Kawasaki, Hayden Back in AMA Superbike Picture for 2006 SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) “” Kawasaki Racing is back in the hunt for the AMA Superbike Championship, presented by Parts Unlimited, and veteran rider Tommy Hayden is leading the charge. Kawasaki Racing, which has not fielded a factory-backed Superbike program since 2003, will campaign the all-new ZX™-10R during the 2006 season, and the early results have been impressive. Northern California race fans will get their first glimpse of the bike at Infineon Raceway during the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, May 19-21. Hayden has helped raise the confidence level for Kawasaki as it enters the race weekend in the Sonoma Valley. The Owensboro, Ky., native has posted five top-10 efforts in five starts to begin the Superbike season, including season-best efforts of fifth place at both Daytona Beach (Fla.) and Barber Motorsports Park (Ala.). Hayden sits in sixth place in the Superbike standings with 124 points through five rounds of competition. Suzuki’s Ben Spies leads the standings entering the Sonoma Valley with 183, and is followed by six-time Superbike national champion Mat Mladin (163), Honda’s Miguel Duhamel (140), Ducati’s Neil Hodgson (130), Suzuki’s Aaron Yates (126) and Hayden. Kawasaki will certainly be a factor in Sonoma and should challenge the likes of Mladin, who has won a track-record six Superbike features at Infineon Raceway. The weekend will feature 28-lap Superbike main events on both Saturday and Sunday. Hayden, 27, is joined in the Kawasaki program by younger brother Roger Hayden, 22, who hopes to compete in both Superbike and Pro Honda Oils Supersport in Sonoma. Roger is recovering after surgery to repair a broken right Tibia and Fibula at an AMA event in Alabama earlier this year. The younger Hayden opened the season with Supersport wins in Daytona Beach (Fla.) and Barber Motorsports Park (Ala.) and sits seventh in Supersport points despite missing last weekend’s event at California Speedway in Fontana. The brothers will certainly be tough to beat in Sonoma, if they both can compete. Tommy has won the last two AMA Supersport championships, and was victorious on the road course at Infineon Raceway in 2005 (Supersport), as well. Tommy will focus primarily on Superbike, while Roger will pull double-duty in Superbike and Supersport. “I’m excited to be back for another season with Kawasaki,” said Tommy. “It’s going to be a challenge to return to Superbike but it’s something I’ve wanted for a long time.” Roger placed runner-up to Tommy in the Supersport class in 2005, and he was fourth in Superstock. Roger had five wins combined in the two classes last year, including a dominating win in the Supersport season finale at Road Atlanta. “Tommy’s one of the best teammates to have and I’m hoping both of us will have some close battles,” Roger said. WHAT: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts WHERE: Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 & 121, Sonoma, CA 95476 WHEN: May 19-21. COURSE: 12 turns, 2.22 miles. 2005 WINNERS: Mat Mladin (Superbike, both main events, Suzuki); Tommy Hayden (Supersport, Kawasaki); Jake Zemke (Formula Xtreme, Honda); Aaron Yates (Superstock, Suzuki). SUPERBIKE SCHEDULE (All times Pacific): Friday “” Superbike practice, 9:40-10:40 a.m.; Superbike qualifying, 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday “” Superbike qualifying, 9:50-11 a.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown main event #1, 3:50 p.m. (28 laps); Sunday “” Superbike practice, 10:20-10:50 a.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown main event #2, 3 p.m. (28 laps). TICKETS: $10-$65, 12-and-under free, parking is free. 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day.