RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP MotoGP POST-PRACTICE QUOTES - Friday, Sept. 12, 2008

COLIN EDWARDS (Tech 3 Yamaha): "This morning wasn't bad. This morning was like, we all kind of knew where the puddles were, we were all trying to find ... you've got two parts to the track. You've got what I call Donington on the first six or seven corners, and then you've got Portugal over here on the last part of the track. It's just basically the assessment of grip. Portugal, the way the tarmac is, it's like the last few corners (of IMS), Donington is the first few corners. You get this flat, black tarmac without any stones and you get little depressions in it, and water fills those depressions. Once you get them all figured out, it's not bad. The problem is when it rains a lot those areas swell, and then they take over whole areas that used to be good. That's kind of the issue with a lot of rain. If it rains (in the race) like this morning then we're fine, let's go racing. If it's like this (heavy rain), then we might have to delay a little bit or just wait for the timing in the weather. I don't we really have a schedule this weekend, we'll just try to fit it in when we can." (You feel pretty good overall with the results so far, comfortable with the track layout?): "The track feels great. They've done a fantastic job. They've done a fantastic job of making it not feel like an oval track. I've raced on many of them in the U.S., Daytona and Texas and all these oval tracks that you have to race at, and it just seems much less like an oval track. Once you get through Turn 1, it feels like a normal (road course) racetrack, and that's pretty cool. You don't get that feeling out of any oval track that I'm aware of. Normally most ovals they're trying to fit in a paddock, motorhomes, all that (stuff), and then you have to figure out where to put a racetrack. They've done a good job, it works great here." (How do you feel about your chances in qualifying, what did you learn in that regard?): "I think I just need to take the brain out of things. Somet imes being older and wiser is not the best scenario with all! the you ng punks out here.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO (JiR Team Scot MotoGP): (What is it like to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?): “It is very strange to be here. I am happy to be here, but the track is not one of the best or one of the nicest in the World Championship. It is quite slow. The main problem is new asphalt coming out of the wet spots. It is quite dangerous.” (About the main straightaway): “The main problem is the wet parts. There is a wall, a difficult corner, and there are wet parts, so it is really difficult.”

LORIS CAPIROSSI (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP): “I think it’s really interesting to come to Indianapolis and see the amazing complex. The track is nice, and the layout is good. We have to work a little bit on safety for us. We are unlucky about the weather, but I feel so good and I really happy to run here.” (What’s the front straight like?): “The problem is that the first corner surface is not aggressive. It is a bit slippery, but it is the same way for everybody.”

CASEY STONER (Ducati Team): “The new surface on the track is really, really bad. There doesn’t seem to be any grip whatsoever, or any feeling. The old surface, you can definitely tell it’s old, but the grip is a lot better and you get a lot more feedback from it. Also, I think the new parts of the circuit they’ve put in - with the new surface - they’re all very tight and very twisty. The older surface – you can definitely tell the track was quite nice and it seemed to flow quite nicely. The weather conditions today seemed to be pretty difficult, but overall it’s OK. There definitely is not enough runoff in some areas. There’s some pretty fast corners - especially in the wet – if you manage to crash you won’t be able to stop until you hit a wall. There’s a few points that need to be improved, but overall the track is not too bad. Definitely, with the history it’s unbelievable just to be here, you know, to see the grandstands and everything. It’s amazing. So, it’s very nice, yo u know, the Brickyard, and it would have been nice to ride here in the dry. It’s disappointing the only chance we got to run on the track is in the wet. It’s not always the most fun.”

JOHN HOPKINS (Kawasaki Racing Team): “Today was just hit and miss with the weather. We definitely missed with how hard it rained this afternoon. There was just a lot of standing water, and it was just real, real difficult. This morning really wasn't so bad. The water had subsided quite a bit so we were able to get some decent laps times in the morning, and lap times were much, much quicker this morning. But this afternoon we had a lot of standing water, and standing water equals a lot of aquaplaning and stuff. We took it easy today; we thought the weather was going to let up, so we took it easy throughout the beginning of the session. But it just got worse and worse, so we kind of dug out own hole there. Turn 1, once the rain subsided a bit, you are able to carry so much speed through there. The first section and the second section I was going pretty consistently fast there in the morning, but with the standing water, we couldn't improve it in the afternoon.” (About tires in the wet): “To be honest, there is a lot more setup to do when you have drier conditions. In the wet conditions, the main thing you have to do is work on is traction control. Traction control is a must because you want to be able to hit the corner and hold it wide open coming out of the corners and the bike does the work for you. It controls the slip coming out the corners. In terms of suspension and everything, it is not as crucial as it is in the dry, but as far as the tires go we worked really, really hard, we tried three or four different compounds this afternoon, so we did a lot of tire testing this afternoon.” (About different surfaces on track): “You have to change up your riding style about three different times over a lap. The first part of the track you are going into complete standing water, really, really slick, then it goes to really grippy conditions when you get to the old surface, and then it goes back to slick, and then the entire last section of the track is just amazing grip, it is almost as if you are driving in th! e dry.” (How long does it take to learn a new course?): “In the first hour and a half this morning we had in nailed, and that was in the wet. If it were in dry conditions, I think people who have tested on a Moto GP bike might have an advantage, but no, in the dry it is like learning a completely new track. But we know our direction, and it the wet we know where we are going.” (What can you learn when you have a teammate on top?): “Well, there is a lot of data we can share, so we will able to get a lot better placing tomorrow. I'm quite confident of that. We can push quite a lot harder. He did a really good job, and I know we can catch right up and be right up there with him.” (Would you prefer dry or wet on Race Day?): “If we are going to race all day, and every session in the wet, then we might as well be wet, but as far as the fans go, I would much rather have a dry race just because it is much better for the fans, and the atmosphere is a lot nicer.”

VALENTINO ROSSI (Fiat Yamaha Team): “So, after some worries yesterday it seems that the track is not so bad, and in fact it’s a lot more fun to ride than I expected; it’s like Rio in places. There are some parts that have a few problems and we can definitely improve them for the future, especially Turn 5 and Turn 1, but for now I think it is OK. The biggest problem is the difference in the asphalt, which changes too much, and the new asphalt doesn’t drain so well; if this weather becomes worse things will be very difficult. I am really sad about the rain because it’s fantastic to be here and I felt quite a strong emotion leaving the garage for the first time this morning, at such a historic place. I really hope that the weather improves so that we can have some crowds here on Sunday! I think we have good potential here and I feel like i f it was dry then I could be quite fast as well, but it looks like this won’t be the case at the moment. Anyway, the situation is okay, my bi ke and tyres are working well so far so we will try to improve again tomorrow.”

MARCO MELANDRI (Ducati Team): “I like the design of the circuit. It's fun, but unfortunately there are too many different types of asphalt, and the new part is definitely the worst, especially with the rain. The bike tends to aquaplane, and you can't see anything because of the reflection off the water. Grip on the older part is good, although if it keeps raining, it's going to get really difficult. There are two or three dangerous corners: Turns 1, 5 and 6, where the walls are too close. This morning we started out cautiously, but we improved toward the end, while this afternoon we didn't get chance to make too many improvements because the conditions were so bad.”

JORGE LORENZO (Fiat Yamaha Team): “I am happy today because the track is much better than I expected and a lot less dangerous. Some walls are quite close to the racing line, but in general, it’s not too bad. The first part, with the new tarmac, is difficult because it’s very slippery and there’s a lot of standing water, so you have to ride very carefully and very straight. The other part has better grip. We need to find a balance between tires, which is the biggest issue we have to deal with. The back part is flowing and fun to ride, I think it suits my riding style so this is an unexpected surprise! Anyway, the situation is the same for all the riders, the weather is bad, it’s a new track – we will do our best.”

NICKY HAYDEN (Repsol Honda Team): (On how he feels about his practice sessions): “This morning I felt decent, but I don’t feel really comfortable where there’s the big standing water. I’m just not gettin’ no; just pace, and it’s just hydroplaning on me. I don’t know if the bike is actually too soft or what, so maybe tomorrow definitely I’ll try some different tires. Where the track’s dry on the old part, I feel OK; I feel comfortable. But the other places, I mean, I’m just not comfortable. I feel stiff and feel really slow. In Turn 1 and Turn 2, I’m embarrassingly slow. It would be nice to catch a little break here and dry out a little bit today. The weather was, I mean, the same for everybody, but man, that was some serious rain.” (On whether his heel injury in causing some problems): “It’s not really helping me by any means, but it’s certainly better in the rain than riding in the dry. It’s not a big, big problem. It’s not helping me, but that’s not why I was eighth and 14t h or something.” (On the possibility of racing in rain as heavy as today): “I mean, I would think if it was raining as hard as it was at the end of the session, it’d be impossible to race about anywhere.” (On racing near his home): “It’s nice to be here. Obviously, I wish I was having a bit more fun. Today was not ideal. Also, for all the fans, that had to be pretty miserable after about an hour of just solid rain. It kind of takes the fun out of it. At least we have garages and stuff to get out of it. But I’m happy to be here and be so close to home. More than anything, I need to gas it up and try to get up front. That’s where the fun’s at.” (On what it’s going to be like in the draft during the race if it’s raining): “Well, that’s the one thing in the rain when it’s that heavy, as much as the track has standing water, it’s really hard to see. If it’s raining and you’re behind somebody, that’s probably in the race, the hardest part; visibility. You know what it’s like tryin g to see in your car with windshield wipers. Once you get be! hind the bubble, sometimes it steams up, also. You can’t really see through the bubble. When a bike throws up spray, it’s hard to see. Today over in Turn 4, your knee was throwing water up in your lap. I mean, I’ve felt that before, but that’s kind of when you know. When the rain gets deep, when your knee goes through it and starts putting water in your lap, you better get the snorkeler out.”

DANI PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team): “Well, it’s very wet. It was hard, because it was raining so hard. Much water stands on the track, buy anyway, the track is good and we try to get better. Some areas are very good, but some other areas is not so good. It’s quite slippery, but we try to get in good shape for tomorrow.”

BEN SPIES (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP): “It was good today, and we’re quite pleased with how it went. We finished both sessions early because it was so wet we weren’t going to make any difference. They were both good sessions for us, though, and although the track was a bit awkward in places because the water was laying on the surface, and it made it difficult in parts. I know I still had a bit in reserve, and if the conditions are the same tomorrow I am sure I can go a good bit quicker.”

CHRIS VERMEULEN (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP): “This is the first time at Indianapolis, and it’s great to have bikes at a place with such a racing history. It’s just a shame the weather didn’t turn it on today, and we ended up with two very wet sessions. The circuit have done a good job here and they have built a great track, although some of the new surface is different to the old one and it holds water in very different ways, so in the wet it was difficult to get the bike working with any rhythm. We did try a lot of things and the whole team did a good job in the awful conditions.”