MOTOGP GOES BACK IN THE UNITED STATES FOR INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX After just a month, the world of MotoGP returned to the U.S. for the Grand Prix of Indiapolis. Sunday there will be the third race of the MotoGP on this track, made famous for the historic “500 miles” that every year keep attached to the television screens millions of U.S. fans. Until the 2007 the circuit was also sets of the Formula One World Championship, but due some tyre deterioration problems, the FIA has canceled the circuit from the calendar. It is just from the following year, the 2008, that the MotoGP arrive on this circuit doubling the U.S. calendar appointments, including Indianapolis after Laguna Seca, exclusively reserved to the MotoGP class. In the 2008, the MotoGP Grand Prix was stopped eight laps before the end of the race because of the strong wind that was generated by the Hurricane Ike that was approaching the circuit. Pramac Racing Team riders had obtained that year a seventh place with the French rider Guitoli, that was protagonist of a good comeback from the fourteenth position of the starting grid to the seventh position and a twelfth position with Elias. Last year this track saw the debut on the Pramac Racing Team bike of the young Spaniard Aleix Espargar, who replaced Mika Kallio temporarily loan to the Ducati factory Team. It was a good debut for Aleix that have finish his first MotoGP race in the thirteenth position, while Canepa that was starting from the thirteenth position has ended his race five laps from the finish line. Last year it was also for Mika the debut on this track. He had finish the race with a good eighth position on the official Ducati, this gives good feeling for Sunday’s race. As it was for Laguna Seca Grand Prix, the livery of the Pramac Racing Team will have as main sponsor Powermate, a U.S. company that is part of the Pramac Group. Paolo Campinoti – Team Principal Pramac Racing Team “The last race in Brno was not so positive, I certainly expected a better result. But racing world always make you consider the positive aspects of everything. In particular, I am happy for Aleix that have concluded his race after three consecutive falls, it was important for him to finish the race in the better way. But I hope now that he will return soon to fight for the top ten as he was able to do in the first quarter of the season. I’m sorry instead for Mika, he was aimed to achieve a good result and to confirm the top ten obtained in Laguna Seca’s race, he had a good pace that would allow him to fight for a position near the top eighth. I’m confident for the next races, I saw in him the growth that I was expecting after the difficult start of the season. On Indianapolis track we got a seventh place with Guintoli in the 2008, while last year Aleix ended his race in thirteenth position on his MotoGP debut. The hope is that both riders will be able to conquer on this track the first top ten of the season.” Aleix Espargar – Pramac Racing Team “After three consecutive drops it was very important for me to finish Brno’s race. During the weekend I had some problems on my bike that did not allow me to be fast in all the sectors of the track. Fortunately, thanks also to my Team we have solved all the problems during the warm up on Sunday morning. During the race I had a good pace but a little pain in my right forearm did not allow me to ride my bike in the best way in the last laps. I’m happy to have brought home four World Championship points that will be good for the rest of the season. I have good memories of Indianapolis’s track, because I have made my MotoGP debut on this circuit last year riding a Pramac Racing Team bike. I have finished the race in thirteenth position. Since then my feeling with the bike is much improved, Sunday I’ll try to end the race in the top ten. ” Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team “After the ninth position obtained on Laguna Seca’s circuit, I was fighting to confirm a top ten also on Brno’s track, but unfortunately I could not finish my race after that I felt in the opening laps. Too bad because I had a good lap pace that would allow me to finish the race in the top ten. I was able to run on Indianapolis track just last year when I made a good comeback that brought me from the fifteenth to eighth position when I was riding the official Ducati. In 2008, the first year that we ran on this track, the 250cc race was stopped because of high winds generated by Hurricane Ike. I was starting the race in the third position of the grid and if the race had been carried out normally, I would have finished it in a good position.” More, from a press release issued by Indianapolis Motor Speedway: YAMAHA BRINGING MotoGP RIDER FAN SESSION, TOSELAND’S BAND TO INDY INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010 Yamaha is bringing three exciting, fan-focused events to Indianapolis during Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend, including a rider chat with Yamaha MotoGP superstars, and two concerts featuring Yamaha WSBK star and classically trained pianist James Toseland, accompanied by his pop-rock band Crash. Red Bull Indianapolis GP winners Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, and American stars Ben Spies and Colin Edwards will participate in a special rider chat from 5:45-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. The event will be emceed by renowned MotoGP commentators Nick Harris and Gavin Emmett. It should be quite a treat for the fans as all four riders answer questions and provide sure-to-be-memorable quotes. Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi and current MotoGP points leader Lorenzo are teammates on the Fiat Yamaha Team. Texans Spies and Edwards are teammates on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team. The chat is free to all Red Bull Indianapolis GP Saturday ticket holders. Crash, the band led by former MotoGP and current Yamaha World Superbike rider James Toseland, will play two shows in Indianapolis, including one at IMS. Toseland and his band will play will play at 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27 at Jackson and Meridian streets in downtown Indianapolis during Motorcycles on Meridian. Then, as a warm-up to the rider chat, Toseland and Crash will also play from 4:50-5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage at IMS. The downtown Meridian street show is free to the public, and the IMS show is free to all Red Bull Indianapolis GP Saturday ticket holders. It’s the third consecutive year that Toseland will perform at IMS during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. He played with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2008 and was joined on-stage by Crash last year. Fans won’t want to miss this rare combination of motorcycles and music, two subjects that are near and dear to the hearts of Yamaha and its worldwide, faithful followers. IMS tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event. Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29. Children 12 and under will be admitted free any day of the event if accompanied by an adult holding a general admission ticket. Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday. General admission tickets provide access to the grounds, viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit and selected grandstands, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world. Fans can now print their tickets three-day reserved seat and Race Day-only general admission and reserved seat tickets with their printer after ordering tickets online at www.imstix.com. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information. More, from a press release issued by Indianapolis Motor Speedway: RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP EVENTS CALENDAR: AUG. 27-29 INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010 The Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend is jam-packed with activities, both at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and around the Indianapolis area. From Aug. 27-29, all three classes of the MotoGP World Championship MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc and the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 practice, qualify and then race on the 16-turn, 2.621-mile road course at IMS. Motorcycle riders, fans of events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and hardcore MotoGP fans enjoy the highest level of motorcycle racing on the most impressive race bikes in the world at the track and also check out the many cool scenes and events around town away from the track. Here is a calendar of the great events and features of action at the Speedway and around Indianapolis during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend that make it a race unlike any other at IMS. All events (except for the Lap of Champions) on Aug. 27-29 at IMS are free for Red Bull Indianapolis GP ticket holders that day. For more information on the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, visit the official website at http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/. Aug. 27: Pit Walkabout. Fans can get an up-close look at the exotic prototype motorcycles raced in the MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc classes during the popular Red Bull Indianapolis GP Pit Walkabout, which takes place from 9-10:45 a.m. Friday morning, Aug. 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Web: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/ Aug. 27: Cycle World Seminar. An American motorcycle racing legend and two rising American stars will be the featured guests at the Cycle World Seminar from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27 on the SPEED Stage located on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz and current Moto2 rider Kenny Noyes will be among the guests. Cycle World editors, including renowned longtime Technical Editor Kevin Cameron, also will participate in the seminar. Web: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/ Aug. 27: Riders For Health Auction. Fans can bid on a wide variety of motorcycle-related items during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the Riders For Health Charity Auction from 10:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27 on the SPEED Stage located in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. All MotoGP riders participate in the auction. All proceeds benefit Riders For Health, an international non-profit organization that provides medical care to rural African villages using motorcycles and motorcycle ambulances. Web: http://www.riders.org/us/default.aspx Aug. 27: Red Bull Indianapolis GP Practice. On-track action for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP gets underway at noon Friday, Aug. 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a 25-minute session for the rising stars in the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 class and one-hour sessions for each of the three World Championship classes. The 125cc machines will take to the 2.621-mile circuit at 12:40 p.m., followed by Moto2 at 1:55 p.m. and the superstars of MotoGP at 3:10 p.m. USGPRU riders will finish the day with two qualifying sessions, at 4:25 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. Web: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/ Aug. 27: GEICO AMA EnduroCross. The 2010 GEICO AMA EnduroCross series will race at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 at the Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. EnduroCross is a mixture of Supercross and enduro-style racing, with smooth track sections, jumps and obstacles such as logs, boulders, sand, water and special obstacles. Web: http://www.endurocross.com/ Aug. 27-28: XDL Championship Series. This high-energy, high-thrill motorcycle stunt event starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis. XDL is the top level of the sportbike freestyle scene and features the best riders from the United States, Japan, France and Russia. The competitions feature non-stop thrills and spills as the athletes unveil the latest tricks in an action-packed format. Web: http://www.xdlshow.com/ Aug. 27-28: Motorcycles on Meridian. From 7 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27 and Saturday, Aug. 28, South Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis will be filled with the sound of engine roars and the sight of leather-clad riders. Motorcyclists will gather on Meridian all the way from Monument Circle to South Street to share interests and celebrate the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event is for people with and without bikes. Interested parties with no steel horse of their own are welcome to walk around at this free event and marvel at the impressive choppers and sport bikes. On these two nights in August, the motorcycle culture of Indianapolis is open for everyone to enjoy. Aug. 27-28: Crash Concert. Crash, the pop-rock band led by former MotoGP rider James Toseland, will play two shows in Indianapolis during Red Bull Indianapolis GP race weekend, including one at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Toseland and his band will play at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 at Jackson and Meridian streets in downtown Indianapolis during Motorcycles on Meridian. They also will play from 4:50-5:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage at IMS. It’s the third consecutive year that classically trained pianist Toseland, who is racing for Yamaha in the Superbike World Championship this season, will perform at IMS during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Web: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/ Aug. 27-29: Ducati Island. One of the most popular fan attractions at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Ducati Island is a celebration of all things Ducati. The Italian manufacturer features a large display inside Turn 1 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including current and historic Ducati machines, custom Ducati bikes, Ducati apparel and accessories, entertainment, fan giveaways, entertainment, fashion shows and the always popular Ducati Girls. Ducati riders from a variety of series sign autographs, and there are a variety of special perks for Ducati owners, including gear check, special parking and more. Web: http://www.ducati.com/od/ducatinorthamerica/en/events/index.jhtml Aug. 27-29: Manufacturer Displays. Major motorcycle manufacturers, including Honda and Yamaha, display their latest products under large, colorful tents in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield for fans to see and touch during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Manufacturer representatives also are available to answer questions from fans interested in putting one of the beautiful new machines in their garage. Web: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/ Aug. 27-29: Vendor Marketplace. Motorcycle enthusiasts can see and purchase gear from top motorcycle equipment and accessory companies at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP Vendor Marketplace, as the popular display area for aftermarket products returns for a third year. The Vendor Marketplace also will feature the largest selection of motorcycle apparel anywhere. The Vendor Marketplace will be open in the Gasoline Alley garages at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the entire Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Friday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 29. Web: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/ Aug. 27-29: Grid Girls. Gorgeous women are a longtime hallmark of MotoGP events. Whether it’s beautiful girls dressed in team colors on the grid before the race or models at Ducati Island, there are plenty of pretty sights everywhere at IMS during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Aug. 28: Red Bull Indianapolis GP Practice, Qualifying. World Championship machinery will be on track for more than five hours Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc riders participate in practice in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon. 125cc practice starts the day from 9-9:40 a.m., followed by practice sessions for MotoGP from 9:55-10:55 a.m. and Moto2 from 11:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m. The starting grids for Sunday’s races will be set in three exciting qualifying sessions Saturday afternoon, each featuring all riders in each class turning unlimited numbers of laps in great action against each other and the clock. The 125cc machines will take to the 2.621-mile circuit at 1 p.m., followed by the superstars of MotoGP at 1:55 p.m. and Moto2 at 3:10 p.m. Talented young riders from across North America also will be on track on 250cc machines in the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 support class, with a 12-lap race at 4:30 p.m. Web: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/ Aug. 28: Ride for Kids ‘Lap of Champions’. Motorcycle enthusiasts who register for this charity event can ride around the MotoGP circuit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 5:15-5:35 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, led by 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz. This great ride benefits the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, supported by Ride for Kids. A variety of support levels are available for the Lap of Champions, with some levels including tickets for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Web: http://www.pbtfus.org/rideforkids/lap-of-champions/2010-lap-of-champions.html Aug. 28: Yamaha Rider Chats. Yamaha MotoGP superstars Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Ben Spies and Colin Edwards will participate in a rider chat at 5:45-6:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Aug. 28: AMA Flat Track Racing. The Lucas Oil Legendary Indy Mile Grand National AMA Flat Track race is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Heat races start at 7:30 p.m., followed by the main event. Glorious memories of the Indy Mile go back for decades. Top riders always have coveted a win at this race, long considered the “Crown Jewel” of AMA Pro Racing’s oldest and most tradition-rich professional racing series, the Flat Track Grand National series. Web: http://www.familyevents.com/event/37 Aug. 29: Red Bull Indianapolis GP Race Day. The best riders in the world will push their machines to the limit nearly all day on Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with warm-up sessions in the morning and races in the afternoon for all three World Championship classes plus a race for the young riders of the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 support class. Warm-up sessions will take place at 8:40 a.m. for 125cc, 9:10 a.m. for Moto2 and 9:40 a.m. for MotoGP. The final USGPRU race starts at 10:20 a.m. World Championship racing will start with a 23-lap 125cc event at noon and follow with a 26-lap event at 1:15 p.m. for Moto2, featuring Americans Kenny Noyes and Roger Lee Hayden. The world’s best riders, including Americans Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards and Ben Spies, will compete in the 28-lap MotoGP race at 3 p.m. Web: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/ Tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event. Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29. Children 12 and under will be admitted free any day of the event if accompanied by an adult holding a general admission ticket. Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday. General admission tickets provide access to the grounds, viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit and selected grandstands, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world. Fans can now print their tickets three-day reserved seat and Race Day-only general admission and reserved seat tickets with their printer after ordering tickets online at www.imstix.com. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information. Plenty of motorcycle parking is available on the paved backstretch of the famous IMS oval, and IMS once again will provide multiple gear check locations for Red Bull Indianapolis GP fans to check helmets, leathers and any other motorcycle gear at the track. Fans can place any gear in plastic bags to be securely stored and picked up upon exiting the facility for the day, and a gear check location in the Vendor Marketplace will allow fans to store any large purchases made during the day. The gear check service is free and available all three days of the event. More, from a press release issued by Vesrah Suzuki: VESRAH SUZUKI’S NICK MCFADDEN IS READY FOR THE USGPRU MORIWAKI MD250H DOUBLEHEADER DURING THE INDY MOTOGP WEEKEND. After flying out west to race last weekend and getting 2 wins, Vesrah Suzuki development rider Nick McFadden is ready to get to Indianapolis to run in the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250H Doubleheader weekend August 27-29 at the Indianapolis MotoGP. Mark Junge Team Owner Vesrah Suzuki “This is a big weekend for Nick and I’m glad the team is going to be there to support him. Nick’s results from last weekend out west have helped his confidence and hopefully will carry forward to this weekend.” Nick McFadden #195 Vesrah Suzuki “Racing at the INDY GP this weekend is almost more than I can imagine. I have gone to all of the GP races there and it will be such a big deal for all of us in the Moriwaki class. Also, to be racing there where Nicky Hayden and Roger Lee Hayden will be racing is cool. I think Owensboro, Kentucky could be the most represented city in the world with three hometown racers at the GP. Owensboro has a lot of great race fans that come and watch the race.” “The USGPRU has sent a lot of information to us and we will have a busy schedule and have to really stay on top of everything going on, as the GP guys are fitting us into their schedule to let us race. We will have one race on Saturday and one on Sunday and racers from each coast will get points toward their championships.” “I would like to thank the Vesrah Team – Mark Junge, Tray Batey, Tony Pogue, and Danny Freels, my Mom and Dad, our family, and the guys at West Side Heavy Hauling, for getting all of my bikes ready, and all of the stuff I need to race this weekend. And thanks to Alexa at Spyderworks Leathers for getting my leathers ready. I hope we can go and have a good weekend at INDY.” Vesrah Suzuki and Nick McFadden want to thank all of their sponsors for their support for the 2010 season Vesrah, American Suzuki, Rockstar Energy Drink, Nielsen Enterprises Suzuki, West Side Heavy Hauling Inc, Dunlop Tires, Traxxion Dynamics Fork Components, Arai Helmets, Graves Motorsports, Hotbodies Racing Bodywork, Sudco Int., Bazzaz, Factory Pro, Maxima Racing Oils, Vortex, DID Chain, Penske Racing Shocks, GPR Stabilizers, Trek Bicycles, GP Tech, Active & Road Rage Designs