Rider Files

(NEWS RELEASE)

Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) made a real play for the 2012 eni FIM Superbike World Championship title today by putting in a double win of the highest quality, overcoming Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) in both 20-lap contests at the classically sculpted Brno circuit.

Brno (Czech Republic), July 22, 2012 – Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) made a real play for the 2012 eni FIM Superbike World Championship title today by putting in a double win of the highest quality, overcoming Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) in both 20-lap contests at the classically sculpted Brno circuit. This was Melandri’s first double as an SBK rider and the first double for the official BMW team. In front of a three-day crowd of 63,129 and despite rain appearing in the morning, Melandri started from the second row in each race to overhaul long time leader Sykes. The English rider was full of fight at one of his favourite tracks, particularly in race two, but could not contain Melandri, who successfully pegged back the championship lead of Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) to a much more manageable 21 points, while in a historic day for BMW the German squad now heads the Manufacturers’ standings, by two points from Aprilia.

Race 1
Melandri worked his way through from a mid-pack position in a race that started with many wet patches on the circuit, but finished in blazing sunshine. Sykes finished second and his team-mate, 19-year-old French rookie Loris Baz third, after a confident early few laps in tricky conditions. Any chance Sykes had of getting back at Melandri for the win was dashed when he and Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) collided entering a corner near the end of the race and Rea crashed out spectacularly. Checa was fourth and Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) fifth, with Biaggi a distant sixth. Another great ride came from Maxime Berger (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati) who led for some time in tricky early conditions and finished the race ninth at his team’s home round.

Marco Melandri: “It was an amazing race. At the beginning everyone was careful because it was wet and they were on slicks. Then I was seventh or eighth but was catching the other guys and all I had to do was keep my rhythm. When I went in front with one lap and a half to go I just had to keep pushing without thinking of the others because I knew I was faster than them.”

Tom Sykes: “It was a shame to not lead the lap that counts, but I’m happy to be back on the podium with Kawasaki. At Brno you spend a lot of time on the side of the tyre but we did a great job and came away with 20 points. Unfortunately we gambled at the beginning of the race with a softer front tyre so I wasn’t able to attack the corners from 10 laps onwards, and when Marco passed me I had no answer.”

Loris Baz: “It’s great and I can’t believe it! The race was just perfect for me, I knew we had a good pace in the wet so just tried to do the best possible. Then my race pace was quite good compared to the other guys, we just had some problems with the front. The last lap was not easy but I am really happy, the team did a great job”.

Results: 1. Melandri (BMW) 20 Laps/108.060 km in 41′59.808 average 154.383 kph; 2. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1.360; 3. Baz (Kawasaki) 1.948; 4. Checa (Ducati) 2.494; 5. Laverty (Aprilia) 3.832; 6. Biaggi (Aprilia) 7.139; 7. Haslam (BMW) 11.293; 8. Fabrizio (BMW) 11.945; 9. Berger (Ducati) 18.988; 10. Smrz (Ducati) 19.117; etc.

Race 2
Melandri scored a historic double after winning the second 20-lap race, but only by a fraction. The Italian rider made a final pass on long time leader Sykes on the final lap and had just enough of a gap in the final few corners to make sure the English rider would finish runner-up, if by only 0.140 seconds. Checa had an eventual third place finish with championship leader Biaggi a lonely fourth. Laverty won a duel for fifth with Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing Aprilia) and Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) but was unhappy not to be able to challenge for a podium place.

Marco Melandri: “I’m living in a dream, it’s a first time for me to get a double win! It’s something amazing at this track where nobody expected these results. It’s also fantastic to see BMW leading the constructors’ championship and it makes me very proud. No one expected we could catch Max and I’m still 21 points behind him in the table but we have to think day by day and today I’m enjoying my day!”

Tom Sykes: “It’s fair to say we made another big leap forward this weekend, but unfortunately Marco spoiled my day yet again. Hopefully payback is on its way! It was a big improvement compared to what everyone expects from us. Marcel and the team made a small change for race 2 and it played its part in keeping me consistent throughout the race so it was nice to prove a few people wrong.”

Carlos Checa: “Overall it was a good weekend. Race 1 was very complicated in the middle of many riders so fourth position was a good result. In race 2 I started third behind Marco and Tom but till the end I was able to keep my position. Considering this track and that we lose a lot in acceleration overall they are good results for us.”

Results: 1. Melandri (BMW) 20 Laps/108.060 km in 40′12.837 average 161.228 kph; 2. Sykes (Kawasaki) 0.140; 3. Checa (Ducati) 6.801; 4. Biaggi (Aprilia) 9.840; 5. Laverty (Aprilia) 11.775; 6. Davies (Aprilia) 11.950; 7. Haslam (BMW) 12.547; 8. Baz (Kawasaki) 13.088; 9. Camier (Suzuki) 18.141; 10. Fabrizio (BMW) 25.332; etc.

Points (after 9 of 14 rounds): 1. Biaggi 271.5; 2. Melandri 250.5; 3. Sykes 212.5; 4. Checa 204.5; 5. Rea 187; 6. Haslam 160; 7. Laverty 148; 8. Guintoli 110; etc. Manufacturers: 1. BMW 292; 2. Aprilia 290; 3. Ducati 276.5; 4. Kawasaki 218.5; 5. Honda 193; 6. Suzuki 72.5.

Fabien Foret won the red-flag plagued World Supersport race.

World Supersport
A red flag incident on the startline led to two starts for the 18-lap FIM Supersport Championship race at Brno, but even more drama was to come when the race was halted by another red flag a few laps from the end. Even though Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step) had just been passed by Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini), the French rider won on the count back to the previous lap, with Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) third. Fourth was Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda) with Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) fifth and Ronan Quarmby (PTR Honda) sixth, despite being the rider who crashed out.

Results: 1. Foret (Kawasaki) 13 Laps/70.239 km in 27′02.236 average 155.872 kph; 2. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 0.128; 3. Parkes (Honda) 0.434; 4. Lowes (Honda) 4.650; 5. Cluzel (Honda) 7.725; 6. Quarmby (Honda) 11.384; 7. Morais (Kawasaki) 11.934; 8. Cruciani (Kawasaki) 12.253; etc.

Points (after 8 of 13 rounds): 1. Sofuoglu 137; 2. Lowes 114; 3. Foret 108; 4. Cluzel 95; 5. Parkes 82; 6. Morais 62; 7. Baldolini 54; 8. Quarmby 54; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 176; 2. Honda 172; 3. Triumph 83; 4. Yamaha 66; 5. Suzuki 6.

Superstock 1000
Bryan Staring (Pedercini Kawasaki) won his second consecutive Superstock 1000 FIM Cup race after splashing through the rains in unstoppable fashion at Brno. He left Eddi La Marra (Barni Racing Team Italia Ducati) to break away from a group behind to try and hunt him down, but as the danger approached Staring upped the pace and finished 6.5 seconds up on La Marra. MRS Kawasaki rider Jeremy Guarnoni finished third, albeit 32 seconds behind Staring. Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) fell and no scored, which means that in the championship fight La Marra is now the leader.

Results: 1. Staring (Kawasaki) 12 Laps/64.836 km in 27′22.582 average 142.099 kph; 2. La Marra (Ducati) 6.577; 3. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 32.390; 4. Brown (Ducati) 34.106; 5. McFadden (Kawasaki) 38.007; 6. Massei (Honda) 38.412; 7. Bergman (Kawasaki) 39.584; 8. Jezek (Ducati) 39.940; etc.

Points (after 6 of 10 rounds): 1. La Marra 94; 2. Barrier 75; 3. Staring 70; 4. Savadori 67; 5. Guarnoni 62; 6. Baroni 56; 7. Reiterberger 55; 8. Bergman 49; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 110; 2. Ducati 107; 3. BMW 103; 4. Honda 46; 5. Aprilia 16.

KTM European Junior Cup
Lukas Wimmer took the victory in the fifth round of the KTM European Junior Cup at Brno, his second race win of the season so far. He was only 0.295 seconds ahead of Spaniard Gaston Garcia and just over a second up on third place rider, Javier Orellana. Wimmer now has 70 points and the championship lead, Orellana is second on 62 and Christian Vidal has 48 points, in third, sharing that total with Jean Francois Demoulin.

Results: 1. Wimmer (KTM) 7 Laps/37.821 km in 16′14.885 average 139.663 kph; 2. Garcia (KTM) 0.295; 3. Orellana (KTM) 1.223; 4. Demoulin (KTM) 1.616; 5. Odegard (KTM) 8.411; 6. Pasek (KTM) 9.852; 7. Vidal (KTM) 15.100; 8. Patterson (KTM) 18.969; etc.

Points (after 5 of 8 rounds): 1. Wimmer 70; 2. Orellana 62; 3. Vidal 48; 4. Demoulin 48; 5. Garcia 45; 6. Wielebski 36; 7. Pasek 35; 8. Odegard 29; etc.

Coppa dei Due Paesi (Two-Nations Cup)
Denis Sacchetti (SD Rider Team Kawasaki) took a clear win in the Coppa dei Due Paesi race at Brno, from Olmo Spigariol (Way of Life Kawasaki). Third, and first of the Russian riders, was Sergey Vlasov (Yakhnich Motorsports Yamaha) from team-mate Dakota Mamola. In the championship Sacchetti has 45 points, Vlasov 27 and Mamola 26.

Results: 1. Sacchetti (Kawasaki) 9 Laps in 19’28.235; 2. Spigariol (Kawasaki) 2.258; 3. Vlasov (Yamaha) 3.444; 4. Mamola (Yamaha) 12.263; 5. Prasek (Yamaha) 12.529; 6. Dusek (Yamaha) 19.049; 7. Sangiorgi (Honda) 19.625; 8. Prosenik (Yamaha) 23.010; etc.

Points (after 2 of 3 rounds): 1. Sacchetti 45; 2. Vlasov 27; 3. Mamola 26; 4. Biliotti 25; 5. Vostarek 22; 6. Spigariol 20; 7. Sangiorgi 16; 8. Buccheri 14; etc.

(NEWS RELEASE)

Newburgh, NY; July 22, 2012—The Antique Motorcycle Foundation, Inc. (AMF) has signed on as one of several sponsors of the bon voyage breakfast for the Motorcycle Cannonball Ride that will depart from the Motorcyclepedia Museum in Newburgh, New York on the morning of September 7, 2012.  Explaining the AMF’s decision to get involved, Foundation President Dennis Craig said, “My mother once told me that when you’re going to ride an antique motorcycle more than 3,000 miles from one coast to the other, you gotta start with a good breakfast.”  Craig added, “Seriously, we are honored to provide support to the men and women who will embark on this exciting adventure, which is a living demonstration of the wonderful sport and hobby of antique motorcycling.”

The first Motorcycle Cannonball Ride took place in 2010, and was awarded the Antique Motorcycle Foundation Award for Excellence for the large amount of positive press it created about antique motorcycles.  The second event, departing New York on September 7, will cover a 3,800 mile, 16-day route, finishing in San Francisco on September 23.   Approximately 50 riders on pre-1930 motorcycles will attempt the feat.

In conjunction with the Cannonball departure, the Antique Motorcycle Foundation will host a reception and a grand opening of its new Kaizen Exhibit at Motorcyclepedia on the evening of September 6, 2012.  Named for the Japanese industrial practice of constant, ongoing incremental improvement in manufacturing and product development, Kaizen will be the first exhibit at a major motorcycle museum dedicated entirely to the Japanese motorcycles that revolutionized the American motorcycle industry from 1960 through the mid-1980s.

The Antique Motorcycle Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization created to tell the story of antique motorcycling so that the role and influence of the motorcycle in our transportation history and technological development can be better understood and appreciated.  The Foundation seeks to advance the interests of all motorcycle collectors, regardless of their preference for periods, brands, or motorcycle nations of origin.  The AMF is supported solely by gifts and monetary contributions, for which contributors may receive tax-deductions.  For more information about the Antique Motorcycle Foundation, Inc. go to www.antiquemotorcyclefoundation.org/. 

 For more information about the Motorcycle Cannonball Ride, go to www.motorcyclecannonball.com/.  For more information about the Motorcyclepedia Museum, go to http://motorcyclepediamuseum.org/.

(NEWS RELEASE)

Barcia Races to Second 250 Class Victory

WASHOUGAL, Wash. (July 21, 2012) – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its annual stop in the Pacific Northwest on Saturday, hosting the eighth round of the season from Washougal MX Park. For the sixth consecutive race, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., claimed the overall win, but not without some pressure from his closest title contender – MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif. In the 250 Class, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Monroe. N.Y., raced to his second victory of the 2012 season, following a strong and consistence outing.

Alessi grabbed the holeshot in the opening moto of the 450 Class and set a fast pace early on, with Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki’s Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, in tow. Following a fourth-place start, Dungey quickly began to move his way forward and positioned himself behind Alessi on the second lap.

Dungey soon eliminated his deficit to Alessi and applied pressure for the lead. After several attempts to pass, Dungey lost traction on Lap 12 and fell, remounting in second, but dropping nearly seven seconds back. Just two laps later, Dungey was once again on Alessi’s rear wheel, but the Suzuki rider withstood the advances yet again to claim a hard-earned victory, ending Dungey’s 10-moto winning streak.

In Moto 2, Dungey made short work of the field, securing the holeshot and quickly asserting himself as the rider to beat by establishing a multi-second lead on the opening lap. The KTM rider led all 15 laps to tie Alessi in points for the day, but secured the tiebreaker over his rival by virtue of the better second-moto result.

“It was fun (out there),” said Dungey, who won for the fifth straight year at Washougal. “I was riding in second (behind Alessi) and I was up on him, but I had a hard time making the pass. I had a (moto-winning) streak going and I was happy with it, but at the end of the day, winning every moto doesn’t get (the championship) done. If anything, it was a kick in motivation to go a little harder, which I did in the second moto.”

Alessi’s runner-up effort (1-2) was highlighted by his first moto win since the 2010 season and the inaugural moto victory for the Spokane-based MotoConcepts team. Team Chaparral Honda’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, took the final spot on the podium in third (3-4).

Dungey’s lead in the 450 Class standings remains at 80 points over Alessi.

In the 250 Class, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, of France, set the tone early in the first moto by capturing the holeshot and opening up a comfortable advantage over the field. Musquin continued to lead for the majority of the moto with his sights set on a first-career moto win, but was passed by Barcia on the eleventh lap. Barcia fended off his teammate Eli Tomac, of Cortez, Colo., the rest of the way, while Musquin followed in third.

In Moto 2, Barcia took advantage of a strong start to open up a slight lead over points leader Blake Baggett, of Grand Terrace, Calif., who was looking to overcome his own misfortune in the opening moto. The duo paced one another for nearly the entire moto before Baggett made a late pass on Lap 13 to steal the win and secure a spot on the overall podium.

Barcia’s second-place effort in the final moto was enough to claim the overall win, with Tomac in second (2-3) and Baggett in third (6-1).

“The first moto was awesome, I had to ride really hard,” said Barcia. “I just kind of got sick getting roosted, so I made the pass. In the second moto, I got a good start and was riding great, but Blake (Baggett) pressured me and I ended up losing my front end with a couple laps to go. The last two years here I’ve really struggled, but after today I’m happy.”

After losing valuable points in the first moto, Baggett’s win in Moto 2 minimized his total points lost to seven, giving him an 11-point lead heading into the next round.

“I just made a mistake and tried going faster than I could go,” said Baggett. “I had a couple falls, so I just went back and regrouped. I made some changes between motos and I guess they worked.”

The Women’s Motocross Championship was also in action on Saturday, with the sixth of eight rounds this summer. After suffering a broken hand just a few weeks ago, points leader Jessica Patterson, of Tallahassee, Fla., was looking to maintain her advantage aboard her Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki.

At the end of two motos, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Ashley Fiolek, of St. Augustine, Fla., prevailed with her third win of the season (1-1), while Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Tarah Gieger, of Puerto Rico, finished second (3-2), and MotoConcepts Honda’s Mariana Balbi, of Brazil, finished third (4-3). Patterson was in position to claim the overall win, leading the early portion of the second moto, but misfortune relegated her to a fourth-place finish overall (2-8). However, Patterson maintains possession of the points lead, holding just a two-point advantage over Gieger.

The 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will take a break from competition and resumes August 11, with round nine from Moto-X 338 in Southwick, Mass.

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Peterson CAT Washougal National
Washougal MX Park – Washougal, Wash.
July 21, 2012
Round 8 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (2-1)
2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (1-2)
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (4-3)
4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (3-5)
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (6-4)
6. Tommy Hahn, Great Bend, Kan., Honda (7-7)
7. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki (8-10)
8. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Honda (10-9)
9. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (9-11)
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki (17-6)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 383
2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 303
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 280
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 247
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki, 220
6. Justin Brayton, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 183
7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 169
8. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 151
9. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki, 142
10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki, 137

250 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (1-2)
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (2-3)
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (6-1)
4. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (3-4)
5. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (4-7)
6. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki (7-6)
7. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda (9-5)
8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (5-10)
9. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha (8-8)
10. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki (10-9)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 355
2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 344
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 323
4. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 305
5. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 256
6. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 218
7. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 185
8. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M, Suzuki, 168
9. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 144
10. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda, 134

WMX Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-1)
2. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda (3-2)
3. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda (4-3)
4. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki (2-8)
5. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM (5-4)
6. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., KTM (9-5)
7. Hailey Larson, Mill Valley, Calif., Honda (8-6)
8. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda (7-7)
9. Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM (6-9)
10. Amanda Brown, Baltimore, Md., Honda (10-11)

WMX Class Standings

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 236
2. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda, 234
3. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 225
4. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda, 193
5. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., KTM, 176
6. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda, 174
7. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM, 173
8. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Honda, 137
9. Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM, 127
10. Sade Allender, Sanford, Maine, Honda, 118

Tickets for the remaining rounds of the 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship can be found at www.allisports.com.

For additional information please visit AlliSports.com/motocross also, “like” the American Motocross Facebook page, “follow” @AmericanMX on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and information on the latest Lucas Oil Motocross news and developments.

For media information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please contact MX Sports Pro Racing via email at media@mxsportsproracing.com.

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world’s most prestigious motocross series – the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The industry leader in off road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli Sports
Alli Sports, is an action sports lifestyle brand whose mission is to connect fans with athletes and brands through best in class events, media, and authentic branded products. Alli Sports includes: the Dew Tour, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and the Red Bull Signature Series; Alli Media, which creates, produces, and distributes original content; Alli RideShop, an online retailer carrying top skate and BMX consumer products; and Alli MotoShop an online retailer carrying top moto consumer products. Alli Sports is owned by NBC Sports. More information can be found at www.allisports.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing sanctioning body in the United States, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization sanctions professional motorcycle racing competition, which includes, AMA Pro Motocross, AMA Pro Road Racing, and AMA Pro Flat Track. Visit www.amaproracing.com.

NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January of 2011, the broad reach and storied history of NBC Sports united with Comcast’s 24/7 ability to super-serve fans to create the NBC Sports Group. The new sports media company consists of an array of broadcast television, cable television and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports & Olympics, Golf Channel, Versus, 11 SportNets (regional sports networks) and their respective websites. Together, the new combined assets of the NBC Sports Group possess an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the Olympics, NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, IndyCar, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Wimbledon, French Open, Tour de France and Kentucky Derby.

FUEL TV
FUEL TV is the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports including UFC, surfing, motocross, snowboarding and more. This new generation of sports provides a rich landscape of some of the most vibrant and action-packed television entertainment in the world. With more hours of UFC coverage than any other network, FUEL TV is the place to be for live fights, weigh-ins, prelims, pre- and post-fight coverage, specials and events you won’t see anywhere else. See why adrenaline sports fans call FUEL TV the channel they never turn off. FUEL TV, part of FOX Sports Media Group, was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 36 million U.S. homes and can be accessed by broadband, mobile devices and other digital platforms such as iTunes®. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia and Europe. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4 FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the Pro Motocross Championship.” Visit www.LucasOil.com.

Pramac Racing’s sole rider Héctor Barberá yesterday suffered injuries during a training mishap near his home in Spain. Read more.

(NEWS RELEASE)

At Brno Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) took pole for the seventh time this season. His winning lap time of 1 minute 58.010 was a new best lap.

Brno (Czech Republic), July 21, 2012 – A much delayed finish to the Tissot-Superpole session, due to an oil spill and the time required to clean up the track afterwards, saw Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) take pole for the seventh time this season. His winning lap time of 1 minute 58.010 was a new best lap.

The final running of Tissot-Superpole 2 was declared wet and thus the top 12 riders who had made it through to that stage battled it out in a 20-minute session, which ended in dry conditions. Second fastest after the delays was Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) with the front row completed by Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati). Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) was fifth and Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) sixth.

Tom Sykes: “I’m very happy to take pole again but I’d swop this for 25 points in the championship any day of the week! It’s fair to say that Kawasaki have got the sheer speed in this championship and it’s no secret we still need to work on the balance of the bike for the race, but this is coming and today we made the best of the situation.”

Carlos Checa: “For us this is a track that is quite difficult so to be in second place fills me with confidence for tomorrow. The team did a great job, basically we found a really good set-up in Aragon and moving to here, it’s working well again. We’ll try and do our race and see what happens. The championship is still open and we’ll be trying our best until the end.”

Eugene Laverty: “It’s been a good weekend for us so far, we’ve been on the chart from the first practice session and to be on the front row is the most important thing here. We’ve been working strong for the races tomorrow, we’re not sure about tyre life but it’ll be the same for everyone. Brno is a circuit where I’ve struggled at in the past so this is a good result.”

Championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) missed out on qualifying beyond Superpole 1 and will therefore start from 14th place on the grid. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) put in a seventh place performance and alongside him on the second row of the grid will be Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) who took the last place on the second row.

Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing Aprilia) secured a top nine place, with Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) inside the top ten at his home round, despite a fall in the first attempt at running Superpole 2.

A great privateer ride from team Pedercini Kawasaki rider David Salom put him 11th, although both he and Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) were both involved in the Superpole 2 crash that claimed four riders, damaging their bikes so badly that they could not continue in the ‘wet’ Superpole 2 that decided the final grid places for the top 12 riders.

Times: 1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1′58.010 average 164.823 kph; 2. Checa (Ducati) 1′58.470; 3. Laverty (Aprilia) 1′58.741; 4. Giugliano (Ducati) 1′58.789; 5. Melandri (BMW) 1′58.885; 6. Rea (Honda) 1′59.560; 7. Haslam (BMW) 1′59.583; 8. Fabrizio (BMW) 1′59.621; 9. Davies (Aprilia) 1′59.748; 10. Smrz (Ducati) 1′59.871; 11. Salom (Kawasaki) 1′59.279; 12. Badovini (BMW) 1′59.154; 13. Camier (Suzuki) 1′59.439; 14. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1′59.453; 15. Baz (Kawasaki) 1′59.627; 16. Hopkins (Suzuki) 1′59.973; etc.

World Supersport
Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini) took pole in the Supersport category after an intense session that was too close to call right until the end. Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) was second only 0.002 seconds behind Sofuoglu, with Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step Racing) only 0.080 seconds off the pole. Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) finished his day fourth and 0.162 seconds down on Sofuoglu. The first rider off the second row for tomorrow’s race will be championship challenger Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda) in fifth, with the Power Team by Suriano Triumph of Vittorio Iannuzzo in sixth place.

Times: 1. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 2′03.217 average 157.858 kph; 2. Cluzel (Honda) 2′03.219; 3. Foret (Kawasaki) 2′03.297; 4. Parkes (Honda) 2′03.379; 5. Lowes (Honda) 2′03.481; 6. Iannuzzo (Triumph) 2′04.005; 7. Quarmby (Honda) 2′04.014; 8. Baldolini (Triumph) 2′04.043; etc.

Superstock 1000
Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) took his fourth pole of the 2012 season in holding off a trio of Kawasaki riders at Brno. Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki), Christoffer Bergman (BWG Racing Kawasaki) and Bryan Staring (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) completed the front row in readiness for Sunday’s race. Lorenzo Baroni (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) was fifth, ahead of local man Ondrej Jezek (SBK Energy Racing Team Ducati). Title challenger Eddi La Marra (Barni Racing Team Italia) was the top 1199 Panigale rider, but in seventh.

Times: 1. Barrier (BMW) 2′03.343 average 157.697 kph; 2. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 2′03.744; 3. Bergman (Kawasaki) 2′03.945; 4. Staring (Kawasaki) 2′04.069; 5. Baroni (BMW) 2′04.100; 6. Jezek (Ducati) 2′04.291; 7. La Marra (Ducati) 2′04.392; 8. Savadori (Ducati) 2′04.688; etc.

Superstock 600 – Race
Michael van der Mark (EAB Ten Kate Junior Honda) scored his third win of the season after a thrilling 11-lap Superstock 600 race at Brno, having overcome the close attention of three other riders. Gauthier Duwelz (MTM Yamaha) finished only 0.125 seconds from van der Mark after battling hard with him for the final few laps. Riccardo Russo (Yamaha Team Italia FMI) went third and another fast qualifier, Alex Schacht (Schacht Racing SBK ONE Honda) worked his way up to finish right behind and just off the podium. In winning the race van Der Mark moved to the top of the championship, by only two points from Russo, 124 to 122. Each of these riders has three wins apiece in 2012. Duwelz is third on 78 points.

Results: 1. Vd Mark (Honda) 11 Laps/59.433 km in 23′25.755 average 152.202 kph; 2. Duwelz (Yamaha) 0.125; 3. Russo (Yamaha) 0.687; 4. Schacht (Honda) 0.900; 5. Cocco (Yamaha) 9.062; 6. Morbidelli (Yamaha) 9.157; 7. Nestorovic (Yamaha) 9.473; 8. Gamarino (Kawasaki) 10.488; etc.

Points (after 6 of 10 rounds): 1. Vd Mark 124; 2. Russo 122; 3. Duwelz 78; 4. Calero Perez 50; 5. Vitali 46; 6. Gamarino 41; 7. Nestorovic 37; 8. Cocco 35; etc.

KTM European Junior Cup
Javier Orellana and Jamie Patterson were the top two in the European Junior Cup qualifying session at Brno, with Orellana just over half a second faster than his rival from Northern Ireland to take the pole position slot. The Spanish youngster, who turns 15 next Friday, is also not entirely fit due to a recent injury. Lukas Wimmer went third, Gaston Garcia fourth, with Tom Busch fifth on the grid.

Times: 1. Orellana (KTM) 2′17.680 average 141.275 kph; 2. Patterson (KTM) 2′18.203; 3. Wimmer (KTM) 2′18.490; 4. Garcia (KTM) 2′18.681; 5. Busch (KTM) 2′19.055; 6. Wielebski (KTM) 2′19.999; 7. Fazzina (KTM) 2′20.005; 8. Pasek (KTM) 2′20.070; etc.