DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., – During the first day of Dunlop tire testing at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Daytona 200 Week By Honda, the motorcycle world witnessed Aaron Yates in his new Jordan Suzuki leathers. Yates, who is leaving Yoshimura Suzuki after a long tenure, joins NBA Basketball legend Michael Jordan’s Jordan Suzuki motorcycle operation for the 2007 season and will compete in both the AMA Superbike and Superstock Series beginning with Daytona 200 Week By Honda on March 2-10. The talented Georgia rider brings with him three AMA Pro National Championships (750 Supersport, 1996; 600 Supersport, 2002; and 1000 Superstock, 2005) and 25 career AMA National wins. He joins returning rider Jake Holden on the Jordan Suzuki team and replaces Jason Pridmore, who retired following the 2006 season. “I’ve been anxious to get out here and get to work with the new team a little bit and ride these Jordan bikes,” said Yates during the lunch break of the annual Dunlop tire test. The Dunlop tire test is the major tune up for factory and factory-assisted teams before Daytona 200 Week By Honda on March 2-10. Among the many riders in attendance for the test include American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel (five-time Daytona 200 By Honda winner) and Jake Zemke (2006 Daytona 200 By Honda champion); Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes and Aaron Gobert; Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking and Roger Lee Hayden; Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies (2006 AMA Superbike champ) and six-time AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin; and Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom, Eric Bostrom, Jason DiSalvo and Josh Herrin. For Yates, the three-day Dunlop tire test is the first opportunity to ride with his new team. Yates describes the opportunity to ride for Jordan, a huge motorcycle enthusiast, as an “honor.” “I’ve seen (his enthusiasm) for the last couple of years,” Yates said. “His name being so big and it just draws in such a wider spread of people that don’t know anything about motorcycle racing. I think it’s a great thing for the sport and to be the main rider on the team, to be their Superbike guy, is a really neat feeling for me. I’m looking forward to going out there and doing the best I can for them.” Yates says changing teams from Yoshimura Suzuki to Jordan Suzuki will be a learning experience for him. “It’s been a great relationship with Suzuki and my team and the guys that have worked with me,” Yates said. “I hate leaving some of the people but it is exciting going to work with new people. New people have new ideas and different views on things. “It’s a big learning experience is the way I look at it. I’m always game for looking at things another way and learning about something and trying something different. It’s exciting coming to a whole new gig, especially with some competitive motorcycles, and hopefully we can put our bike on top of the box and on top of those factory riders.” The Dunlop tire test continues Tuesday and Wednesday and is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand available through DAYTONA USA. Tickets for Daytona 200 Week By Honda are available online at ~http://www.racetickets.com~ or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: Jordan Suzuki Team Jumps Into 2007 with Aaron Yates Three-time AMA Champ Aaron Yates joins Jake Holden on Jordan Suzuki Team AURORA, IL., (Nov. 31, 2006) Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki announced today that three-time AMA National Champion and 2005 AMA Superstock National Champion Aaron Yates has joined the team for the 2007 season. Yates joins returning team rider Jake Holden and replaces the retired Jason Pridmore. Over the past 10 years, Yates has been one of the most dominant competitors on the AMA Pro circuit, earning pole positions, podium finishes, wins in every class in which he participates, and claiming three AMA Pro National Championships (750 Supersport, 1996; 600 Supersport, 2002; and 1000 Superstock, 2005). Yates jumpstart his AMA Pro Racing career in 1993 with several top-10 finishes in the 600 Supersport, 750 Supersport, and SuperTwins classes, earning his first AMA National win in 1994. Since 2005, Yates has posted 17 podium places with 7 wins (in 21 starts) in the Superstock class, and 23 top-5 finishes, 10 podium placements, with 1 win (in 36 starts) in the Superbike class. He has a total of 25 career AMA National wins. Yates will compete in the Superbike and Superstock classes on the new 2007 Suzuki GSX-R 1000, equipped with Dunlop tires, Ohlins Suspension, Yoshimura Exhaust, BPD electronics and motors designed and built (in-house) by Gemini Technology. “I’m really excited to work with the Jordan Suzuki team,” said Yates. “I’m really pumped about representing Jordan in this sport, and the opportunity to help win the team’s first AMA championship. I am looking forward to working with my new crew next week at Daytona and getting the new 2007 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 sorted out.” The Jordan Suzuki duo of Yates and Holden will ride together for the first time at the annual Daytona Tire Test on December 4-6, 2006. This will be their first outing on the brand-new 2007 Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superstock bike. Yates will also be testing the 2006 Jordan Suzuki Superbike previously ridden by the retired Jason Pridmore until the 2007 Superbikes are completed. The goal is to prepare for the AMA Superbike season opener in Daytona Beach, Florida, March 7-10, 2007. Jake Holden returns to the Jordan Suzuki team for the second year, after 2 top-5 finishes and consistent top 10 finishes in 2006. “I look forward to getting back out on the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 after a month off,” said Holden. “We had some good results this past year and made a lot of progress. I’m really looking forward to building on that momentum. My team really works hard to give me great equipment, so now it’s up to me to go do my job. I’ve been training really hard since the last race, so I’m ready to go.” Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. For more information on the team, visit the race team website at www.23RACE.com and the Jumpman website at www.Jumpman23.com. For more information and schedules, visit the AMA Superbike Series’ official information web site at www.AMASuperbike.com