Ducati Corse’s 20-year-old test rider Niccolo Canepa grabbed the honor of being the fastest rider with a quick lap just prior to the conclusion of a two-day MotoGP test Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Riding a Bridgestone-shod Ducati Desmosedici GP8 (very similar to the bike ridden by 2007 MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner), Canepa lapped the 2.62-mile, 16-turn infield road course in 1:43.006, just eclipsing the 1:43.092 turned earlier Wednesday by Rizla Suzuki’s Ben Spies. “This morning we had some problems with the bike, so we went nowhere and we didn’t do a lot of set-up test,” Canepa told Roadracingworld.com. “So we went early with the tire testing, but I am happy because this evening I tried to do a long run with a full tank of fuel and I did a very good lap time at the first lap. “It was difficult because the bike was heavy and also the tires suffer a little, but I knew it was my last chance at the best time so I gave 100%. “Anyway, I am really happy because I am faster than the other guys today. The time that Ben [Spies] did this morning was really hard to beat, so I’m happy, very happy.” Spies also did his best lap, a 1:43.092, during a race simulation with a full fuel load, but in the afternoon when track temperatures were higher and the effects of doing more than 200 laps in two days were starting to show, Spies found it difficult to better his lap time. “I did two race stints today,” Spies said. “The first one I was on a different set of tires and the track [temperature] was about 35 degrees C and wasn’t quite that good. Then we went back out this afternoon, after playing with some traction control and mapping and some stuff like that and had a different set of tires on that I chose from testing earlier that I wanted to do the next race stint on. “The track temp was actually about 55 degrees C. It was pretty hot, but I was able to run in the 1:43s pretty much the whole time and was getting faster and faster at the end and it felt good. We got down to an OK lap [time], but that was definitely when it was pretty hot out. To run that good in the race set-up, I was pretty happy with that. Definitely for me, we’ve come a long way with the bike and getting it more comfortable for me. Now I feel like we’re just fine tuning some stuff. It was really good. It was definitely a lot of laps. 205 laps over a couple of days is definitely a lot. But I’m feeling good and definitely looking forward to Laguna.” The only crasher on the day was Michelin’s William Costes, who fell in Turn 11, a long right-hander, when the grip of a new rear tire caused his used front tire to push and lose its grip. Costes was uninjured in the fall, and his crew was able to repair his Yamaha YZR-M1 in time for him to continue testing. The only other stoppage during the day was caused by a dog running loose out on the track. When Spies ended his test slightly early Wednesday afternoon, Rizla Suzuki’s regular test rider Nobuatsu Aoki jumped on Spies’ machine for about one hour of testing. Aoki’s times were not provided. Wednesday’s Test Times: 1. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:43.006, 98 laps 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki), Bridgestone, 1:43.091, 105 laps 3. Erwan Nigon (Honda), Michelin, 1:43.623, 92 laps 4. Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki), Bridgestone, 1:43.819, 87 laps 5. William Costes (Yamaha), Michelin, 1:44.068, 74 laps 6. Wataru Yoshikawa (Yamaha), Bridgestone, 1:44.298, 108 laps 7. Nobuatsu Aoki (Suzuki), Bridgestone, no time recorded More, from a press release issued by Indianapolis Motor Speedway: DUCATI’S CANEPA, SUZUKI’S SPIES 1-2 AGAIN AS MotoGP TESTING ENDS INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, July 2, 2008 Ducati rider Niccolo Canepa edged into the top spot late in the day during MotoGP testing July 2 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, posting a fast lap of 1 minute, 43.0069 seconds for the best overall time of the two-day test. “This morning we had some problems with the bike, so we went slower and did not do a lot of setup,” Canepa said. “This evening I tried to do a long run on a full tank of fuel. I did a very good lap time on the first lap with full fuel. I’m really happy like yesterday, but a little tired now. I want to come back soon because I like the track and the whole USA.” American rider Ben Spies held the top spot most of the day but settled for second place on the speed charts for the second consecutive day with a lap of 1:43.0912 on the No. 11 Suzuki. Erwan Nigon was third on a Honda at 1:43.6276, Olivier Jacque was fourth at 1:43.8188 on a Kawasaki, William Costes was fifth at 1:44.0680 and Wataru Yoshikawa was sixth for the day at 1:44.2975, both on Yamaha bikes. Every rider improved their lap times Wednesday. Canepa led Tuesday at 1:44.1756. Although the MotoGP test has ended, motorcycles will continue to test on the 16-turn IMS course Thursday when the young riders of the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup practice from 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m. The general public is welcome to attend, with free admission. *** MotoGP TEST RESULTS, JULY 2, INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: Pos. Rider Country Time Total Laps Manufacturer 1. Niccolo Canepa Italy 1:43.0069 98 Ducati 2. Ben Spies USA 1:43.0912 124 Suzuki 3. Erwan Nigon France 1:43.6276 92 Honda 4. Olivier Jacque France 1:43.8188 87 Kawasaki 5. William Costes France 1:44.0680 74 Yamaha 6. Wataru Yoshikawa Japan 1:44.2975 108 Yamaha OVERALL TEST RESULTS, JULY 1-2, INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: Pos. Rider Country Time Total Laps Manufacturer Day 1. Niccolo Canepa Italy 1:43.0069 181 Ducati July 2 2. Ben Spies USA 1:43.0912 224 Suzuki July 2 3. Erwan Nigon France 1:43.6276 171 Honda July 2 4. Olivier Jacque France 1:43.8188 162 Kawasaki July 2 5. William Costes Japan 1:44.0680 149 Yamaha July 2 6. Wataru Yoshikawa France 1:44.2975 184 Yamaha July 2 7. Nobuatsu Aoki Japan 1:57.9687 4 Suzuki July 1 *** MotoGP TEST RIDER QUOTES FROM JULY 2: NICCOLO CANEPA (No. 59 Ducati/Bridgestone): “This morning we had some problems with the bike, so we went slower and did not do a lot of setup. This evening I tried to do a long run on a full tank of fuel. I did a very good lap time on the first lap with full fuel. I’m really happy like yesterday, but a little tired now. I want to come back soon because I like the track and the whole USA.” (About making changes from yesterday): “We had some problems today, so we weren’t able to make the changes they wanted to do.” (About his final thoughts on the IMS): “This is a very good organization, and everybody did everything possible to make it the best. This is very important for the race and MotoGP. We had a problem yesterday with the grip, but today the track was a little better. I like it, and I’m happy with the job everyone has done here.” WILLIAM COSTES (Yamaha/Michelin): “I think this was a good idea to do the test because we were able to come back with a lot of information. We found a good solution for the race and I think it was a good day today.” (About today’s accident): “I crashed in the first right (turn) after the straight in the back of the circuit. I just lost the front.” (About the difficulty with the wind today): “The wind was very fast today, and yesterday there was no wind. It was right in the face of us in the pit-lane straight. The beginning of the afternoon was more difficult.” (About his final thoughts on IMS): “I would like to stay more because we have a lot of things to visit. The circuit is so famous, and it is a great moment for me to be here.” OLIVIER JACQUE (No. 19 Kawasaki/Bridgestone): “The wind was not a huge factor. The first part of the fourth turn was a bit tricky, and it took a couple of laps and a few days to get used to the grip. Otherwise, things went very well. At the race simulation at the end of the day, I had a good lap time with a full fuel tank, but we still need to work on the balance because the bike was quite heavy and it swung in the tight corners. We need to find a better grip in the rear because our biggest handicap was the slipping.” *** MotoGP TESTING NOTES: FIM officials, riders happy with track: Officials from the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme visited IMS during the two-day MotoGP test this week, and they were pleased with the layout and safety features of the new road course. The 16-turn circuit was set up to testing specifications, but fine-tuning of various features will make the track race-ready for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14. “The preparation of the track was very, very good,” FIM Safety Director Claude Danis said. “Everything was according to what we decided on my last inspection. Of course, there are some small adjustments to be done.” Among those adjustments are the addition of artificial grass adjacent to Turns 1 and 16, installation of curbing, final sod work adjacent to the track, addition of road course striping and removal of some oval striping. “I think the riders enjoyed the track,” Danis said. “This track is very challenging, and I think it will be very good for MotoGP.” Suzuki rider Ben Spies also was happy with the circuit after turning more than 200 laps during his two days of testing. “The run-off, every area is fine for me,” Spies said. “The first turn, there’s plenty of run-off. In the corner, if you’re by yourself, I would say it’s impossible to get into anything because when you start to turn, there’s huge run-off. There’s grass everywhere. “On the front straightaway, yeah, you’re between two walls, but with how everything is with the bikes, usually there’s not too much going on in a straight line. But run-off in Turn 1, once you’re actually in the turn, there’s plenty. So it’s fine.” *** Spies speaks: Two-time AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies conducted a media availability during the afternoon and answered questions on a number of topics. Spies will compete in the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14 as a wild-card rider for Suzuki. On his first impressions of IMS, as a facility, first impressions of the road course, and if he has been at the track before: “No, I haven’t. As a facility, it’s an awesome facility. It’s huge. I didn’t know it was this big. To be honest, on the first time out, I really wasn’t too happy about how the track was (with grip) and some spots, but it is getting better every time out. It’s just a lack of grip in a certain section of the track just because there haven’t been any bikes on it, but it is getting better. There’s a couple of little changes once we come back here, but it’s really just going to be reference points. It’s just hard when we only have six bikes out there trying to lay down rubber, but it is getting better and better. Now I’m actually comfortable and having fun out there. Once we get more bikes on the track when we’re back here, obviously the 250s and the 125 will be out on the track, so the grip will be back to normal in September.” On the significance of motorcycles, let alone MotoGP, coming to IMS: “This has always been a car track. I never thought the motorcycles would be here. I think it’s good for the city and this part of the U.S. This region has quite a large number of motorcycle sales. Having a lot of fans and a lot of motorcycle people around helps. I think the track is going to be a work in progress, and it’s only going to get better. Everybody here is really positive on doing that. For the U.S., I think it’s a great area, and there’s no better place to go when it comes down to racing. I think it’s going to be good come September and a lot of people show up.” On what it means, for his career, to compete in MotoGP races this year in the United States: “The first race that I was supposed to run was in the States (at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on July 20), and that would have been really cool. We ended up going to Donington and having our first race there, and I think it was better to do that because now I’ve been on the track with those guys. I’ve done the whole weekend, I’ve done the start, I’ve done everything, and I won’t be nervous at Laguna. Even if Laguna would, for sure, be a better result than in Donington, the nerves would be there, and we got that out of the way at Donington. Now I can go to Laguna and then Indy, a track I know now, and go for some good results and try to put the bike up front. I think it was better to do that, and for the race two races that are in the States, I’m happy about it. We’ve got a lot of fans. Most of them will be Americans, and they’ll be rooting for John (Hopkins), Nicky (Hayden), me and Colin (Edwards), and Laguna is a track that I know well, so I’m looking forward to it. My fellow AMA riders will be at Laguna, and they’ll have my back, so it’ll be fun. I’m looking forward to it.” *** Professor Schwantz: 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz participated in a “MotoGP 101″ session with local, regional and national media July 2 at the track, discussing numerous aspects of the world of MotoGP, from event atmosphere to motorcycle technology. Schwantz now is rider coach for the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup. Selected comments: On the atmosphere of Grand Prix weekends: “First and foremost, we are going to have three different classes here. Along with the Red Bull Rookies Cup, we are going to have the 125cc and 250cc and MotoGP. That’s quite a variety of ages, riders, experience levels and speeds. Each class gets different lengths of practices Friday and Saturday, and then Saturday afternoon each group qualifies. They have a short 20-minute warm-up session Sunday morning, and then it’s time to go racing.” On the stresses riders feels on their body: “It’s somewhere close to 200 miles per hour on the front straightaway and then you sit up and come out of your aerodynamic tucked position, hanging on to the bars and having to support yourself. When the wind hits your chest at 200 miles per hour, it’s quite a feat to hang on. You also have to stop the motorcycle, make some downshifts, and get the bike into Turn 1 here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The transition from side-to-side on a motorcycle calls for your lower body to be strong. You have to have strong legs to make those transitions as smooth as you possibly can. Besides having to be focused mentally, physically getting on the brakes is probably two or three g-forces, and maybe even more, trying to get the bike stopped in a straight line to a really slow portion of the racetrack off the back. It’s very physical, that’s for sure.” On his overall impressions of IMS: “I think the layout is great, and for the spectators to come here to the United States and see for the first time 125s, 250s and (MotoGP) all together here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the mecca of motorsports is just great. We talk about racing inside an oval or at a speedway and it’s typically not a very well laid-out venue, and this track has gone to all expenses and have cut no corners to try to make this the best possible motorcycle event here in the United States.” On where the passing will take place: “That’s kind of the neat thing about motorcycles, is that it can happen anywhere. Typically what will happen is that you’ll see someone set another rider up while they are driving in the corner, they’ll pull right up and take the position. If someone is coming through the field with a lot better setup than the guy in front of him, he may be passing him on the brakes or down in the straightaway by getting a better run off the corner. The entrance into the first turn here is going to be a spot where guys are not necessarily going in and having to out-brake, but getting a drive and a bit of a draft and going up and taking that spot. Now the guy trapped on the outside is going to have to hold that line all the way around back to that first tight little right-hander that there is. Not to say that it can’t be done, but it would take a brave man to try it.” *** Four-wheel guests: IndyCar Series driver Townsend Bell and Aldo Andretti, brother of 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti and father of IndyCar Series driver John Andretti, were among the guests in the MotoGP paddock July 2. Bell, who finished 10th in the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on May 25, owns a Ducati 1098 and is an avid rider. “I ride a lot, so it’s really cool to come and check this out,” said Bell, a resident of San Luis Obispo, Calif. “I was really stoked when I heard they were having a race here. Unfortunately I can’t come when the race happens, so I at least wanted to see the testing. I don’t know any of the guys (test riders) here today, but I’m going to go drool at the machinery.” Bell got a taste of the personalities of MotoGP when 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden turned an exhibition lap at the 2008 Indianapolis 500. “I met Nicky Hayden when he came to our garage before the ‘500’ as part of a Red Bull thing with Buddy (Rice),” Bell said. “It was really cool to meet him because I have been a big fan of his for a really long time. I only wanted to talk about motorcycles, and all he wanted to talk about was Indy cars, so it was pretty funny.” Aldo Andretti walked the paddock at the end of the day after spending several hours walking around the track. “I’ve followed these all along, and in fact if Mario and I hadn’t taken up car racing, we would’ve been doing these things,” he said. “I have such a passion for it. I have the utmost respect for these guys, and I think the show they’re going to put on this fall is going to be incredible; in my opinion, it will surpass Formula One. “I think it will gain in popularity as it goes on, because you see the way these guys run out there. Incredible speeds, it looks like they’re so daring yet they’re so safe. The Speedway’s done a wonderful job. There’s so much run-off area and so forth, and the view is gorgeous. I’m really amazed and glad I came out. I watched from different areas, and it’s an incredible show.” *** 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.