THREE AMERICANS ON 2008 MotoGP ENTRY LIST Hayden, Hopkins, Edwards in top class; U.S. teen Bonsey returns to 125cc INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007 At least four American riders will compete full time in Road Racing World Championship motorcycle racing in 2008, including in the MotoGP and 125cc categories at the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The FIM, the world governing body of motorcycle racing, released the provisional entry list for the MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc categories Dec. 14. All three classes will race on the new 16-turn road course at IMS. 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden leads three Americans competing in the top category of the sport, MotoGP. Hayden, from Owensboro, Ky., will ride the No. 69 Repsol Honda Team Honda. “The Kentucky Kid” finished eighth in the 2007 standings. Veteran Colin Edwards moves to the Yamaha Tech 3 team in 2008, riding the team’s No. 5 Yamaha. Edwards, from Houston, finished ninth in the 2007 standings. John Hopkins moves to the factory Kawasaki Racing Team in 2008, aboard the team’s No. 21 machine. Hopkins, from Ramona, Calif., finished a career-best fourth in the 2007 standings. There’s a good chance more Americans will join that trio in MotoGP in 2008, including at Indianapolis. Team Roberts, owned by three-time World Champion Kenny Roberts of the United States, didn’t name either of its two riders. But Americans Kenny Roberts Jr., the 2000 World Champion, and his brother, Kurtis Roberts, both rode for their father’s team last season. Australian Casey Stoner will defend his 2007 title with the Ducati Marlboro Team, sporting the coveted No. 1 on his factory Ducati machine. Five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi of Italy will remain on the No. 46 Fiat Yamaha Team factory bike, with 2007 250cc World Champion Jorge Lorenzo of Spain as his new teammate. American teen-ager Stevie Bonsey will stay in the 125cc class but change manufacturers to Aprilia, riding with Arie Molenaar Racing on the team’s No. 51 bike. Bonsey, from Salinas, Calif., finished 25th last season in the 125cc class as a rookie. Bonsey, 17, moved to motorcycle road racing in 2007 after a successful career in flat track dirt oval motorcycle racing, following the path to the top of the sport paved by American World Champions such as fellow Northern Californian Kenny Roberts his mentor and Hayden. Bonsey won the AMA Sports Dirt Track Horizon Award in 2005 as the most promising rider about to move from amateur to AMA Pro Racing, and he then won the AMA Pro Sport National Hot Shoe flat track title in 2006. “After a reasonably successful rookie season, I think that much better results are possible for next year,” Bonsey said. “I have already ridden the Aprilia during a test and race in November and was pleased with the performance of the machine. The factory-kitted Aprilia has proven to be a very competitive machine. “I think it is really cool that my home GP will be at Indy. I can’t wait.” The 2008 MotoGP season starts March 9 in Qatar, with races in all three classes. 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.