Fans Set to Lap Track During 16th Annual Mid-Ohio Dealer Ride
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Ackford, 614-793-4620, rackford@midohio.com FANS SET TO LAP TRACK DURING 16th ANNUAL MID-OHIO DEALER RIDE DUBLIN, Ohio (July 25, 2006) - Motorcycle riders may take to the city streets daily, but once a year, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course allows spectators the chance to tour the track with their own sportbike or touring machine. Now in its 16th season, the Mid-Ohio Dealer Ride provides spectators the opportunity to ride the track on their own two-wheeler and get the pros' perspective of the challenging 2.4-mile, 15-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. The Dealer Ride takes place during the lunch break on Sunday, August 6, during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire. With more than 140 motorcycle dealerships from seven states participating in this year's event, over 1,500 riders are expected to experience an on-track tour of Mid-Ohio's 15-turn, 2.4-mile road course. In addition to the lunchtime lap on Sunday, participants will receive VIP parking in the track's infield, and five lucky riders will have the opportunity to win a pace car ride, a lap of the track and receive a Mid-Ohio merchandise package. The winners will be drawn from the Dealer Ride registration forms and will be announced prior to the ride. Bike owners interested in taking part in the Dealer Ride can simply visit their nearest participating motorcycle dealership, including all Ohio Honda dealerships, during normal business hours to sign up. A complete listing of participating dealerships may be found at www.midohio.com <http://www.midohio.com/> . All participating riders must register in advance and bring their dealer registration card with them on Sunday. All riders and passengers must be 18 years of age or older, carry a valid operator's license, and wear a helmet throughout the ride. Along with the Dealer Ride, the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will feature an AMA Superbike doubleheader. Mat Mladin, Miguel Duhamel, Ben Spies, Jake Zemke, Ben Bostrom and the rest of the Superbike stars will clash on the track bringing knee dragging and wheel lifting excitement as they compete for the AMA Superbike Championship and a win in one of the Wiseco Superbike 100 Double Header races at Mid-Ohio. These high-speed bikes will go head-to-head reaching speeds of over 170 miles per hour on Mid-Ohio's famed backstretch before battling side by side into the Esses. Weekend support races for the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire include Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, Repsol Superstock Series, and Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series presented by Budweiser. Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will be the fourth event on Mid-Ohio's eight-race 2006 schedule. Still to come is the Vintage Grand-Prix of Mid-Ohio (August 18-20), National Auto Sport Association Championships (September 15-17), AMA Road Race Grand Championships & AMA Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 22-24) and the AMA Superbike Shootout (September 30-October 1). Tickets for all events are available by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or visiting www.midohio.com <http://www.midohio.com/> . Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year. -30-