IMS Celebrating 100th Anniversary of Racing Aug. 14 With Cake, Red Bull Indianapolis GP Ticket Promotion

Friday, Aug. 14 marks the 100th anniversary of the first day of motorized racing competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On that date in 1909, a series of motorcycle races took place on the newly-completed 2.5-mile IMS oval.

To celebrate this special milestone in sporting history, fans who purchase tickets Friday, Aug. 14 for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the IMS ticket office will receive a piece of 100th Anniversary cake and have their photo taken with a 1909 Indian motorcycle. Fans who have previously purchased 2009 MotoGP race tickets also are invited with proof of their purchase.

The second running of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30.

WHAT:
IMS 100th Anniversary of Racing
*Fans who buy MotoGP ticket(s) get cake, photo with 1909 Indian motorcycle

WHEN:
8 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14

WHERE:
Lobby of IMS Administration Building, 4790 W. 16th St.

Pics of the Women of MotoGP – It was Hot!

VALENTINO ROSSI (Winner): (About the wind): “The wind is very unconstant and very strong. You never know what’s going to happen with the bike. Every lap, I look and I say, ‘I hope for the red flag; I hope for the red flag.’ It was a good decision (to end the race). I think they make a good work for the track on the race because the rain come down very strong on the race. I don’t remember if or when I won four races in a row. We are in good shape.”

Kawasaki Racing Team announced today that Marco Melandri of Italy will team with American John Hopkins in the 2009 season in MotoGP, replacing Anthony West.
Melandri has five victories in his MotoGP class career, which started in 2003. He is riding for the Ducati Team as teammate to reigning World Champion Casey Stoner this season. Melandri won the 250cc World Championship in 2002.

NICKY HAYDEN (Second): “Man, I had nothing to lose here. I just had to go for it. The bike felt good in the wet. It’s been so long since I’ve been out front leading a race. I came on the front straightaway and saw nobody in front of me at my home GP, and I was thinking, ‘Man this is only supposed to happen in the movies.’ When the track dried out, we used so much rubber, and when it rained again and we was on the edge, it was gnarly. I just want to thank the team, my family, my fans for sticking behind me.” (About the fans): “I’d like to thank the fans. We only had to be out there for 40 minutes. They’ve been out there all day in the rain.”

JORGE LORENZO (Third): “This is the my first podium in the wet conditions in my life, so I am so happy. For me, it’s a very good result. Maybe one or two laps more I could have passed Nicky, who was so fast at the beginning. It’s another podium, so next time I hope to do better.”

Red Bull US GP Indianapolis – Race Reports – 14/09/2008

Yamaha has already been published as they Won The Race: See Story>

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Honda

Hayden Weathers Storm To Finish Fine Second. Torrential rain truncated a turbulent Grand Prix in which Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) was declared victor after the 28-lap race was abandoned after 20-laps. Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) was awarded second and Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) third.

Weather played the ace hand here in rain-lashed Indianapolis. The 125cc Grand Prix was foreshortened, the 250cc race abandoned altogether and this, the main event, brought to a close when the prevailing conditions – furious rain and wind – proved too much for both riders and track furniture.

Forecasters knew, and race organizers too, that the weather systems surrounding the rampaging Hurricane Ike might play havoc with the first ever motorcycle event staged at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the turn of the century. And they surely did.

The race was declared ‘wet’ before it got underway and right enough the declaration proved appropriate. Conditions were manageable for the first 11 laps until the rain fell harder, the wind got up with a vengeance, and then a howling gale blew the conclusion of this contest into the hands of the race organizers.

A halt was called after lap 20 when conditions had deteriorated to such an extent that debris was blowing onto the track and rider safety became more of an issue than even the 2008 World Championship. After extensive rider consultation the decision was reached to call a result.

It had been an absorbing contest up until then though. Casey Stoner (Ducati) headed the pack into turn one from the line and homeboy Hayden was on his tail with Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Scot Honda RC212V) in his wheel-tracks. Rossi too had launched well and was at the business end of proceedings.

Hayden then moved past Dovi and by lap six Rossi was working on Hayden having gone past Dovi while Lorenzo was keeping himself in touch. On lap seven Hayden held a one second lead over Rossi while Dovi fended off Lorenzo’s advances.

Then the rain, already heavy, began to worsen. Hayden and Rossi rode neck and neck for 13 laps. Rossi moved into the lead and then, improbably, it got even wetter. This, however, did not stop the Italian from recording a fastest race lap on lap 15 with a one and a half second advantage over Nicky who was nearly seven seconds ahead of Lorenzo.

From now on it was as much riders against the elements as against each other. The mercy of the red flag soon brought further suffering to an end. There was some debate as to whether a further eight lap race would be required but this fantasy was sensibly quashed.

Rossi now has 287 points to Stoner’s 200 with four rounds to run. Dani sits third with 193 points.

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 2nd.

“Man, it felt really good to be in the lead and I felt quite comfortable. It’s been a long time. I was thinking ‘this only happens in the movies’: your home race, missing the last two and coming back to win. I was able to stay focused but Valentino came past and he had a little more speed, especially in section three. Then when he touched the line onto the back straightaway I was able to make up a little more ground and I thought maybe I was okay. But when it started raining heavy I was in trouble because when it had dried I’d used up a lot of the left side of the tire, so it got pretty gnarly with all the water.

“Sure, you dream about winning your home race, but honestly I shouldn’t be too greedy with how things have been. I’ll take this second and enjoy it. I’d just like to say a big thanks to my team, all my guys, my friends, my family, everyone who’s stuck with me through tough times. Also, thanks to Indy and everyone for making this race happen. It’s a great feeling to be able to race so close to home, I enjoyed it.

“I gave the maximum today, I can’t say I left much on the table and that’s how it’s supposed to be. When they stopped the race it was pretty treacherous. It was the right thing to do. Conditions were really tough, especially with the winds because you’d be on a dry line and all of a sudden it’d blow you onto the wet. When they said we were going to do another eight laps, part of me thought ‘hey, let’s line back up and try again’. But I’m not leading the championship, so I’ve got nothing to worry about. A big thanks to the fans too, we only had to be out in the wet for an hour, they’ve been out there since Thursday.”

Andrea Dovizioso, JiR Scot Honda: 5th.

“I am very pleased with the outcome of today, obtained under conditions that were – quite simply – incredible. We had intense rain and then a strong wind, which then led to the early conclusion of the race. It was very easy to make mistakes and ruin the race, but I started fast, as often happens with me, and I was quick to take the lead. In fact, in the beginning I wanted to stay in front of everyone. I gave the maximum today to earn the most points possible. The tires worked well, but today the choice was difficult and we opted for a solution that gave us sufficient confidence. We must further improve with our tires, and Michelin are working hard to be more efficient. I believe that in different climatic conditions, we could have also fought for the podium.”

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: 8th.

“That was a very tough race. I started quite cautiously and then I began to push harder, but in the mid-stages I wasn’t enough fast and I lost some time. Towards the end I found a good pace. Four or five laps before Race Direction stopped the race, the wind got really strong and there was a lot of dirt and debris getting blown on to the track. Finishing eighth is not a good result for me, but considering the conditions I couldn’t do any better. All in all, it has been an important weekend for us. We have gained a lot of experience in both wet and dry conditions which will help in the future, so we will keep working hard. The tires worked well today and I’m feeling confident for the next race at Motegi in two weeks time.”

Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Gresini Honda: 10th.

“Frankly I’m a little disappointed I expected to be very good in the wet today but my rear tire went off very quickly. Maybe it was too hard for the conditions because the rear end was sliding a lot. After Friday’s wet practice I was very confident but today I could not go forward.”

Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda: 13th.

“It was a tough day today. We started with a quite
good warm up in the dry and we were optimistic for a dry race. But the conditions were very difficult before the start and I did not get a good start losing five places in the first lap. I struggled from the beginning with lack of grip both front and rear but I tried the best I could trying not to make any mistake. Overall I tried to survive the race and it’s not very clear why we had such a poor grip but we must find a solution for next race in Japan which can potentially be wet.”

Shinya Nakano, San Carlo Gresini Honda: 17th.

“It was a very difficult race today because I started from the back of the grid and the conditions were terrible. I managed to pass a few riders in the first laps but I could not find a consistent pace. Towards the end I began to understand the conditions better and started to catch the others in front of me but they red flagged the race, it was the right decision. I’m disappointed because in the dry warm up this morning I was fourth fastest so I will keep that positive in mind as I prepare for my home race at Motegi in two weeks.”

Team San Carlo Gresini Honda:

STRONG WIND SHORTENS THE GP OF INDIANAPOLIS. DE ANGELIS IN THE TOP TEN, NAKANO IN DIFFICULTIES

The first Indianapolis Grand Prix of the MotoGP World Championship was interrupted as a result of heavy rain and strong wind after 20 of the 28 scheduled laps. Alex De Angelis claimed tenth position, but Shinya Nakano could only manage seventeenth place. After the first wet practice on Friday, Alex hoped for a better result, but difficulties at the beginning of the race forced him to fight to recover the lost positions. Nakano couldn’t find the right feeling in today’s wet conditions but he will aim for a better result in his home Grand Prix in Motegi.

Alex De Angelis (10th):

“We definitely expected a better result in the wet conditions of the track, but unfortunately I spent a lot of time to find the right pace at the beginning of the race. Anyway it’s okay. It’s a shame that the weather conditions got increasingly worse until the race was stopped. In fact I could have fought to improve my position, since I had reached the riders who were ahead of me. In any case I agree with the decision to stop the race because it was very difficult and dangerous to ride in those conditions”.

Shinya Nakano (17th):

“It was a very difficult race because of the heavy rain and the strong wind. I made a good start and had a good first lap, recovering several positions. Unfortunately with the rain starting and stopping it was difficult to deal with the situation and to find the right pace on track, and so I lost some positions again. At the end of the race the weather conditions got even worse, with the wind getting harder lap after lap and it was very difficult to ride. I agree with the decision to stop the race and it was made at the right moment. Clearly I’m very disappointed with today’s result, but I’m happy about the fourth place that I achieved in warm-up: I want to keep that in mind looking ahead to the race in Motegi”.

Fausto Gresini – Team manager:

“It was a difficult race for us today, and also for all the other riders on the track. We hoped that Alex could get an important result; in my opinion he had a good race. Unfortunately he couldn’t make a good start and he lost some positions during the first laps. It took him some time to find the right pace, but at the end he succeeded in being fast and constant. However we must be positive thinking to Alex’s future, because he is continuing to grow. I’m sorry for Shinya, obviously the track conditions were difficult for all, but he considered today’s track conditions too risky and I respect his decision to limit the damages. I agree with the decision to stop the race because the conditions of the track were really difficult. Anyway I would not have been upset to have seen a race with just eight laps, a strange and curious situation.”

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Ducati

STONER FOURTH AT HURRICANE-HIT INDY, MELANDRI 19TH

Casey Stoner came home a solid fourth in a treacherously difficult Indianapolis Grand Prix, which was hit by severely adverse weather that led to the race being interrupted by red flags with eight of the scheduled laps still remaining.

Stoner battled throughout the race with Andrea Dovizioso despite losing rear grip in the early stages and was relieved merely to come out of it in one piece and with a decent points haul.

Marco Melandri was unable to rediscover the positive feeling he’d found for the wet conditions on Friday and he struggled home in 19th place.

CASEY STONER (Ducati MotoGP Team) 4th

“I think it was the right decision to stop the race because the conditions were really dangerous – more for the strong wind than the heavy rain, which made it difficult to keep the bike upright. I’m never going to be satisfied with fourth place but it would have been foolish to push harder in those conditions and I made the right decision not to do so. I got a good start but I quickly lost confidence because the rear tire was tearing up quickly and by the time they stopped the race I was struggling to hold my lap times.”

MARCO MELANDRI (Ducati MotoGP Team) 19th

“I’m really disappointed because after riding in the wet on Friday I was expecting a pretty good race today. As it happened I struggled to rediscover the same feeling, especially with the engine braking. I never had a good feel for the bike and there was no grip on the front or the rear. I couldn’t ride it from the first lap and in conditions like that it is incredibly difficult.”

LIVIO SUPPO (Ducati MotoGP Project Director)

“It was a tough race for Casey but he showed grit and determination to bring home a decent result. It maybe to do with the power delivery of our engine or the set-up of the bike but the rear tire went off quicker than expected and Casey couldn’t ride on the attack, as we’re used to seeing. It’s a shame it wasn’t a dry race because in the warm-up we saw Casey was in good shape for those conditions. It was another tough weekend for Marco. Hopefully things go better in Japan at a circuit he like a lot.”

Team Alice

Strong wind and rain has brought the race direction to stop the Indianapolis Grand Prix with eight laps left. MotoGP riders came back in the box after viewing the red flag and together decided to don’t complete the eight laps left because the weather conditions were too dangerous. This way the Alice Team riders maintained the provisional position with Sylvain Guintoli in seventh position and Toni Elias twelfth. The French rider didn’t make it to start well and after the first lap he was in fourteenth position. Despite the risky track conditions Sylvain fought back and gained seventh positions. Toni Elias has concluded in twelfth position that gave him four points in the world classification. He has now entered the MotoGP top ten riders in the standing. Also the Alice Team has gained a position in the Team World classification: the Italian Team is now in sixth position.

Fabiano Sterlacchini – Alice Team Technical Director

“For sure a difficult race. The track condition has changed a lot during the race due to the bad weather. A pity the track didn’t make it to completely dry out otherwise Toni could have gained many more positions. His lap times from this morning’s warm up with dry track were really good. If it would have been a dry race we could have achieved a good result. Sylvain has done a good performance. We are not surprised as with this track conditions he has always done well. Thanks to the points conquered today we gained a position in the Team classification and we are really happy about it. In the last four races of the season we will try to do our best to conclude in the best way.”

Sylvain Guintoli – Alice Team rider (7th in the race – 13th in the MotoGP classification)

“Unfortunately I didn’t start well. I took too much time to warm up the new tires but when I found a good feeling I have done a good comeback. If I would have started better I could have surely finish in a better position. I am anyway satisfied because I come from a race, in Misano, where I didn’t go so well and now I found back a good feeling with the bike. I hope to be able to improve even more in the last four races.”

Toni Elias – Alice Team rider (12th in the race – 10th in the MotoGP classification)

“I can remain positive because we have improved with this sort of track conditions. Surely the twelfth position isn’t the best but it went better than the previous occasions. A pity the race wasn’t dry: this morning during the warm up I felt really good and I could have fought with Valentino and Casey for the first three positions. I remain anyway trustful, we will surely have another possibility to do well in the next four races.”

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Suzuki

Spies shines in the Indy gloom, Rizla Suzuki MotoGP wildcard racer Ben Spies rode to a superb sixth place in atrocious conditions during the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix today.

Spies pushed hard all race as he was involved in a battle for fourth place with reigning World Champion Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso. The new AMA Superbike Champion looked set to make an attack on both riders towards the end of the race, but conditions deteriorated so dramatically after 20 laps the race was stopped, and the result was declared as it stood at that time.

Chris Vermeulen looked like he was again going to show his skill in the rain – after being baulked from the start – as he made his way from 16th up to 10th during the first three laps, but even Suzuki’s rain-master couldn’t overcome the extreme conditions and although he made it up to ninth by the time the race was stopped, he couldn’t make any further impact on the riders in front of him.

Loris Capirossi had a weekend that he will want to forget as he never got to grips with the set-up of his Suzuki GSV-R around the Indianapolis circuit. He got a good start, but was pushed wide on the first corner and was relegated to last position. Capirossi did try to fight back, but was never in a strong enough position to challenge further up the field. He did manage to pass three riders, but finished just outside the points in 16th place.

The first motorcycle race to be held at Indianapolis since 1909 was attended by a large and enthusiastic crowd, who had to endure the remnants of Hurricane Ike that swept over the circuit before and during the race, eventually causing the race to be brought to an early end due to safety issues. Valentino Rossi won his fourth race in succession and now looks certain to be crowned World Champion.

Rizla Suzuki now makes the trip to the home of Suzuki for the next round of the championship at Motegi in Japan on Sunday 28th September, when regulars Vermeulen and Capirossi will again have the support of a wildcard rider, this time in the shape of Test Team Rider Kousuke Akiyoshi.

Ben Spies:

“It was a good race today for me because my goal was to better my result at Laguna and I did that. I know that I had a fourth place bike today though because the crew had got it working great, but after 10 laps I couldn’t see anything through my visor and that was why I never made an attack because I had to follow the other guys around me to see where I was going – I think if I had lost them I would have got caught by everybody! I rode as hard as I could and ended the race with a good sixth place. I wish we could have done a bit better, but every time I’m getting on a GP bike I’m getting better results so who knows what’s to come!”

Chris Vermeulen:

“It was very difficult out there today and starting from 15th didn’t help. There was a lot of spray and a quicker line soon formed so it was very tricky when you moved off that to try and pass. I got through into the top-10 and felt like I had a bit more, but when I tried to push there was no more lap-time to come. I was then kind of stagnant with the guys from fourth place on and just couldn’t catch them. At the end the conditions got really bad and the wind was so strong things were blowing all over the place and it was getting a bit dangerous, so it was a good idea to stop the race even though it was a pity we didn’t go the full distance. So here’s to coming back here next year and doing a lot better!”

Loris Capirossi:

“The whole weekend has been hard for me as I never found the best solution on the bike. During this morning’s warm-up the bike felt a bit better in the dry and we hoped the conditions would stay like that for the race – unfortunately the conditions were not only worse they were the worst I have ever ridden in! In the first corner someone pushed me wide and I was last and although I tried to fight back it was so difficult out there that I couldn’t really make any difference. I want to forget about this weekend, the race has now gone and I want to concentrate on the next event and make a good result for Suzuki and the team in Japan!”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“The first Indianapolis GP was a great event with superb organisation and a very enthusiastic atmosphere – it was just a shame that the weather had such a big hand in today’s proceedings because the circuit deserved better than that today. Ben did an extremely good job all weekend and wet or dry he was able to be very competitive – he thoroughly deserved his top-six finish.

“We really wanted to be at the sharp end with Chris and Loris, but it just didn’t happen. We know that we can be a lot better than where we finished this weekend and we will now re-group and head off to Japan. We need to step it up a gear and improve on our performance as we begin the run-in to the end of the season.”

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Kawasaki

WEST ELEVENTH AT WET AND WINDY INDY

Kawasaki’s Anthony West battled the elements today to bring his Ninja ZX-RR race machine home in 11th position at the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix, which was red-flagged eight laps early due to treacherous weather conditions.

Following heavy rainfall after this morning’s dry warm-up, the 28-lap race got underway at the Indiana circuit and John Hopkins made a determined start into 10th place from 16th on the grid, while West moved up into 16th from the back row of the grid.

The Kawasaki duo both made up a place in the opening two laps, but it was West who impressively fought his way up to 13th position behind teammate Hopkins, who had lost out to Chris Vermeulen and Sylvain Guintoli by lap four. West continued his surge through the field and by lap eight the 27-year-old Australian had managed to pass three of his rivals, including teammate Hopkins, to take 10th position aboard his Ninja ZX-RR.

The wet weather expert then focussed his attentions on closing down the gap to fellow countryman, Chris Vermeulen, who had a four second advantage over the Kawasaki pilot. However, by lap 13 the weather rapidly deteriorated, as heavy gusts of wind and rain descended on the 4.216km track. West fought to hold onto his top-ten place, but with a lack of visibility and reduced grip around the circuit, he lost a position to Alex De Angelis shortly before the race was red-flagged on lap 20 for safety reasons.

Hopkins suffered similar difficulties in the tricky conditions, with the heavy wind making it difficult for the 25-year-old Anglo-American to change direction aboard his Bridgestone shod machine. The Kawasaki racer, despite looking to re-catch Tony Elias who was just over a second ahead, dropped back in the last few laps of the race to cross the line in 14th position.

Soon after the Kawasaki pair entered pit-lane, it was declared that the race wouldn’t be restarted on safety grounds.

Anthony West: #13 – 11th Position

“I’m actually really disappointed because I was sure we could have achieved a much better result in the wet today. The track was cleared of standing water before the beginning of the race, and because I was so far back I had to really push hard to make up positions in the opening few laps. We got up to 10th place and I really felt we were capable of catching the riders ahead, but as the weather deteriorated so did the grip level left in my tire, as I’d worked it so hard in the beginning, and we couldn’t push any harder towards the end. From dead last on the grid eleventh isn’t so bad, and given the weather we were up against, at least we were able to fight for what nearly was a top ten place.”

John Hopkins: #21 – 14th Position
“Warm-up this morning was dry and then the weather deteriorated not long before the race. We got a really good start, and we ran a fairly hard compound rear tire as we thought a dry line might appear before the end of the race. This took a while to get up to temperature, so I rode quite steadily in the opening laps and unfortunately lost a few places. We got into a good rhythm and our lap times were good, but then the weather rapidly got worse. The rain we could deal with, but the wind was unbelievable, which made it hard to get the bike to change direction. There was a lot of debris all over the track and then the race was red-flagged. Overall 14th is certainly not where we wanted to finish, but in the dry we definitely made some improvements during qualifying and I hope we can put these to good use next time out in Japan.”

Michael Bartholemy: Kawasaki Competition Manager

“We made a really promising start to the weekend in Friday practice, with both of our riders nearing the top of the time sheets. The weather then changed for Saturday and it was dry at the circuit, which is new to MotoGP and we came across some difficulties. Although we didn’t qualify so well, we were hoping for good results in today’s wet race. Conditions were very tough out on circuit, and Anthony managed to get up to the top ten, but after working his tire so hard at the beginning of the race he dropped off a little towards the end. John also made a really good start, but the heavy wind really affected him before the race was red-flagged. We do have some positives to take away from this weekend, but we certainly have a lot more work to do, and we really have to make improvements to put us in good stead for the team’s second home race in Japan in a few weeks time.”

Valentino Rossi became the winningest rider in MotoGP history with his victory at the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Local favorite Nicky Hayden, from nearby Owensboro, Ky., finished second on his No. 69 Repsol Honda Team Honda/Michelin in the shortened race, his first podium finish since August 2007.

The victory, which came under tough wind and rain conditions due to the passing remnants of Hurricane Ike, gave five-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi his 69th win in the premier class, one more than fellow Italian legend Giacomo Agostini.

Rossi, rider of the No. 46 Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha/Bridgestone, said he appreciates the significance of victory at Indianapolis.

“It is quite special, yes,” he said. “I hear that Indianapolis have just the top class of all the motorsports. So from Indy to NASCAR and now in motorcycle we have MotoGP. So it’s important. It is something right on the history. But especially I’m so happy because I like the track.”

Rounding out the podium was Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha teammate, rookie Jorge Lorenzo, in third on the No. 48 Yamaha/Michelin. Casey Stoner was fourth on the No. 1 Ducati Team Ducati/Bridgestone and Andrea Dovisioso was fifth on the No. 4 JiR Team Scot MotoGP Honda/Michelin.

Race officials red-flagged the race on the 20th of 28 scheduled laps due to driving rain propelled by gusty winds. Rossi and Hayden were both adamant that officials made the right call, citing the blinding rain and gusts that, without warning, pushed their bikes side to side as they rocketed down the Speedway’s main straightaway at 190 mph.

“The wind is very inconsistent and very strong,” Rossi said. “You never know what’s going to happen with the bike. Every lap, I look and I say, ‘I hope for the red flag; I hope for the red flag.’ It was a good decision to end the race.”

Rossi took an 87-point victory over reigning World Champion Casey Stoner and can clinch his sixth MotoGP world title Sept. 28 at the Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi.

Hayden could not hide his emotions following the race, partly for claiming his first podium since finishing third at the Czech Republic in August 2007, but even more so because he led 12 of the 20 laps in front of family, friends and fans.

“Man, I had nothing to lose here,” Hayden said. “I just had to go for it. The bike felt good in the wet. Man, it felt really good to be in the lead, and I felt quite comfortable. It’s been a long time. I was thinking, ‘This only happens in the movies.’

“I just want to thank the team, my family, my fans for sticking behind me. I’d like to thank the fans. We only had to be out there for 40 minutes, they’ve been out there all day in the rain.”

Hayden’s fellow American riders had mixed results. Three-time AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies, riding the No. 11 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki/Bridgestone, finished sixth to become the highest-finishing wild-card rider of the season.

John Hopkins, of Ramona, Calif., finished 14th on the No. 21 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki/Bridgestone, one position ahead of Colin Edwards, the Houston native who finished 15th on the No. 5 Tech 3 Yamaha/Michelin.

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From the PODIUM:

VALENTINO ROSSI (Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha/Bridgestone, winner): “This is fantastic because it’s been a long time since I won in the rain and even longer since I won four in a row! To win the first race here at Indianapolis is a great emotion and to beat Agostini’s record is also incredible, now I hope my record will stand for 30 years like his. It was an amazing race, and once I was able to pass Stoner, I knew I had the chance to win, so I pushed very hard. I had a great race with Nicky; he was really hard to pass, so congratulations to him. When the wind and rain came, it became very hard. I think I could have kept going for another eight laps OK, but there were things flying through the air – beer cans, plastic glasses – so really I think it was the right decision to stop the race! Sincerely I don’t think I’ve ever ridden in conditions like these, and I was lucky because I was far in front and therefore didn’t have to take any big risks. It’s been a perfect weekend for us de spite the weather because we made the pole position, the fastest lap and we won. I’ve really enjoyed racing here in Indy, and I am looking forward to coming back next year. Now we have a big advantage and it would be great to win the championship in Motegi, but it’s not over yet so we will keep our concentration and keep working.”

NICKY HAYDEN (Repsol Honda Team Honda/Michelin, second): “Man, it felt really good to be in the lead, and I felt quite comfortable. It’s been a long time. I was thinking, ‘This only happens in the movies’ – your home race, missing the last two and coming back to win. I was able to stay focused, but Valentino came past and he had a little more speed, especially in section three. Then when he touched the line onto the back straightaway I was able to make up a little more ground, and I thought maybe I was OK. But when it started raining heavy I was in trouble because when it had dried, I’d used up a lot of the left side of the tire, so it got pretty gnarly with all the water. Sure, you dream about winning your home race, but honestly I shouldn’t be too greedy with how things have been. I’ll take this second and enjoy it. I’d just like to say a big thanks to my team, all my guys, my friends, my family, everyone who’s stuck with me through tough times. Also, thanks to Indy and eve ryone for making this race happen. It’s a great feeling to be able to race so close to home; I enjoyed it. I gave the maximum today. I can’t say I left much on the table, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. When they stopped the race, it was pretty treacherous. It was the right thing to do. Conditions were really tough, especially with the winds because you’d be on a dry line and all of a sudden it’d blow you onto the wet. When they said we were going to do another eight laps, part of me thought, ‘Hey, let’s line back up and try again.’ But I’m not leading the championship, so I’ve got nothing to worry about. A big thanks to the fans too, we only had to be out in the wet for an hour, they’ve been out there since Thursday.”

JORGE LORENZO (Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha/Michelin, third): “This is the first wet podium in my career, including the European, Spanish and even Mallorcan Championships. To be honest, I really didn’t want to leave my motor home before the race because I was so warm and comfortable, and I really don’t like to race in the rain, but today I think things have changed. I got a good start, which surprised me, and then I was able to pass Dani and then Valentino, which surprised me even more. I am so happy to finally discover that I can be fast in the rain, as well. After Valentino passed me back, I tried to follow him, but he was a bit too fast, so I concentrated on keeping my pace consistent. Then the rain and especially the wind came, and it was quite crazy! I was still fast, though I closed the gap to Nicky, who I think had some problems by then, and maybe I could have passed him with some more laps, but it was very dangerous and so better to stop the race. We are still not perfect,
but our bike and Michelin tires were very good today. Well done to Valentino, and I hope we can continue like this for the last four races.”

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QUOTES from the rest of the MotoGP Riders:

BEN SPIES (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki/Bridgestone, sixth): “It was a good race today for me because my goal was to better my result at Laguna, and I did that. I know that I had a fourth-place bike today, though, because the crew had got it working great. But after 10 laps, I couldn’t see anything through my visor, and that was why I never made an attack because I had to follow the other guys around me to see where I was going. I think if I had lost them, I would have got caught by everybody. I rode as hard as I could and ended the race with a good sixth place. I wish we could have done a bit better, but every time I’m getting on a GP bike I’m getting better results, so who knows what’s to come.”

JOHN HOPKINS (Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki/Bridgestone, 14th): “Warm-up this morning was dry, and then the weather deteriorated not long before the race. We got a really good start, and we ran a fairly hard compound rear tire as we thought a dry line might appear before the end of the race. This took a while to get up to temperature, so I rode quite steadily in the opening laps and unfortunately lost a few places. We got into a good rhythm and our lap times were good, but then the weather rapidly got worse. The rain we could deal with, but the wind was unbelievable, which made it hard to get the bike to change direction. There was a lot of debris all over the track, and then the race was red-flagged. Overall, 14th is certainly not where we wanted to finish, but in the dry we definitely made some improvements during qualifying, and I hope we can put these to good use next time out in Japan.”

COLIN EDWARDS (Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha/Michelin, 15th): “We spent too much time trying to make a new setting work, and because we’d had so much time on it, we went for it in the race. But I couldn’t get the bike to turn. My tires felt great, and I didn’t have a problem with them at all, but I couldn’t carry any corner speed. I’d get into the corner, and I kept running wide. The only way to fix that is to go slower so you can hold the line, and it wasn’t really fun out there. I thought I’d got a good start and I got behind a couple of guys, but everybody seemed to check up. They were right in front of me, and the next thing I know, six guys are flying around the inside and outside of me. I was almost last by the second corner, and I just put my head down to try and make some progress, but I couldn’t do anything. It is disappointing because I’m not out there not trying and running around in 15th. I’m out there trying my absolute hardest. The conditions were unbelievable. There was all kinds of debris at the end and you didn’t know if it was gong to hit you because the wind was so unpredictable. It was a smart decision to stop it, and maybe it could have come a lap or two earlier.”

BEN SPIES (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP): “It was good. Obviously, it was raining. The first 10 laps were good. The last 10 laps, I couldn’t see anything. I caught up to Dovizioso, and I tried to stay right on him so he could tow me around. I just followed everything he did. Then the race was over. The last five laps were pretty hectic with the wind kicking up. It was definitely pushing the bikes around. It was a good race for us, though. We qualified fifth and finished sixth. It’s a great result.”

JOHN HOPKINS (Kawasaki Racing Team): “Yeah, we’re moving up a little bit, but the conditions were absolutely treacherous. I mean, it’s a shame to have to end the race like that since we are at Indianapolis for the first time. The winds were just treacherous.” (Have you raced in worse weather conditions before?): “No, no, that is the worse riding conditions I have ever been in in my life. The start was good. We got off to a decent start and made up quite a few positions and got into a decent rhythm, and that is when it all went upside down. The wind was absolutely crazy.” (Is there something to grow here in Indy?): “Yeah, the only downfall was the force of nature. I mean, it was just a shame that it was like this for the fans, but next year it will be twice as good.”

COLIN EDWARDS (Tech 3 Yamaha): “It was wacky, man. It was. It was bad. All right, thanks for coming out.”

CASEY STONER (Ducati Team): “With this wind, it’s literally unrideable. The rain wasn’t a problem in the race; it was actually the wind issues. You would glance a good 2 or 3 meters offline, and going into the back straight your front wheel is literally just moving a meter every time you change gear. It became very dangerous. It was ridiculous. The safest option was to stop. We’re happy with the race today, but I would rather go home in one piece. Even in dry conditions, I don’t think it’s safe (because of the wind). It is literally unbelievable. I don’t think you can keep your bike online, and I think there would be a few nasty crashes. You know, it’s not anybody’s fault. I lost a load of my confidence in the wet conditions. We started off OK, and I needed a few laps to warm the tires up because we just weren’t getting temperature. I destroyed the tire after that. We were actually quite lucky it started to rain toward the end there. I don’t think we could have kept up if it hadn’t rained.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO (JiR Team Scot MotoGP): “It was very difficult because the conditions were not easy. The first 10 laps were quite normal. After 10 laps, a lot of rain. The main problem was the wind. It was so difficult to ride and choose a line. In the middle of the corner came the wind, and it is always easy to crash. I’m not so happy about the fifth position. We mistook the rear tire. Under the dry conditions, we were very fast. Fifth position in this condition is OK, but I am not happy, 100 percent.”

CHRIS VERMEULEN (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP): “The conditions were incredible. It’s just a shame for the whole Indianapolis crowd that we got the left over bit of the hurricane. We’ll be back next year, and it should be better. The race was tough starting from 15th place. We got through into a reasonable position like ninth or 10th and were fighting there. We had some good speed, but the front guys had already got away by that stage.”

TONI ELIAS (Alice Team): “Yes, crazy. We finished the race safely. It was not bad, but I think if the race was in great condition, I could’ve made a very, very good result today. I hope I have another opportunity like yesterday. I think I could be fast the rest of the season. I need to try to make more podiums and, if it’s possible, try to win some races.”

RANDY DE PUNIET (LCR Honda MotoGP): “All of it was very difficult. It was one of the most hard GPs for me. In these conditions, it was very difficult to ride, and also my fitting was not so good with the bike. I finished 13th, and honestly I’m very disappointed about this position.” (On the tires working in the conditions): “Maybe I use too hard a compound, and that’s why my fitting was not so good. And when the rain was coming more and more, it was worse and worse.”

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RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP PRESS CONFERENCE MotoGP – Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Jorge Lorenzo Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008

MODERATOR: OK, ladies and gentlemen, what a performance, what a day it’s been for all three. In second place, Nicky Hayden. The winner here of the inaugural Indy Grand Prix, Valentino Rossi. And for the second race in succession, on the podium, Jorge Lorenzo. (Applause)

OK, obviously we’ll start with the race winner, Valentino Rossi. Valentino, I just heard the television interview, you said without a doubt it’s the worst conditions you’ve ever ridden in in a Grand Prix race, and it really did look treacherous out there.

VALENTINO ROSSI: Yes. So it was, for sure, very difficult. And it was a pity because it was a normal race, you know. They did I think a great job on the track. They throw up all the water and is possible to ride the bike in quite good speed and with quite good angle. So at the beginning was quite scared, but anyway, a good race, a good battle. I go in front, I need some lap for overtaking Nicky because at the same point I lose a bit. When I go in front, I was a bit faster. But from that moment, the condition becoming very bad and start to rain strong. So the amount of water going up on the racetrack, but the bigger problem was the wind and become all dark like in the night, all the beer cans, glass pass in front of the bike in the circuit or the grass, also. Was very, very bad, especially because the wind was so unconstant and very strong. You never know what’s happen. In the straight you take all the straight from left to right for try to go straight.

Seriously, I have to, I think I have to raise my hand before, but I was in front and I say — I see that my advantage remain good and going up. So I try to go and every lap I wait for the red flag, red flag, and after arrive I think is the right decision because like this is too dangerous.

MODERATOR: It was just a little doubt. You thought you won the race, everything was fine, then there was a little doubt, the result wasn’t confirmed, was it, you might have to go out there again. I could see people were thinking, ‘Oh, my God, we’d never be able to do it.’

ROSSI: Yes, for sure. In my mind, I think when I see the red flag, no way to restart, especially because the wind remain very strong. So the condition was very bad. And restart for eight laps all together with this condition is like when you put one bullet in the gun and you make, “trrrrr,” like this, and you try, you know. It was dangerous; I think it was the right decision. (Laughter)

MODERATOR: One big moment, I think you got the tire onto the white line at one point.

ROSSI: Ever some slide for sure, especially at the beginning. Because the condition of Friday was very bad in the wet. Today I think is better but, you know, if you make one mistake in the race, the race is over, so I try to understand the limit. When the wind start to be very strong, I have a wheelie exit from Turn 9, I go a bit wide, I cross the white line and lose control of the bike. I was quite lucky, also, yes.

MODERATOR: Good lead in the championship, we go to Motegi in two weeks time, on the Yamaha, home of Honda. You could clinch the title there, couldn’t you?

ROSSI: Yes. Now we have 87-point advantage, and we have the first match point in Motegi in two weeks. In 2005, I have the match point in Motegi for the championship, but unfortunately I make a mistake, and they take Melandri and we crash. So I have a bad memory of this. But I am able to arrive behind Stoner and lose also 11 points. So it is important and also because we lose the championship last year in Motegi. So it is good, and we try for sure.

MODERATOR: Apart from the weather, Indianapolis, they’ve done us proud, haven’t they? It’s been a very, very special weekend.

ROSSI: Yes, I love this track because I make the hat trick; pole position, fast effort lap and victory. I was very fast in the dry and the wet. So I like. It is a good track; it is a good place. Unfortunately today the weather is very bad, and I hope for the next year is better weather and more crowd.

MODERATOR: Valentino, congratulations and thank you.

We go to Nicky Hayden, ladies and gentlemen, his first podium this season. What a place to do it on the Repsol Honda. You dug deep for that, Nicky.

NICKY HAYDEN: Yes, it felt good to be out front. It’s been a long time since I’ve been near the front, much less led a race. Man, it felt really good to be in the lead. Felt quite good and comfortable there. And I was thinking, you know, this only happens in the movies, you know, your home race with missing the last two to come back and win in the rain. But I was able to stay focused, but Valentino came past and had a little bit more speed than me, especially through Section 3. But then when he touched the line on the back straight away and I think: ‘You know what? Maybe I’m OK,’ and I was able to make up a little more ground. Then when it started raining heavy, I was in trouble because when it dried, I used a lot of tire and I had no tread left on part of the left side of the tire. When it started to rain heavy again, it was so gnarly. But I held on. Sure, home race, you think, sure, you dream about winning but, honestly I shouldn’t be too greedy with how things have went, t ake this second and enjoy it. A big thanks to my team, all my guys, my friends, my family, everybody who sticked with me and through tough times, and that’s important. We came here, and I gave the maximum. I can’t say I left much on the table today. That’s how it’s supposed to be. All in all, I need to try to enjoy this one.

MODERATOR: There’s no way you could have gone out there again, was there?

HAYDEN: Well, no — well, because the air fence, no. It was pretty treacherous. Part of me thought, hey, let’s line back up and try again because in the beginning when it was really wet, I’m not leading the championship, so I don’t have nothing to worry. I thought, you know, just give one more try at it. But it was the right thing to do. It was really tough conditions, especially with the wind. Because you would be on a dry line and all of a sudden it would hit you and blow you off onto the wet spot. It was tough, I think that’s why you see three world champions or four of them in the top four when things get tough.

Big thanks to the fans, we only had to be out in the wet for an hour, they’ve been out there a lot of them since Thursday, and for everybody for making this thing happen, Indy, Red Bull. A lot of people worked really hard and for me to be able to race so close to home is a great feeling. I enjoyed it.

MODERATOR: Indianapolis has done a tremendous job for MotoGP, haven’t they?

HAYDEN: Yeah, they have. It’s not something that just happened. A lot of people worked hard to make it happen. The fans came out and supported it. Sure, maybe we can make some things better but actually, I like the track. In those conditions earlier, it didn’t matter where we was at, we wasn’t going to be able to start the race. You know, it was just too much water. But yeah, maybe sure, work on the draining and a few things to improve. But, yeah, big thanks to everybody who made this happen.

MODERATOR: Four more races for you with Honda. I think you showed today whatever happens at the end of the season, you’re going to be riding very hard indeed until the change comes.

HAYDEN: Oh, yeah. I mean, no doubt about that. I think anybody who knows me knows that. I’m not going to give up. I mean, I would just be hurting myself. It’s not like, like I said the other day, I’m planning on finishing the season strong. You know, I owe it to Honda. They have been a big part of my career, and I’ve been with them for a long time, especially my mechanics. I mean, I think they certainly have not given up on me one bit, know what I’ve done. It would be real easy for them to slack off early and get on out of here, you know, pretty quick after the session, hurry up, hurry through the bikes and go for a cold beer. But they’ve just worked as hard now as they did in the middle of 2006. I’m really grateful for that.

MODERATOR: Thanks, Nicky. Congratulations. Good to see you back on the podium.

HAYDEN: It’s good to be here.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Third place, ladies and gentlemen, his second podium in succession, Jorge Lorenzo. Jorge, first time you’ve been on the podium in the wet your whole career.

JORGE LORENZO: Yeah, it is true. It is true because also in the Spanish Championship I haven’t got any podium, European Championship, also, no podium in the rain. And I think in the Balioto Championship, also, no podium. (Laughter)

I was so, personally I didn’t want to race before the race because I was so safe in my motor home and so hot with Hector that I thought I prefer not to race. The organization has done a big work, and the track was quite good at the first sector. I was surprised all the race because in the start I got a good start, so I thought, ‘OK, I know how to start, no?’ Is good. And after in the second lap, I pass Dani and I know I can go fast in the rain, and also in the third I passed Dovizioso, and I thought, ‘Good, no?’ After I passed Valentino, it’s amazing in the rain. (Laughter)

But then Valentino passed me again, and I wanted to follow him, was impossible. Also, Nicky was fast. And the race has been complicated at the middle. The wind has come and the rain, also, raining more. And was OK. Was not perfect because I wanted to finish second, but it’s OK because Yamaha is, again, have two people on the podium and we are leading the World Championship constructor. And I’m fine.

MODERATOR: Michelin tires, they’ve taken a real bashing this year, haven’t they? But Nicky second, you third, they did very well, didn’t they, in the rain?

LORENZO: Yes, I said yesterday Michelin is a good tire. But the problem is that Bridgestone is a very good tire in this moment. So to be at the same level or to pass them, we have to work, Michelin have to work harder. I know they are working hard, but harder, more harder. So I don’t know, at the end of the season if we can do more podiums or even better. But come on, Michelin. (Laughter)

MODERATOR: Motegi coming up, after what has happened today, you may want a wet race in Motegi over a dry race.

LORENZO: What? (Laughter)

MODERATOR: You may want a wet race in Motegi now you’ve done so well in the rain.

LORENZO: In Motegi, I hope not to rain. Rains is better now because I have the one podium.

MODERATOR: Congratulations, Jorge, on the podium second week in succession.

Ladies and gentlemen, questions from the floor. Put your hand up and we can get a mike over to you.

Q: Nicky, I wonder if you could talk about what went through your mind as Valentino was catching you, and did you know how close he was? And did you know that he was pressuring you for that long?

HAYDEN: Well, yeah, I have a pit board that tells me that information. So, I mean, I knew who it was. But I was on the limit pretty good, but also I knew I had a little bit soft — actually, I changed tires after the sighting lap. I had on a little bit harder. I mean, I knew the rain was supposed to stop, but in a lot of places on the oval, the water was still draining across the track. I mean, we last minute put in one a little bit softer. I have too many times in my life thought, ‘I’ll wait and let it come in,’ and the rain is so important to just get your position early and then go for it. So I knew he was coming, but I tried to be smooth and not just destroy my tire. You know, there’s a few places on this track you can hear quite easy when somebody is behind you. And, you know, I mean Vale, he likes to put that pressure on, but I held my line. Once he closed up on me a little bit, I changed a few things to try to make sure I was getting all the corners good and at least m aking him work for it.

Q: Valentino, what does it mean to you now to be the winningest rider in MotoGP history?

ROSSI: So I’m the first one in 100 years. It is quite special, yes. This track, the real track, the real oval is for other type of race, but racing in the, in this track with MotoGP, I hear that Indianapolis have just the top class of all the motorsports. So from Indy to NASCAR and now in motorcycle we have MotoGP. So it’s important. It is something right on the history. But especially I’m so happy because I like the track, and I think in the next years we can make, we come back, so is important to have another good track instead of a bad track. I learn the track during the weekend very early, so especially I’m so happy for this.

Q: The question for Jorge. I am from Argentina. Did you find something special or you have an inspiration today? Because in the last laps you was following Nicky very hard but very solid riding, no crazy riding. So you find something in the setup or was it a good day on the bike?

LORENZO: Yeah, special day, I think. (Laughter) I don’t know, you think it’s a special day?

Q: No, I am asking you if you find the setup –

LORENZO: For sure, it’s close to a special day because it is my first podium in the rain in all my career.

Q: OK, because, you know, it’s –

LORENZO: No, I think I was getting closer to Nicky because he was — increase his pace very much, no, Nicky? Because the tire –

HAYDEN: Don’t remind me. (Laughter)

Q: OK, thank you.

LORENZO: Thank you.

Q: How about the record?

ROSSI: Is a lot better than equal for sure. (Laughter) But yes, anyway, 69 is a great number. (Laughter) Because he (Hayden) have it. (Laughter) No, no, just for it means a long time at the top level, but I want to try to make a bit better, make a better number, yes.

Q: Valentino, can you talk about racing with Nicky that was kind of a special thing, especially here under these circumstances?

ROSSI: It is great. I always enjoy with Nicky and looks like we do good times. Like three, four years ago we did a lot of great battle. So Nicky, growing up very close to me because the first year he was my teammate at HRC Honda, and I remember him coming first time from U.S., and he was very desperate. I say Nicky, Nicky, quiet, quiet. (Laughter)

It is like this, it is a bit different compared to U.S. But he is always strong and a great battle guy and for overtaking — I mean a lot of lap, I say already to him the brake was very strong because everybody want to stay in front, so we stayed together very close and for I think 50 meters and is possible because anyway Nicky is very wide, very aggressive but also very clean. So I enjoy.

Q: Valentino, Agostini’s record held for a very long time, more than 30 years. Was he an influence or hero of yours growing up?

ROSSI: I don’t want to say my hero because I don’t remember Ago race, so I never seen, just 20 years later in television. But he was the No. 1, somebody say is Agostini, somebody say Mike Hailwood. But anyway, about numbers, Ago is the greatest and have some other record of Ago like 122 victory and especially 15 championship that for me maybe is impossible, but beat him in the number of race in the premier class is great. I hope this record remain for another 30 years, yes. (Laughter)

MODERATOR: Anybody else, ladies and gentlemen? One here.

Q: Nicky, did your heel give you any trouble on the bike today at all?

HAYDEN: No, zero. I mean in the rain in front of that crowd and here at home, I mean, honestly I never felt it. And even here qualifying, I can’t say it really, I mean slowed me down one bit. Sure, it’s probably going to feel pretty good in the morning, but for now no problem.

Q: Do you have any sort of prognosis in terms of how long you’re going to be with a cane or crutches?

HAYDEN: You know, I’m a rider, so I’m about over the crutches. So as long as my trainer is not around, crutches are getting pretty old. Really, I could put pressure on it but when you put pressure on it, like I explained the other day, it pushes right into where the brake is and it’s just going to take longer and longer. So I feel like a fool walking around like I’m trying to make a big show because normally you see people — yeah, I’m sure it looks kind of silly, but as long as I hurry up and heal and be done with it, I’ll be happy. But I don’t want to use it as an excuse or nothing because in the rain I had plenty of strength and it’s not an issue.

Q: Valentino –

ROSSI: Sorry.

Q: That’s all right. I don’t want to interrupt if you guys want to talk. Even though the race ended early, eight laps early, did you feel like you still earned it based on the conditions?

ROSSI: I don’t understand, sir.

Q: Even though the race ended early, eight laps, because of all you had to deal with, did you feel like it was a grueling 20 laps to have to get what you got?

ROSSI: Yes, I think I deserve because I was very fast in the normal conditions. Like I say, it was a great battle with Nicky, but maybe was a bit faster than him in the normal wet. Anyway, I growing up my advantage, also, when the condition become very, very strong. So for sure, I think for me it’s possible to make another eight laps without a problem but become very, very dangerous.

Q: Nicky, can you talk about what it was like to race in front of another home crowd and also what you think this race, having a second GP race in the United States means for MotoGP’s success in this country?

HAYDEN: You know, I’ve really enjoyed racing in front of the crowds, people think extra pressure and it’s hard. But I always try the maximum. It’s not like you can give more at other races, but it seems like at home it’s always something special. And I really through my career felt like I’ve done better under a lot of pressure. Laguna has always been good to me, Daytona, some of the bigger races. I feel like I can rise up to the challenge, not always, but I enjoy racing in front of my crowd. I’ve got family here I don’t think ever seen me road race. So that’s pretty cool, and I think it’s huge for MotoGP in America. This is a big market. I mean, California and Laguna Seca is kind of cool, but we’re in the heartland here. There’s a big audience around this area even though Indianapolis is not so big, there’s a lot of major cities in the area. Yeah, I mean, I think it’s a big, big opportunity for our sport, and I think it’s important. There is a lot of bike fans in America but also a lot of sponsorship dollars here in America that I think we need to get into. So hopefully it will help attract some of the sponsors.

Q: Question for Valentino. There’s been very many disappointed girls because you said if you won the race you were going to run naked down the home straight.

HAYDEN: Yes, yes, I do remember, also. (Laughter)

Q: I just wonder what happened after that Thursday comment.

ROSSI: The idea was from Colin (Edwards), I remember. (Laughter) And Friday night they say to me, and they say maybe it’s better for everybody that if I win my umbrella girl get naked on the straight. (Laughter)

MODERATOR: Another one here.

HAYDEN: Or all of them.

Q: Nicky, you’ve all talked about the danger of the win but could you just describe a little bit more what you feel on the bike in those kind of gusty conditions?

HAYDEN: The gusty is certainly the problem. I mean, one time through Turn 5 I was right online pretty good, and I hit a big gust and it blew me out just immediately into the deep spots. So, I mean, we’re riders, we’ve all ridden in the rain before. I mean, you just couldn’t use the edge of the track. Like braking at the end of the back straightaway, you had to leave a little bit of extra room because when we would go past the guardrail, it would get you in a little bit of room. More I was looking out of the corner of my eye for the air fence, you can deal with the beer cans and the bags, but there’s a lot of stuff out there that was moving and flags and trees. I was just keeping an eye up and make sure nothing too big came up there. Because, I mean, it probably felt stronger than it was, I don’t know. I thought at times it was blowing pretty good.

Q: Nicky, yesterday night you were enjoying the mile dirt track. How did it feel to return to the place that you grew up as a rider?

HAYDEN: Yeah, I’ve ridden a lot more — I’ve never ridden Indianapolis road race; this is the first time for us. So yeah, I enjoyed the dirt track last night. That was the first Grand National I’ve seen in a lot of years. It was a good show. I didn’t — yeah, I enjoyed it, you know. But I’m a racer, I don’t like to be at a race watching even though they were getting it on pretty good last night. But I would have liked to have rid own but with this whole X Games things, it’s probably not a good time to ask. (Laughter) Asking for extra riding right now is probably not going to go over real well. So I better just focus on my job.

MODERATOR: Any more, ladies and gentlemen? No? Everybody is happy? OK, hit the road. Want to get those leathers off and get in the dry. Congratulations, everybody. See you in Japan. Thank you. (Applause)

Fifteen Teasers from the Inaugural Indianapolis MotoGP – The weekend in Indianapolis was amazing for many reasons. The racing was amazing, the weather at times was insane and the images were spectacular. We’re working on the USGP weekend review but to give you an idea….

Photographer; TRS Media – James Bhathena

Valentino Rossi wrote another chapter in his ever-expanding history book at Indianapolis today, claiming his 69th premier-class win and becoming the most successful rider in premier-class history in the process. His hat trick of pole position, fastest lap and race victory made for a perfect first Indianapolis Grand Prix for the Italian and a third place for Jorge Lorenzo rounded off an exceptional weekend for the Fiat Yamaha Team.

More bad weather in the early afternoon led to the 250cc race being abandoned and the early part of the MotoGP race was run on a very wet track. Rossi dropped to fourth at the start and then surrendered another place to Lorenzo on the next lap, but he soon found his rhythm and made his way back past Casey Stoner, Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso into second behind Nicky Hayden by lap six. Passing Hayden was no mean feat and it took the seven-time world champion another eight laps to finally get by the American, at which point he quickly began to pull away. Hurricane Ike was not finished with Indianapolis however and on lap 16 of 28 it started to rain heavily once again, accompanied by strong gusts of wind which became very dangerous. The race was eventually red-flagged after 20 laps and, after a few minutes confusion as to whether there would be a restart, Rossi was confirmed as the first ever MotoGP winner at the Brickyard.

Rossi’s 69th win takes him ahead of his fellow countryman Giacomo Agostini to the top of the all-time premier class winners list, a record which has stood for more than 30 years. Agostini claimed the 1975 500cc title with Yamaha and won six of his 68 victories with the Japanese factory.

Rossi is now 87 points clear of Stoner, who finished fourth today, which means he is able to win the championship at the next round in Motegi by finishing fourth or above.

Valentino Rossi – Position: 1Time: 37′20.095
“This is fantastic because it’s been a long time since I won in the rain and even longer since I won four in a row! To win the first race here at Indianapolis is a great emotion and to beat Agostini’s record is also incredible, now I hope my record will stand for 30 years like his! It was an amazing race and, once I was able to pass Stoner, I knew I had the chance to win so I pushed very hard. I had a great race with Nicky; he was really hard to pass so congratulations to him. When the wind and rain came it became very hard, I think I could have kept going for another eight laps okay but there were things flying through the air – beer cans, plastic glasses – so really I think it was the right decision to stop the race! Sincerely I don’t think I’ve ever ridden in conditions like these and I was lucky because I was far in front and therefore didn’t have to take any big risks. It’s been a perfect weekend for us despite the weather because we made the pole position, the fastest lap and we won, so I want to congratulate my team once again for a fantastic job, today and all year. Also thanks to Bridgestone because my tires were very good today. I’ve really enjoyed racing here in Indy and I am looking forward to coming back next year. Now we have a big advantage and it would be great to win the championship in Motegi, but it’s not over yet so we will keep our concentration and keep working! Finally I want to dedicate this victory to my Grandfather Dario, who sadly died today aged 82.”

Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“We’re very happy that we were able to race at this historic track, despite the terrible weather! This is very important for the championship and now we have the chance to try to win in Motegi in two week’s time. Valentino was fantastic today and he showed once again how strong he is this season; he has won seven times in many different conditions so we’re in good shape. Well done to the team for their hard work and congratulations to Jorge and his crew as well, Yamaha is very strong!”

First ever wet podium for Lorenzo in Indianapolis downpour

Jorge Lorenzo made the podium in a wet race for the very first time in his entire career today, claiming third place at the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix at the famous ‘Brickyard’. The 21-year-old Spaniard has now finished on the podium on each of the five occasions he has qualified on the front row in his rookie season and he was joined once again by his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi, who took his seventh victory of the season with a masterful display of wet-weather riding.

Lorenzo has always been uncomfortable riding in the wet but he got a good start and was quickly able to settle into his rhythm, passing Rossi, Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner in the first three laps. Rossi passed him back soon after but the Spaniard kept pushing and he soon got past Andrea Dovizioso to claim third place. He then rode most of the race out on his own until heavy rain and high winds began to batter the field with 12 laps remaining and he gradually began to close the gap to Nicky Hayden, who was in second. It looked like he might pass the American before the end but the race was eventually red-flagged with eight laps remaining, after part of the safety fence blew down and conditions became too dangerous.

A second podium in a row for the leading rookie consolidates fourth place in the championship for him, 37 points adrift of Dani Pedrosa with four races remaining. Rossi, who surpassed Agostini’s 30-year record of 68 premier class wins today, is now 87 points clear of Casey Stoner and can win the championship in Motegi by finishing fourth or better.

Jorge Lorenzo – Position: 3Time: +7.858
“This is the first wet podium in my career, including the European, Spanish and even Mallorcan Championships! To be honest, I really didn’t want to leave my motorhome before the race because I was so warm and comfortable and I really don’t like to race in the rain, but today I think things have changed! I got a good start, which surprised me, and then I was able to pass Dani and then Valentino, which surprised me even more! I am so happy to finally discover that I can be fast in the rain as well. After Valentino passed me back I tried to follow him but he was a bit too fast so I concentrated on keeping my pace consistent, then the rain and especially the wind came and it was quite crazy! I was still fast though I closed the gap to Nicky, who I think had some problems by then, and maybe I could have passed him with some more laps but it was very dangerous and so better to stop the race. We are still not perfect but our bike and Michelin tires were very good today so I want to thank Yamaha and Michelin again, and my team for their hard work. Well done to Valentino and I hope we can continue like this for the last four races.”

Daniele Romagnoli – Team Manager
“This is a great result; a first podium in the wet for Jorge and at such a famous track. He rode very well today in difficult conditions, not only the rain but with high winds as well. He also had a very good pace at the end of the race when the conditions were at their worst so he did a great job, as did the team for finding the right set-up and Michelin for giving us the right tires. It’s great to be on the first MotoGP podium at Indianapolis and great for Yamaha to have two riders on the podium for the second race in a row. Congratulations once again to Jorge for a fantastic ride, well done to the team and of course well done to the other side of the garage and to Valentino for another great win.”

Difficult day for Tech 3 Yamaha in stormy Indianapolis

The Tech 3 Yamaha team had a difficult day in atrocious conditions during a weather-hit inaugural Indianapolis MotoGP race today.

Texan Colin Edwards battled driving rain and fierce and unpredictable winds to claim 15th place, while British team-mate James Toseland couldn’t convert a promising early part of the 28-lap race into a point-scoring finish.

Edwards recovered several positions as his confidence grew in the tricky conditions to keep his place in the top seven in the world championship standings.

Toseland had a strong start and found himself eighth for the opening laps, fighting hard to remain in contention with the group battling for fifth place. But as rain abated and parts of the new circuit started to dry, he was unable to sustain his impressive early speed with the changing conditions not suited to the set-up of his Yamaha YZR-M1 machine.

He finished 18th in the shortened race, which was halted with eight laps remaining with conditions rapidly deteriorating from lap 15 onwards. A planned eight-lap restart was abandoned because of the high winds.

Colin Edwards – Position: 15Time: +1′00.613
“We spent too much time trying to make a new setting work, and because we’d had so much time on it we went for it in the race. But I couldn’t get the bike to turn. My tires felt great and I didn’t have a problem with them at all, but I couldn’t carry any corner speed. I’d get into the corner and I kept running wide. The only way to fix that is to go slower so you can hold the line and it wasn’t really fun out there. I thought I’d got a good start and I got behind a couple of guys but everybody seemed to check up. They were right in front of me and the next thing I know, six guys are flying around the inside and outside of me. I was almost last by the second corner and I just put my head down to try and make some progress but I couldn’t do anything. It is disappointing because I’m not out there not trying and running around in fifteenth. I’m out there trying my absolute hardest. The conditions were unbelievable. There was all kinds of debris at the end and you didn’t know if it was gong to hit you because the wind was so unpredictable. It was a smart decision to stop it and maybe it could have come a lap or two earlier.”

James Toseland – Position: 18Time: +1′07.968
“I didn’t get off the line very well but I was a bit aggressive into the first turn and went round the outside and passed a few people. I felt pretty good but when it wasn’t raining and the track started to dry out, my lap times just stayed the same. And as it dried out everybody else got quicker and I couldn’t go any faster. It was spinning and obviously I was a bit too soft with the rear setting. I had the same tire as Andrea Dovizioso, so it was obviously the setting. I know I was running a softer setting than Colin and Jorge. When it was quite wet at the start it was obviously pretty good, but as it dried out it was just spinning. When it rained again I found a bit of pace again and could so similar times to the people in front, but by that time I’d lost a lot of places. At the end the wind was unbelievable. And the problem was it wasn’t always in the same direction. It was totally unpredictable and it was gusting to the point where you had to anticipate something happening. They ran it for as long as they could but it was getting a bit hairy out there. It is a disappointing result but we’ll move onto Japan for the next race, where I am obviously hoping to give Yamaha a positive result.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager
“I am very disappointed with the race. We saw that a rider with our package has done really, really well. James started quite well but he started to lose a lot of ground while, Colin was again very cautious in the first laps like in Misano. When we remember what we were doing in the first part of the season and we see what we are doing now, I am not happy. We have to find some solutions because we shouldn’t be finishing where we are. “Looking at the race it was run in incredibly difficult conditions. There will be some debate about whether the race should have been restarted but with safety the prime concern, I think it was the right decision because the wind was playing a big part. It is a shame that the 250 race wasn’t run because the fans came to see all the races. But I’d like to thank everyone associated with the Indianapolis circuit. All the people who have worked with us have been trying tremendously hard to make this a fantastic weekend. Unfortunately the weather has played a big part and nobody deserved this. Finally, congratulations to Valentino for breaking the all-time winning record in MotoGP. It is an incredible achievement and great to see him do it riding for Yamaha.”

Circuit Length: 4186
Temp: 21
Weather: Wet

2008 MotoGP Indianapolis – Indianapolis 15/09/2008

Race 1 – 20 Laps

Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time

1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 37′20.095
2 Nicky Hayden Honda USA 0′5.972
3 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 0′7.858
4 Casey Stoner Ducati AUS 0′28.162
5 Andrea Dovizioso Honda ITA 0′28.824
6 Ben Spies Suzuki USA 0′29.645
7 Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 0′36.223
8 Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 0′37.258
9 Chris Vermeulen Suzuki AUS 0′38.442
10 Alex De Angelis Honda SMR 0′42.437
11 Anthony West Kawasaki AUS 0′47.179
12 Toni Elias Ducati ESP 0′55.962
13 Randy De Puniet Honda FRA 0′57.366
14 John Hopkins Kawasaki USA 0′58.353
15 Colin Edwards Yamaha USA 1′0.613
18 James Toseland Yamaha GBR 1′7.968

Best Lap
Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 1′49.668

Rider Standings 14/09/2008

Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points

1. Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 287
2. Casey Stoner Ducati AUS 200
3. Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 193
4. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 156
5. Andrea Dovizioso Honda ITA 129
6. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki AUS 117
7. Colin Edwards Yamaha USA 109
8. Nicky Hayden Honda USA 104
9. Shinya Nakano Honda JPN 87
10. Loris Capirossi Suzuki ITA 86
11. Toni Elias Ducati ESP 86
12. James Toseland Yamaha GBR 85
13. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 56
14. Alex De Angelis Honda SMR 55
15. Marco Melandri Ducati ITA 48

Team Standings 14/09/2008

Pos. Team Points

1. FIAT Yamaha Team 443
2. Repsol Honda Team 297
3. Ducati Marlboro Team 248
4. Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 205
5. Tech3 Yamaha 194
6. Honda Gresini 142
7. Team Alice 142
8. JIR Scot Team 129
9. Kawasaki Racing Team 82
10. Honda LCR 43

Manufacturer Standings 14/09/2008

Pos. Manufacturer Points

1. Yamaha 316
2. Honda 243
3. Ducati 241
4. Suzuki 149
5. Kawasaki 71

Photographer: Ron McQueeney