Capirossi salvages seventh at Indianapolis

Loris Capirossi put a difficult weekend and an equally tough start to today's Indianapolis Grand Prix behind him to battle his way to seventh place at the chequered flag.

Capirossi got a poor start compared to his usual high standards and was then further hampered on the second corner when a couple of riders - including team-mate Chris Vermeulen - collided and forced him onto the grass. Capirossi kept control of his bike but had to fight his way through the field from the back of the pack. He made gradual progress and got into seventh place with three laps remaining and, although he closed the gap dramatically on the rider in front, he was unable to make up any further places as he ran out of laps.

Vermeulen fared even worse from the second corner incident. He was hit by Mika Kallio and pushed very wide onto the grass. He too was fortunate to stay on the bike, but when he re-joined he was a long way from the main field. Vermeulen found his best rhythm of the weekend for the rest of the race as he too progressed through the pack. He made his way up to ninth but a slight mistake cost him a couple of positions on the last lap and he brought his Rizla Suzuki home in 11th place.

Today's race was watched over 75,000 spectators at the awesome Indianapolis Motor Speedway and they were treated to an eventful spectacle. Dani Pedrosa crashed whilst leading and then championship leader Valentino Rossi also crashed when in second place, to leave Jorge Lorenzo to take a comfortable victory on his factory Yamaha.

Rizla Suzuki now heads straight back to Europe for the 13th round of the World Championship at Misano in Italy next Sunday.

Loris Capirossi:

"The final position is not too bad, but I am disappointed with my start because it was not very good and on turn two I was involved in a big casino with some other bikes - luckily I didn't come off as bad as Chris! I kept up a good pace and I overtook a lot of guys, I had a good rhythm throughout the race and if I'd have had that rhythm without the incident early on and the bad start I think I could have challenged for a top-five place. I want to thank all my guys for another good job this weekend and they are all working hard to discover the best performance for the new chassis, I already think it is a lot better than the old one, but we still don't know its full potential. We got good data from the race and it was a better result than the grid position, but we expect more and we will be pushing hard in Misano!"

Chris Vermeulen:

"I got a good start off the line and made up a few places on the outside at turn one, but on turn two I got hit by Kallio and pushed out on the grass and I lost a lot of time. I was about last and had a lot of work to do from there. We made some changes to the bike for the race and I did my quickest run this afternoon from the whole weekend. I moved up some places and towards the end I was fighting for ninth, but had a bit of bad luck on the last lap and a couple of guys got past me. It was certainly the best we have been all weekend and we have some positive things to take to Misano."

Paul Denning - Team Manager:

"The race was the best performance we have seen all weekend, both out of the riders and the bikes. We're able to draw some positives in terms of confirming the correct direction with the new chassis and finding some setting data for it for the next GPs. Both of the guys pushed hard and gave everything today, but it is difficult for the team to achieve its full potential when both the riders are on the grass and at the back of the field on the second corner! The podium was beyond us today, but we had the potential to fight for a top-five and that will be our target as we go straight to Misano next weekend."

Dovizioso takes fourth in dramatic Indianapolis GP

Repsol Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso came within half a second of a podium finish today at the Indianapolis Grand Prix as he converted eighth on the grid into a strong fourth place at the finish. The Italian skillfully picked his way through an incident-packed race and in the closing laps he looked destined to overhaul a hard-charging Nicky Hayden for third at the American’s home race. Dovizioso closed to within 0.1s and was perfectly poised to strike until a momentary loss of grip on the last lap forced him to settle for fourth place. Despite missing out on the podium by fractions of a second, Dovizioso was pleased with the overnight improvements to his machine settings, which allowed him to increase his race pace. He will go to Misano next weekend ready for another front-running performance.

His Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa looked odds-on for a repeat of his runaway victory at Laguna Seca as he converted pole position into an early lead. Setting a searing pace in front of Valentino Rossi and eventual race winner Jorge Lorenzo, Pedrosa appeared to be repeating the dominance he had shown in every practice session ahead of today’s race. At the end of lap four however he fell from the lead - remounting and putting in a spirited fight-back despite a bent handlebar, no rear brake and a right footpeg that was half worn away. The never-say-die Spaniard was the fastest rider in the second half of the race and battled back to 10th place at the chequered flag to collect six championship points.

With barely time to draw breath, the MotoGP paddock now jets back across the Atlantic for the next weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano circuit.

Andrea Dovizioso

“After the warm-up today we made a radical change to the set-up and I have to say that my team has worked really well because, thanks to this modification, my feeling with the machine improved a lot in the race. I could ride faster than during the practice sessions and my rhythm in the race was also consistent. Considering how the weekend had gone up to this point, finishing fourth is quite positive result. We still have to improve though of course. I was close to Nicky and I tried to overtake him several times by taking big risks. It’s a pity to finish fourth because the podium was not impossible. The important thing is that we have taken an important step forward. We are close the podium and we will start again in Misano building on this good base.”

Dani Pedrosa

“This result was a real shame, but sometimes it happens. We did a great job all through practice and qualifying, I was confident for the race and of course I was hoping to win today. I was pushing very hard at the start of the race and perhaps I pushed too much. There was some cloud cover today and maybe the front tyre was a little cooler than before, but whatever the reason, I made a mistake and lost the front. I’m sorry for the team because they’ve worked really hard for me, and also to the fans who’ve given me great support. I wanted to win in American again but it wasn’t to be. There was some damage to the bike - the handlebar was bent inwards and the footpeg was worn away quite badly, but actually I was able to recover and ride at a fast pace to take some points at the end. Looking on the positive side, we’ve been very fast here and that means we can take a lot of confidence to Misano next weekend.”

Kazuhiko Yamano - Repsol Honda Team Manager

“Andrea came very close to the podium and improved his pace from practice and qualifying so this was a positive step for him. A top three finish would have been very satisfying for him here and he wasn’t far away. It’s his home race next and this result will give him even more motivation for that. Things had looked really good for Dani this weekend and obviously we were hoping for another win, like Laguna, in front of our American Honda fans. He was very fast through every practice session, was on pole position and was leading the race so it was very unlucky that he had that fall. He showed his fighting spirit by coming back through the field. Although this race result wasn’t what we were expecting, the Repsol Honda Team can go to Misano next weekend ready to battle at the front again.”

Three World Championship points for Esparagaro. Unlucky Canepa forced to retire.

Emotional debut since the first turns for the new Pramac Racing Spanish rider Aleix Espargaro. The young rider, who started from the last position on the Indianapolis Grand Prix starting grid, has found him self in tenth position after a few turns but in one of them he was caught in the group and touched Elias going off the track. He managed to go back on track but it wasn't easy to ride by him self as he was so far from the group. The Catalan rider didn't give up and made it to finish in thirteenth position in his first MotoGP race conquering three world championship points. His teammate, Niccolò Canepa, was having a good race but an anomaly at the electronic system forced him to retire during the twentyfourth lap when he was twelfth. After the second and last 2009 MotoGP round in the United States of America, the world Championship goes back to Europe where in seven days there will be the Misano Grand Prix.

Aleix Espargaro - Pramac Racing - 13th in the race - 20th in the Championship

"I have started really well, but after only a few turns I was stuck in a group of riders and I couldn't manage to avoid Elias. I am very sorry for this also because he is a good friend. I managed to step back on track, but alone wasn't easy to ride. I tried to maintain a good rhythm and at the end I conquered three points in my first MotoGP race: not so bad. Now I know a bit better the bike and I believe we can do much better in Misano on a circuit that I particularly like."

Niccolò Canepa - Pramac Racing - Retired- 16th in the Championship

"Today I was having a good race, I could have fought with Elias and Vermeulen, but when a few laps were missing a problem to the electronic system has suddenly switched off my bike. A pity because I was keeping a good rhythm and I could have fought to enter the top ten with the riders that were in front of me. I am very sorry because I needed a good result and I now hope that I will have the possibility to achieve it in Misano."

Lorenzo takes commanding win as Rossi slides out

Jorge Lorenzo took an emphatic third victory of the season at Indianapolis this afternoon, halving Valentino Rossi's championship lead in the process as his Fiat Yamaha team-mate slid out. The determined Spaniard was joined on the podium by Alex de Angelis and Nicky Hayden, with Tech 3 Yamaha riders Colin Edwards and James Toseland both putting in good rides to finish fifth and sixth. 

Dani Pedrosa took the hole shot with Rossi in close pursuit but Lorenzo got a poor start, forcing him to make one of his favourite 'por fuera' moves, around the outside of three riders. The leading trio quickly pulled several seconds ahead of the chasing pack but on lap four Pedrosa slid out, leaving the Yamaha pair alone once again at the front. There was little between the rival team-mates and on the ninth of 27 laps Lorenzo made a brilliant move on Rossi, passing him on the brakes into turn one. Just two laps later the World Champion ran slightly wide and, finding himself on a dirty part of the track, lost the front and went down. He remounted in 16th place but a problem with his throttle forced him to retire soon after. 

With no other challengers in sight, Lorenzo just had to bring his number 99 Yamaha home safely and he did so in fine style to win the second Indianapolis Grand Prix, in the Centenary year of the historic track. The youngster has now cut Rossi's lead to 25 points with five rounds remaining and just one week before the second of Rossi's home races at Misano in Italy. 

Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 1stTime: 47'13.592

"This is fantastic for me and for my team! I've had two crashes in a row but now I've won, and my closest rivals have crashed instead. Of course I'm sorry for them but these are the highs and lows of racing and it's an amazing result for me. I was strong all weekend and I really want to thank my team for giving me a great bike. I had a hard start and I had to try very hard to pass people and get back to third, but then I had a good rhythm and I was able to go with Valentino and Dani. Once Dani had gone I knew it would be a hard fight between me and Valentino and in fact when he crashed I didn't realise for a while, because I misread my pit-board and thought it said +0! Anyway, my bike was great and from then on it was quite easy, I just stayed focused. I had great fun on the slow-down lap with the fans and I am so happy to win here at this amazing track. The championship was almost gone but in one day things have changed a lot. It will be hard but we won't give up!"

Valentino Rossi - Position: DNF

"Today is a disappointment of course! We struggled here with the setting all weekend but we made an improvement today and I got a good start and was able to stay in touch with Pedrosa. Once he fell, I knew it would be between Jorge and I but I honestly don't know how it would have finished, because Jorge was very fast today. Of course, it would have been better to have finished second than not to finish at all! Unfortunately I ran wide on to a dirty part of the track at turn one and lost the front. I tried to carry on but there was a problem with my throttle and it wasn't possible. I want to congratulate Jorge for his victory and now we look forward to coming back to the front at Misano. We are still leading the championship and this is the most important thing." 

Daniele Romagnoli - Team Manager

"We couldn't ask for more today. Jorge did brilliantly all weekend and the team did a great job to improve his bike in order to close the gap to Pedrosa. Jorge was very confident in the race, thanks to another step forward we made with the setting after the warm-u,p and he rode very well. Of course we were lucky today and I am sorry for Valentino, but after Brno we had a huge points gap and now things have changed a lot so we have to make the most of it. We never gave up and this is a great reward for everyone." 

Davide Brivio - Team Manager

"This hasn't been the best weekend for us! It was a bit of a strange crash, and this is why as soon as Valentino got back he wanted to check the data. It seems he just found himself on a dirty part of the track and so when he braked he lost the front and that was it! He tried to carry on but it wasn't possible this time, so we have to accept that our championship lead is a bit smaller now! Well done to Lorenzo and the other side of the garage, and now we look forward to Misano in a week's time." 

Edwards and Toseland both in top six with impressive Indy result

Colin Edwards and James Toseland claimed impressive top six positions for the Monster Tech3 Yamaha team with hard fought performances in today's dramatic Indianapolis Grand Prix in front 75,000 spectators. Edwards came home a solid fifth with the Texan disappointed not have been closer to the front in his second home race of the season. After Dani Pedrosa crashed out of the lead Edwards was briefly third before he began to struggle with some rear grip issues. Today's results saw Edwards to retain fifth position in the championship standings. 

With a daring early charge from 10th on the grid Briton James Toseland scored his equal best result of the season with sixth place after an thrilling late race battle with Marco Melandri. After Melandri had briefly got ahead on lap eight Toseland was back in sixth on lap 10 and then rebuffed every challenge until Melandri crashed out of seventh position with two laps remaining.

Colin Edwards - Position: 5th - Time: +0'26.254

"It wasn't as much fun as thought it was going to be, to be honest with you, I had hopes of better result at my home race. I did the same times I did all weekend but I struggled with some grip issues, it just felt like everything was pivoting on the rear, it was like speedway, as soon as I got the bike on the side the rear came around and that is not the fast way. I couldn't put any load on the rear. At the end of the day we had the same tyres as the guy who won the race so whether it was so mething in our set-up or riding style, I don't know. All I could was watch Nicky and Andrea walk away from me and I took some big risks on the brakes. Once Nicky got by it became hard to manage and I think we turned a tyre on the rim, I had a lot of vibration over the final ten laps."

James Toseland - Position: 6th - Time: +0'32.408

"It's very pleasing to finish in the top six, I know I'm capable of these sort of results and need to be doing it very weekend. It was an entertaining race for me, pushing my way through from tenth on the opening lap and today I don't think I lost any friends doing that. Later in the race I had a great battle with Marco Melandri until he made a mistake with two laps go, I thought it would be a fight right to the end with him. I didn't have good feeling in the warm-up so I was little worried for the race but we softened the bike up a little and I was able to keep my pace fr om qualifying. Melandri was really strong in turns one and two but i just kept covering my line, kept my head down and kept pushing. Now I'm really looking forward to Misano next week, a track I know very well from superbikes." 

Herve Poncharal - Team Manager

"A very good weekend for us to have two riders in the top six. Colin had a great start and was right with the front group which was very exciting for us, it was pity that with some small problems he couldn't follow the pace. And special congratulations to James, it wasn't an easy weekend for him and he made a very good recovery from tenth on the grid. It was a shame for the show that both Pedrosa and Rossi crashed but for our team we got some very good points to enable us to consolidate fourth position in the Team Championship. And congratulations to Jorge to win after all the problems he has had recently."

Indianapolis MotoGP 2009 - Race Results