Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Daily Update – July 20, 2012 Americans Return Home to Start Second Half of MotoGP™ Season The Red Bull United States Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca starts the second half of the World Championship season. It also provides Nicky Hayden (Owensboro, KY), Ben Spies (Memphis, TN) and Colin Edwards (Houston, TX) a brief return home from the grueling international travel demands. MotoGP™ teams travel to 18 circuits between April 8 (Qatar) and November 9 (Spain). The two American riders on factory machines find themselves in the top 10 with Hayden (Ducati Team) in eighth and Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing) in tenth. Edwards, who is competing in the new Claiming Rules Team (CRT) category for NGM Mobile Forward Racing is in eighteenth. CRTs debuted this year to allow for participation by independent teams with lower budgets A fourth American, Steve Rapp (Hawthorne, CA), who has been racing professionally since 1997, is making his debut in MotoGP™ as a Wild Card entry, catapulting the veteran rider onto the international stage. Rapp is pulling double duty; he will also be riding in the AMA Pro National Guard Super Bike series during the event. Be sure to check in and stay tuned as the MotoGP™ buzz continues to build on the Monterey Peninsula. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest photos, details and contests from Mazda Raceway. For further information, including race schedule, fan activities and to purchase tickets visit MazdaRaceway.com.