballerini Aprilia ITA +1' 0.082 14 M. Giansanti Aprilia ITA +1' 0.225 15 J. Smrz Honda CZE +1' 0.338 Fastest Race Lap: Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time 1 D. Pedrosa Honda ESP 1' 57.595 Championship standings GP250 Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points 1 Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 284 2 Casey Stoner Aprilia AUS 238 3 Andrea Dovizioso Honda ITA 182 4 Hiroshi Aoyama Honda JPN 170 5 Sebastian Porto Aprilia ARG 152 6 Jorge Lorenzo Honda ESP 147 7 Alex de Angelis Aprilia SMR 138 8 Randy de Puniet Aprilia FRA 130 9 Hector Barbera Honda ESP 109 10 Sylvain Guintoli Aprilia FRA 82 11 Yuki Takahashi Honda JPN 68 12 Alex Debon Honda ESP 62 13 Simone Corsi Aprilia ITA 59 14 Roberto Locatelli Aprilia ITA 55 15 Mirko Giansanti Aprilia ITA 36 Manufacturers standings GP250 Pos. Manufacturer Points 1 Honda 324 2 Aprilia 323 3 KTM 30

2006 YZF-R1 A MASTERPIECE REFINED More than any other motorcycle, the R1 has become synonymous with awe-inspiring engine performance and remarkable handling qualities. Yet, at the same time as being one of the world’s premier large-capacity supersport machines, the Yamaha R1 has also established a reputation for being one of the most stylish and beautifully-finished motorcycles that money can buy – in any category. On the race track the YZF-R1 has been quick to make its presence felt, and in 2004 the R1 won three major titles – the AMA Superstock Championship, the European Superstock Championship, and the FIM World Endurance Championship. R1 riders have also performed strongly in the prestigious All Japan Championships, and the R1 was victorious in the Isle of Man TT races on the world’s toughest road circuit. More recently the YZF-R1 had an impressive victory in the 2005 24-hour race of Le Mans and took its debut race win in the 2005 World Superbike Championship, underlining the machine’s ability to win at the very highest level. 2006 R1. THE HUMAN TOUCH The development goals of the R1 have always been the same since day one: to create the definitive high performance supersport motorcycle with class-leading engine and chassis technology combined with aggressive and distinctive styling, that delivers the ultimate riding experience and unrivalled cornering performance. Yamaha has always been an innovative and forward-looking company, and for these reasons the R1 development team are constantly striving for an even higher degree of perfection. When the fourth generation YZF-R1 was launched it immediately set new standards for cornering, performance and styling, and the wide range of engine and chassis changes introduced for 2006 are designed to enhance the R1 experience even further. The higher powered engine and more agile chassis are sure to underline the R1’s unrivalled cornering performance and handling qualities on secondary roads – and will undoubtedly reinforce its reputation as the most exciting and rewarding supersport machine. All these developments are the result of Yamaha’s ongoing research and development programme, in which the R1 has been constantly pushed to the limit by our factory test riders. It is their input that has helped to make the latest model feel and perform the way it does, and it underlines how human sensitivity has played a key role in forming the distinctive character of the R1. ENGINE 3 horsepower increase The 2006 model runs with the same 998 cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-cylinder 5-valve layout featuring a 77 x 53.6 mm bore and stroke and 12.4:1 compression ratio. Equipped with a 3-axis transmission, fuel injection and 40 degree forward slanted cylinders, this ultra-compact powerplant is one of the most highly respected supersport engines of all time. Yamaha’s engineers have conducted a thorough examination of the R1’s intake and exhaust efficiency, and for 2006 a range of detailed changes in this area have achieved a 3 Hp increase in power at 12,500 rpm without direct air induction. One of the most significant changes is the use of shorter intake valve guides for 2006. Measuring 27.5 mm, these new guides are 5 mm shorter than the 2005 model, and this 15% reduction in length increases engine efficiency by increasing intake air flow, and reducing frictional power losses. To match the new intake valve guides, the 2006 model also features smoother intake ports. Furthermore, the clutch boss has been modified to increase the oil flow to the clutch assembly. Other detail changes The design of the compact cam chain tensioner has been revised, and now features a different sealing system for improved durability. The overall length of the main gear axle is increased by 5 mm, and the engine cover is modified accordingly. ENGINE TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS 998 cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-cylinder 5-valve 3 hp power increase to 175 Hp @ 12,500 rpm* 40 degree forward incline cylinder Fuel injection Ultra compact 3-axis transmission 77 x 53.6 mm bore and stroke 12.4:1 compression ratio New smoother intake port design New shorter intake valve guides Higher intake and exhaust efficiency Modified cam chain tensioner Redesigned clutch boss * Without direct air induction 2006 YZF-R1 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, forward inclined parallel cylinder, 20 valves, D0HC Displacement 998 cc Bore and stroke 77.0 x 53.6 mm Compression ratio 12.4:1 Max. power 128.7 kW (175 HP) @ 12,500 rpm* Max. torque 106.6 Nm (11.0 kg-m) @ 10,500 rpm* Lubrication Wet sump Carburettor/fuel supply Fuel injection Clutch type Wet multiple - disc Ignition TCI (digital) Starter system Electric Transmission Constant mesh, 6 speed Final transmission Chain Primary reduction ratio 1.512 Secondary reduction ratio 2.647 Gear ratio: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th 2.533, 2.063, 1.762, 1.522, 1.364, 1.269 * Without direct air injection CHASSIS Frame Aluminium die-cast Deltabox V Front suspension Telescopic forks, Ø 43 mm Front wheel travel 120 mm Rear suspension Swingarm (link suspension) Rear wheel travel 130 mm Caster angle 24° Trial 97 mm Front brake Dual floating discs, Ø 320 mm Rear brake Single disc, Ø 220 mm Front tyre 120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) Rear tyre 190/50 ZR17 M/C (73W) DIMENSIONS Overall length 2,085 mm Overall width 720 mm Overall height 1,105 mm Seat height 835 mm Wheelbase 1,415 mm Min. ground clearance 135 mm Dry weight 173 kg Fuel tank capacity (reserve) 18 litres (3.4 litres) Oil capacity 3.8 litres Specifications are subject to change without notice, in accordance with national regulation and legislations

It's the breakdown we all dread but it's as inevitable as the rain that always follows hours of cleaning and polishing! Thankfully, these days we don't see so many of those front wheel, high speed blow outs of yesteryear but anything that inflates is liable to be punctured and the problem of sudden deflation is still with us. Tubed tyres are straightforward. As long as the tyre itself is not badly damaged it can usually be repaired and all you do then is replace the tube (do not repair a tube - it is never worth it!). Remember repairing the tyre is just as important as replacing the tube. Imagine the water and muck that can be forced through the hole and start acting between the tube and the tyre itself and you'll get part of the reason. When repairing tubeless tyres there are certain requirements. Most experts will always use a 'mushroom' repair to completely fill the hole and very few are happy to simply apply a patch to the inside. The reason they will give you comes from the danger of a patch getting 'lifted' by water forced through the unfilled hole on the body of the tyre. NB Some punctures simply cannot be repaired. Side wall punctures and those where structural damage to the tyre has occurred are two examples. Radial Tyres It may seem a bit excessive but if you get a puncture in a radial the advice will almost always be to 'write off' the tyre. Radial tyres are built with a continuous belt around them below the rubber. If the belt is damaged the tyre could distort under extreme use (as you get with a modern Superbike) and the puncture could re-develop with disastrous consequences. Chris and Peter will simply refuse to repair a tyre if there is the slightest danger of this occurring. Foreign Objects If you find a nail or screw sticking out of your tyre the advice is: leave it there! Take off the wheel and get down to the tyre shop (or call a mobile fitter). You never know, the tyre may be capable of being saved. Puncture Proofing There are substances on the market that you put into your tyres and just forget about punctures altogether. Some of these products are wonderful, some are not. The best thing to do is get expert advice before adding anything that can effect your tyres in any way at all.

It is mandatory that your tyres conform to the following rules: Tyres must be kept in good condition without bulges, splits or breaks. Pressure must be maintaining to recommended levels. There must be 1mm of tread depth throughout a continuous band measuring at least three quarters of the breadth of the tread around the entire circumference OR if the grooves of the original tread pattern did not extend beyond three quarters of the breadth of the tread any groove, which showed in the original tread pattern must have a depth of at least 1mm. AND The base of any groove, which showed on the original tread pattern, must be clearly visible. What You Should Be On The Look-Out For Foreign objects sticking out of the tyre (esp. bits of glass or flint in the grooves of the tread). Cracks in the side walls - very important if the bike has been laid up for a while. Tread depth (see above) Pressures - these need to be checked while the tyres are cold at least every fortnight using a good quality tyre pressure gauge. N.B. the gauges found in most petrol stations are notoriously unreliable. Uneven wear in the tyre - especially any 'flattening out' in the middle, which leaves a ridge. More About Pressures This is the first thing you should check if the bike starts handling badly. Even a couple of pounds difference in the pressure can make a huge difference and tyre wear becomes ruinous. The effect of over or under inflation can be shown thus: Also, if you go to a different make from the one originally fitted you may find the pressures have to be different as well. For example the Honda Gold Wing runs on the following pressures for the makes indicated; Make Front Rear Michelin 33 psi 41 psi Bridgestone 36 psi 42 psi Avon 33 psi 36 psi Find out what you should be running on when you get the tyre fitted. Finally Tyres can easily absorb oil and grease from the road. Modern tyres are very durable but their life is not indefinite. The best advice all the experts give is: use them, look after them and change them regularly.

Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will start the inaugural Grand Prix of Turkey from the second row of the MotoGP grid tomorrow, after lapping fourth and fifth fastest in this afternoon's single qualifying session. After making the most of another extended 90-minute free practice in the morning, the difference between the leading riders was much closer today, with the top six all pulling to within a second of the pole position time of 1'52.334 set by Sete Gibernau (Honda). After a difficult morning, Rossi clocked the fourth fastest lap of the day after making a series of improvements to his YZR-M1 machine designed to meet the demands of this new and challenging circuit. The Italian knocked almost two seconds off his best time from yesterday and is targeting even more set-up refinements in tomorrow's warm-up session before challenging for a record-equalling twelfth victory of the season in the race. After suffering a series of setbacks yesterday Edwards was able to work without interruption today and the American emerged as one of the strongest contenders for a pole challenge in the final stages of the session. Edwards, who revealed that he has made a change to his riding style here after struggling to compete for the podium in recent weeks, launched his final attack in the very last minute but was held up by a slower rider and ended up conceding 0.042 seconds to Rossi, eventually lining up just behind his team-mate in fifth place. VALENTINO ROSSI (4th - 1'53.177; 27 laps) "This morning was not good at all, I had some big problems and we were quite worried. Then this afternoon we made some major modifications and the bike began to work much better. In the end the lap time was not so bad and we were able to finish the session on the second row. After this morning's troubles I am quite happy with this fourth place and maybe we can fight at the front tomorrow. We need to use the warm-up well and make a few more small changes to the set-up. I think it's going to be a very hard race tomorrow; Melandri and Gibernau were very fast today and I think tomorrow will be a big, big battle." COLIN EDWARDS (5th - 1'53.219; 25 laps) "We've struggled to find a set-up in recent weeks so here in Istanbul we've basically gone to Valentino's base setting and made gradual changes to suit my style. I've had to adapt my riding more to a 250 style, carrying much more corner speed, and as the weekend's gone on I've learnt more and more tricks that are helping me to go faster. This afternoon I felt good, I had much more confidence in the set-up and it helped me set some consistent times. To be honest I'm a little disappointed not to be on the front row because I felt like I had a 1'52 in me, but it wasn't to be. The main thing is that we've made improvements and if we can keep doing that in the warm-up tomorrow then we should be okay for the race." DAVIDE BRIVIO - GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR "The team has worked very well to improve the situation; it is still not the best but it is certainly much better than yesterday. The steps forward with the bike have allowed the riders to think more about where they can improve and both Valentino and Colin have created a good base to work from in the race. We have some very fast rivals and it will be a hard battle in the race but I can definitely say that we will be trying our best to be a part of it." Toni Elias (6th, 1.53,230) "I am very happy. We have worked very well, always with a full tank of fuel to simulate race conditions. I think we have a good rhythm, but I hope we don't have any unforeseen problems as we did at Phillip Island. I have learnt a lot this year from riding the M1, and I am very happy with how things have gone. This morning I fell when trying to keep pace with Melandri, but his tyres were fresh and mine were not." Ruben Xaus (16th, 1.55.414) "With race tyres on I have improved a lot, but I was not able to improve with qualifying tyres on. I will try to make best use of the warm-up as I want to have a good race." Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. 1st Qualifying 1 S. Gibernau Honda ESP 1' 52.334 2 M. Melandri Honda ITA 1' 52.463 3 N. Hayden Honda USA 1' 52.976 4 V. Rossi Yamaha ITA 1' 53.177 5 C. Edwards Yamaha USA 1' 53.219 6 T. Elias Yamaha ESP 1' 53.230 7 M. Tamada Honda JPN 1' 53.667 8 A. Barros Honda BRA 1' 53.719 9 C. Checa Ducati ESP 1' 53.836 10 S. Nakano Kawasaki JPN 1' 54.023 11 C. Vermeulen Honda AUS 1' 54.217 12 M. Biaggi Honda ITA 1' 54.358 13 O. Jacque Kawasaki FRA 1' 54.407 14 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA 1' 54.434 15 S. Ito Ducati JPN 1' 54.669 16 R. Xaus Yamaha ESP 1' 55.414

Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards got their first taste of the Istanbul Park circuit today as bright sunshine and moderate temperatures welcomed the MotoGP World Championship to Turkey for the first time. The riders had an extra half hour of free practice this morning as they aimed to get to grips with the new track, which proved to be somewhat trickier than expected, with several riders running off the circuit throughout the day. Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards got their first taste of the Istanbul Park circuit today as bright sunshine and moderate temperatures welcomed the MotoGP World Championship to Turkey for the first time. The riders had an extra half hour of free practice this morning as they aimed to get to grips with the new track, which proved to be somewhat trickier than expected, with several riders running off the circuit throughout the day. Rossi and Edwards were amongst those to make minor miscalculations this morning, the Italian missing his braking marker and running into the gravel traps on two occasions and the American losing the front end of his YZR-M1 and sliding off completely. Edwards' eventful day continued in the afternoon when an engine problem resulted in a small fire that warmed his ankles but brought no serious damage to either the rider or machine. Despite the setback Edwards set the seventh fastest lap of the day over the two sessions, two places behind Rossi on the combined time sheets, which were headed by Marco Melandri (Honda). Valentino Rossi (5th - 1'55.078) "The track is not so bad - very similar to China but with more up and down and our problems today are similar to the ones we had there. There are some long, fast corners and also some slow hairpins; it is difficult to find the right setting. The bike is not working as well as we would like and we couldn't be at the top. There is quite a lot of damage to the surface in the hard-braking areas from the Formula 1 and there are a lot of bumps. Our problem is mainly with the front end; we need to understand this to be able to ride the bike at the maximum. Anyway, it is only the first day at a new track so it is not so bad - tomorrow we will try and understand things a bit better." Colin Edwards (7th - 1'55.171) "The crash this morning was a strange one; I felt like I was actually going slower than I had done on the previous lap but then the front end just went away. I guess you have to put it down to this being a new track. The bike was still running on its side for quite a while before I could get over and shut it off, which seems to have been what caused the problem with the engine in the afternoon - these things are designed to run standing up! As far as the track is concerned, it's pretty cool; I like it. The first seven turns are awesome, although I'm not too sure about that last section, it's a bit too slow for my liking and I reckon it would be better if they took the right hand kink out of it. I would like to be a second quicker but we lost a little bit of time compared to the other guys with the problems we had today so hopefully we can have an incident-free day tomorrow and make the most of both sessions." Davide Brivio - Gauloises Yamaha Team Director "Today we made an uphill start! Colin had a small crash in the morning and in general both riders were struggling for the lap times, but they will come. This is a new track and Friday is basically the opportunity to check things and see which is the best way to work. We have collected a lot of information from both riders and the job for the team now is to look everything over tonight and see how we can improve the bikes for tomorrow. It is a pleasure for the team to be competing in a new country like Turkey so hopefully we can enjoy the success here that we have had at other circuits this season." Tony Elias (8th - 1'55.208) "The important thing is that we are in the top ten again. Being at a new circuit we are all starting from an equal footing, but it is a difficult circuit with a lot of ups and downs and my Yamaha is maybe more sensitive than some of the other bikes. I like the circuit a lot, but with the rear-end being a bit unpredictable, enjoying yourself can be dangerous! We are working hard to resolve the problem though." Ruben Xaus (17th - 1'57.058) "It has been a while since I crashed because we have been working well, we understand better the characteristics of the bike and have not been taking too many risks. After changing for a tyre with more grip I tried to push harder into a corner and the bike locked and down I went. Because of the crash I lost nearly all of the first session, but in the second I spent time looking for the right settings and lines. I like the track, I'm not as comfortable as I would want to be but we are progressing which is the important thing." 1 M. Melandri Honda ITA 1' 53.506 2 S. Gibernau Honda ESP 1' 53.945 3 N. Hayden Honda USA 1' 54.774 4 S. Nakano Kawasaki JPN 1' 55.015 5 V. Rossi Yamaha ITA 1' 55.078 6 C. Checa Ducati ESP 1' 55.171 7 C. Edwards Yamaha USA 1' 55.172 8 T. Elias Yamaha ESP 1' 55.208 9 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA 1' 55.292 10 M. Biaggi Honda ITA 1' 55.478 11 M. Tamada Honda JPN 1' 55.657 12 A. Barros Honda BRA 1' 55.670 13 O. Jacque Kawasaki FRA 1' 55.925 14 C. Vermeulen Honda AUS 1' 56,665.000 15 R. Rolfo Ducati ITA 1' 56.865 16 S. Ito Ducati JPN 1' 5,691.000 17 R. Xaus Yamaha ESP 1' 57.058

The Istanbul Otodrom track was finished earlier this year and succesfully inaugurated by the F1 circus, coming weekend it is up to the MotoGP boys to attack this new venue. The circuit is one of Herman Tilke's creations, the famous designer who also created the Sepang, Bahrain and Shanghai tracks. It can seat 130.000 spectators and is situated in the Asian part of Turkey, about 80 km's east from Istanbul.Circuit: Istanbul Otodrom Circuit: Istanbul Otodrom Country: Turkey Track length: 5378 m Opened: 2005 Circuit tel: +90 (216) 418 5222 Circuit web site: http://www.turkeygrandprix.com The track runs anti clockwise and is 5378 metres long with an average width of 15 m. It consists of 14 corners of which six are right turns and eight are to the left. The first part of the circuit is tight and technical, while the second part is open and fast featuring a backside straight with what looks to be a very exciting high speed kink in it. The riders are then slowed down by a chicane before they hit the relatively short 655,5 m start and finish straight. Interesting is that the track runs over four level sections with rising and descending grades. With a new tack and not knowing what to expect both Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will attack the race with a different base set-up on each bike. The bikes will start with a neutral setting enabling to experiement with various set-up direction. During Friday the crew and rider will then decide which machine feels most comfortable and will then start to make changes to come up with the ideal setting for the race.

Fitting new tyres Basically, there is little difference between fitting a motorcycle tyre and fitting any other sort. The real skill comes in knowing what to look for and knowing how to accomplish the tyre change without later endangering the rider or damaging the bike. Most riders should know how to take out a wheel but there are still many who don't. There is a potential for enormous damage to be caused if this is done badly. Modern wheels can be delicate and very expensive things; they can have coatings on them that can be damaged, torque settings can be critical and great care must be taken with the brake mechanism. If there isn't a mobile fitter or a mechanic who can get out to you, you really need to know how to get the wheel out and put it back properly. It would pay to find out how to do this and, if your bike has only got a side stand, you may also be wise to invest in a paddock stand for your garage. One-wheeled bikes don't tend to last too long on side stands! Magnesium and alloy wheels can be a problem when removing tyres. They can bend and distort if not handled carefully. The experts use the proper equipment to ensure no damage is caused. When fitting a tyre (especially tubeless) it is important to ensure the bead line is visible around the whole of the circumference. It may be necessary to put a bit of pressure into the tyre to do this (usually you hear a pop when the bead locates) then adjust it back down. However it is critical that the pressure is not excessive or the tyre could explode. You should use a 'cage' when blowing up tyres if at all possible. While the wheel is out This is the time to have a look at the bits you can't always get at. For example the rim should be inspected for damage or rough edges, wheel bearings can be checked for play and spokes can be cleaned and checked for tightness. Balancing tyres Modern tyres are fairly well balanced right from the start (when properly fitted) but it is still advisable to have the front wheel balanced to get rid of any lingering vibration. These days this can be done at the same time the tyre is fitted. There was a time when it was no good balancing a wheel until the tyre had suffered a bit or wear! Properly equipped motorcycle tyre fitters will have access to a balancing machine and it really is advisable to spend the extra couple of quid getting them to use it. Running in new tyres This is really important. The number of riders who have crashed on new tyres is legion. Tyres need to be 'run in' before they should be expected to cope with hard riding or braking. The first 50 to 100 miles is critical. Ride smooth and slow for this period and your tyres will perform at their peak for the rest of their lives. Information kindly supplied by ATS Euromaster

Australia : Gauloises Yamaha - Race Yamaha completed a clean sweep for 2005 today as the Constructors' World Championship was added to the Riders' and Teams' titles thanks to Valentino Rossi's eleventh win of the season at Phillip Island. The Gauloises Yamaha Team rider held off a strong challenge from Nicky Hayden (Honda) to continue his undefeated run at this circuit, which stretches back to 2001. Rossi started well from second on the grid and chased pole setter Hayden over the opening two laps before taking the lead and making several attempts to escape. However the American hung on and was presented with the opportunity to retake the lead when Rossi dropped the pace at the halfway stage. After studying Hayden for three laps, Rossi regained control on lap nineteen and managed to open out a one-second cushion as Hayden became embroiled in a scrap with Marco Melandri (Honda). Hayden eventually got the better of the Italian but Rossi was able to control his lead until the end of the race, winning by 1.007 seconds. Colin Edwards remains in the hunt for second in the riders' championship after a battling sixth place finish today. The Texan had struggled all weekend to match the excellent pace he found here during pre-season testing and was unable to hang on to the front group after starting from fifth on the grid. Edwards now lies in fourth place overall, eight points behind Hayden and Melandri, who are tied for second with two rounds remaining. Valentino Rossi : 1st – 41'08.542 “It has been an amazing season and today we have won the constructors' title for Yamaha in the year of their 50th Anniversary, so I am very happy. Congratulations to everybody. Eleven wins in the year matches my own record and to do it at Phillip Island is very special for me. I have won a lot of important races here, especially the 2001 500cc title and the title last year for Yamaha and it is a magic track for me – I love it. Today was tough, I had a great rival in Nicky Hayden and it was a great race. I got to the front after two laps and had a good rhythm so I pushed two or three times to escape. Every time Nicky came with me so I let him pass me just to see how it was. Then some more riders arrived so I tried again and this time I managed to get a one second advantage, which was like gold! I managed to hold it until the last lap and to celebrate the win in front of this great crowd is always a magnificent pleasure. Thank you to them and to everybody else who has made this season so special.” Colin Edwards : 6th – +33.200 “That wasn't great. We've been chasing our tail a little bit all weekend with the set-up and unfortunately we ran out of time and ideas. In the winter everything seemed okay here but this time we've been playing catch-up. In the end we went towards Valentino's setting, which was obviously working well for him, but for me it was just spinning up too much, even with the front wheel off the ground, which isn't normal. I want to thank the whole team for their hard work and congratulate Yamaha for the constructors' title. It's just a shame it didn't work out for me today.” Jeremy Burgess - Valentino Rossi's crew chief “It's been a good weekend for us, starting off with some fast and consistent times on Friday and Saturday and then staying in good shape as the other riders got better in the build-up to the race. Valentino controlled the race today and gave another example of why he is World Champion – he rides with his head as much as his wrist. It was nice for the Australian guys in the team to win their home race but more than that we are delighted for Yamaha to win the constructors' title. It was our only remaining target for the season so now we can look forward to the last two rounds and see what comes up.” Press Release Yamaha Racing

Yamaha riders played their part in the annual ‘Superbiker’ race in Mettet, Belgium. The legendary Superbiker is one of the world’s most important non-championship supermoto races. A 25.000 strong crowd witnessed the clash of styles with stars invited from supermoto, motocross and racing categories. Stefan Everts, fresh from a dominant supermoto win in the Belgian championship last weekend, showed probably his best speed ever at Mettet. Unfortunately Everts had bad starting positions in both finals and finished ninth overall. However the Belgian was the best placed motocross rider, young German supermoto star Bernd Hiemer won the event ahead of S2 world champ Jerome Giraudo.Sunny weather and dry conditions provided excellent conditions for both the seasoned supermoto stars and the occasional riders. French Supersport star Stephane Chambon won the Starbiker, the qualifying race between road racing and motocross stars. MX1 runner-up Josh Coppins finished fifth behind Superbike world champion Troy Corser.Both Superbiker finals saw many interesting battles within the race, where the supermoto regulars were leading the pack and a mixed bag of riders was trying has hard as they could. Newly crowned Superstock champion Didier Van Keymeulen (Yamaha Motor Germany) even rode his first supermoto race in Mettet: “Every race I was getting faster and I made a lot of progress during the weekend. My lap times would have dropped drastically by the end of the day, but because the track was getting rougher it did not show as much in the end. It certainly was a great experience!” Broc Parkes Stefan Everts – Yamaha L&M Motocross Team “I really enjoyed the racing this weekend and I was pretty dialed in here. I had to start from the 10th line in the finals after we encountered a small problem during the Starbiker race, but in each final race I easily worked my way up. My bad starting position was a bit frustrating, because with a normal result during the qualifying race I would have been on the front row. Anyway I think I have proved to be the best allround rider here, because all the guys in front of me are fulltime supermoto riders.” Broc Parkes – Yamaha Motor Germany “In the first final I was lying around sixth when some guys crashed in front of me in the second corner! That was a real shame, because my speed was quite good. I tried to use my dirt track experience as much as I could, but for now I miss the motocross skills to hang with the best riders. It’s definitely been a cool weekend and a great way to end the season, on Wednesday I go back to Australia to enjoy my holiday.” Overall result Superbiker 1. Bernd Hiemer (Ger-KTM), 2. Jerome Giraudo (Fra-Aprilia), 3. Jurgen Kûnzel (Ger-KTM), 4. Eddy Seel (Bel-Husqvarna), 5. Gerald Delepine (Bel-Husqvarna), 6. Stephane Chambon (Fra-KTM), 7. Christian Ravaglia (Ita-Suzuki), 8. Marc Fraikin (Bel-KTM), 9. Stefan Everts (Bel-Yamaha), 10. Wilfried Reiter (Aut-KTM)

Third generation R6Yamaha announce the launch of the third generation YZF-R6, which is undoubtedly the most radical and advanced new middleweight supersport ever produced. In addition to its new engine, chassis and bodywork, the third generation R6 features a sophisticated new Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) developed from our MotoGP bikes. This new ‘fly-by-wire’ throttle technology represents a first for the motorcycle market, and its debut on the new R6 is one of the most exciting developments in the middleweight supersport category for many years. Seven years of successOriginally launched in 1999, the first R6 made its presence felt immediately in the European marketplace. With its class-leading engine and chassis designs and aggressive R-series styling, the first generation R6 model proved to be the most exciting performer on twisty roads, and became the industry standard for middleweight high performance machinery. Its reputation as the number one 600 was to be confirmed when it won the World Supersport Championship in the year 2000. The new third generation YZF-R6 has been developed specifically to meet the changing demands and requirements of the new generation of riders who are looking for even more extreme performance. Many of these riders are looking for a high performance middleweight that delivers the most exciting engine and chassis performance, combined with the ability to perform well in practical day-to-day riding situations. There is a growing element of riders who, as well as wanting a high performance road machine, are also looking for a high-tech 600 with an advanced specification that will deliver extreme performance for track and race use. Featuring a great deal of technology based ontechnical feedback that has come from our Moto GP-winning YZR-M1, the all-new YZF-R6 is set to redefine the parameters of the 600 supersport class, and looks ready to stake its claim as the definitive high performance middleweight for 2006 and beyond.

The Yamaha Owners Clubwelcomes you to the most comprehensive Yamaha Owners Club. For seeking Yamaha motorbike advice, sell Yamaha Motorcycle parts, or arranging Yamaha owners club meets.

Unless you are always going to replace your tyres with exactly the same make and type that were fitted by the manufacturer when the bike was new, you are going to need to know (or ask a man who does) a bit about the huge choice of tyres on sale and what specs mean when the time comes to buy the baby new shoes. The days when all you needed to know was the size and how much they cost have long gone. Modern tyres come in so many varieties with so many differing performance values even the experts have a job keeping up with it all. Some rules are fairly general. For example Spoked wheels (with notable exceptions like some new BMWs) can only take tubed tyres. Radial tyres (again there are one or two exceptions) can rarely be fitted with a tube Front tyres go on the front, rear on the rear ONLY. The speed rating of the tyre must match the capability of the bike i.e. Top Speed of Bike Tyre Rating Up to 93 mph (150 kph) PUp to 112 mph (180 kph) SUp to 130 mph (210 kph) HUp to 149 mph (240 kph) VUp to 150 mph (250 kph) V250 Over 156 mph (250 kph) Z and ZR Then you have to watch how radials, bias belted and crossply tyres are mixed. It's better to avoid mixtures if you can, but the following is law. LegalIllegalCrossply front, crossply rear Radial front, crossply rear Radial front, radial rear Bias belt front, crossply rear Bias belt front, bias belt rear Radial front, bias belt rear Crossply front, radial rear Bias belt front, radial rear Of course it doesn't stop there! Bikes come in all shapes and sizes. Some rims won't take some makes or tyres and some swinging arms are too close to permit some tyres to be fitted. You'll need to know what can go on your bike - and what is going to happen once that lovely new radial comes under load! Then there is the difference with the compounds to be considered. Mixing hard (long wearing) and soft (maximum grip) tyres on the same bike can be okay but equally can be disastrous if they are not compatible or on the wrong wheels. As if all this wasn't enough, some tyres are not warranted for road use at all. Then different parts of the world need different tyres dependant on the climate and road conditions. Ask any Gold Wing rider who bought those 'good value' American tyres a while back and 6,000 miles later found they had worn out! Wings are normally good for up to 15,000 miles but British roads are not the same as their counterparts in the States. Information kindly supplied by ATS Euromaster

We take them for granted but have you ever thought how much we rely on our tyres? Have you considered the performance we require from them every single time we ride? To see what I mean, try this exercise. Hold both hands out in front of you with palms uppermost. Have a good look at them. You are now looking at roughly the area of your tyres in touch with the road whenever you ride your bike! In other words, that's the amount of rubber between you and eternity as you do the normal things bikers do. Like winding past that big lorry in the pouring rain, tucking in tight, and keeping the power on in a right hander or, possibly, stopping on a tanner when that Scandinavian looking car has decided, at the last second, to turn right across your path in front of you. Remember, the brakes stop the wheels but it's your tyres that stop the bike! Now give a thought to the forces you are putting through those two bits of rubber. Think of the heat generated as the speed rises and of the flexing needed to cope with the handling ability of a modern Superbike. You are now beginning to realise why the development and technology that has gone into those pieces of rubber has had to be very special. To borrow an expression, tyres are too small a word for them! The truth is, bike tyres have developed so much in recent years that they can now usually out-perform even the best of riders on the greatest of machines and in the worst of weathers! They won't often let you down. They will nearly always perform well for you. But they can only do so if you give them a fighting chance. Making sure you have the right tyres for the bike and having them professionally fitted, correctly balanced and properly maintained is every bit as important in your overall strategy as buying the right clothing and getting the best training. ATS' Peter Wanstall and Chris Gregory. are specialist motorcycle tyre technicians who have helped the police on many occasions to reconstruct accidents where tyres have been at fault. The information you will find on this website has been produced with input from their vast amount of experience and knowledge. Information kindly supplied by ATS Euromaster