Indianapolis GP: Gresini Racing preview

TEAM SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI BACK IN THE USA FOR INDY GP

Following the USGP at Laguna Seca back in July, the MotoGP paddock will be back in the USA this weekend for the Indy GP, the first ever Grand Prix motorcycling event to be held at the legendary circuit that has hosted the world famous 500-mile car race since 1911. Alex De Angelis, who has just signed a new contract with the team for 2009, and Shinya Nakano have been boosted by positive tyre tests with Bridgestone at Misano and are targeting a result that can bury the disappointment of last week's events in the San Marino GP.

#15 ALEX DE ANGELIS

"I'm happy to be racing at a new circuit like Indianapolis. I think that so far I've shown that I'm able to learn circuits quickly with a MotoGP bike. The fact it is new to everybody will definitely be a bonus for me given that the other riders won't be able to take advantage of their superior experience. Of course there are a thousand question marks over how the tyres and bike will work there but I'm confident. From the information I've been given the track sounds quite twisty in places so I hope it suits the Honda, which is really effective in tight sections. In the post-race test at Misano we took a step forward with the qualifying tyres and I tried something new, which gave me better feeling, so I'm confident that this weekend I can improve my starting position. Hopefully we can have a good weekend and make up for the disappointment of my home race, where I'd shown in practice that I had the pace to fight for a better finish".

#56 SHINYA NAKANO

"I'm happy to be going back to the United States for the second time this year. Racing at a completely new circuit that nobody knows is an extra motivation and on paper anybody has a chance of doing well here. Looking at the layout of the track it looks like there are some fast sections and some very slow ones, which means it will be important to find a good balance for the bike. Unfortunately at Misano we didn't manage to end the weekend with a good result because of a chattering problem that emerged during the race but we worked hard during the test to understand where the problem had come from. We tested a front race tyre that worked really well so I'm sure we won't have this problem again at Indianapolis".

FAUSTO GRESINI -- TEAM MANAGER

"This will be the first experience of Indianapolis for all the teams and riders, which isn't a particular advantage or disadvantage for us. It just means that we will have unknown factors to deal with, like everybody else. In the test after the race at Misano we did a good job with both riders so we're optimistic about going to the United States for the second time. Our objective is to finish off the season in the best way possible and I'm sure Alex will now be able to approach this target in a more relaxed and stress-free manner after reaching an agreement to stay with our team for 2009".

RACE FACTS

The Indy GP will be held on a new circuit on the infield of the world famous oval that hosts the Indy 500. The track, which measures just over four kilometres, is an adaptation and reversal of the one used for Formula 1, which ran at Indy between 2000 and 2007. MotoGP sees a return to competitive motorcycle racing at Indy for the first time in 99 years -- the first and last two-wheeled event here having opened the circuit on 14th August 1909, after which Indianapolis was solely used for car racing. Famous brands such as Indian, NSU, Harley-Davidson, Reading Standard, Peugeot, Excelsior, Merkel and Thor did battle on the 2.5 mile circuit but the race was won by Erwin "Cannonball" Baker, who later became famous across America for his Guinness world record for the most coast-to-coast trips by car or bike.

Gresini confirms Alex De Angelis for 2009

After a season together in MotoGP, Alex De Angelis and Fausto Gresini have recently signed a new contract for the forthcoming 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

De Angelis' confirmation as a rider of the Faenza-based team is the result of a strengthened relationship of common confidence developed during the 2008 season. It has been a year in which Alex has demonstrated his potential, his willingness to gain experience and to grow in the top class of Motorcycle racing, conquering two fourth places in Mugello and at the Sachsenring Grand Prix.

-credit: gresiniracing.com