From urban stunts to battles on the asphalt and dirt, Aprilia’s all about action during the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP INDIANAPOLIS, September 2, 2008 As the Brickyard prepares to welcome motorcycles for the first time in 99 years, the inaugural MotoGP weekend at legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 12-14 will earn a special spot in the motorsports history books. Italian manufacturer Aprilia is proud to be part of this memorable event with a full schedule of 250 and 125 class racing as well as heated AMA Flat Track competition, a thrilling Aprilia SXV stunt show and dealer hospitality. Aprilia, which leads the manufacturers standing in both the 250 and 125 GP classes, will also provide the racing muscle for 16-year old Chattanooga, Tennessee sensation Kris Turner, the exclusive U.S. wild card entry for Sunday’s 125cc race. Turner has been actively competing in national and international racing in the USGPRU and European Red Bull Rookies Cup Series. He will go head to head with the international group of top racing talent while representing Portland, Oregon-based Veloce Racing. The racing action in Indianapolis isn’t all on the asphalt. The best dirt trackers in the nation will duke it out at the storied Indiana State Fairgrounds Indy Mile when the AMA Flat Track Championship Series comes to town the same weekend. The Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team, led by Henry Wiles and James Rispoli and fresh off a podium finish, will battle for a return trip to the winner’s circle on Saturday, December 13. To celebrate its racing heritage and 36 world motorcycle championships, Aprilia USA will welcome dealers, racers and Aprilia owners for a party at the Pioneer of Our Land Pavilion inside the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Taking place from 5 to 8 p.m., the event will feature food, refreshments and entertainment, and will be offered at no charge to Aprilia owners and $10 for their guests. To RSVP, please contact [email protected]. Aprilia will also kick up some dust downtown Indianapolis starting Friday, September 12 with the debut of its new Team Aprilia stunt riding team, equipped with Aprilia SXV 5.5 Supermoto bikes. Team Aprilia will perform as part of the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championships. Now in its third year, the XDL Championships draw an international field of riding talent and thrill audiences with awe-inspiring displays of truly “sick” flips, endos, wheelies and other moto acrobatics. The event takes place at the Indiana War Memorial on North Meridian Street. “We are proud to be part of Indy’s historic return to motorcycle racing,” said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO, Piaggio Group Americas. “With Aprilia racing successes at many of the world’s most challenging race tracks, we’re delighted to compete for the very first time at iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.” About Aprilia and Piaggio Group Americas Aprilia world headquarters are in Noale (Venice, Italy). Founded in 1962, the company designs and manufactures motorcycles in Noale, with additional production facilities in Scorzè. With 36 motorcycling world championship titles (30 road and 6 off-road) under its belt, Aprilia is the only European manufacturer to have a complete on- and off-road model portfolio, ranging from sporty scooters, innovative off-road bikes and tough adventure tourers to award-winning super sport bikes. For information on Aprilia’s complete U.S. model line, visit the company’s website at www.apriliausa.com. In December 2004 Aprilia became part of the Piaggio Group, Europe’s leading manufacturer of two wheelers and one of the world’s most recognized and respected names in motorcycle and scooter production. With over 6,700 employees, an annual production of more than 680,000 vehicles, 5 R&D centers, 7 production facilities in Europe and Asia, and operations in over 50 countries, the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European 2 wheeler market. Its production includes scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200 cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands. More, from a press release issued by Indianapolis Motor Speedway: HISTORY INDICATES INDY VICTORY COULD PUSH RIDER TO MotoGP TITLE INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008 Don’t be surprised if the winner of the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also captures the MotoGP World Championship this season. The Brickyard always has been a superb barometer of champions. Winning at Indianapolis has been a good indicator of season success in every major series that has raced at the historic facility. A breakdown: “¢Indianapolis 500 (1911-16, 1919-41, 1946-2007): Thirty-three of 91 winners also captured a major open-wheel series title in the same season, a “double” strike rate of 36 percent. “¢Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (1994-2007): Six of 14 winners also captured the top-level NASCAR season title in the same season, a “double” strike rate of 43 percent. “¢United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis (2000-07): Three of eight winners also captured the Formula One World Championship in the same season, a “double” strike rate of 38 percent. While those numbers are impressive, the names of the competitors who have achieved them are even more significant. Legends like A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr., Wilbur Shaw, Louis Meyer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jeff Gordon and Michael Schumacher are among those who have pulled off the Indy victory/season title “double.” So the addition of five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi or reigning World Champion Casey Stoner to that list would be entirely fitting if either wins the Red Bull Indianapolis GP and the MotoGP World Championship this season. Rossi leads Stoner by 75 points with five races remaining this season, as their head-to-head duel for the title has been a compelling storyline this summer. On-track action for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP starts Friday, Sept. 12 and continues Saturday, Sept. 13, with racing all day Sunday, Sept. 14. Drivers who have won major events at IMS and series championships in the same season: Indianapolis 500 Year Driver 1916 Dario Resta 1919 Howdy Wilcox 1920 Gaston Chevrolet 1921 Tommy Milton 1922 Jimmy Murphy 1925 Peter DePaolo 1928 Louis Meyer 1930 Billy Arnold 1931 Louis Schneider 1933 Louis Meyer 1934 Bill Cummings 1935 Kelly Petillo 1937 Wilbur Shaw 1938 Floyd Roberts 1939 Wilbur Shaw 1955 Bob Sweikert 1959 Rodger Ward 1961 A.J. Foyt 1962 Rodger Ward 1964 A.J. Foyt 1967 A.J. Foyt 1968 Bobby Unser 1969 Mario Andretti 1970 Al Unser 1979 Rick Mears* 1980 Johnny Rutherford 1986 Bobby Rahal 1989 Emerson Fittipaldi 1994 Al Unser Jr. 1995 Jacques Villeneuve 2005 Dan Wheldon 2006 Sam Hornish Jr. 2007 Dario Franchitti *Won CART title; A.J. Foyt won USAC title Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Year Driver 1998 Jeff Gordon 1999 Dale Jarrett 2000 Bobby Labonte 2001 Jeff Gordon 2005 Tony Stewart 2006 Jimmie Johnson United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Year Driver 2000 Michael Schumacher 2003 Michael Schumacher 2004 Michael Schumacher *** Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: Tickets are on sale for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008. Tickets can be purchased either online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All tickets for this event are three-day tickets, with both reserved and general admission seating available.