MotoGP/AMA Pro Red Bull U.S. GP: Pre-Race

NEWEST AT TOP

MotoGP

It might have been the sunshine, jet lag or simply the excitement of the weekend’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, but the MotoGP riders in the pre-event press conference were in a jovial mood when facing the national and international media on Thursday afternoon.

Present in the giant media centre that houses those covering the action at Laguna Seca was reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi, flanked by Andrea Dovizioso, Chris Vermeulen and home riders Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden. All were happy to share their thoughts ahead of Friday’s opening practice session.

“I like American jet lag,” said Fiat Yamaha man Rossi, renowned for his aversion to early starts. “In the mornings here I am in much better shape than in Italy, for example!”

Rossi was one of the principle protagonists of last year’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix in what was the turning point of his season. This time out he leads the series upon arrival in Laguna Seca, although he is taking nothing for granted.

“I have a good setting from the 2008 race, but now there is high pressure for me to get a result like last year’s. Colin and Nicky will also be a lot closer, because this time they are both on Bridgestone tyres.”

Repsol Honda rider Dovizioso has ridden just once at the track, and is also making his Bridgestone Stateside debut this weekend. “It will be good to try the tyres out here, as we had a good race in 2008 and it is a very different track to what we are used to in Europe,” stated the Italian.

Looking back to the 2008 race with even fonder memories was Rizla Suzuki’s Vermeulen, whose podium was overshadowed by Rossi’s battle with Casey Stoner. “I think everybody forgot that I was third here… I remember at least!” recalled the Australian. “We’ve always gone well here, and it is such a unique, technical track. Let’s hope that we can be up there again this weekend.”

Twice a winner at Laguna Seca, Hayden remarked, “Just because it is my home country, it doesn’t mean that we are going to perform a miracle this weekend.” The Kentucky native has been picking up form over recent weeks, trying to become more comfortable with the Ducati Desmosedici GP9.

On a day of jokes, Edwards was keen to up the ante. “This week I’ve handed out some guns, and I’ve got some marines ready to take out some tyres and engines. I’m not going to kill anyone…” he smirked, before handing out the highest praise to the man sat to his left.

“You ask what it was like for Valentino to race against the greats?” said the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider to an American journalist asking about the day’s SuperKart race. “You should be asking them what it was like to race against the Greatest Of All Time.”

Thursday afternoon in the MotoGP paddock, and already Rossi had been proclaimed a race winner at Laguna Seca. The Italian will have to wait until Sunday for his real shot at glory, but a SuperKart ‘exhibition’ against three MotoGP Legends gave him an early taste of triumph.

Pitting reigning World Champion Rossi against past titlists Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Kenny Roberts Sr., the run-out began as an exhibition between the Yamaha riders past and present on the American track. However, things inevitably got competitive, with Rossi coming out on top in a one-lap sprint.

Find out who is the greatest of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend over the next three days, beginning with Friday’s free practice session and concluding with the Sunday race, broadcast live on FOX at 2pm Pacific time (5pm Eastern time).

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Ducati North America

CUPERTINO, Calif (July 1, 2009) – As the global racing community descends on California’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Ducati’s AMA star prepares to defend his recent Superbike victory.

This coming weekend marks the seventh round of the AMA Pro Racing American Superbike Championship; held in conjunction with the United States Grand Prix. Ducati Corse’s MotoGP squad has flown over to participate in the World Championship event, enabling Pegram to shine in front of the 1098 R’s Bolognese fabricators.

The past race, held in Elkhart lake Wisconsin, was an epic duel. When the dust settled, Pegram and the Ducati 1098 R beat Suzuki’s Mat Mladin, only the second time anyone has done so this year. The Foremost Ducati squad had had a few weeks off to refresh their 1098 R’s, and Larry is looking forward to a good performance at Ducati North America’s second “home” track.

“The win at Road America has really boosted my own and the team’s confidence. We are hungry to win more races and I hope the streak continues at Laguna Seca,” commented Pegram. “Massimo Capanna and his crew have been busy preparing for weeks now, and I’m ready to race.”

The AMA Superbike race will take place Sunday at 4:15, following Saturday qualifying at 1:00.

For more information on Team Foremost Pegram Racing please visit www.pegramracing.com. To learn more about Ducati’s line of racing inspired motorcycles please visit www.ducatiusa.com.

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AMA Pro Road Racing

MONTEREY, Calif. (July 1, 2009) - Highlighted by back-to-back races for AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited and AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL that will cap three full days of action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, AMA Pro Road Racing will share the world-stage spotlight this weekend with MotoGP at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, July 3 - 5.

A pair of 23-lap/50-mile sprints for AMA Pro Road Racing’s top divisions will follow Sunday’s MotoGP main.  The Daytona SportBike race is scheduled to go off at 3:30 p.m. local time and will be immediately followed by the American Superbike race that will be the finale of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend at 4:15 p.m.  Also on the card is a sprint for the West division riders of the AMA Pro SuperSport presented by Shoei class.  That 18-lap/40-mile race is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.   The AMA Pro Road Racing action from the 2.238-mile Mazda Raceway circuit can be seen in same-day coverage on SPEED on Sunday, July 5 at 9 p.m. PT (late Sunday/early Monday, July 6 at Midnight ET).

American Superbike points leader Mat Mladin (No. 7 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000) remains the rider to beat heading to California and took just his second loss of the season one race ago at Road America.  Mladin has amassed an AMA Pro Road Racing series-leading total of nine wins so far in 2009, including a streak of seven in a row to open the season.  Mladin is also six-for-six in qualifying for the pole and leads the American Superbike class in every possible statistical category.  He has a monstrous 110 point championship lead, 325 - 215, over Yoshimura Suzuki teammate and nearest challenger Tommy Hayden (No. 22 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000).

Hayden will be racing on the same event weekend as his younger brothers Nicky Hayden and Roger Hayden for the first time in 2009, but his focus will likely be firmly set on scoring his first career American Superbike victory.  He has hit the podium in six of the year’s first 11 races and also led the most laps in Race 1 at Auto Club Speedway in March before finishing second to Mladin.

Blake Young (No. 79 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000) is the third Yoshimura Suzuki rider and shook off severe injuries to his left pinkie and ring finger in an accident at Barber Motorsports Park to finish fifth in his first race back at Road America.  His season-best results came in the last two races before his incident and included seconds in Race 1 at Barber, the day before his spill, and the Sunday finale at Road Atlanta in early April.

Yamaha’s American Superbike riders Ben Bostrom (No. 2 Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Yamaha R1) and Josh Hayes (No. 4 Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Yamaha R1) have both factored into the points races after some strong results in the last several races.  Hayes broke both Mladin’s 2009 win streak and Suzuki’s multi-year lock on the American Superbike division with a breakout victory in Race 1 at Infineon Raceway.  The win was part of a six-race run of top-five finishes and Hayes ranks fifth in the championship standings with 164 points heading to Mazda Raceway.  Bostrom is third in the championship rankings after a strong run of four podium finishes in the last six races.  The highlight was a second-place finish in Race 2 at Infineon and Bostrom heads to his native state of California with 187 points.

Splitting the Yamaha duo in the championship is the year’s only other American Superbike race winner.  Larry Pegram (No. 72 Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing Ducati 1098R) out-raced Mladin and the rest of the field one race ago at Road America for his first win in 10 years.  He has finished in the top five in the last four races and also finished on the podium in Race 2 at Auto Club Speedway.  Pegram is fourth in the championship standings with 180 points.

Geoff May (No. 54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000) and his Jordan Motorsports teammate Aaron Yates (No. 23 Brand Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in the American Superbike standings.  May’s best finishes were three third-place showings in the year’s first five races while Yates visited victory lane for the first time this year one race ago at Road America with his own third-place showing.

Young is eighth in points and a pair of competitive privateers round out the top-10 in the American Superbike standings.  David Anthony (No. 25 Aussie Dave Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000) is ninth in points on the strength of eight top-10 finishes in 11 starts, including the last five races.  Taylor Knapp (No. 44 Taylor Knapp Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000) ranks 10th and his season has been anchored by seven finishes of ninth or better.

Neil Hodgson (No. 100 Corona Extra Honda CBR1000RR) has recovered from an early-season motocross training injury and scored a strong sixth-place finish in the Sunday final at Road America.  It was the former World Superbike Champion’s best showing since taking second in the Daytona opener, and he has made just five starts this season.  Jake Holden (No. 59 Holden Racing Honda CBR1000RR) filled in capably for Hodgson and is continuing to race now on under his own team name but flying Corona colors.  Another rider in the Honda camp is Aaron Gobert (No. 96 Team Trifoglio Racing Honda CBR1000RR).

Other riders to keep an eye on this weekend at Mazda Raceway include Chris Ulrich (No. 18 Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R1000), Anthony’s teammate Hawk Mazzotta (No. 121 Aussie Dave Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000) and Scott Jensen (No. 61 Moto Garage Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000).  The weekend also marks the return of California-based rider Reno Karimian (No. 48 Team Reno Suzuki GSX-R1000) who will be making his first start since recovering from right arm and shoulder injuries sustained in the Auto Club event.  Karimian broke four bones in his right shoulder, fractured his upper right arm and completed three months of physical therapy after surgery in preparation for his return.

A total of 37 entries are set for the AMA Pro American Superbike class which is scheduled to run a single race this weekend for just the second time this year.  The season-opening race at Daytona was also a single final format.

Daytona SportBike Back on the Big Stage

As the featured class of the Daytona 200 By Honda, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL competitors have already stepped into the international spotlight once this season.  The Daytona opener marked Bostrom’s only Daytona SportBike start of the year and he promptly went out and scored his first victory in America’s premier motorcycle road race.

Both Bostrom and teammate Hayes will be moonlighting in Daytona SportBike again this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as Team Graves Yamaha has prepared a pair of its YZF-R6 bikes for the American Superbike regulars.  Bostrom (No. 1s Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) and Hayes (No. 4 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) will join Yamaha’s primary Daytona SportBike riders Josh Herrin (No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) and 16-year-old teammate Tommy Aquino (No. 6 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6).  Herrin finished second to Bostrom in Daytona and earned another runner-up showing in Race 2 at Road Atlanta.  Aquino turned in a season-best finish of fourth in the Sunday final at Infineon.

Yamaha’s ramped up assault will no doubt be targeting Daytona SportBike championship leader Martin Cardenas (No. 36 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) who has won six of the last eight races to lead the series.  He has 255 points atop the standings, a full 51 points clear of Jamie Hacking (No. 88 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) and 56 points ahead of third-ranked rider Danny Eslick (No. 9 GEICO Powersports/RMR Buell 1125R).

Cardenas’ impressive run includes four wins in a row, which he did by sweeping both the Infineon and Barber weekends.  His victory in Race 1 at Road Atlanta was the first Daytona SportBike victory of his career and he also won the most recent race in the Sunday final at Road America.

Although still looking for a 2009 win, Hacking may be one of the most consistent riders in AMA Pro Road Racing and has finished out of the top five just four times in 11 races this season. Hacking’s teammate Roger Hayden (No. 95 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) - Tommy and Nicky Hayden’s younger brother - made his first start of the year at Road Atlanta and promptly went out and finished second to Cardenas in Race 1.  He scored another runner-up showing in Race 1 one event ago at Road America and is worth watching at Mazda Raceway.  The third Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki rider is young Argentinean talent Leandro Mercado (No. 92 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R), who is also a top threat in AMA Pro SuperSport competition.

The year’s only other race winners are Eslick and Canadian rider Chris Peris (No. 10 Erion Racing Honda CBR600RR).  Eslick has three victories after sweeping the Auto Club weekend and winning the Sunday final at Road Atlanta.  His teammate is veteran rider Michael Barnes (No. 34 GEICO Powersports/RMR Buell 1125R) who scored a season-best finish of fifth in the Sunday final at Barber.  Peris won Race 1 in the rain at Road America and also has a third-place finish at Road Atlanta to his credit.  Peris teams with top California rider Jake Zemke (No. 1x Erion Racing Honda CBR600RR) who helped make Erion’s Road America weekend a memorable one in total with a season-high finish of second in the Sunday final.  It was Zemke’s first podium finish of the season.

Cardenas teams with the equally quick Jason DiSalvo (No. 40 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) who has won the pole at the last four races.  He finished third in the Daytona 200, Race 1 at Auto Club and one race ago in the Sunday final at Road America in addition to season-high second-place finishes behind Cardenas in the Saturday final at Barber and the Sunday race at Infineon.  DiSalvo is fourth in the championship with 179 points while Herrin rounds out the top five with 152 points.

Chaz Davies (No. 57 Factory Aprilia /Millennium Technologies Team Aprilia RSV1000R) is the main Aprilia threat and a pair of fourth-place showings at Barber and Infineon has kept the former Daytona 200 winner in the championship top 10.  Steve Rapp (No. 48 Bazzaz/Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6) is another past Daytona 200 winner who is hitting his stride after taking his first podium of the year at Infineon with a third-place finish in the Saturday final.

A solid entry of 51 Daytona SportBikes is heading to Mazda Raceway and it includes the debuting No. 394 Tri-Valley Moto KTM 990 Super Duke of Eric Gulbransen.  The Austrian-built KTM was recently approved for Daytona SportBike competition and the all California combination of Gulbransen and Tri-Valley will be the first to run such a bike in top level AMA Pro Road Racing competition.

SuperSport Showcase

The emerging riders of the AMA Pro SuperSport presented by Shoei division will have the opportunity to impress a paddock full of international onlookers at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend.  The class is divided into East and West Championships and the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca event is Round 5 of the Western division.

Tyler Odom (No. 46 Erion Racing/Pro Honda Oils & Chemicals Honda CBR600RR) won Daytona’s season-opening dual division race and finished fourth in Round 2 at Auto Club to stay on top of the standings all season.  He heads to Mazda Raceway with 74 points, 17 ahead of nearest challenger Clint Shobert (No. 26 American Honda/Pro Honda Oils & Chemicals Honda CBR600RR), who has a season-best finish of third at Auto Club.  Shobert is the son of AMA Hall of Famer Bubba Shobert.

It appeared early in the season that SuperSport West would be decided between Odom and Shobert, but that was before Ricky Parker (No. 96 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) won in his West debut at Infineon.  Parker backed it up with a second-place finish in the dual division event one race ago at Road America and now prominently factors into the championship despite missing half of the year’s first four Western races.  He is 18 points behind Odom and just one point back from Shobert.

Bryce Prince (No. 74 Clawson Motorsports/Arai/NJK Leathers/Cycle Gear Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) is fourth in the championship with 49 points and, after missing the Daytona opener, has three straight top-ten finishes including fifth at Auto Club, fourth at Infineon and sixth at Road America.

Chris Clark (No. 48 Bazzaz/Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6) and Garrett Willis (No. 80 Mach 1 Motorsports/Arai Yamaha YZF-R6) could also mount SuperSport West title bids but need to put on dominant performances this weekend.  Clark is fifth in the championship with a pair of sixth-place finishes in the opening rounds while Willis - who has also made only two starts - is sixth in points after finishing second at Auto Club and fifth at Infineon.

Several riders who are not officially competing in the SuperSport West championship could be among the favorites for the victory at Mazda Raceway.  Mercado (No. 92 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) leads the SuperSport East standings with a pair of victories at Road Atlanta and one race ago at Road America.  Russ Wikle (No. 5 Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R600) is another interloper from the East who could be in the hunt for the win at Laguna Seca.  Wikle is second in the SuperSport East standings behind Mercado.  California rider Joey Pascarella (No. 25 LTD Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) is yet another SuperSport East entrant who could factor into this weekend’s race.

A true spoiler on all fronts could be stalwart AMA Pro Flat Track crossover James “The Rocket” Rispoli (No. 71 Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R600) who is making a one-off appearance with the proven Roadracingworld.com team.  Riding for another group, Rispoli finished fourth at Road America in his only previous SuperSport start of the year.  In addition to being a top AMA Pro Grand National Singles Championship rider, Rispoli also showed his road racing talent in SunTrust Moto-GT competition last year.

A proving ground series, SuperSport is reserved strictly for up-and-coming riders between the ages of 16 and 21 who compete on 600cc sport bikes that are only minimally modified from what you will find at your local Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda or other motorcycle dealerships. AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.  From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization operates and manages AMA Pro Road Racing, which includes AMA Pro American Superbike, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT.  AMA Pro Racing also manages and works closely with the day-to-day operational organizations of the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship and the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship Series in addition to other two-wheel and ATV series.  Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

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Pramac Racing

Niccolò Canepa will be the only Pramac Racing rider to step on the Laguna Seca track this weekend for the eight MotoGP 2009 World Championship round. His teammate Mika Kallio is, in fact, obligated to skip the US Grand Prix due to the injury at his left ring finger occurred on the Assen circuit during last Saturday race. The Italian rider will make his debut on the Californian circuit and will have to learn in the quickest time the secrets of this track. One of the main characteristics of this enthralling circuit is the corkscrew, a unique downhill chicane for the MotoGP Championship. The track is 3610 meters long with its final straight that is 966 meters long.

Fabiano Sterlacchini - Pramac Racing Technical Director
“This will surely be a different weekend for us as Mika will not be here, but we are sure that the decision taken on Tuesday it’s the best for the rest of the season. We preferred to have him in the best condition possible at Sachsenring without risking to compromise more races. As it was supposed to be for Mika, this will be the first time also for Niccolò at Laguna Seca. It is a really technical track and he will need some time to completely learn it. He will have to be really calm and maybe follow some other riders that already know the track in the first free practice to learn the best lines to follow. From our side we are working hard to give to Niccolò the possibility to demonstrate his qualities and we believe we will see the results soon.”

Niccolò Canepa - Pramac Racing Rider
“I am really sorry Mika will not be here with us this weekend and it will be strange. I hope he will be able to get back on track really soon. He is a really nice guy and a great rider and I hope to see him again in our box for the German race. It will not be easy for us this weekend as it’s my first time in my career here. For what I have seen on the television in the past years it isn’t a really fast track but with many insidious turns. I think that my heart rate will be really fast at my first time at the corkscrew. On paper this is a really fascinating track and I hope to be able to be fast from the first few laps. On Indianapolis track, when I have ridden on it for the first time last year, I registered very interesting lap times straight away: who knows that maybe the same will happen here.”

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San Carlo Honda Gresini

San Carlo Honda Gresini Team riders Alex De Angelis and Toni Elias make the transatlantic dash from Europe to the USA this week as the MotoGP World Championship circus continues apace, following up last Saturday’s race at Assen, Holland, with a visit to Laguna Seca, California, this coming Sunday.

The pair, hailing from San Marino and Spain respectively, head into round eight of seventeen looking to improve on twelfth and fourteenth position in the overall championship standings following a disappointing start to a season that has been somewhat below expectations so far. However, encouraging performances in the Dutch TT, where De Angelis solved rear traction problems and ran with the second group for much of the race and Elias fought back from last place to challenge for sixth in the final corner, have given them huge encouragement and motivation for the rest of the season.

The dry heat and unpredictable asphalt of the anti-clockwise Laguna Seca circuit should suit both riders, who have the loose and aggressive riding style necessary to tackle the dramatic elevation changes and fast, sweeping corners of the legendary circuit. The most famous of them is without doubt the ‘Corkscrew’, a steep downhill left-right flip-flop that is often the scene of some of the most spectacular overtakes of the entire season.

#15 ALEX DE ANGELIS
“I am extremely motivated going into this race because we’re finally finding the right way with the bike and working through our problems. We know that sometimes when you solve one problem you can create another and finding the ideal package isn’t easy, but the point is that we are solving our biggest issue, which is rear traction, and that is important. I don’t think anything more problematic than that is going to crop up! I love Laguna Seca, I went fast from the first day on my debut there last year and we know the tyres work well there too, so I am excited. The target is to get involved with that second group again but this time be fighting with them all the way to the final corner.”

#24 TONI ELIAS
“I left the last race at Assen feeling frustrated with the result, having been relegated to twelfth by Race Direction for an aggressive move in the final corner, but even the eighth place I managed before the penalty was below our expectations. Having said that I was encouraged by the performance and to have passed so many riders in the race gives me motivation and determination to continue where I left off at Laguna Seca. I’ll receive another frame like the one that I like and that should allow us to work a bit more calmly and make quicker progress in adjusting the set-up. Our recent pace suggests that we’re not far from making another step forward – not into the top four just yet but at least a little closer to them.”

FAUSTO GRESINI – TEAM MANAGER
“Racing in America is always a fantastic experience and Laguna Seca is a special circuit, so we go there in high spirits and hopeful of improving our recent results. In 2007 our team produced a fantastic performance at this circuit and it has always suited the characteristics of the Honda RC212V, so hopefully that will continue to be the case this weekend.”

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MotoGP

This weekend’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca is the first of two FIM World Championship visits to America this year and is the second of four GPs in a five week period, as the 2009 season really begins to gather pace.

With Indianapolis to come in August the MotoGP riders will this weekend enjoy their first Stateside trip of the campaign as they head to California, with visits to Sachsenring and Donington Park still to come on the busy schedule before the summer break.

After seven rounds so far this year things are tight at the top, with three main protagonists emerging as the title candidates. Heading to Assen in the Netherlands last weekend, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner were all square on points at the head of the standings and even though Rossi has pushed ahead with the superb 100th GP victory of his career at the Dutch track his young rivals are still snapping at his heels.

Last year at Laguna Rossi took a hugely important win over Stoner, passing him brilliantly on infamous Corkscrew corner and scoring a significant psychological blow against the Australian. This year, however, he has two key rivals to contend with.

World Champion Rossi goes into round eight in great from, with a five point lead over Lorenzo in the general classification, having relegated his Fiat Yamaha team-mate to second place in the last two races at Catalunya and Assen. The Italian looks as strong as ever, with his Yamaha M1 machine working brilliantly as he looks to turn up the heat on his rivals.

Lorenzo, meanwhile, has never completed a race at Laguna having crashed out on the first lap on his debut at the Californian track last year. He insists however that this year he is finding things more comfortable at tracks which did not favour him in the past and can be expected to be pushing Rossi hard at the front again this weekend.

Fitness doubts for Stoner could be the major factor hindering the Ducati star following another grueling race in The Netherlands, where for the second round in succession he finished third, but was totally exhausted on the podium. If he can recover full strength he will be confident of another good performance on Sunday, at a track where he won in 2007 and finished second in 2008.

Behind the leading three in the championship, the Repsol Honda duo of Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa will be desperate to bounce straight back from their Assen disappointments having both crashed out of the Dutch contest, in separate incidents at the same corner, when well positioned to earn some decent points. Dovizioso is currently fourth in the standings, some distance behind the top three, but with just a two point advantage over Pedrosa and Colin Edwards.

Texan rider Edwards arrives for his home race in good form following his fourth place at Assen and is hoping for another strong result as he seeks to extend his MotoGP career. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider was on the podium at Laguna Seca in 2005 but since then has struggled for good results there and will aim to correct that pattern on Sunday.

His compatriot Nicky Hayden, the only other American rider in the premier class at present, boasts two of his three MotoGP career wins at Laguna and would love nothing more than to get his first top five result of 2009 on his Stateside debut for Ducati this weekend.

Ahead of the weekend’s Californian spectacular Randy de Puniet, Toni Elías and the aforementioned Stoner have already been soaking up the American atmosphere with a visit to the famous Universal Studios Hollywood theme park in Los Angeles, on Tuesday afternoon.

Taking a chance to relax before they head up the coast along Route 101 to Laguna, the trio of premier class competitors were given a tour of the Universal Studios Hollywood attractions, including film and TV sets and rollercoasters, getting up close and personal with ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘Jaws’, ‘The Mummy’ and ‘The Simpsons’.

The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix promises to be a memorable event, coinciding with the American 4th July celebrations and commencing this Friday, 3rd July, with Free Practice 1 at 1.55pm local time, (9.55pm GMT, 10.55pm CET). The 250cc and 125cc classes do not compete at Laguna and will be back in action at Sachsenring on the 17th-19th July weekend.

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Ducati Marlboro

One of the most eagerly-anticipated and important events on the MotoGP calendar for Ducati and its riders arrives this weekend, with the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. It is one of two home races for Nicky Hayden and the scene of his debut victory in motorcycle racing’s elite competition, which came in 2005 and was followed up by identical success on his way to the world title in 2006. Casey Stoner picked up the baton with victory in 2007 and the Australian was one half of an epic battle with Valentino Rossi last year. The pair fought elbow to elbow around the rollercoaster circuit but the fans were denied a grandstand finale when Stoner ran off track and crashed, returning to claim second place, such was the gap they had built up over the rest of the field.

Whilst the Ducati MotoGP Team riders both have great pedigree at the Californian circuit, the event also has special significance for the Borgo Panigale factory, with the US market one of their most important. On the opposite side of the Atlantic to its home, the Ducati brand has become a symbol of quality, high technology and exclusivity – the distinctive characteristics of a product bearing the “Made in Italy” stamp.

Determination, dedication and hard work are the hallmarks of the Ducati MotoGP Team, which is ready to give full support to its two riders as they prepare to tackle the next challenge. Hayden is desperate to perform in front of his home fans and following a gritty and combative performance in Holland he is looking to continue with the progress he has made over the last few weeks. Stoner, meanwhile, is hoping to overcome the physical problems that have prevented him from challenging for victory in the last two races at Assen and Catalunya, although on both occasions he was able to stay in the championship hunt thanks to podium finishes achieved with the hard work and support of his team.

LIVIO SUPPO, MotoGP Project Director
“It is always great to race at Laguna and particularly so this year, with Nicky in our team! We’ll do everything we can to make sure Casey is in the best physical condition possible and to give Nicky the opportunity to ride at the level we all know he is capable of at his favourite circuits, where he has scored two wonderful victories in the past. The bike is improving all the time and we’re confident we can do well with both our riders this weekend.”

CASEY STONER, Ducati MotoGP Team (3rd in the championship on 122 points)
“We have had some setbacks over the past couple of races that have prevented us from showing our full potential. We have done a lot of work on the bike and found a great set-up for the race on both occasions but I have not been in good shape when it was the moment to take advantage of that work. We have come straight to America from Assen and there hasn’t been much time to recover, although I do feel better already. What we learned from last weekend is not to underestimate the symptoms. I have always liked Laguna, with its natural elevation changes, I love racing in America and the Ducati has always gone well here. We have the potential to challenge for a good result again but we’ll wait until we get out on track and see how things shape up.”

NICKY HAYDEN, Ducati MotoGP Team (15th in the championship on 26 points)
“We still have a lot of work to do but it has been nice to see a little progress over the last few weeks and at Laguna I really need to take another big step. I don’t have any big plan or anything – it’s not that easy! All I know to do is keep trying and working at it and hope it will come. Laguna is a great track and very challenging. There are a few points that stick out but in general it is different to most tracks, which usually have a few different sections, whereas Laguna is basically just one section and you have to put it all together to make a good lap. This year we’re racing in America on the 4th of July weekend and it’s perfect - I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holiday than at the US Grand Prix! Also the fact my brothers will be racing on the same weekend in the AMA championship helps make it special for me. This will be the first time my American fans get to see me on a Ducati so that will be cool because there are a lot of strong Ducati fans in the states. No predictions or anything but we’ll go full gas and see what happens.”

THE TRACK
Laguna Seca played host to the US Grand Prix on six occasions between 1988 and 1994 before being removed from the calendar. A series of major structural improvements to the facility saw the World Championship return in 2005, although only for the MotoGP class. The track, which flows around the undulating hills on the outskirts of Monterey, is most famous for the Corkscrew, a tight and spectacular left-right downhill chicane. In fact, the entire circuit is a rollercoaster ride, with a few short straights and a series of fast corners and elevation changes that often leave the front wheel pawing at the air. The 3.610km track is the perfect amphitheatre for the fans and is surprisingly straightforward in terms of machine set-up, with little opportunity to maximise full throttle. Frequent downhill braking zones put extra stress on the front end and make tyre wear a crucial factor.

LAGUNA SECA CIRCUIT FACTS
Circuit Record: Casey Stoner (Ducati - 2008), 1’21.488 – 159.483 Km/h
Best Pole: Casey Stoner (Ducati - 2008), 1’20.700 – 161.040 Km/h
Circuit Length: 3.610km
MotoGP Race 2009: 32 laps (115.52 km)
MotoGP Schedule 2009: 14:00h local time

PODIUM 2008 : 1st Valentino Rossi, 2nd Casey Stoner, 3rd Chris Vermeulen
POLE 2008: Casey Stoner (Ducati - 2008), 1’20.700 – 161.040 Km/h

DUCATI MOTOGP TEAM’S BEST RESULTS AT LAGUNA SECA
2008: 2nd (Stoner)
2007: 1st (Stoner)
2006: 8th (Capirossi)
2005: 6th (Capirossi)

DUCATI MOTOGP TEAM – RIDER INFO

CASEY STONER
Age: 23 (Born 16th October 1985 in Southport, Queensland, Australia )
Residency: Switzerland
Bike: Ducati MotoGP Team Desmosedici GP9
GP Appearances: 120 (59xMotoGP, 31×250, 30×125)
GP Victories: 25 (18xMotoGP, 5×250, 2×125)
First GP victory: Valencia, 2003 (125)
First GP: Great Britain, 2001 (125)
Pole positions: 20 (16xMotoGP, 2×250, 2×125)
First pole position: Italy, 2003 (125)
World Titles: 1 (MotoGP, 2007)

MotoGP track record at Laguna Seca:
2008: Qualified: 1st.  Race: 2nd
2007: Qualified: 1st. Race: 1st
2006: Qualified: 7th. Race: DNF

NICKY HAYDEN
Age: 27 (born 30th July 1981 in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA)
Residency: Owensboro, Kentucky, USA
Bike: Ducati MotoGP Team Desmosedici GP9
GP Appearances: 106 (106xMotoGP)
First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP)
Number of victories: 3 (3xMotoGP)
First GP victory: USGP, 2005 (MotoGP)
Pole positions: 5 (5xMotoGP)
First Pole: USGP, 2005 (MotoGP)
World Titles: 1 (MotoGP, 2006)

MotoGP track record at Laguna Seca:
2008 Qualified: 3rd. Race: 6th
2007: Qualified: 4th. Race: DNF
2006: Qualified: 6th. Race: 1st
2005: Qualified: 1st. Race: 1st

***********************

Pramac Racing

After the accident occurred last June 27th during the Dutch GP, Pramac Racing rider Mika Kallio will miss the next MotoGP round in Laguna Seca, USA. The ring finger of his left hand, injured during the accident on the Assen circuit, doesn’t allow the Finnish rider to step on his Ducati Desmosedici GP9 Sat next 5th July for the US Grand Prix. The finger, during the fall, was burnt in the final part reaching the bone and making lose forever the nail to Mika. Luckily the nervous system of the finger hasn’t been damaged. At the moment a bandage has been placed on the finger so the it can be disinfected daily, but soon, probably after Sachsenring and Donington race, a new part of skin will be stitch up on the top of the finger to definitely close it. During the next two European races Mika will have to use an imitation skin protection on the injured finger. Pramac Racing Team has decided to don’t substitute the Scandinavian rider for Laguna Seca weekend, but will race only with Niccolò Canepa.

Fabiano Sterlacchini - Pramac Racing Team Technical Director
“Mika’s condition are surely better than what we thought straight after the race, but notwithstanding this we preferred to give him a weekend off to recover. This would have been for him the first time in Laguna Seca and with his precarious physical conditions we preferred to don’t take any more risk and make him be at the best in three weeks time for Sachsenring. Mika will not go under surgery in these weeks before the German GP, but will continue to follow medications and cleaning of the injured finger to avoid infection and further complications. For this motive the Pramac Racing Team will race in Laguna Seca only with one rider, Italian Niccolò Canepa who will make his debut on the Californian circuit.”

Mika Kallio - Pramac Racing Rider
“I was so excited to race in Laguna Seca, but I guess destiny wanted to be this way and I will have to renounce. It’s a pity. We have taken this decision together with Pramac Racing Managers and I think this is probably the best solution. Laguna would have been a new circuit to learn for me and with precarious physical conditions we thought it would have been too risky. I will look after my self in the best way possible to be in good form at the Sachsenring, which is by the way one of my favorites circuits of the world championship. I wish all the best to Niccolò who will have to do well for the Pramac Team this weekend.”

**********************

Bridgestone

Tyre compounds available: Front: Medium, Hard. Rear: Medium, Hard
Round eight of the MotoGP season may be one of the shortest races on the calendar, but the revered and challenging Laguna Seca circuit, home to the infamous Corkscrew, doesn’t give Bridgestone’s tyres an easy time.

Unlike most circuits visited by the championship, Laguna Seca consists mainly of left-handers, having seven left and four right corners, but turns three and four in particular are crucial to a good lap. The first right hand corners of the lap, they are fast and quite long, meaning that tyre temperature in the right shoulders of the Bridgestone tyres is crucial in obtaining optimum grip.

Laguna Seca has a very short straight at just 0.9km long, meaning that the tyres are rarely upright. This puts constant load on the tyre shoulders and therefore requires good durability and endurance over the 32 laps of race distance. It also means that the tyres have less time to cool down, which they traditionally do along the straights when the air flow is at its peak and the tyre shoulders are not loaded, so average tyre temperatures over a lap are higher than the ambient conditions would suggest.

The United States Grand Prix is the second in a pair of back-to-back races, coming just days after the Dutch GP. The circuit was the venue of arguably the most memorable battle of last season between Bridgestone riders Valentino
Rossi of the Fiat Yamaha Team and Ducati Team’s Casey Stoner that proved pivotal in the championship fight.

Last year the race was a good one for Bridgestone. Stoner secured pole with Rossi starting the race from second, and the Australian set the circuit’s MotoGP lap record during the race. Bridgestone riders filled the top three spots – Rossi triumphed in his epic battle with Stoner, and Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen took third, equalling his best finish of the season.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport – Manager Motorcycle Sport Unit
“Last year we saw a fantastic battle in Laguna; one that will still be remembered vividly by those in the paddock, the fans across the world and of course Valentino and Casey! This year the fight at the top of the championship is even closer so I am looking forward to another classic battle on a classic race track. Our tyres performed well there last year, so I hope that now all riders are using Bridgestone tyres we can see even closer competition throughout the field.”

Tohru Ubukata – Bridgestone Motorsport – Manager Motorcycle Race Tyre Development
“The Corkscrew complex is famous and is a really demanding corner for the bike, rider and tyre package, but the right-handed turns three and four are also critical for tyres. Most of the corners are left-handers, so it’s important to make sure we also generate good grip through the right-handers.

“Laguna Seca is the shortest race track that we visit during the season at just 3.610km but this makes it no less challenging for the Bridgestone tyres. The 32 laps of competition on Sunday are a good challenge for our tyres as the usually hot track temperature can have a large impact upon tyre performance and durability. Even though the total race distance is nearly the shortest of the season, Laguna is a track that uses our tyres quite hard and demands a lot from them.”

****************************

Repsol Honda

The Laguna Seca circuit hosts the US Grand Prix this weekend as the MotoGP World Championship moves from Europe to North America for round eight of the 17-race series. The Repsol Honda Team arrives at the California track ready to bounce back immediately after the tough luck the team experienced in the Netherlands. Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa lie in fourth and fifth in the title race and will be determined to take a strong points haul after drawing a blank at Assen.

Dovizioso put in an attention-grabbing ride last year at Laguna Seca in his debut season in MotoGP. The Italian charged to a strong fourth place and was the lead Honda rider for the satellite JiR Team Scot - all the more impressive considering this was his first visit to the tricky circuit. (The 125cc and 250cc GP classes in which Dovizioso rode prior to the 2008 season don’t feature in this round of the championship). In 2009 the 23-year-old has been constantly knocking on the door of a podium finish and, with an extra year’s experience to draw on at Laguna combined with the recent improvements to the chassis of the RC212V, he has every chance of fighting for a top-three finish come Sunday’s race.

Dani Pedrosa will be looking to maintain the pace that enabled him to secure second place on the grid and run at the front at the previous round in Assen. The 23-year-old Spaniard, who holds fifth in the World Championship in spite of some terrible luck in the first part of the season, looked to be back on form at the last race, and he too will aim to make full use of his Honda RC212V’s modified chassis to close in on his rivals this weekend. Pedrosa didn’t race at Laguna last year because of injury. He will be looking to steer clear of trouble and rejoin battle at the head of the field this time around.

The Laguna Seca circuit, at just 3.610km (2.243 miles) in length, is one of the shortest and yet most dramatic venues on the MotoGP calendar. Characterised by stark elevation changes, flowing corners and short straights, it features the famous Corkscrew corner - a plunging left-right chicane that is as complex to get right as it is spectacular to observe. Both the Repsol Honda riders appreciate the challenge and atmosphere at Laguna and are relishing the chance to tackle the track once more this weekend.

The action begins at 13.55 on Friday with an hour of free practice, followed by another practice session and qualifying on Saturday, before Sunday’s 32-lap race gets under way at 14.00. (All times GMT - 7 hours.)

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO – World Championship position: 4th, 69 points
“I really look forward to the race in Laguna Seca. The track itself and the whole atmosphere makes coming to Laguna a fascinating experience. Last year was the first time that I had raced in the United States and I was impressed by this track. Some parts are quite dangerous and very different from the European standard of racetracks we are used to, but the whole atmosphere is incredible and I like it a lot. I’m confident that we can have a good race here. Last year I had a good battle and finished 4th, which I was pleased with. I feel as though I’ve come fourth enough times this year though, so I hope to make the step up. At each race we’re getting closer to the leading riders but we’re still not close enough yet. So we need to work hard to get the speed and consistency we need.”

DANI PEDROSA – World Championship position: 5th, 67 points
“I’m actually really looking forward to getting to Laguna and I’m feeling confident going into the weekend - as I was before Assen. The result there wasn’t great, but there’s no reason why we can’t have a strong race in the US. I felt much better on the bike in Assen than I did in Barcelona and, although my physical fitness is not at 100 per cent because I haven’t been training as usual for quite a while, the injury is getting better and isn’t giving me any problems on the machine. The Laguna track itself is unique and it can be a lot of fun to ride - as long as you’re going quickly. When you’re struggling it obviously isn’t quite as much fun! As a team we’ve got to continue working hard and bring the whole machine package up to a level where we can compete for wins again. We’re making progress and with luck Laguna will take us closer to that target.”

Rider Statistics - Andrea Dovizioso
Age     23
Racing number     4
Race machine     Honda RC212V
Date of birth     March 23, 1986
Birthplace     Forli, Italy
Height     1.65m
Weight     63kg
Hobbies     MX, Supermoto
Grand Prix debut     2001, Italian Grand Prix, Mugello
First GP win     2004, Africa’s Grand Prix, Welcom
GP wins     9: 5 x 125cc, 4 x 250cc
GP podiums     42: 15 x 125cc, 26 x 250cc, 1 x MotoGP
GP pole positions     13: 9 x 125cc, 4 x 250cc
World Championships     1: 125cc (2004)
US GP results     2008: 4th (MotoGP)

Rider Statistics - Dani Pedrosa
Age     23
Racing number     3
Race machine     Honda RC212V
Date of birth     September 29, 1985
Birthplace     Castellar del Valles - Spain
Height     1.59m
Weight     52kg
Hobbies     Cycling, Music
Grand Prix debut     2001, 125cc Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
First GP win     2002, 125cc Dutch Grand Prix, Assen
GP wins     29: 8 x 125cc, 15 x 250cc, 6 x MotoGP
GP podiums     71: 17 x 125cc, 24 x 250cc, 30 x MotoGP
GP pole positions     30: 9 x 125cc, 9 x 250cc, 12 x MotoGP
World Championships     3: 1 x 125cc (2003); 2 x 250cc (2004, 2005)
US GP results     2006: 2nd (MotoGP), 2007: 5th (MotoGP), 2008: DNS (MotoGP)

Circuit information
First race     1988 (Modified 1996)
GPs held     10
Laps     32
Race distance     115.520km / 71.776miles
Track length     3.610km / 2.243miles
Track width     15m
Longest straight     0.966km / 0.6miles
Corners     11 (4 right, 7 left)
Pole position     Right

1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy
Monterey

CA 93940

United States
T: +1 831-242-8201

Website: http://www.mazdaraceway.com

Circuit records
Pole position     1m20.700s (161.040Km/h) Casey Stoner (Ducati, 2008)
Race lap     1m21.488s (159.483m/h) Casey Stoner (Ducati, 2008)
Race time     44m04.311s (157.270m/h) Valentino Rossi (Yamaha, 2008)
Premier Class Wins     3 (Wayne Rainey 1989, 1990-01)
2008 Winner     Valentino Rossi (Yamaha)

*********************

Fiat Yamaha

The Fiat Yamaha Team arrives in the United States this week in stunning form with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo lying first and second in the championship, separated by just five points. Rossi, who clinched his 100th career victory in Assen on Sunday, has three wins to his name so far and Lorenzo has two, while both riders have finished on the podium in six out of seven races this season to leave Fiat Yamaha leading the Teams’ standings and Yamaha the Manufacturers’. The Italian and the Spaniard will make a short stopover in Los Angeles for a visit to Yamaha US on Wednesday before heading north to the coastal town of Monterey and the spectacular Laguna Seca track.

Before last year Rossi had just one podium to his name at Laguna since MotoGP returned there in 2005, but he produced one of the performances of his career in 2008 to win an important victory, which went on to prove one of the key turning points of his season. A race-long battle with Casey Stoner threw up some nail-biting moments between the pair but the Italian prevailed to take his first win on American soil. After two wins on the bounce he is heading stateside in flying form and will be hoping to extend his championship lead this weekend with another great result. Thursday sees the now traditional Laguna Seca Superkart race and Rossi this year will make a few display laps in a Superkart before Yamaha legends Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Kenny Roberts Senior take centre stage for the real thing.

Lorenzo was a Laguna Seca first-timer last year and a promising showing during practice came to nothing when he high-sided on the first lap. The 22-year-old went on to taste American success later in the season with a podium in Indianapolis and he is determined that he will get to grips with the tricky Laguna track this time around. The youngster has had a brilliant season to date and will undoubtedly be in the mix once again this weekend as he seeks to better his team-mate with a return to the top of the podium.

Laguna Seca is an all-American track where the intense dry heat, unpredictable asphalt and anti-clockwise layout reward the loose and aggressive riding style of the US dirt-trackers. The track boasts some of the most dramatic elevation changes on the world championship circuit as well as fast, sweeping corners, the most notorious of which is the world-famous ‘Corkscrew’. Machine set-up is relatively straightforward, with throttle connection a much more important factor than top-end power and a well balanced chassis the key to those elevation changes and diverse corners.

Valentino Rossi - “Back to normal!”
“The wonderful memory of the 100th win is still fresh, but now we have just a few days to recover before the next race, which is hard for everyone. We have to try to relax as much as possible and recharge the batteries a little, because Laguna is always a tough weekend and often very hot. Last year I had a great battle with Stoner and for me it was for sure one of the turning points of the championship and a very important win; I have some good memories. I think this year it will be hard again because Lorenzo is in brilliant form and I am sure Stoner will also be back to his best. Laguna is a great place to race and an exciting track, I also have a little trip to Los Angeles and Yamaha US first which I am looking forward to. The championship is very open at this point so we need to keep focus, get back to normal after Assen and try to get another good result this weekend.”

Jorge Lorenzo - “Looking forward to the challenge”
“Last year Laguna wasn’t good for me but I don’t think about this. It’s the only time I’ve been there but I don’t see that as a problem - until 2008 I’d never won in Portugal before and I won my first race there in MotoGP, and then again this year I won in Motegi where I’d never won before, so I don’t consider any track ‘bad’ for me - the past doesn’t matter. We are feeling very strong after the last races and everyone is very motivated to continue in the same way so I am looking forward to the challenge and learning more about the track. I will do my best and hopefully that will mean we can run at the front again.”

Davide Brivio - “Focus on the championship”
“We still have great memories from Laguna Seca in 2008 and we’re happy to be arriving there after two wins and leading the championship. It’s a great place to race and the American fans are always brilliant so we hope we can give them another good show! Our package is working well everywhere now so hopefully the case will be the same again this weekend. Now that the 100 target has been reached we can focus on the next target - the championship! Now we race for that.”

Daniele Romagnoli - “A consistent package”
“After the last great race in Assen this is a very short break for everyone but we have to move straight on to the US for the next round! The high motivation in our team continues after another strong performance from Jorge and we are looking forward to having the chance for another good result. This year our package is much more consistent and we know that we can put up another good fight, despite Jorge’s inexperience at Laguna. Everyone in the team enjoys going to Laguna - it’s a great place - so we’re looking forward to another exciting weekend.”

Valentino Rossi : Information
Age: 30
Lives: Tavullia, Italy
Bike: Yamaha
GP victories: 100 (79 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)
First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)
GP starts: 217 (157 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 53 (43 x MotoGP/500cc, 5 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc)
World Championships: 8 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 5 x MotoGP)

Jorge Lorenzo: Information
Age: 22
Lives: Barcelona, Spain
Bike: Yamaha
GP victories: 24 (3 x MotoGP, 17 x 250cc, 4 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Brazil, 2003 (125cc)
First GP: Jerez, Spain, 2002 (125cc)
GP starts: 118 (24 x MotoGP, 48 x 250cc, 46 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 33 (7 x MotoGP, 23 x 250cc, 3 x 125cc)
World Championships: 2 (250cc, 2006/7)

Laguna Seca: Record Lap
C. Stoner (Ducati) 2008, 1′21.488

Laguna Seca: Best Lap
C. Stoner (Ducati) 2008, 1′20.700

Grand Prix Results: Laguna Seca 2008
1. V. Rossi (Yamaha) 44′04.311
2. C.Stoner (Ducati) +13.001
3. C.Vermeulen (Suzuki) +26.609

. J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) NF

**********************

Rizla Suzuki

Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen is looking to make it three podiums in a row at Laguna Seca this weekend as the team travels to America for the US GP.

Vermeulen heads to a track where he has enjoyed the most success in his MotoGP career - a pole position during his American Grand Prix debut at the circuit in 2006 should have been followed by at least a podium on race day, but bad luck intervened as he finished fifth. In 2007 and 2008 Vermeulen made up for that by scoring successive podiums and showing that he has become something of a Laguna Seca specialist. He will certainly be aiming to repeat - or better - last year’s third place as he aims to improve on the progress he showed at Assen last weekend.

Loris Capirossi will be determined to show the American fans what he is capable of on a Suzuki after having to battle against injury at Laguna last year and never really getting comfortable on the 3,610m track. Capirossi was cruelly robbed of a hard fought sixth place last time out in the Netherlands after another rider forced him into the gravel on the last corner and will be eager to put that behind him as he continues to make improvements to the Suzuki GSV-R.

The Laguna Seca circuit is situated on the Monterey Peninsula about 160kms south of San Francisco. The track was built on a dried up lake within a field artillery target range and manoeuvre area belonging to the US Army and today it is part of the Monterey County Parks Department. The track features one of the most incredible turns on any racetrack in the world. The famous ‘Corkscrew’: a left and right hand combination with a huge drop in elevation, where the riders feel like they are falling off the end of a cliff after reaching the turn by a blind crest on an uphill approach. It certainly is the focal point on the circuit and a place where lots of exciting action happens.

The US GP weekend takes on an added degree of excitement this weekend as it falls in-line with American Independence day celebrations on July 4th, so the fans at trackside will all be in a party spirit as MotoGP rolls into town.

Rizla Suzuki has two hour-long practice sessions on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, followed by an hour of qualifying on Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s race is round eight on the MotoGP calendar and the excitement will get underway for the 32-lap race at 14.00hrs local time (21.00hrs GMT).

Chris Vermeulen:
“I’m really looking forward to Laguna Seca, it’s certainly one of my favourite circuits and I’ve been on the podium there for the last two years, as well as a pole position in 2006. I certainly want to try and repeat those performances and get the Suzuki on the podium for the first time in 2009. I hope it is a good race for all the fans and that the weather is as nice as it usually is. I am sure we can be competitive from day one and put on a good show.”

Loris Capirossi:
“I wasn’t at full strength at Laguna last year following my crash at Assen and all the changes in direction really made it a painful race for me. This year I am going there fully fit and the bike seems to be improving every time I ride it, so we are hoping to be right up amongst the front guys this weekend. The season still has a long way to go and I am now in-touch with the top-five in the championship and that certainly has to be our target - to break into that group and go from strength-to-strength at every race.”