Ducati are looking forward to their best weekend’s of the season at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, with the US market being particularly important to the Italian outlet and the round 12 race being the homeland for their American champion Nicky Hayden.

Last year, racing for former factory Honda, Hayden claimed a massive stage finish after he placed second in the hurricaned MotoGP event at The Brickyard and the 2006 World Champion comments on Indy stating, “This is probably the race I look forward to most as it’s just three hours from my house and MotoGP now is becoming very popular in the States. Last year it was a great weekend for me, the crowd was great and Indy did a great job in organising their first race and made us proud of it. I would love to have another good weekend like that one.

The Kentuckian competitor adds “I like the track itself even though it’s quite flat. The most challenging thing is that it has different kinds of asphalt on different parts of the track so it will be a hard job to find out where there is grip and to find the best set-up. Hopefully we won’t have another hurricane, the weather should be fine, so we will see how it goes.”

Meanwhile, Hayden’s substitute colleague following the absence of Casey Stoner, rookie Mika Kallio, is set to make his US event debut this weekend. The minor sessions do not race at Laguna Seca and Kallio skipped the Californian MotoGP event due to health issues earlier in the year, while last season he was part of the 250cc class which wasnt able to perform at Indy due to weather conditions.

The Finnish competitor states, “Even though I came here last year the race itself was cancelled because of the hurricane. Anyway, I can’t say I don’t know the track because we did contest every practice session, including the warm-up. It’s not exactly my favourite kind of track but it’s ok. There are three different kinds of asphalt and that makes it really tricky to get a set-up. Anyway, we’ll do our best and I’d like to be competing within the top five or six.”

Referencing Stoner’s ability to come back to Australia as he continues to heal from his injuries, Ducati’s MotoGP Project boss Livio Suppo says, “The news from Casey is positive, he is getting stronger and I’m sure he will be back at full strength at Estoril. As far Indy is concerned, I think everything is in place for both Nicky and Mika to have a good weekend.

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Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha Motor Company have authorised an extra year's extension to the competitor's rider contract that enables Lorenzo, who is currently second in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship rankings, as a colleague of reigning MotoGP hero Valentino Rossi for another calender year.

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, explains "We are obviously delighted that Jorge has decided to stay at Yamaha for the next season and we hope that he will remain at Yamaha for many years to come. Jorge has shown his talent, his ability to learn and to compete at the highest level with many excellent performances in 2008 and 2009. We have no doubt that he has the ability and drive to become MotoGP World Champion and we are proud that he has decided to remain with Yamaha, despite having received some very serious approaches from some of our competitors. This timely decision now allows us to focus on the present championship, where our riders are currently first and second, and to make definitive plans for our 2010 MotoGP program."

"I am very happy!" says Jorge Lorenzo. "Today is a good day because I have decided to remain with the Yamaha Factory Team in 2010. It was a very important decision and that's why I have had to take the last few weeks to make it, but I think that this is the best decision for me in this moment.

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This weekend’s race at Indianapolis will oberserve previous season's victor Valentino Rossi aiming for another win to cement his rankings lead at the twelfth round of the year.

In the sole premier session MotoGP World Championship event at the historic ‘Brickyard’ last season, Rossi gained maximum advantage points being awarded victorious, fronting by six seconds when the due 28 lap event was unfinished on the 20th lap, with Nicky Hayden and Jorge Lorenzo arriving second and third respectively.

Rossi and his opponents will look for decent weather this time, since last season's race where the effects of Hurricane Ike hit on race day, with the Italian champion planning to increase his current 50 point championship lead, following another successful race in the Czech Republic at the prior round.

Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha colleague Lorenzo placed just ahead of him on the timesheet in the last post-event test of the season on the Monday after the Czech event, the Spaniard will look to coming back strong from his two DNFs at Brno and Donington Park, as he tries to gain victory into the title battle with only six Grand Prixs left.

Casey Stoner is still absent from his physical issues, he remains in Australia and is due back on the circuit at Estoril early in October.  The bookies’ odds to see the stage with Rossi and Lorenzo is Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, who placed second in the Brno event and is currently sitting fourth, 77 points away from Rossi.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 competitor Colin Edwards in the second US visit this year gives him an opportunity to consolidate his top five championship rank as he tries to come back from a disappointing 15th placing last season in the Indy race. Edwards’ team mate Hayden who is currently 14th in the championship would also attempt to re-live his Indianapolis result from last year and reach the stage for the sole time with Ducati.

Andrea Dovizioso is also gaining ground, he just missed out at Brno and was placed fifth in the MotoGP Indianapolis event last year. Dovizioso is sitting sixth in the ranks, just ahead of Honda's Randy de Puniet who has competed consistently this year and due to make an announcement about with whom his future lies for next season.

Eighth placed Marco Melandri will ride at Indianapolis knowing a place with San Carlo Honda Gresini has been confirmed for next season, while his representatives Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen of the Rizla Suzuki staff are also likely to announce their confirmation plans shortly, both hoping for sure Indy races.

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Rizla Suzuki have confirmed a fresh industrial partnership with Italian manufacturer Marchesini, to provide and develop forged magnesium competition tyres for the official Suzuki staff.

Marchesini will be the tyre of choice for the Suzuki GSV-R with instant results as Loris Capirossi, Chris Vermeulen and the Japanese factory look forward to improving the 800cc prototype engine in its advancement to MotoGP success.

Marchesini will directly provide Suzuki with their tyres specially advanced for the GSV-R, with cutting-edge answers relating to innovation, design and performance, becoming the most current upgrade to the GSV-R's package. Reliability, sturdiness and safety are all provided by the best mechanical traits of the magnesium alloy, and Marchesini's forged magnesium tyres also give ultra performance being less in weight whilst enduring more strength and aerodynamics, more effective than other suppliers in the racing tyre market.

Rizla Suzuki Team boss Paul Denning commented, “Suzuki is very excited to be entering into a partnership with such an innovative technical partner. Marchesini is at the forefront of motorcycle wheel technology and, as part of the Brembo Group, has the R & D and engineering resource to respond to all types of technical demands. Marchesini has an amazing history in road-racing and we certainly hope that we can contribute to its list of successes in the very near future.

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August 2009, Sunday 2
   
Darwin Member Ride & Morning Tea`

Meet time:     8.30am for 9.00am start
Location:      BP Free Spirit 906 Stuart Hwy, Pinelands, NT, Australia

Route:         285km Pinelands to Wangi Falls via Rum Jungle returning on Litchfield Park Rd [60km dirt] 
Finish:           Mindil Beach reserve map here
Difficulty:         Roads 1 (all bitumen, good condition) Speed 2 (Moderate, within speed limit) Navigation 1 (Fully route charted, very easy) Experience 1 (Suitable for new riders)
Cost:         Members Free, Non-Members and Friends $5

RSVP: Send an email to riders@ma.org.au or by phone to 03 9684 0509


August 2009, Sunday 9
   
Sydney Member Ride to ASBK

We'll be leaving from Kellyville in Sydney's west, and travelling around an hour before finsihing at Eastern creek to see a great day's racing.

Members on this ride will receive free priority parking, PLUS a free show bag with merchandise from ASBK on arrival at Eatern Creek
Meet Time:     8.30am for a 9.00am start (don't be late for this one!)
Location:         Ettamogah Pub Cnr Merriville and Windsor Rds Kellyville NSW 2155
Finish:         Eastern Creek Raceway [map here]
Difficulty:         Roads 1 (all bitumen, good condition) Speed 2 (Moderate, within speed limit) Navigation 1 (Fully route charted, very easy) Experience 1 (Suitable for new riders)
Cost:         Free Members only [other than pillions]


August 2009, Sunday 16
   
Sydney Member Ride & BBQ

We'll be leaving from Kellyville in Sydney's west, and travelling north on a great route.
Meet Time:     10.00am for a 10.30am start
Location:         Ettamogah Pub Cnr Merriville and Windsor Rds Kellyville NSW 2155‎ (map here)
Route:         106km Kellyville to Central Mangrove via Wisemans Ferry [map here]
Finish:         Memorial Drive, Central Mangrove [map here]
Difficulty:         Roads 1 (all bitumen, good condition) Speed 2 (Moderate, within speed limit) Navigation 1 (Fully route charted, very easy) Experience 1 (Suitable for new riders)
Cost:         Members Free, Non-members and Friends $5

RSVP: Send an email to riders@ma.org.au or by phone to 03 9684 0509


August 2009, Sunday 23
   
Brisbane Member Ride & BBQ
Meet Time:     9.00am for a 9.30am start
Location:         Cnr James and Kent Sts, Beenleigh [map here]
Route:         130km Beenleigh to Boonah [route here]
Finish:         Boonah Park, Boonah [map here]
Difficulty:         Roads 1 (all bitumen, good condition) Speed 2 (Moderate, within speed limit) Navigation 1 (Fully route charted, very easy) Experience 1 (Suitable for new riders)
Cost:         Members Free, Non-members and Friends $5

RSVP: Send an email to riders@ma.org.au or by phone to 03 9684 0509


August 2009, Saturday 29
   
HART Victoria [Somerton] Open Day

We'll be there in the big black MA truck. Come say hello, and take the latest Hondas for a spin.



Sept 2009, Saturday 5
   
Melbourne Member Ride & BBQ

We'll be travelling south to find some great roads.
Meet Time:    9.00am for a 9.30am start
Location:         Motorcycling Australia 147 Montague Street Sth Melbourne or Join us at 10.30am [est] at Shell 336 Main Street Emerald
Route:         Sth Melbourne to Warragul return via Koo Wee Rup, Nyora and Ellinbank [approx route here]
Lunch location:     1.00pm [est] Civic Park Warragul
Difficulty:         Roads 1 (all bitumen, good condition) Speed 2 (Moderate, within speed limit) Navigation 1 (Fully route charted, very easy) Experience 1 (Suitable for new riders)
Cost:         Members Free, Non-members and Friends $5

RSVP:Send an email to riders@ma.org.au or by phone to 03 9684 0509

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