2006 MotoGP WORLD CHAMP HAYDEN CHRISTENS NEW ROAD CIRCUIT AT IMS

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, April 7, 2008 – Whether at 40 mph or 150 mph, 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden was thrilled with his view of the new road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that will be used at the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

Hayden, from Owensboro, Ky., christened the 16-turn, 2.620-mile circuit at IMS on two motorcycles April 7 – a 1909 Indian that raced in the first motor race at IMS in 1909 and a 2008 Honda CBR 1000 production bike. He will join his fellow MotoGP riders in the first motorcycle race at IMS in 99 years on Sept. 12-14.

“It was pretty unique and quite an honor to be the first guy around the new track here at the famous Speedway,” Hayden said. “It was exciting to be here and be a part of it.

“I want to do my part to do all I can and make the race be a huge success. MotoGP and road racing, in general, is a great sport, and this is a big opportunity to show it to people. There are a lot of racing fans and sports fans in this area, but also to show them a different form of motorsports should be good for this sport.”

Hayden did his part Monday. He walked from the Bombardier Learjet Pagoda under sunny skies, dressed in 1909 period costume of a leather helmet, goggles, blue-and-green sweater with “Indianapolis Speedway” sewn in script on the back, knickers and leather riding boots, to ride the 1909 Indian.

After carefully listening to instructions from the IMS Hall of Fame Museum staff about the unique controls of the vintage bike, Hayden pulled away to applause for one lap around the circuit, reaching a top speed of approximately 40 mph.

“When they first fired it up, I thought, ‘Man, what did I get myself into here?’” Hayden said. “When she fired up, I wasn’t ready for all that throttle going like this. But it was really cool. The backward brake was like from my bicycle back in the day.

“Those guys were men. I can’t imagine racing that bike around here.”

Hayden then changed into a special set of white Repsol Honda leathers and his racing helmet and boots, emerging from the Pagoda to fire up the high-performance Honda production bike. He turned numerous laps of the circuit at speed, reaching approximately 150 mph on the front straight. Hayden estimates his Repsol Honda Team MotoGP bike will reach 200 mph on the front straightaway during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

“When I saw the track map, I didn’t realize how quick the front straightway is,” Hayden said. “It’s a long straightaway; it’s going to be quick. You’re going to need some ponies.

“My initial impression (of the circuit) was great. I didn’t see any concerns. I’ll be excited to get the GP bike out there.”

While Hayden raced AMA Flat Track events in the 1990s at the Indiana State Fairgrounds oval a few miles from IMS, this was his initial visit to the Speedway. Like most first-time visitors to the track, he was awed by the size of the 1,025-acre facility, which is the largest spectator-sporting venue in the world.

“I imagined it being big, but I didn’t imagine the whole Speedway, the grandstands, the golf course, everything, being so huge,” Hayden said. “Even for me, I’ve been to speedways and a lot of tracks, but just the size of this place was enormous.”

And Hayden figures a healthy chunk of those stands will be filled during Red Bull Indianapolis GP race weekend Sept. 12-14 by his friends and neighbors from his native Owensboro, which is just 155 miles from Indianapolis.

“I'm not sure what Owensboro is going to do if you need something that weekend because the town might have to shut down because I think they're relocating that weekend,” Hayden said. “So they got no excuse to miss this one, being it's only three hours from home. It’s really cool to be a part of and want to do my part, put on a good show for them and give them something to cheer about.”

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Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: Tickets are on sale for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008.

Tickets can be purchased either online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All tickets for this event are three-day tickets, with both reserved and general admission seating available.