RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP PRESS CONFERENCE

Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Marco Simoncelli, Pol Espargaro

Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008

MODERATOR: Well, it's the very first pole position press conference here at Indianapolis, the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, is round 14 of the MotoGP World Championship and Round 13 of the 250s and the 125s.

In pole position in the MotoGP class, Valentino Rossi. Of course, Valentino is leading the World Championship, only second pole position of the season riding the Fiat Yamaha. Alongside him on the front row of the grid, Casey Stoner. Casey has been in pole position for the last seven Grand Prixs, but I suspect you're happy to be on that front row. Completing the front row is Jorge Lorenzo. You finished second at Misano just a couple weeks ago. In the 250 cc class, Marco Simoncelli in pole position. Marco's fourth pole of the season. Marco leads the World Championship by 26 points with five rounds remaining in the 250 cc class. And in the 125 cc, Pol Espargaro, 17 years old now. We remember when he was 15 years old, don't we, riding in Grand Prixs on pole. It's his second pole position of the season.

The BMW Award, of course, awarded at the end of the season after qualifying, Casey Stoner still leads the way on 269. In second place, Valentino Rossi on 231. There will be what, four remaining won't there, because there will just be four qualifying sessions left.

OK, as always, we're delighted that Tissot are the official timekeepers for MotoGP. We're delighted here today, Francois [?] Tebel, of course, who is the president of Tissot. And a very special lady who's going to make the presentations, Danica Patrick. She is the first lady to win an IndyCar race. She's a very special lady. She won that race at Motegi in Japan. (Applause) So she just may pass on a few tips about riding or driving a car at Motegi where we arrive in two weeks' time.

We start the 125 cc class. Pol Espargaro, if you would like to come forward, please, to receive your watch and certificate from Francois and Danica. You come this way and we'll make the presentation. Thank you, Pol.

Danica is not used to making presentations, she's used to receiving them.

OK, thank you, Pol. We'll speak to you in a minute.

We come on to the 250 cc class, ladies and gentlemen, his fourth pole position of the season, he's leading the World Championship in the 250 cc class, Marco Simoncelli. (Applause) Just one over here. Marco one more. Sorry. Thank you.

The MotoGP class, ladies and gentlemen, he's leading the World Championship, not so many pole positions this season. That doesn't matter. He leads the championship by 75 points. The first ever pole position for MotoGP at Indianapolis, it's Valentino Rossi. (Applause)

OK, Francois, thank you. Danica, thank you very much indeed for the presentations. As always, thank you very much to Tissot, thank you both very much indeed. (Applause)

We will probably do a picture with Danica at the end with all the riders when we do the end-of-conference picture. We start with MotoGP. Valentino Rossi, Valentino, you could not imagine two more different days than yesterday and today, could you?

VALENTINO ROSSI: Yes, it's incredible. It's like we change season compared to yesterday. And for sure the condition I prefer a lot today. Now the bigger issue waiting for the forecast of tomorrow morning, because for sure the weather is so important. So we have to wait to understand what we expect. But I'm happy because I'm quite fast in all the conditions and this afternoon and also today we work well with all the team.

I did some good lap with the race tires, also if we need to improve a bit some small problem, especially with the qualifier I push hard. After the second qualify, I make some mistake during the lap but I did anyway quite good lap time, so I know I have a good potential. I know it's possible to make (1:) 40, and I try with the last one and the lap time was fantastic. You know, the pole position is just a small advantage, just 2 meters for the race. But for me it's important. I'm happy because it's just a second pole position of the year.

MODERATOR: We spoke on Thursday, you hadn't been around the circuit, and I think I heard you say you've been pleasantly surprised by the circuit.

ROSSI: Yes, I like the circuit. The layout is good. A lot of difficult corners in a row. You have to understand the right line to keep the speed, and I remember a little bit Rio with this track and I love Rio. So I'm good. And you know, I have a big question mark for the Turn 5, like we speak yesterday with the other riders for sure. Today also in the dry, the situation is more danger, and we have to do something for next year. But except for Turn 5, I think the rest is safe and good to ride.

MODERATOR: And Indianapolis as a place, a complex, it's been unbelievable, isn't it?

ROSSI: Yes, it is, and we wait for good weather also for the crowd. Already today for Saturday, we have a lot of people around the track. This is so important for our sport. So if tomorrow doesn't rain, for sure, we wait for more people and is good.

MODERATOR: Valentino, thank you very much.

Casey Stoner, ladies and gentlemen, riding the Marlboro Ducati. Casey, it's been quite a tough weekend, but you're on the front row of the grid, and that's what's important, isn't it?

CASEY STONER: Yes, it definitely hasn't gone to plan the last five or six weekends. But we've been happy enough with the position that we ended up. We're struggling a little bit with the front end today. There's a few parts of the track that we seem to get quite a lot of chatter, and it's hard to understand why. We changed a few things but we just couldn't seem to fix those problems. But, I mean, to be second on the grid, I wasn't really expecting great things this afternoon. We missed out in the last 10, 15 minutes of the morning session when the track started to dry out a little bit. I struggled to get the right setting and good feeling. So I'm pleasantly surprised with a front row because I wasn't expecting it today.

MODERATOR: And the circuit obviously in the rain it was very, very difficult. A different proposition today.

STONER: The only real drama with the circuit in the wet was just the new parts, the new surface holding a lot of water. It wasn't dispersing it anywhere, and when it started to dry out the old part of the track was completely bone dry, and the new track was still quite holding a lot of water. So that's the only issue, I'd say. Especially if it's going to be a 50/50 race if it starts to dry out, which tire to go on because the wet tires are just going to destroy themselves on the last part of the track, but on the first part there's going to be a lot of water still. So it could be interesting tomorrow, depending on the weather. At the moment it's been a 50/50 weekend, so it will be interesting to see how we wake up in the morning.

MODERATOR: I think everybody is going to wake up quite early in the morning, and that first glimpse of the weather is going to be very important, isn't it?

STONER: Yes, but this morning I woke up, and it didn't look that great and it definitely cleared up a lot. The way the track dried out in the end was very nice. It would be nice if we can have a dry race. But the forecast has been sort of all over the shot at the moment, and it's very, very hard to pick. So we've done the best job we can in both conditions, and we can only do what we can in the race.

MODERATOR: Casey, thanks very much.

We go on to the third place, front row of the grid for Jorge Lorenzo. Jorge is the double 250cc World Champion, MotoGP debut season. Jorge, you're back on the front row of the grid, it's been a good weekend.

JORGE LORENZO: It seems like it's going to be so funny tomorrow. I like the circuit. The track is not so dangerous that I expected, so I could drive like I know. We have some problems in T1, for example. I was riding following Valentino and I didn't know how he race in the T1, but, for sure, tomorrow if we want to be in front, we have to solve this problem because we lost half a second. If we get it, we can fight for finish on the podium or better.

MODERATOR: And Indianapolis as the whole place, it's an amazing place, the complex, the history and everything.

LORENZO: Yeah, for sure. I am happy to be here in this country and to know that the sport here is also important because the crowd here know about bikes and the riders, no? So they so much love. So it's important that this sport can grow up in this country.

MODERATOR: Jorge, thanks very much indeed. We all hope for dry weather for MotoGP tomorrow.

Go on to the 250 cc class, Marco Simoncelli. Marco, in your fourth pole position, that's where you want to be, especially after the little problems in Misano. Or big problems perhaps.

MARCO SIMONCELLI: Yeah, yeah. For me, of course Misano there was many, many problem. But anyway here I try to stay concentrate in the practice, and I had success in this thing. For tomorrow I think that I again will be quite fast because the setup of my bike is not so bad. And I believe that I can make a good race tomorrow.

MODERATOR: You lead the World Championship with 26 points; there's still five races. But you were battling so hard in Misano and sometimes you think perhaps just accept the points.

SIMONCELLI: Yeah, I have to pay attention because now I lead the championship. It's very important to take home many, many points. And, also, for this tomorrow I have to stay concentrate and think only do my race, not do the other riders.

MODERATOR: Marco, thank you very much. Good luck tomorrow.

SIMONCELLI: Thank you.

MODERATOR: We go on to the 125cc class, and Pol Espargaro was a superb qualifying situation in the dry.

POL ESPARGARO: (Through translator ) So, Pol, just explaining that, yeah, it was quite a good session for him today. Said really he hasn't going so well and didn't really get on with the circuit in wet conditions. But woke up this morning and saw it cleared a little bit and felt so much better in the dry conditions. When he came out to qualify, he let a few riders go first and see how the conditions were and put in a fast lap at the end and then he managed to repeat it. He says that's quite good where he's in a situation where you can do those fast laps consistently.

MODERATOR: Just for 125 cc rider, we heard MotoGP, they like the circuit. I think Marco likes the circuit. What is it like for a 125 rider?

ESPARGARO: (Through translator ) So, yeah, he's just explaining that it's quite hard, especially because of a long straight, you need a good engine to be working. It's quite complicated, quite technical for him. The main problem he was having was the change of surface and trying to get used to that. He says if it doesn't rain, he expects to have a good race.

MODERATOR: Thank you, Pol.

Just a reminder, it's the first time 125s and 250s in America for 14 years since Laguna Seca, 1994. So it will be interesting for the American public to see 125s and 250s.

OK, questions from the floor, ladies and gentlemen.

Q: Valentino, what would it mean to add your name to the legends of the Brickyard, A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, Jeff Gordon, the greats who have won here?

ROSSI: So I think the important is tomorrow to add my name because pole position is important, but tomorrow is quite different.

Q: Valentino, I'm curious about what you can talk about the rivalry between you and Casey and how that has kind of perpetuated through qualifying on the front row, both of you, in the last recent events.

ROSSI: Yes. So, is from Laguna that me and Casey start always first and second. This year Casey qualify from Barcelona was very, very strong. We try all the time try to make pole position; we work very well but we arrive behind. So, you know, the important is start on the front row for me. But when you make the pole position, it's always better for you and for all the team. So this time is like we work a little bit better, and we are able to start in front. But, for sure, the battle will be tomorrow.

Q: Valentino, at Laguna Seca you got off your bike and kissed the pavement in the Corkscrew. If you win tomorrow, are you going to kiss the bricks?

ROSSI: Yes, I know that happen, but the NASCAR go in clean -- the NASCAR guys win, they climb the fence, right? And for Indy, kiss the brick or what?

Before I think we have to concentrate on the 28 laps. (Laughter) And after, the rest is a lot more easy.

Q: Question for Casey. Casey, you had a pretty nasty crash yesterday morning, it seemed like you fell on your head. Are you all right? (Laughter)

STONER: I'm second on the grid, so I'm not doing too bad.

Q: What about your wrist, it's your left wrist that was injured a couple of weeks ago. It's a left-handed racetrack. Is that more of a problem, the fact that it's left-handed and you've got to put more extra weight on the left?

STONER: We've been trying to tape it so it takes the pressure off the brakes because it's a left-hand corner and you're always sitting off to the left-hand side a little bit. It's been a little difficult, and this afternoon we didn't have the taping perfect; there wasn't enough strength to keep it over. So we'll try and do a better job tomorrow. But, I mean, it's a pain in the butt, but it's not a reason I've run second. I've had a bit of a rough weekend, knocked my confidence a bit yesterday, didn't understand why we went down again. It's been nice to just get some decent laps today and try to get confidence back in the bike.

Q: Valentino, the last time you guys were in the United States, you and Casey put on a great show at Laguna Seca. Can you do that again tomorrow? And what kind of racing do you think this circuit allows or lends itself to?

ROSSI: Yes, I think this is a new track for everybody, so is more possible for the race, have more riders together, I think. After, you know, is difficult to say now when every race is a story, is different story. But looks like also the Michelin guy this time are not very far from me and Stoner. Also we have to have a good pace but have to start from behind. So in U.S. you are lucky because you see the best race of the year, the best battle. So if tomorrow come another time, is good.

MODERATOR: Anybody else, ladies and gentlemen?

Q: Jorge, what can you say about the Michelin tire on the dry situation? And the problem you had on the first part of the track was because the slippery asphalt or for setting up your bike?

LORENZO: I think Michelin is a good tire. (Laughter) It's a good tire, and we can try to beat these guys. But we have to do a excellent race to do it. So I have to concentrate, at least to follow they. If we can beat them, we will try. In the first sector, as you said, we had some difficulty because I don't feel enough feeling in the front wheel to brake later and harder. So I think this is --

Q: Or the asphalt?

LORENZO: Yes, for sure, we don't have enough grip in this corner, but they can brake much later than us. For sure it's a question I don't know, because Colin and James also brake the same as me. So maybe Michelin and Yamaha for the front tire is difficult to brake hard.

Q: This is for Valentino or Casey. I heard you talk about how dangerous or how hard the new portion of the track is. The Corkscrew is not known for passing, and we saw a good pass at Laguna. Do you think there's any chance of aggressive passing on the new course when you're just trying to survive?

ROSSI: I think in this track have two or three point during the lap what is possible to overtake. Have some long straight where it's possible to use the slipstream, have the braking after the back straight. Have some point where is possible to try to overtake in some change of direction and try to use another line for try to go in front. Yes, I think the track is wide, so is possible.

MODERATOR: Anybody else? No?

One at the back here, yeah.

Q: Valentino, what do you think of Nicky Hayden and his effort to ride here with the cast and the broken leg -- broken foot?

ROSSI: Yes, Nicky, for sure, is not at the maximum. I see his foot is very black, you know. (Laughter) So, for sure, Nicky always give a lot in U.S. Grand Prix, have extra motivation. I don't speak with him; I don't know if he feel a lot of pain. But today he make a good run and make some very good lap time after six or seven laps. So maybe it's good for tomorrow. He have also the extra motivation to try to arrive in front of Pedrosa with different tire, so he for sure try a lot. (Laughter)

MODERATOR: I didn't think we were going to talk about tires today. (Laughter)

Any more questions, ladies and gentlemen? No?

I think we are fine. If we can stand for the photograph, please, just for the riders. And then we'll ask Danica to stand with the riders for the final picture. That will be grand. Thanks.

Gentlemen, thank you. And Danica, thank you very much indeed.