MotoGP Indianapolis ***SPOILERS***

[motodog650]

What the heck, lets get this thang rolling !!

MotoGP: American on the podium for the 4th straight year ?
              Can Lorenzo / Spies hang with the HRC boys ?
              Will Rossi / Nick be any better after Brno test ?

Moto2:  Three (North) Americans entered. Jake Gagne & JD Beach along with regular Kenny Noyes.
             And AMA regular Martin Cardenas.
             Can huge turn 2 pile-up be avoided this year ?

125GP: Will Terol bounce back for 2nd Indy win ?
             Will Zarco finally bag his first win ?
             Will Paris be on the grid ?

XR1200: Will Disalvo, McWilliams & Barnes along with other notables gain H-D some respect in the GP  paddock outside of the Indy Mile ?      
                

[DogBoy]

I'm fired up about seeing Cardenas, Beach and Gagne in the Moto2 field.  

[mugwump58]

Yup, you guys beat me to it. Here's the full list anyway No 'mericans on the 125s though, which is kinda sad

[DredheadV2.0]

NOTE. NO 73 JD BEACH IS A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT FOR NO. 24 TOMMASO LORENZETTI

Yowza!  Good job, JD!  

[motodog650]

I was hoping they would. Best looking bikes out there !!

As part of Yamaha's ongoing 50th Anniversay of Grand Prix racing celebrations, Yamaha Factory Racing will again run the special red and white livery at Indianapolis.

Ben Spies
“I’m really hoping to be completely fit for this weekend. I’ve still got some numbness in the arm but it is better than it was at Brno. We’ve been working hard to get it right and we will of course give it 100% as always. I’ve been looking forward to this race all year; it was pretty crazy last year as a rookie to take pole and a second in the race. We’re going to put on a good show for all the home fans and see what we can do.”

Massimo Meregalli
“I’m hoping Ben’s physical condition is better for the weekend; I’m hoping that he will be 100% because it is his home race and expectations are quite high. The team are going to use some new updates that we tested in Brno; these will help both Ben and Jorge challenge for the front. Last year both riders finished on the podium so we are confident for this event.”

[Capirex]

FP1

1. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 43.260s  
2. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda 1m 43.552s
3. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 43.574s  
4. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 43.582s
5. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro 1m 44.236s
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1m 44.362s  
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda 1m 44.551s
8. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar 1m 45.026s
9. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 45.065s  
10. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 1m 45.192s  
11. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 1m 45.249s
12. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 45.368s
13. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing 1m 45.577s
14. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 46.159s
15. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing 1m 46.484s
16. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 46.643s
17. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda 1m 47.507s

Interesting start.  Times seem to be about 3 seconds slower than last year's QP.  I guess they need to get some rubber down on the new tarmac.  It will be interesting to hear what they have to say about it.  
Wish I was there.  

[DredheadV2.0]

Capirossi's sandbagging.

[nater]

FP1 results:

1 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 313.1 1'43.260  
2 27 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda 319.0 1'43.552 0.292 / 0.292
3 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 312.3 1'43.574 0.314 / 0.022
4 58 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 315.9 1'43.582 0.322 / 0.008
5 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati 315.6 1'44.236 0.976 / 0.654
6 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 311.5 1'44.362 1.102 / 0.126
7 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 317.6 1'44.551 1.291 / 0.189
8 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP Ducati 317.4 1'45.026 1.766 / 0.475
9 1 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 312.9 1'45.065 1.805 / 0.039
10 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 314.4 1'45.192 1.932 / 0.127
11 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 313.5 1'45.249 1.989 / 0.057
12 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 311.8 1'45.368 2.108 / 0.119
13 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 311.2 1'45.577 2.317 / 0.209
14 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 312.8 1'46.159 2.899 / 0.582
15 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 310.5 1'46.484 3.224 / 0.325
16 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati 306.1 1'46.643 3.383 / 0.159
17

[DogBoy]

Yup, still FP1.  



Moto 2 FP1 is complete. Like MotoGP, times will drop and tighten up considerably as the track gets some rubber on it.

[McHack]

Re:  Moto2 -  WHOA,  Stefan Bradl is 16th???

[Tyrroneous]

Really hoping Ben can bag a win here...so far, it looks promising.  

[motodog650]

Really hoping Ben can bag a win here...so far, it looks promising.  

Spies said today during the Riders for Health event that his arm is still giving him problems but that he'll still be giving it 100%. Apparently a result of his Silverstone crash. Edwards was hilarious as usual...

[nater]

Yup, still FP1.  

I was a little late on the draw, it seems....

[nater]

With the FP3 results in, Edwards and Spies are still looking good!  Hope Edwards can find a bit more speed in qualifying.  Rossi continues his insufferable year on the unfriendly Duc.  He will have to stick out his leg even farther than usual to drop some time.  Maybe he should try sticking out his arm as well since nothing else seems to be working.

[DogBoy]

MotoGP Grid.

Stoner on fire. Spies looking really good. Rossi had a crash early and didn't get much track time. Edwards puts a good showing for sixth.

[veefer800canuck]

Big Cheese Spies AKA: the Texas Tamale' in P2 for the start!  

Looking for a good race ahead!
 

Ducati is really having a time of it. Looks pretty awful.  

I mean, they make up fully 35% of the grid. If it wasn't for Nicky, then..........  

[crashtech]

Hope it is a great race. Would love to see an American take the win but like stated earlier Stoner is on fire. Hayden made it to the 1.39's this morning but like usual he will probably use his tires up trying to hard in race...Rossi is still hating life in the 1.40's. I thought it was funny after qualifying yesterday he was shaking his head on the cool down ....Ducati has so much work to do

[crashtech]

Big Cheese Spies AKA: the Texas Tamale' in P2 for the start!  

Looking for a good race ahead!
 

Ducati is really having a time of it. Looks pretty awful.  

I mean, they make up fully 35% of the grid. If it wasn't for Nicky, then..........  

I must say off topic your viffer makes me want to get one and paint it like that!!

[DogBoy]

Qualifying broadcast on SPEED was good thanks to Leigh Diffy. He does his research and stays on top of the action, even cutting off Russell when Scott rambles too much.

Still too much camera time in the garage on the bike Rossi was not riding ( ). Still plenty of room for improvement but what a difference one decent announcer can make. Greg White even did a good job asking Stoner a decent question and letting the rider give a complete answer. Add Jason Pridmore in the booth and I would be happy to never hear the phrase "absolutely flying" again.

Actually looking forward to watching the race without cringing.  

[crashtech]

Glad to see Jorgay will NOT get a second championship this year ....Stoner is an inferno!!! I dont think anybody can catch him. OMG Ducati!! Just start over and build a competitive bike . They were dropping like flies !!! Sure hope next year will be better. I dont know how the riders keep there cool about how sorry and uncompetitive it is . Sure is a testimony to Stoners raw talent!!