YANKEE MOTOGP RIDERS TALK ABOUT 2011

The third and final race of the season for Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. It features the FIM MotoGP – the top series in the World for motorcycles. The support races are Moto2, 125cc, and USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 Power by Honda. Moto2 and 125cc are FIM sanctioned also, while the USGPRU is a local series for young North American riders.

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/Ducati team. Hayden was asked what it would be like to be Rossi’s teammate. “I hope that’s the case. If that was to happen… You know, I think it would be great for our series, great for the championship, obviously for the Italians to have Rossi on a Sucati. It would be a great opportunity. We were teammates before. Sure, it would put a lot of pressure on me to do well. He’s got a lot of experience and he’s good on feed back. I see no problem. I think it would be a lot of fun.

“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.