RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP MotoGP POST-QUALIFYING QUOTES - Saturday, Sept. 13

CHRIS VERMEULEN (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP): “It’s the first dry of running in the Indianapolis circuit. It was good. It was exciting to ride on the new circuit. There are different surfaces here. It was surprisingly good. The track layout is great to ride. We had limited time to set up the bike. Qualifying was difficult. I made a little mistake and had a small crash. But the bike’s working well, and I am looking well. I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow. I think it’s great to come up to a new circuit like this and to put it up to World Championship level for MotoGP. I think they’ve done a really good job. I can’t wait to race here.”

JAMES TOSELAND (Tech 3 Yamaha): “It's just a lack of time, really. With yesterday, to get a draft setup on a brand-new track. We were going in the right direction with it. We just left it a little bit too late. But, top 10, and I've heard the weather is going to be pretty bad tomorrow, so it's a decent grid position tomorrow, and we've just got to hang in there.”

NICKY HAYDEN (Repsol Honda Team): “We were pretty good in the dry. I really hope that we can be competitive tomorrow. I know it’s going to be tough, but the team’s doing a good job. Man, I got amazing support here from friends and family. I’ll just try real hard tomorrow to see what happens.” (On whether the heel injury will affect his race tomorrow): “Uh, nah, I’m sure it’ll be all right. I’m sure it’ll be talking to me a little bit in parts of the track, but luckily this track goes a lot more left and I’ve got a lot more strength in my foot than I had, so I’ll be all right.” (On comparing this course with other courses): “We’ve raced inside a few ovals. I mean, it’s certainly got an American feel, because you race inside an oval. But, also, Rio used to be in an oval, and South Africa used to be in an oval. It’s got a little bit of a feel. The hardest thing is probably the different surface, a lot of different surface out there. But I quite like the track. It’s really fun. T here’s a few safety things I think we’ll talk about for the future, but for the first year I think everybody here did an amazing job; Mel (Harder) and Indy and Red Bull. Everybody worked hard to bring MotoGP to this part of the world, and I think they did a good job.” (As an American, what would it mean to win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?): “We got a long way to go before we start talking about winning, but I hope it’s dry tomorrow. I feel a lot more confident in the dry. Come tomorrow, just ride hard and see what happens” (On his relationship with teammate Dani Pedrosa): “You know, everybody makes a big deal about it. We really got no problem, me and him. I mean, sure, we’re not teammates. We don’t work together at all. He does his thing, and I do mine. Now ain’t the time to go into that. My guys, I’d love to give them a good result before the season’s over, because they’ve never given up on me and worked really hard. They deserve a good result before we finish off. They did a lot for me in my career, and I’m really grateful.”

COLIN EDWARDS (Tech 3 Yamaha): “It's like riding a jackhammer out there. We have a bit of a chatter problem that we're trying to fix, but we couldn’t get it worked out. It was a hell of a lot better, I can tell you that. Yesterday was a little bit scary at times, and today was pretty normal. Just go out there and push and get your bike set up and go as fast as you can. Tomorrow, we're going to have to give these fans something to root for. I'll just drop the hammer. It wasn't bad (today), you know. I mean, I've got a lot of fans here and I should. I'm American.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO (JiR Team Scot MotoGP): “I’m really happy about today because the track under dry conditions is much better. Still we have a problem. On the new asphalt, it is so dirty. There is a small line that is really difficult. Still I am confident for tomorrow because our pace on the race tire is so fast. I can go faster. I am confident to get a good race tomorrow.” (Does it help that we had a rainy day yesterday, and a dry day today, so that way you are prepared for tomorrow in either condition?) “Our problem is if we have a lot of rain. If it is wet, it is not a problem. We are fast under both conditions.” (Would you consider driving four wheels around this place instead of just two?) “I like driving four wheels! I am interested in trying four wheels, especially at Indianapolis.”

BEN SPIES (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP): “It was a good day. It was the best qualifying position we’ve had. That’s what my goal was, to get on one of the first two rows in case it rains tomorrow. (We want) to be in front of all the stuff that goes on and then be up in the front. It was a good qualifying for us. The bike’s working great. We’re still trying to get some more out of it, and me, too. Everything was going along, and we made some changes before qualifying. We made it better. It’s moving right along.” (Does it help that we had a rainy day yesterday, and a dry day today, so that way you are prepared for tomorrow in either condition?): “I’m sure it helped, but these guys, they pick up tracks fast. They know where they’re going right now. I think we are even playing ground now. I just appreciate everybody that’s rooting me on. I see all the fans, and every time I come around they are giving me the thumbs up and yelling. I appreciate it, and I’m giving it all to represent the wh ole U.S.”

JOHN HOPKINS (Kawasaki Racing Team): “Yeah, completely different day, just super, super hot, and really humid conditions today, but you know, the track was a lot drier today. Unfortunately, we did run into some issues today with the front end of the bike.” (That can't be very comforting): “No, not at all, when especially you go into the first turn at 160 or 170 mile per hour. There was light at the end of the tunnel because we did find a setting that was much improved before we went out on the qualifier, so we really didn't get time to find the limit of the setting because I had to go straight into the qualifier. So I think our spirits are definitely high for tomorrow even if it is dry, and if it's wet we can get a good result tomorrow.” (You said yesterday that the setup challenges were more difficult when it was dry): “Yeah, yeah, in the dry you have front end chatter, it pushes, and the rear end starts stepping out and sliding, so it is a lot harder to get a good lap time in the dry right now with the machine than in the wet. But we definitely found a lot at the end, which really improved our situation, and we did get well within the competition. Another half-second we would have climbed up the charts quite a bit farther.” (Does this circuit compare with any other that you run?): “No, completely different, different styles of asphalt, really tight, some fast corners, some switchbacks, no it is one of a kind.” (Do you like it?): “Actually, I don't mind it. When your laps are quicker and you are running at the front of the field, you like a track a lot more, so I am determined to get up there and get the lap times a lot better so that we can enjoy the circuit and enjoy the riding a little bit more.” (What has been the reaction to MotoGP here?): “Yeah, it seems really good, there are a lot of people out here today, and I am glad that they got a dry day. It’s a good situation. I just hope we are able to put on a really, really good show for them so that the sport just grows, and grows and grows in the Uni! ted Stat es.” (Jeff Ward is here today. He finished second in the Indy 500. Did you have any thoughts of racing cars?): “Yes, I definitely want to do some car racing in the future and stuff like that. Right now, I am 100-percent focused on MotoGP.” (So you wouldn't rule this out?): “No, not at all. I love racing cars, I test drove an F1 car a couple of years and rode a really competitive time in it, and it was fun. I plan on racing cars in the future.” (How do you deal with the unpredictability about tomorrow?): “If it is wet, we have lot more of a chance to have a good position, so we are hoping for wet, but if it dry I think it will be a better show for the fans.” (Do you think you are better in the wet than some of your competitors?): “I don't know. It just seems that our bike reacts a bit better in the wet condition than in the dry.” (When a driver is on the oval they know when they have got the most out of a car. How is it for a rider on this circuit? Do you know this, given the new track, the conditions and all?): “There are places and times when you get that, but we are still learning this place, and we are still far from getting there.” (Are you comfortable on the bike?): “We still have to dial it in, and we are nowhere near comfortable yet.” (When you are here in the U.S., are there more distractions?): “Definitely. I have more press obligations during the day, but we have to do more stuff for the fans. Lot more family and friends, for sure.” (So is this a race where you will be glad that it is over?): “No I'm really, really enjoying it.” (When you are in a position where you start from the back, do you have to try to make up a lot of positions right away?): “You try to get through the first laps and try to gain as many positions as possible, get off the line as good as possible, and don't get behind and try to catch that lead group and try to get stuck in with them.”

TONI ELIAS (Alice Team): “It was bad. We've ridden in a place higher, but in qualifying we made a mistake and we crashed. But finally I am in position and qualified for that. I hope tomorrow is better. It's another day, and I hope it's not raining. If there's no rain, it will be a good race for me.”

SYLVAIN GUINTOLI (Alice Team): “Well, we've had a really good day, really. The qualifying was not so great, but we've got a good race ridden, so if the race is dry tomorrow, it is quite good. I think it's going to be raining anyway, so. The track is very tricky with the wet conditions, so I think it's going to be a lot of fun tomorrow.”

SHINYA NAKANO (San Carlo Honda Gresini): “That’s very good qualifying for us. The pace is not too bad. I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow. When the track is dry, it’s a bit easier to ride because of better grip. With rain, some parts of the racetrack are very good. For us, it’s very difficult because we have to change our style, but when it’s dry, it’s good. I hope to have dry conditions tomorrow for me and for the spectators. This is one of the fastest tracks. Italy is another fast one, but here it is quite fast. I’m impressed.”

LORIS CAPIROSSI (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP): “I think the track is not too bad. The layout is nice, but we struggled a lot yesterday with the rain conditions. The bike is a little better compared to this morning, but we have to work for more tomorrow. We hope to have the same weather (sunshine).” (What if we don’t have the same weather?): “The problem is that it depends on what kind of rain we have. If we have really hard rain, there may be no race because it is dangerous.”