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.

The 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix begins from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August, with free practice starting later in the day.