VALENTINO ROSSI/Fiat Yamaha Team fell during the MotoGP Warm-Up, his third fall of the weekend.

The graphics on the 2011 MotoGP Ducati for NICKY HAYDEN will change, especially in the rear, due to changing sponsorship. More than that, Ducati will not reveal.

Pole Sitter GARRETT GERLOFF of Trussville Ala won the MD250H race Sunday morning. The race was marred by a crash on the warm-up lap. Rider PETER LENZ of Vancouver WA suffered “traumatic injuries and was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he later succumbed. He was 13. His family said “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, but know that Peter is racing even faster in the sky.” The young rider had been mentored by MotoGP rider, COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3, and had run Edward’s number – No.45 – on his Moriwaki motorcycle.

NICOLAS TEROL/Bancaja Aspar Team Aprilia won the 125 cc race, after starting second. It was the second consecutive victory for the Spaniard and his second at IMS. Pole Sitter MARC MARQUEZ/Red Bull jAo Motorsport Derbi finished second; however, the Spaniard is leading the standings, four points ahead of Terol. There were no Americans in the race, although KRISTIN LEE TURNER was entered as the Wildcard Rider in Veloce Racing Aprilia. Turner was last in the first practice, of 27 riders, and didn’t participate any further during the weekend.

TONY ELIAS/Gresini Racing Moto2 Moriwaki won the Moto2 race, which was stopped by a Red Flag on the first lap when eight riders crashed. and then shortened to 17 laps. No one was hurt and the race was restarted. Pole sitter SIMON finished second. Wild Card rider, ROGER LEE HAYDEN started twenty-eighth and finished seventeenth in a field of 26, after being one of the unlucky participants in the aforementioned crash.

Kevin Schwanz. Photo by Lynne Huntting

Brother NICKY HAYDEN was the Honorary Grand Marshal at the AMA dirt bike race Saturday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. He also got to run four laps on LARRY PEGRAM’s Ducati dirt bike. His Ducati MotoGP team turned out to watch and support him. A team member told me that it was so sweet to see him ride. The race was the site of the official announcement that Hayden had renewed his Ducati contract for two years. Hayden said “It brought back some good memories, and I got to see my old friends and fans. Obviously to make the announcement (about contract) was the highlight. But the laps weren’t bad either.”

Sunday’s Seen Scene: Some of the ‘celebrities’ seen Sunday included NASCAR driver, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA tightly fit into a set of red leathers to take a ride around the track with RANDY MAMOLA of San Jose CA, considered by some to be the best motorcycle rider never to have won a world championship.

IZOD IndyCar drivers TAKUMA SATO and E.J. VISO, who were in the area after last night’s race at Chicagoland Speedway. Both IRL drivers were there to support friends and fellow countrymen.

MICK DOOHAN, Aussie 500cc World Champion 1994-1998, said “It’s good to have an event here for those who can’t get out to California to see what happens in MotoGP.” Doohan was an early proponent of MotoGP coming to Indy, “so for me it’s good to see that it’s finally arrived.”

Schwantz weighed in on the track surface issue. “The good riders excel whether the surface is slick or bumpy or smooth – still find a way to be the best that they can be and put their motorcycle somewhere near the front.”

Attendance figures for the 2011 Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix:
FRIDAY – 25,260; SATURDAY – 48,130; SUNDAY – 62,794; TOTAL – 136,184

The 2009 attendance was 75,130 on Sunday and 146,680 total; 2008 saw 91,064 for the inaugural MotoGP on Sunday which suffered through Hurricane Ike, shortening the MotoGP race and canceling the Moto2 race. Total crowd count for the debut weekend was 174,052.

Jorge Lorenzo. Photo by Lynne Huntting

Lorenzo said “The track was so slidey and also the bumps were difficult to use it. So I almost crash in some corners, so I prefer to finish third and not to take so many risks. The track was so slippery and it was very difficult to use the tyres as you wanted to.” He ran hard fronts – as did every MotoGP rider, and was one of 13 riders who chose the hard rear tyres.

Race winner Pedrosa, who started fifth, said “It was very, very warm out there. You know, you didn’t cool down in the 45 minutes you’re out there. So it’s hard. By the end it was hard to stay focused because it was very tiring and my – I had tube for the water but I don’t know why it was not working. So many crashes because of the bumps and the track temperature. It was very important to be focused in every corner and make no mistake with the bumps, especially at the end when the tires were more damaged, when you go over the bumps, the bike is shaking a little bit more and it was more difficult to control.” Pedrosa ran hard fronts and was one of only four MotoGP riders who ran Extremely Hards on the rear.

Ben Spies. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Spies’ words: “We came in and did better than I thought we were going to do. We had a good setup, too; it just wasn’t fast enough. And I tried as hard as I could and didn’t make too many mistakes. Saw that we had a gap to third and, you know, just tried to manage it and ride as hard as I could. It was really tricky, and I saw a lot of crash marks out there and I knew some people were hitting the ground, and it was quite easy to make a mistake. But in the end we had to ride 100 percent the whole time with only a three-second gap.

Uplifting Ben Spies. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

“To be doing what we’re doing, not looking at the top American, anything like that, or top satellite bike, just to be the first year and jumping over some of the hurdles we’ve had, I didn’t think it would be going this well. So two podiums, you know. If you had told me we would have had one at the end of the first season, I would have been happy with that and took my money.” He ran hard tyres both front and rear.

Spies received a hugh ovation from the home town crowd for his performance

The other two Americans, NICKY HAYDEN/Ducati Team and COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3 are seventh and eleventh, respectfully.

Hayden lost his left knee slider on a drain cover on one of the kerbs, during Lap Three. With ten left hand turns on the 2.262-mile/3.460 km road course. he had to take it really steady from that point on. Hayden wore a huge hole in his leathers.

Edwards admitted to making poor tyre choices, including the extremely hard tyre for the rear, and then changing to a soft at an unscheduled pit stop. “The tyre choice cost me today, but congratulations to Ben.” Edwards retired on lap 17 with no reason given.

Yamaha leads the Constructor Championship, with 260 points, 40 ahead of Honda. The Fiat Yamaha Team is on top of the Team standings, with 366 points – 55 points ahead of Repsol Honda Team.

VALENTINO ROSSI/Fiat Yamaha Team finished fourth in the race and fifth in the standings. He said ” I did did some good laps and I wasn’t too far from the other Yamahas, but unfortunately I paid a lot for my lack of fitness in this heat, and in the end I had to stop pushing because I didn’t have any strength left in my body. I’m happy though, and if you consider I had three small crashes in the weekend, fourth isn’t so bad.”

CASEY STONER/Ducati said about his crash “It was a nothing crash. I am so disappointed. I was being careful over the first few laps because in that heat the track was very greasy.”

MARCO MELANDRI/San Carlo Honda Gresini crashed out on Lap Three. “I wanted to attack Valentino, but lost the front without any warning on the way into the corner.”

MIKA KALLIO/Pramac Racing Team crashed out on Lap 19. “I was fighting with Simoncelli and Bautista (ALVARO BAUTISTA/Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) for seventh position, but in a curve due to a hole in the asphalt I have instantly lost the front tyre and found myself with my face on the asphalt.”

The next round is in Misano next weekend – Labor Day weekend in the USA.

Dani Pedrosa. Photo by Lynne Huntting

At one point the Italian rider’s gap ahead of the American was more than six seconds, but the gap narrowed in the last few laps. The Margin of Victory was 3.575 seconds. Second place was the best MotoGP finish for the Yankee Rookie privateer, who will become the Yamaha factory rider next season.

Current points leader, JORGE LORENZO/Fiat Yamaha Team finished third, followed by his Italian teammate, VALENTINO ROSSI – who managed not to fall in the race, and ANDREA DOVIZIOSO/Repsol Honda Team.

Pedrosa said “The conditions were very hard. There was a lot of heat, and it became slippery. But I kept my rhythm the whole race. I’m exhausted.”

Ben Spies. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Lorenzo said “With the conditions out there on the track, to finish third was a good result. I’m not too happy but i’m satisfied with what I did.”

American NICKY HAYDEN/Ducati Team started third, but started falling back almost immediately, and by Lap Six was in sixth place, where he remained and finished.

The third American rider, COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3, didn’t have a good day. He started ninth but started dropping to twelfth by Lap Six, and fifteenth by Lap Nine. He pitted on Lap 11, came back on course, and then pitted again for good on Lap 17. He retired with mechanical problems.

Other retired riders included MARCO MELANDRI/San Carlo Honda Gresini, CASEY STONER/Ducati Team, and MIKA KALLIO/Pramac Racing Team, all who crashed out with slides. All were unhappy, but none were injured.

The ground temperature was 95 degrees F/35C, track temperature was 133F/56C, and the humidity dropped to 23 percent.

All 17 riders were on course. JORGE LORENZO/Fiat Yamaha Team was on top at the checkered flag with 1’40.482. However the lead changed almost lap by lap. Among those who led one time or another – sometimes more than once for most – included VALENTINO ROSSI/Fiat Yamaha Team; ALEIX ESPARGARO/Pramac Racing Team, CASEY STONER/Ducati Team, and DANI PEDROSA/Repsol Honda Team.

Pole sitter BEN SPIES/Monster Yamaha Tech 3 finished third, behind Pedrosa. Fourth and fifth were Stoner and ANDREA DOVIZIOSO/Repsol Honda Team. Newly renewed Ducati Team rider, NICKY HAYDEN, ran as high as third before finishing seventh. The other American on the card was COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3, who was twelfth.

Several of the riders have been outspoken about the bumpy circuit, especially CASEY STONER/Ducati Team. One could wonder how Stoner’s whinging will go over with his new Honda team. Some think the Brickyard track could be bumpier than last year and are concerned over the cracks making it through the cold winter.

When watching the bikes in slow motion, one can see the suspension working up and down on the bumps. Rossi has fallen three times this weekend including once in the Sunday morning warm-up. However, the Fiat Yamaha team spokesperson said that riders fall, Rossi is having a bad weekend, his falls aren’t related to the bumps, and his (healing broken) leg is OK.

KEVIN FORBES, IMS Director of Engineering and Construction at IMS, said Saturday night that the 2010 MotoGP track is no different than last year. Nothing has been changed and the course is the same length as before. And, the course is the same for everyone. The MotoGP riders run a different course than do the Indy Racing League Indycars at the Indianapolis 500 or the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars at the Brickyard 400. If the motorcycle track was repaved the riders could then complain how slippery it was.

While DORNA has no comment on the one year extension for IMS, it can be said that DORNA is keen to return to the iconic race track where everything is so nice – “It’s fantastic.” The teams and riders all like the circuit.

There are already two current MotoGP venues in the United States – Indy and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey CA on the West Coast. Although sanctioning bodies are always looking around, there is no indication that MotoGP would be interested in the newly proposed USGPF1 circuit in Austin Texas – perhaps the first ever purpose-built F1 facility in the US. KEVIN SCHWANTZ, 1993 World Champion of 500cc class, which is now MotoGP, lives in Austin, 15 minutes from the proposed track. He is serving in an advisory role to the USGPF1 organization, as a motorcycle consultant.

Kevin Schwantz. Photo by Lynne Huntting

Tilke has been involved with designing and/or developing 20 courses, including two for Moto GP in Alcaniz, Spain, and Moscow, Russia.

Schwantz acknowledges that BERNIE ECCLESTONE, who has reportedly signed a contract with TAVO HELLMUND of Full Throttle Productions, is not always keen on motorcycles. There is one obvious problem which would separate motorcycles from Formula One cars – runoff area. Many F1 circuits utilize concrete or solid surfaces, while motorcycles prefer gravel. Bikers think of gravel as a way to slow down the rider and/or motorcycle when falling, crashing or sliding off track. On a more solid surface, the rider could slide, maybe into a barrier. Motorcycle tracks utilize armco fronted with air fences in the dangerous areas. There are some motorcycle circuits now which are using concrete and gravel for runoff areas.

Schwantz wants motorcycles to be considered when building this world-class motorsports complex. The Texan, who currently runs his motorcycle school at Barber Park and other circuits, would like to run a motorcycle school there, and include motorcycle safety. While he doesn’t envision different course configurations, there could be a North End and a South End.

The Austin circuit is currently planned to start moving dirt the end of this year; and even Tilke admits it will be a long, hard process to meet the deadline of a F1 race at the end of the 2012 season. Schwantz, who attends some of the planning meetings, said it could take 1500 workers working 24/7.

Stay tuned. It’s an ambitious undertaking with a 26-27 month deadline. Some say it will be believed when the first race is held.

Well, that minute came Saturday evening long after most media outlets had left the building. But no worry. Here are a couple of quotable comments.

“Next year I’ll be with some guy named Rossi who knows a little something about bikes! We’re going to have a strong squad – I won’t predict results but I have no doubt this team will have some real passion, real worth ethic and a lot of fun. It is the start of a new era at Ducati and it is an honor for me to be a part of it. I’m very proud to be signing with Ducati again. Last year I felt like I rode forDucati, but now I really feel as if I am a Ducati rider. I really hope to pay them (team, sponsors and Ducati fans) back with the results they deserve.”

Ducati Corse Director, FILLIP PRIZES said “We are really pleased that Nicky will be staying with us for the next two years. Nicky is a rider who never gives up, his whole racing history shows it. As a person, his tenacity is an example for all of us because he shows that nothing is impossible if you truly believe. Nicky is also a special rider because of his attention to every detail for him having Valentino as a team-mate means a huge contribution towards the development of an even more competitive motorcycle. I think it it is those characteristics that have won the hearts of all the Ducatisti and that is the reason why a Ducati is the bike for him right now.”

Hayden will start third in Sunday’s Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Post-Qualifying Photo Op. L-R Jorge Lorenzo (P2), Pole Sitter Ben Spies, and Nicky Hayden (P3)

Spies said “To be pole, my first in front of an American crowd and here at Indy with all of its history… I feel a bit more comfortable for the rest of the year. We put it on the line on that last bit and we did it. As Nicky said, two Americans on the front row – that’s good. I’ll give it all I got. And I’ll enjoy the day right now.”

Also on the front row will be points leader JORGE LORENZO/Fiat Yamaha Team and local boy from nearby Kentucky, NICKY HAYDEN/Ducati Team.

Lorenzo said “I drive the maximum to the position, didn’t make it, but that’s OK”

Hayden said “It’s an important race. The soft tires were a big jump, almost like qualifying tires. We have two Americans on the front row, and hopefully that will bring a big crowd. Tomorrow I’m going to go for it!”

The second row will have Repsol Team Honda teammates ANDREA DOVIZIOSO and DANI PEDROSA, and CASEY STONER/Ducati Team.

It was a rather boring session for the pole during the first 45 minutes of the hour-long session. Much of the time the same top two riders (Lorenzo and Pedrosa) dominated the session before the top spot became more competitive. Then in quicker succession and down to the wire, it was Pedrosa’s teammate, ANDREA DOVIZIOSO, Spies, Hayden, Lorenzo, Spies, Lorenzo and finally Spies.

The weather was pegged at 91 degrees F/33C with 15percent humidity ambient, and 129F/54C on the track. That’s hot to a San Francisco gal, but pleasantly warm for a local. Sunday’s weather is predicted to be hotter and stickier from higher humidity.

VALENTINO ROSSI/Fiat Yamaha Team took a nasty tumble five minutes from the end of the session, flinging himself into the grass. It was a dejected and angry Rossi who walked back. He had been seventh overall at the time, which he retained. He kept his helmet on all the way to the garage and inside, while debriefing with team.

Rookie MARCO SIMONCELLI/San Carlo Honda Gresini fell but walked away from his spill. He’ll start eighth, with the third Yankee rider, COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3 in ninth place.

MotoGP protocol has the front row riders holding their Press Conference two hours after qualifying, so stay tuned for their quotable quotes.

Hayden will be the Honorary Grand Marshal Saturday night at the famed Indy Mile dirt motorcycle race held annually at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It could take Hayden longer to say the title of the event than drive across town to be there. It is the Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro K&N Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com. The Kentucky Kid, who started racing dirt bikes, will meet and greet dirt-track fans. He literally is returning to the scene of the grime, where he won his first Rookie title in dirt tracks.

Stoner’s lap of 1’40.884 is also the fastest overall of the weekend, as were the times of every other rider – faster Saturday morning than Friday afternoon.

The Aussie, past MotoGP Champion, was a mere 0.0058 seconds ahead of DANI PEDROSA/Repsol Honda Team, who had led earlier in the am session. Pedrosa holds the 2009 qualifying track record of 1’39.730/94.563 mph/152.186 kph. So far this weekend, no rider has broken into the 39′s.

Stoner fell early Saturday morning in the MotoGP practice. He was limping, but did get back on track. His motorcycle was hurt and Stoner was angry. He had gone out first on his primary bike and then his backup. Both motorcycles ran with the new Ohlin front forks. The team had two sets, ostensibly one for each of its riders to run on his primary motorcycle. However, teammate NICKY HAYDEN “doesn’t like them” and won’t be using them this week.

Hayden had said Thursday that the team wouldn’t be using the forks for Friday practice. That obviously changed when Stoner did use one set. Hayden had tested the forks a bit in Brno and had this to say Thursday: “I really didn’t have, you know, anything but — didn’t like better than what I had. I tried, really only changed one or two things on them, and we’ve talked this week and it seemed after they got back and checked the data more, maybe we started off with the wrong setting on some of the static compression or whatever was maybe not the ideal place to start. So, you know, not confuse things tomorrow but maybe try them again here, Misano or something. We brought them and we’ve still got them around. So something we might look at but not tomorrow.”

Stoner had been one of several Friday riders critical of the bumpy track. Others included Pedrosa; past World Champion seven times over, VALENTINO ROSSI/Fiat Yamaha Team and his Team Manager.

Rossi also did a quick slide mid-session in practice, but recovered and was back on course. He finished ninth.

Third through eighth were ANDREA DOVIZIOSO/Repsol Honda Team; JORGE LORENZO/Fiat Yamaha Team-who led for part of the session; Hayden; top Rookie BEN SPIES/Monster Yamaha Tech 3; Rookie MARCO SIMONCELLI/San Carlo Honda Gresini; and COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3.

A third rider, Rookie HECTOR BARBERA/Paginas Amaryllis Aspar fell in Turn 11 near the end of the session, but he’s OK as is his motorcycle. He finished eleventh.

The wear was warm and sunny – 70+ degrees F/21C with blue, cloudless skies.

MotoGP Qualifying starts at 1:55 pm local/EST.

Stoner commented “We tried the new front fork today that we tested in Brno and it felt good, although this is not the kind of circuit where you can really push so it’s hard to say if I improved the package.” Originally, the new Olin forks weren’t going to be tried on Friday, according to teammate, NICKY HAYDEN.

Hayden, local fave, was third fastest of the 17 riders, despite a fall. He said he’d just put on his soft tire and he was feeling better and “maybe got a little too excited, because that’s when I made a mistake. I was off line a little but I didn’t force it. I just let it go because it’s only the first practice, but ‘bam’! I was down immediately. At least I didn’t do any more damage to the wrist – all I got was a friction burn on my arm from digging it in trying to save the wrist. It’s nothing major though and after finding a good base setting today I’m looking forward to possibly trying the new forks tomorrow.”

Hayden hurt his right wrist after a fall in Brno, but after consulting with Costa for X-rays and scans, and again with his home doctor, it’s been determined that no surgery will needed. Hayden plans on another X-ray in a week or so to see if it’s still healing.

The 2006 MotoGP champion is one of three World Champions in the race. The other is seven-time MotoGP champion, VALENTINO ROSSI/Fiat Yamaha. who finished fifth behind DANI PEDROSA/Repsol Honda Team – who holds the qualifying track record of 1’39.730/94 mph/152.kph set last year.

Rossi is also recovering from a hard fall earlier in the year, and is still hurting, although he said “My physical condition is much better here. I so still have some pain, but it’s not so bad so I am not worried.”

The Texan Twosome, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammates, COLIN EDWARDS and BEN SPIES, finished sixth and eleventh. respectfully.

The top Rookie, of six in the field, was ALEIX ESPARGARO/Pramac Racing Team in ninth place.

The weather was hot – 82 degrees F/28C, while the track was 124F/51C. Skies were blue and cloudless. Bridgestone Tires said it was the hottest it’s ever been for MotoGP at Indy, which made the track slippery. Also the bumpy nature of the circuit caused some issues, which was noted by some of the riders.

The field is comprised of five riders each from Italy and Spain, three from America, and one each from Australia, Finland, France and Japan.

Fans mingled throughout the huge property, sitting on the grassy knolls, checking out all the merchandise and vendors, and patiently sought autographs or sightings outside the very secure garages. The MotoGP garages seemed to me to be even more secure with less visibility than even Formula One garages. With the motorcycles being so small and able to be hidden inside the garage, and no bits and pieces outside, there was nothing at all to be seen unless a door opened.

The Brickyard earlier Friday announced that there was a one year extension of the contract with MotoGP commercial rights holders DORNA Sports. DORNA had “No comment” when asked why the contract was for just one year rather than the usual three. IMS Spokesman couldn’t officially comment on the one year extension, but “It is not because IMS is not committed to MotoGP. DORNA has been a great partner, and IMS wants to make it a long term relationship with MotoGP.

This year was the third and final year of the current contract for the Brickyard and MotoGP. Talks were ongoing, and earlier today a track spokesman said “We are close to making an announcement.”

The word imminent comes to mind. The Speedway announced Friday afternoon that MotoGP will return in 2011, running 26-28 August 2011.

DORNA Sports CEO CARMELO EXPELETA said the extension will be for a further year, which will “allow all parties involved to continue providing a superb weekend of racing at Indianapolis next season. It permits all possibilities to be explored at the end of 2011 when the current contractual agreement with the MSMA and IRTA is review, as MotoGP continues to develop into a new era in the sport in 2012.”

The Speedway has three races a year, and the other two already have confirmed dates for next year. The Indianapolis 500 will be 29 May 2011, and the NASCAR Brickyard 400 is slated for 31 July 2010.

One open secret spilled Saturday morning in Indianapolis. BEN SPIES of Texas will be the new Fiat Yamaha teammate next year for current MotoGP points leader JORGE LORENZO of Spain. The MotoGP top Rookie/top Satellite (independent) rider will move from the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, presently seventh in the standings of 21 riders. Spies, 26, won the 2009 World Superbike Championship. With ten MotoGP races so far, four on tracks he’s never ridden, Spies has a second as highest start two weeks ago in Brno, and a third highest finish in Great Britain.

Although Monster Yamaha Tech 3 says there is nothing to announce regarding a replacement for Spies, word is out that several drivers are under consideration, including CAL CRUTCHLOW of England, currently racing for Yamaha in World Superbikes.

The full moon is waning. The other Texan rider on Monster Yamaha Tech 3, COLIN EDWARDS, is still awaiting his fate in the 2011 MotoGP season.

With racing legend, VALENTINO ROSSI of Italy, confirmed for Ducati Team next season, the future of current Ducati rider NICKY HAYDEN of Kentucky USA is a topic. Stoner has already confirmed he’s moving from Ducati to Repsol Honda Team. Hayden is still playing coy, but I’ve been told it is 100 percent sure that Hayden will remain with Ducati as Rossi’s teammate.

With Stoner and current Repsol rider DANI PEDROSA of Spain set for 2011, what is unclear is the status of current Repsol rider, ANDREA DOVIZIOSO of Italy. There are no MotoGP restrictions on running three riders…will Dovizioso remain or move elsewhere? Stay tuned.

So far, no word from the Rizla Suzuki factory team. This year’s riders are ALVARO BAUTISTA of Spain, and LORIS CAPIROSSI of Italy.

Ducati is officially pulling out of World SuperBike. Costs and development of MotoGP could be a factor?

Three Americans are among the 17 international MotoGP riders: COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3, NICKY HAYDEN/Fiat Yamaha Team, and BEN SPIES/Monster Yamaha Team.

They were part of a DORNA Media Conference Thursday, prior to the weekend’s events. The three American MotoGP riders were asked about their 2011 plans.

BEN SPIES/Monster Yamaha Tech 3 said “I don’t think a whole lot of people will be shocked. We have a big announcement coming this weekend.” Garage gossip has him going to the Fiat Yamaha (factory) to replace seven-time MotoGP Champion, VALENTINO ROSSI, who recently announced moving from Fiat Yamaha Team to Ducati Team, as factory rider.

Nicky Hayden. Photo by Lynne Huntting

“IF that would happen, to be with Rossi on Ducati, I’d tell people they better get their tickets now for Mugello, because I can just imagine that place with an Italian rider on an Italian bike. Even the test at Valencia if he rides that, there will be as many people trying to watch the test.”

COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3, always irreverent, joked “I’m going fishing, screw this.”

“I would love to stay with Herve. I’d love to stay with Yamaha. That’s my Number One goal. We just need to make it happen. A couple of chips need to fall in the right place and I think it can happen, it’s just a matter of … is it a full
moon yet? I don’t know. Anyways, we just need to see what’s happening.”

Friday’s schedule starts at none with the USGPRU riders. MotoGP has an hour practice 1:55 – 2:55pm local/EST. More Practice and Qualifying are on for Saturday, with the 28-lap Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP race on Sunday.