By Paul Kelly
indianapolismotorspeedway.com
Friday, October 24, 2008
Live Timing | Event Schedule | Valencia Preview | IMS Tickets
The dusty, rugged motorcycle flat tracks of the United States may seem a million miles away from the smooth asphalt of the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Spain, but two American Grand Prix riders with flat-track roots emerged Oct. 24 as contenders for victory in the Grand Prix of Valencia.
2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden led both practice sessions in MotoGP in his final race for the Repsol Honda Team, while Stevie Bonsey qualified third on the provisional grid in the 125cc class. Both races take place Sunday, Oct. 26 in the season finale.
Red Bull Indianapolis GP runner-up Hayden, from Owensboro, Ky., was quickest overall with his lap of 1 minute, 45.777 seconds during the second session on the Repsol Honda Team Honda/Michelin. He also led the first session at 1:47.694.
Both sessions took place in wet conditions at the Ricardo Tormo circuit.
"It was pretty soggy out there, just rain all day," Hayden said. "The bike, the team, everything was on point today, now we've just got to keep it rolling because nobody's going to remember who was quickest Friday come Sunday night. I like being fastest, and if it means staying wet all weekend then that would be fine for me, but honestly I hope it dries up."
Hayden, 1999 AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year, is joining Ducati Team after this race. He has competed for Repsol Honda since his MotoGP debut in 2003.
Bonsey, from Salinas, Calif., qualified third in 125cc at 2:00.000 on the DeGraaf Grand Prix Aprilia. Simone Corsi of Italy is on the provisional pole at 1:59.809.
2005 AMA Sports Dirt Track Horizon Award winner Bonsey, 18, earned his provisional front-row qualifying spot after a crash earlier in the session.
"Well, today was exciting for me!" Bonsey said. "I don't like this track in the rain. It is so slippery. I felt quit good and nearly high-sided in Turn 4 but saved it. A couple of laps later, I crashed in Turn 1 and came into the garage with eight minutes to go. The team fixed the bike as good as they could and went out with no confidence left. I ended up going faster and put me to third."
Bonsey could make history this weekend, as the best finish by an American rider in a 125cc event is third, by Robert Lusk in the 1967 Canadian Grand Prix and by Alan Scott in the 1989 Australian Grand Prix. Bonsey's career-best finish is fourth, at the Grand Prix of Portugal on April 13 at Estoril.
***
2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: The second annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30, two weeks earlier than this year's date.
A three-day event ticket for a reserved seat or general admission can be renewed online at the Tickets section at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Fans also can request an upgrade of their reserved Race Day tickets at the Tickets section.
Ticket applications for new customers also are being accepted. New customers are encouraged to order early to secure the best available seats.
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway Talkback | Post Comment |
|
|
|