When MotoGP last visited the USA, at the beginning of July, Dani Pedrosa and the Repsol Honda Team got a valuable victory at the circuit of Laguna Seca. This weekend the two riders will be out to get another victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that is turning out to be really difficult this season. In 125cc the Repsol riders, Marc Márquez and Esteve Rabat, together with Redding and Beaubier who has recovered from the injuries that he got in Brno, will also be battling to get a good result.
Last week’s tests, after the race at Brno where Pedrosa was second, allowed the riders to make some improvements to the Repsol Honda RC212V, and the good sensations that both Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso had means that they will travel to the USA with a lot of optimism. This will be a peculiar race, on an atypical circuit, where last year there was a very heavy storm. Hurricane Ike and its effects obliged the MotoGP & 125cc races to be shortened and to cancel the one in 250cc, so the whole paddock is hoping to enjoy the weekend this year and to experience the motorbike passion that will be seen at one of the most historic circuits in the calendar.
Two riders affected by the unexpected ending last year were Scott Redding and Marc Márquez. The Briton and the Spaniard were fighting for third place when the rain appeared 8 laps from the end, just when they were 4th and 6th respectively.
Márquez has shown that he is more than capable of keeping up with the leading riders this year and Scott Redding, who went to Brno with a damaged ankle, will have another chance to get back in the leading group and fight to repeat the podium finish he got at Donington Park. For Esteve Rabat the date in Indianapolis comes at a complicated moment as he has not been able to finish the last four races, in spite of improving the bike’s sensations in practice and being among the the fastest ten.
As for Cameron Beaubier, who injured his collar-bone in practice at Brno, this race will be something very special. On Thursday Dr. Costa’s medical team, working in the Mobile Clinic, has to approve his participation but the young American, after a few days rest at his family home, is very optimistic about his fitness to ride a bike.
Dani Pedrosa
“I’m really looking forward to riding in America again because the last time we were in the States – at Laguna Seca in July – we won the race. A result like that would be great for me and the team and that’s what we’ll be aiming for, though we know we’ll have to work hard for it because our rivals have proved they are very strong in the last few races. I don’t think the gap they had at the last race in Brno was a true reflection of our pace compared to theirs though, so I expect we’re going to be closer to them at Indy. The circuit itself is largely made up of second and third gear corners so it’s not one of my favourites to ride, but the venue itself it very impressive. I really hope the weather is going to be better than last year because the conditions in the race were pretty terrible and the organizers were forced to stop it early because it was so dangerous. The team is motivated for Indy – we made some progress in the test after Brno, so we’re looking for another strong weekend.”
Andrea Dovizioso
“This is the second time that we race at Indianapolis and I have to say that last year I immediately found a good feeling with this new track. It’s a typical American venue with great facilities and huge grandstands so the experience of riding there is special. I like this racetrack and it will be important for me and the team to have a good result here. I was fourth in the last race at Brno but that was actually a little disappointing because I was so close to the podium again, so I’m look forward to getting back on track and putting that right. It won’t be e asy, especially during the first practice session because it’s a different type of circuit and it’s not so easy to dial into the layout at the beginning. However, I expect us to be closer to the front at this race because the track is quite slow and I think that we will have fewer problems than in Brno where the track amplified our issues. So I’m really looking forward to a good result at Indy.”
Marc Márquez
“This is the second year that we go to the circuit of Indianapolis so it is still new for us but last year I did quite well there. With a bike that was a bit inferior to the others I was able to stay in the leading group and adapt quite well, so we will see if we can do the same. The KTM has improved a lot compared to last year and this circuit suits it because it has slow corners where the most important thing is to to be able to turn well. Rgarding the engine the most important thing is to have a good acceleration more than to have a high top speed because of the vey slow corners that are followed by short straights where you donot need a fast top speed, except on the home straight.”
Esteve Rabat
“I am dying to race in the USA because I have not finished a race for some time now, so that will be our main objective. We have been in the group of the fastest eight riders in the last few races and I think we can finish in one of the top positions. My memory of Indianapolis is that it is a complicated circuit, different from the others that we are used to because it has a section of the Nascar straight and then some very slow corners. It is important to have a good chassis because there are a lot of slow corners and a good acceleration. First gear is also importante because we also use it a lot there.”
Scott Redding
“I feel much better than in the last race of course, but I am still not 100%, I do not have all my strength yet and I still have some pain. I have only been able to work on my upper chest zone in the last few days – I could not run at all – and in the race I had to use my arms a lot as my ankle hurt and so I finished very tired. I remember that I liked Indianapolis a lot, there is a very special atmosphere at the races in the USA as they have another way of experiencing GPs there. The circuit is attractive although it is a bit like British circuits in terms of safety, the escape zones are smaller than usual. Last year went well, except for the weather, we were caught in a hurricane and it seems that this year the weather will not be much better as heay rain is forecast.”
Cameron Beaubier
“I still have a bit of pain but I am much better. I think I will be a lot better by Friday and totally recovered although I still have to get the OK from Dr. Costa on Thursday. After the last few races I stayed in Europe so it was great to be able to have a bit of rest at home. I am a little nervous because it is special for me to race in the USA. All my family will be there, for me though it is like a normal race but at a circuit I have never been to. We will have to work calmly, get to know the circuit bit by bit, and enjoy what will be a special race.”
