The five British grand prix riders step into the history books on Sunday when the MotoGP World Championship races for the very first time at the World famous Indianapolis circuit in America in the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix.
A new 2.618 mile circuit has been constructed within the Indianapolis complex and will host all three classes of the Championship, MotoGP, 250 and 125 cc for the first time in America for 14 years.
James Toseland will be racing for the second time in America this season after competing in the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca a couple of months ago. For 250 cc rider Eugene Laverty and the three 125 cc teenagers Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb it will be the very first time they have raced in America.
Toseland arrives buoyed by his sixth place in the previous round at Misano on the Tech 3 Yamaha. After three previous moral sapping races because of tyre problems the 27 year old Yorkshireman now faces the remaining five races, starting at Indianapolis, with renewed confidence in his MotoGP debut season. He currently lies tenth in the Championship but just two points behind Shinya Nakano in eighth place.
Another rider arriving in America brimming with confidence is 17 year old Bradley Smith following his second place in the 125 cc race at the last round in Misano riding the Polaris World Aprilia, Smith fought for victory with World Champion Gabor Talmacsi and races for the first time in America on Sunday.
It’s another new race track for 15 year old Scott Redding to learn but at least everybody is in the same boat. The Gloucestershire teenager crashed out on the first lap from his Blusens Aprilia at Misano after starting from the front row. He was uninjured and makes his first trip to America. He looks certain to remain with the Blusens Aprilia team next season riding a factory machine.
Seventeen year old Danny Webb rode so hard at Misano to eventually finish 14th after a bad start on the DeGraff Grand Prix Aprilia which at one time saw him down in 30th place.
Ulsterman Eugene Laverty returns to grand prix action on the 250cc Blusens Aprilia after riding in the World Supersport race in England on Sunday. He crashed out in Misano after looking well set for some welcome World Championship points and his best ever grand prix result.
James Toseland:“I always love racing in America especially with that Yamaha America hospitality and it should be fantastic at Indianapolis. Everybody apart from Ben Spies is in the same boat, racing at a brand new venue and I’m really looking forward to it. The result at Misano was a great boost to me, the team and Michelin and I’m determined we can carry on for those last five races.”
Bradley Smith:“Years ago when I was motocrossing I dreamt about racing in America and this weekend I not only race in America but at Indianapolis the home of the Indy 500. It should be fantastic and the result at Misano has given me and the team real confidence for the remainder of the season."
Scott Redding:“I was disappointed to crash out in Misano because I thought I was in with a good chance of the podium. I was not hurt and like everybody else I’m really looking forward to racing at Indianapolis. At least everybody will have to learn a new track this time.”
Danny Webb:“The race for me in Misano was fine but the result not so good. I got caught up in a first lap melee but did not crash. I was down in 30th place but fought back to 14th and stayed there. I scored some points and can now go full gas until the end of the season starting at Indianapolis.”
Eugene Laverty:”Indianapolis will be interesting as it’s a new circuit and with five races remaining I will be gunning for a run of points scoring finishes to end the season strongly. I was so disappointed to crash out of tenth place in Misano because I was only a couple of seconds from eighth.”
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL The MotoGP World Championship adds another brick to its considerable wall when it races for the very first time at the World famous ‘Brickyard’ circuit in the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix in America on Sunday.
MotoGP Championship leader Valentino Rossi returns to the States fresh from his victory at Laguna Seca in California two months ago and with a 75 point lead in the Championship with just five rounds remaining. The Italian’s magnificent victory on the Fiat Yamaha in California was the focal point of the season. The seven times World Champion won the next two races in Brno and Misano while he closest rival World Champion Casey Stoner fell while leading both times.
Stoner and the Marlboro Ducati have to win the race on Sunday to keep the slimmest of chances to retain his title alive. It will be hard after crashes in the last three grands prix but the 22 year old Australian is tough and is also coming under pressure in the Championship from third placed Dani Pedrosa. The Repsol Honda rider caused a great stir after the race in Misano when he announced he would be switching to Bridgestone tyres from Michelin for the last five races of the season. He trails Stoner by just two points in the Championship but may take time to adjust despite a successful test in Misano on the Monday after the race.
The double 250 cc World Champion Jorge Lorenzo will definitely sticking to Michelin tyres on his Fiat Yamaha and he finished a superb second behind team-mate Rossi in Misano to re-ignite his season. The 21 year old Spaniard is fourth in the Championship and looks to an exciting end to his MotoGP debut season having fully recovered from injury.
Another rider having a tremendous debut season is former 125 cc World Champion Andrea Dovizioso riding the JIR Team Scot Honda. The Italian is being tipped to be joining Pedrosa at Repsol Honda next season after switching effortlessly from the 250 cc class and is fifth in the Championship.
Two riders staying put next season are the Rizla Suzuki pair of Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi. Both are in good form and agreed new contracts for next season. Australian Vermeulen is sixth in the Championship while veteran Capirossi has bounced back from injury and is ninth. They will be joined by American AMA Champion Ben Spies who could be a dark horse. He is the only rider in the MotoGP entry to have actually tested at the new circuit.
The Tech 3 Yamaha duos of Texan Colin Edwards and James Toseland have been beset by tyre problems. World Superbike Champion Toseland was happier in Misano and finished sixth but Edwards still had problems to finish a lowly tenth.
In addition to Edwards and Spies two other American riders make their Indianapolis debuts. Former World Champion Nicky Hayden should be fit to ride after missing the Misano race with an injured heel. Hayden has done a great deal to promote the race and lives nearby in Kentucky. Also he could be announcing his signing with Ducati to partner Stoner next season.
John Hopkins races at home for the first time this year after missing the Laguna race through injury. It’s been a tough debut season on the Kawasaki for Hopkins which was compounded when he missed the first day of practice in Misano because of personal reasons. He will be joined at Kawasaki next season by Italian Marco Melandri who will ride the last five races of this season on the Marlboro Ducati before terminating his contract. Australian Anthony West has been told his Kawasaki contract will not be renewed.
Spanaird Toni Elias is hot property after two podium finishes in the last two races riding the Alice Ducati. The team want him to stay next season but have told Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli that his contract will not be renewed.
The American fans will find the 14 year gap for the 125 and 250 cc riders to return well worth the wait if the two races in Misano are a pointer. Tempers frayed and accusations of dirty riding flew after a fiercesome 250 cc encounter. When the dust finally settled Italian Marco Simoncelli, riding the Gilera, increased his Championship lead to 26 points over Mika Kallio who crashed out. Alvaro Bautista who won the race is third 21 points in front of Hector Barbara who played a major part in the majority of the controversial moments. It promises to be some re-match.
The 125 Championship leader Mike Di Meglio crashed out for the first time this season in an equally tough race. He now leads Italian Simone Corsi by 28 points with Misano winner and World Champion Gabor Talmacsi moving into third place, 39 points adrift.
EVENT TIME SCHEDULE Friday 12 September
08.30 – 09.15 125cc Practice
09.30 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice
11.15 – 12.30 250cc Practice
13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 1
13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Practice
15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 1
Saturday 13 September
08.45 – 09.45 125cc Practice
10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice
11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice
13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 2
13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Qualifying
15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 2
Sunday 14 September
08.40 – 09.00 125cc Warm Up
09.10 – 09.30 250cc Warm Up
09.40 – 10.05 MotoGP Warm Up
12.00 125cc RACE (23 laps)
13.15 250cc RACE (26 laps)
15.00 MotoGP RACE (28 laps)
TELEVISION TIMES Practice, qualifying and the races will be shown at the following times on British television:
Sunday September 14
BBCi and BBC Sport Website 125/250 cc races 15.45 – 18.15
TBC 18.45 -20.00
EUROSPORT
Friday September 12
Practice/Qualifying 18.00 -20.00
Saturday September 13
Qualifying 18.15 – 20.00
Sunday September 14
Warm-up and 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP races 16.45 – 21.00
MotoGP 23.00 – 00.30
