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As if the Moto2 grid wasn't confusing enough already, the Misano round for the 40-strong Moto2 class features a host of replacement riders and wildcards. Making things even worse, some of the replacements and wildcards are riders who have left one team and gone on to ride for another. Here's a rundown of the Misano Moto2 Musical Chairs:

First of all, the absentees: Aeroport de Castello's Alex Debon is out after fracturing his collarbone yet again, the 4th time in 10 months, after falling at Indianapolis. HolidayGym's Fonsi Nieto is also missing, having cracked his heelbone in the Indy Moto2 mayhem. Nieto has been extraordinarily unlucky: not only did he fracture bones in his foot, but the Spaniard had problems during surgery on his foot which saw him suffer a respiratory arrest as a result of the anesthetics being used. So serious was the situation that Nieto was even in danger of having his foot amputated because of the complications.

Toni Elias' Gresini teammate Vladimir Ivanov is also absent due to injury, as is JIR Moto2's Yusuke Teshima - himself a replacement for Mattia Pasini, who left after a dispute over finances - and Arne Tode of Team Germany, both of whom picked up (further) injuries at Indy.

Of the five missing riders, only three are to be replaced. Former Superstock 1000 champion Xavier Simeon is due to take the place of Nieto, the Belgian already having shown very strong form riding as a wildcard on the Holiday Gym Moriwaki. Taking Teshima's place at JIR Moto2 is Alex de Angelis, a very familiar name in Moto2. After losing his spot in the MotoGP class at the end of the 2009 season, De Angelis joined the Team Scot Moto2 effort, riding the Force GP210. However, a chronic lack of funds saw the team fold before the season was out. De Angelis' departure to the Interwetten Honda MotoGP team to sub for Hiroshi Aoyama gave the team a brief stay of execution, but once Aoyama returned, there was no team for De Angelis to return to. And sitting in for Ivanov is Japanese rider Tatsuya Yamaguchi.

Misano also sees two Moto2 wildcards: One is a name mentioned already, Mattia Pasini returning to race on a third Italtrans Suter alongside Roberto Rolfo and former AMA racer Robertino Pietri. The other is Italian racer Ferruccio Lamborghini, who will be joining Jules Cluzel and Claudio Corti at Forward Racing aboard another Suter.

Finally, there's a familiar face on a new team. The disappearance of Team Scot left not one but two former MotoGP riders adrift: Alex de Angelis has now found (temporary) shelter with the JIR team, and his former teammate, Niccolo Canepa is now riding a Bimota for the M Racing team.

The return of a British MotoGP draws ever nearer. Cal Crutchlow has been linked to a MotoGP ride for several months now, but the Englishman now looks set to finalize the deal in the next couple of weeks, with an announcement possibly coming as early as this weekend at Misano. Talks are expected to take place here in Misano to settle the last few details with Yamaha bosses, but a deal now looks to be certain.

Crutchlow is so sure of securing the deal that he has broken off talks with World Superbike teams, and is focused on switching to MotoGP with the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha squad, MotoMatters.com understands. An announcement by the Sterilgarda Yamaha rider is now merely a formality.

Crutchlow has made no secret of his desire to move up to MotoGP. The Englishman came close to signing a Moto2 deal with Fausto Gresini in the middle of last year, while Crutchlow was still racing World Supersport, but Yamaha held him to the second year of his two-year deal, which saw Crutchlow join the Sterilgarda Yamaha team in World Superbikes. Crutchlow has an option to stay with Yamaha's WSBK squad, but has decided to turn it down for a shot in MotoGP with Tech 3.

The risk for Crutchlow is embodied by his current Sterilgarda Yamaha teammate. James Toseland left the World Superbike paddock for a stint in the Tech 3 team, and after a stunning start, Toseland's progress seemed to stall on the MotoGP bike. The Yorkshireman made a reluctant return to World Superbikes with the Yamaha factory squad, and has taken his time to adapt back to WSBK machinery.

Crutchlow also has big boots to fill. The Englishman will take the place of Ben Spies, who is leaving the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team to move up to the factory squad for 2011. Spies has exceeded Yamaha's expectations of his performance, scoring two podiums and a pole after just 11 races in the series. Crutchlow would not be expected to match that level of performance, but he will certainly be under pressure to exceed the results of James Toseland.

Yamaha manager Lin Jarvis told Motorcycle News earlier this week that he believed that Crutchlow would be better off spending another year in World Superbikes. The pressure is on for Crutchlow to prove him wrong.

While Silly Season for MotoGP seems to start earlier and earlier, the announcement of the calendar seems to get pushed back every year. 2011 is no exception, and even though September has started, there is still no provisional MotoGP calendar for next year, something which is normally published around the time of the Brno MotoGP weekend.

The reason for this year's delay is that the calendar faces a number of complications: Firstly, most people in the paddock are unhappy with the date of the opening MotoGP round at Qatar. While MotoGP fans had to wait until the second week of April for the season opener, the World Superbike series had already been underway for six weeks, and was entering its third weekend of racing. Then there is the issue of the Hungarian MotoGP round that went missing, the option of running Laguna Seca and Indianapolis back-to-back to help save money, and a host of other unresolved questions.

The response of the FIM and Dorna has been to postpone a decision for a year, according to the Italian magazine Motosprint. With the series due to undergo a major shakeup in 2012, with the return of 1000cc MotoGP bikes and the replacement of the 125cc class with the 250cc four-stroke Moto3 class, that moment will be seized to reappraise the schedule, and possibly shake up the entire calendar, but for now, the 2011 calendar is likely to stay pretty much as it is.

One change will be to move the Qatar MotoGP round up a few weeks, with the MotoGP opener likely to take place on March 20th, according to Motosprint. To avoid problems with temperature, the weekend schedule could be completely revamped, with extra days added for practice, MotoMatters.com has learned. The problem has always been that running practice and the race close to midnight, the temperature drops off sharply at that time of night, causing moisture to form on the track and making the desert circuit extremely slippery. To avoid that situation, the event will be run over four days instead of three, with more sessions of shorter length, to allow qualifying and the race to take place earlier in the evening. This will suit not only the temperature, but also fit in better with TV schedules in Italy and Spain, with the race being run nearer 9pm rather than 11pm local time, coinciding with 7pm in Western Europe.

The remainder of the calendar will be largely unchanged: Laguna will remain where it is at the end of July, while the Indianapolis round has already been announced for the weekend of August 28th, 2011, with a visit to Brno between the two. The Motorland Aragon circuit will once again take the place of Hungary - the powers-that-be having given up on the Balatonring being functional in time - meaning that Spain once again has four MotoGP rounds. It is unclear as yet whether Japan will stay in the same slot, putting all three Asia-Pacific flyaways together, which cuts costs for the teams significantly.

These details are expected to be cleared up at Aragon in two weeks' time, when the provisional calendar is due to be announced. What is also likely to be announced is an extra two days of testing at Jerez, on November 24th and 25th. The teams - especially the factory teams - have been asking for more testing, as the cuts made during the 2008 season were felt to have been a little too rigorous. And with both Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi switching manufacturers, more testing will be more than welcome. The added date in November, however, favors Honda and Yamaha more than it does Ducati. Yamaha have still not released Valentino Rossi for testing after the final MotoGP round at Valencia this year - Rossi's contract runs through December 31st, as do all MotoGP contracts - and adding a date in 2010 could mean that Rossi would miss two tests, rather than just the one after Valencia.

After 2011, though, the calendar is likely to undergo a major shakeup. Spanish magazine Motociclismo is reporting that both Singapore and Abu Dhabi could get races from 2012 onwards, while the brand new circuit being built in the Sak'skyi region on the Crimean peninsula - currently sponsoring the Gresini Moto2 team - is also a candidate for a Grand Prix. The two US rounds of MotoGP are likely to be made back-to-back, with possibly a layoff week in between to allow the material to be transported from west to east by road rather than air freight. But another possibility is that Indianapolis could be replaced on the calendar by the brand new circuit being built in Austin, Texas for Formula 1. Former 500 GP World Champion Kevin Schwantz has been advising on that circuit, and the circuit owners have made no secret of their interest in hosting international motorcycle racing events at the track. The Austin circuit could even be added as a third US round of MotoGP, especially if Ben Spies lives up to the expectations being placed on him, and challenges the top four MotoGP "Aliens" once he moves to the factory Yamaha team.

The contrast will be striking: The 2011 MotoGP calendar is likely to be virtually identical to the one used for 2010; the 2012 calendar could be virtually unrecognizable.

With the highest-profile moves all officially confirmed, MotoGP's Silly Season is starting to run out of steam. The big surprises are out of the way, and we are left with just over half the seats still unfilled. But even for the unsigned rides, names have already been penciled in, some rather more firmly than others. 

The two big names still waiting to put their signatures under contracts are surely Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. Lorenzo's Brazilian manager is said to be playing hardball with Yamaha, trying to extract the best possible conditions out of the Japanese factory now that the sales powerhouse Valentino Rossi has left Yamaha to go to Ducati. Rumors of a 14 million euro salary demand are unconfirmed, but with Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica likely to take on sponsorship of the Yamaha squad, Lorenzo might be expected to earn that in sponsorship by allying his selling power to the Telefonica brand.

Ironically, Lorenzo's bargaining position is strengthened by his arch rival Dani Pedrosa. Pedrosa has still not renewed his contract with Repsol Honda, with the bone of contention the development efforts to be focused on HRC's RC212V MotoGP bike. Pedrosa's third win of the season - his most ever in a single year - will ease those negotiations, but as long as Pedrosa has not signed, Lorenzo has at least the pretense of an alternative to renew his own contract with Yamaha. The converse is also true, of course: While Lorenzo continues to hold out for a better deal from Yamaha, Pedrosa is also a candidate for that seat, and can use that as a bargaining chip with Honda.

The biggest paradox hangs over Andrea Dovizioso. The current Repsol Honda rider is said to have a clause in his contract guaranteeing another year with the factory team if he was 3rd in the championship after Laguna Seca, a goal he easily achieved, if assisted by Valentino Rossi's crash at Mugello and Casey Stoner's problems with the 2010 Ohlins forks. Dovizioso is certain to continue with Honda, and certain to continue on factory machinery, the only question to be answered is where, and how Dovi is going to be persuaded to accept.

Elsewhere, announcements are rumored to be imminent for Tech 3, with Cal Crutchlow now likely to join Colin Edwards in the team. Crutchlow's arrival has been long-heralded, and is likely to be confirmed at Misano, but the fact that Colin Edwards has decided to remain with Herve Poncharal's team is a little more surprising. Edwards' hand has been forced, as he was being very strongly linked to Ducati's World Superbike factory team, but with the Borgo Panigale factory's folding of its factory effort, that left Edwards with nowhere to go.

Aleix Espargaro now looks likely to retain the Pramac ride, the Spaniard now crashing less than his teammate Mika Kallio, a factor working in his favor, and Kallio is being linked with a Moto2 ride with the Ajo team, who currently field Marc Marquez in the 125cc class. Loris Capirossi is likely to be confirmed at Pramac at Misano, the Italian veteran disillusioned with the shortcomings of Suzuki's racing department rather than the Rizla team. Randy de Puniet is another rider whose contract will probably be renewed at Misano, LCR boss Lucio Cecchinello making no secret of how content he has been with the Frenchman's results.

The current state of play is show below, but you can also find an overview page here. That page will be updated regularly, whenever contracts are confirmed.

Being a Texan, Ben Spies is naturally unfazed at being thrown out of the saddle

Nico Terol shows that blue can be the fastest color

Seeing eye-to-eye: Colin Edwards ...

... and Jorge Lorenzo

MotoGP bikes are fitted to the gills with electronics. But that doesn't mean you can't override them

Alvaro Bautista is starting to find his feet on the Rizla Suzuki

A sight we will probably have to get used to: Ben Spies in the winners' circle

Return the favor. Visit Spain.

Marco Simoncelli may lose his position as HRC's favorite son at Gresini if the Dovizioso issue isn't solved soon

Concentration

This happened three times over the course of the weekend, the most that Valentino Rossi has ever crashed at a single event

If Toni Elias had stayed in MotoGP, Speed Up's Andrea Iannone would be Moto2 champion

Iron Man

Things just don't get any easier for Casey Stoner

No, he's not tired. Hiroshi Aoyama works on improving the strength in his back

@Alex__Briggs

One of the reasons that Rossi is leaving: Masao Furusawa, the driving force behind Yamaha's M1 MotoGP bike, is retiring at the end of the year.

The press office of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway continue to do an outstanding job, collecting the following notes and quotes from the riders in today's MotoGP race. For quotes from the podium riders, see the separate news item.

MotoGP POST-RACE NOTES:

• Dani Pedrosa earned his third victory of the season. He also won at the Grand Prix of Italy and the Grand Prix of Germany.
• This is the first time Dani Pedrosa has won three races in one MotoGP season. He has won two races each of the first four years of his MotoGP career, which started in 2006.
• This is the first podium finish in three Red Bull Indianapolis GP starts for Dani Pedrosa. He finished eighth in 2008 and finished 10th in 2009.
• Rookie Ben Spies earned the best finish of his MotoGP career, second. He finished third at the Grand Prix of Great Britain, his only other podium finish this season.
• At least one American rider has finished on the podium in all three Red Bull Indianapolis GP races. Nicky Hayden finished second in 2008 and third in 2009, and Ben Spies finished second today.
• Jorge Lorenzo finished third, ending his historic streak of finishing first or second in the first 10 races of this season. Only Grand Prix motorcycle racing legends Giacomo Agostini and Mick Doohan had matched that feat.
• Jorge Lorenzo is the only MotoGP rider to finish on the podium in all three Red Bull Indianapolis GP races. He finished third in 2008 and won in 2009.
• Casey Stoner did not finish this race, ending a streak of five consecutive podium finishes this season that started at the TT Assen in the Netherlands.

MotoGP POST-RACE QUOTES:

Note: Podium finishers' transcript moved separately.

VALENTINO ROSSI (No. 46 Fiat Yamaha Team, fourth): "During the race, I had some good laps, and I wasn't far from the other Yamahas. Unfortunately, I have problem with my physical condition, and it's hotter. And at the end, I needed to give up because I didn't have any more strength, any more power. But I'm happy because we came back to our normal setting to the bike like I want it. And I ride well considering I crashed three times. Fourth place is OK." (About his physical condition): "I suffer a lot. From yesterday, my physical condition improved because I have less pain. But I have less strength throughout the race. I think it's normal. I'm not at the maximum, for sure." (How long will it take for you to get back to being 100 percent?): "We make good work during the weekend. But right now, I'm not fit to try to win. There was a part of the race where I was competitive. But I didn't have enough power for the whole race. This is the main target to come back to getting a victory.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO (No. 4 Repsol Honda Team, fifth): “We run really close to the podium. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough speed to fight, especially with Dani. When Dani overtake me, I saw he had more speed. He went faster in the middle of the corner. The grip was zero for everybody, and his style made the difference and he could get to the first position. I couldn't fight for the podium at the end of the race. I can't be happy 100 percent, but it's not too bad this race.”

NICKY HAYDEN (No. 69 Ducati Team, sixth, Owensboro, Ky.): “Right from the start, the track was really slippery, just greasy. I was trying to be smooth and just lost the front a little bit there and dug my knee in to save it and it just about ripped me off of the bike. I got caught on a drainage ditch or something with my knee. It's all left-handers here, and there's a reason we go through knee pads in a race because we use our knee. At first, I felt a sharp pain, obviously, and then I really didn't notice it until the end. It doesn't feel great, but I don't think I injured it. Dani was so strong today. I knew he was going to be tough. But, I'm quite confident I could have fought for the podium. I was right there. I was fifth Friday, third Saturday. We were in a position we could have fought for the podium. It's unfortunate. Home race and something stupid; I haven't had this problem happen to me since I've been with Alpinestars. If it would have been the right side, maybe I could have been OK. I mean, at this level you can't have anything go wrong.”

MARCO SIMONCELLI (No. 58 San Carlo Honda Gresini, seventh): "I'm quite happy of this race because I finish in seventh place, and that's not so bad a result. Today it was a very difficult race because it was easy to make a mistake. I tried to stay concentrated from before to the last lap. I'm quite happy of the seventh position, but I hope to fight for some better position next race.”

ALVARO BAUTISTA (No. 19 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP, eighth): “It was a good race for us. We improved all we could all weekend from the first practice to the end of the race. We finished in eighth position for the first time at the track. The race was very hard. At the start, I lost too much position and I could not overtake the riders quickly. I tried to concentrate on passing Simoncelli. But I could not spend too much energy because the race was long, and I wanted to make it to the end. When I was behind Simoncelli, I could follow him easy, but I could not pass him. There were two points I could have passed, Turn 6 and Turn 10. They are difficult corners because if you take an inside line, you have more risk to crash. I wanted to finish, and eighth is not a bad position. We have another opportunity to improve at our next race. I want to say thank you to my team because they worked really, really good all weekend.”

ALEIX ESPARGARO (No. 41 Pramac Racing Team, ninth): “It was, I think, the hardest race of my life. It was so hot. The track was so slippery at the beginning. But as I said all weekend, when we released the front brake the front tire started to slide a lot. Yesterday, I saw Stoner crash, and Kallio crashed in front of me for the same thing. We could brake hard, but when we released the brake, the front end wanted to turn. There was no grip. I just wanted to finish the race. It was a really hard race.”

LORIS CAPIROSSI (No. 65 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP, 11th): “The start was not good. I followed the same line all race that I did this morning. I struggled a lot. I tried to catch (Hector) Barbera when I could, but I got pushed out onto the grass. I was in 10th position, anyway. The track was slippery, some places really slippery. This was a really bad weekend.”

HIROSHI AOYAMA (No. 7 Interwetten Honda MotoGP, 12th): “It was quite a tough race for me, but I’m happy that I could finish and that I could get some points. The race was very long and very tough. This was the first step for us to come back, and I’m glad we got the finish that we did. I’m looking forward to the next race.” (On his injury and the race conditions): “We chose to use the soft tire, which I think was the right choice, and the race was a little bit hot to manage with my physical condition. I think I have to recover a bit more for the next race. This race was very difficult physically and mentally, because I have the injury and I could not crash at all. As a rider, I want to go fast and being careful makes that very difficult. This race was a critical test for me, and to finish was very big for us.”

RANDY DE PUNIET (No. 14 LCR Honda MotoGP, 13th): “The race was very rough. It was what I expected. I was working hard with the bike all weekend, and I just couldn’t improve the sitting of the bike. We need to bounce back quickly from this weekend for the rest of the season. I am very disappointed.” (On his injury and the race conditions): “The heat made the condition of the track very difficult, but it is the same for everybody. For us, the sitting of the bike was our main focus and getting a good result was next. We didn’t get it right, and I’m disappointed. I’m feeling OK coming back from my injury, so now we’re looking ahead.”

CASEY STONER (No. 27 Ducati Team, not classified): “I am very disappointed. It was a nothing crash, but obviously it was enough to leave me out of the race. I know a lot of people have had front-end crashes, but apparently here at Indianapolis we have gone back to the situation we were in at the start of the season and we've struggled to find front-end feel in the corners. It is a real shame because we had good pace, and I think we could have been on the podium.”

MARCO MELANDRI (No. 33 San Carlo Honda Gresini, not classified): "I just lose the front. With this bike, I don't have a good feeling in braking. I cannot stop the bike. I had a good start and couldn't think to stay in that position. I was trying to catch Valentino, but I couldn't. Braking inside the corner, I just lose the front."

MIKA KALLIO (No. 36 Pramac Racing Team, not classified): “I'm physically fine. No problem. I hit some bumps. In that corner, there is a lot of bumps. I got some bumps, and then I lost the front. The bike felt fine for the warm-up. We made a modification for the bike, and everything ran perfectly. I felt more confident before and for the race. I didn't have any big problems, and then suddenly I hit the big bump and it was not so good. Like all of this year, something always happens.”

MODERATOR: OK, ladies and gentlemen, riders are on their way. In third place, Jorge Lorenzo here at Indianapolis. (Applause) Jorge has a 68-point lead in the championship over Dani Pedrosa, of course, who won the race.  In second place, Ben Spies. (Applause) And the race winner, his third Grand Prix victory of the season, Dani Pedrosa.

Dani, you look absolutely shattered, I've got to say. I think that was, all three of you look absolutely shattered but that was a pretty tough afternoon's work.

DANI PEDROSA: Yes, it was, it was very, very warm out there. You know, you didn't cool down in the 45 minutes you're out there. So it's hard. But we did a good race. I think the rhythm was very good. The track was slippery, because when the asphalt always get over 50 degrees, the bike always starts to be very greasy, you know. But the same thing for everybody, so I did not a perfect start, but I was good on the first small corners to be still in fourth place. And then I just try to overtake. Spies was quite, was maybe half of one second ahead, and he was pulling very, very strong. But I could pick up, pick up and get over – ahead of him. And finally I try to do my rhythm and I was able to escape and do a good pace. So I am very happy, pleased with my bike. It was a fast bike in the straight and it was going well, also, in the corners. So good feelings.

And then, yeah, by the end it was hard to stay focused because it was very tiring and my – I had tube for the water but I don’t know why it was not working. And yeah, I’m tired but very happy because last year I crashed here and I could win the race, but this time I did. So very happy.

MODERATOR: With the track and with the temperature, when you were leading and the gap was OK, you had to concentrate very hard because one little mistake here, we’ve seen so many crashes.

PEDROSA: Yes, so many crashes because of the bumps and the track temperature. Yeah, if you just miss one line in one corner, you can be immediately on the ground. So it was very important to be focused in every corner and make no mistake with the bumps, especially at the end when the tires were more damaged, when you go over the bumps, the bike is shaking a little bit more and it was more difficult to control. But even that, I was able to stay in the front, not crash this time and finish the race on top.

MODERATOR: Misano obviously in a week's time, and you've had your third MotoGP win of the season. It's always been two MotoGP wins. That's a big step forward for you, isn't it?

PEDROSA: Yes, I cross the barrier of two wins, so I'm very happy, and I hope we can keep this rhythm. We are doing good lately in the races, so mistakes, but I hope till the end I can still keep this rhythm and do some more good results.

MODERATOR: Misano, is it a track you like?

PEDROSA: Misano is a track I like. I've been always quite fast, but we have to work harder on the setup because the Honda there is always a little bit hard to ride. Our engine is a little bit -- it's fast, but in the corners it's always very aggressive. So to control on this is difficult, but we will have to work very hard since Friday, and we'll try our best. And I hope we can do there a great result, also.

MODERATOR: Finally, it will be important to rest. It's a long trip home. You're back on the bike Friday afternoon in Misano after a really tough race. It's very important, isn't it, to rest the body if you can?

PEDROSA: Yes, you must rest as much as you can. Also Misano can be a hot race. So, yeah, as much as we can rest and to recover for the next one is better.

MODERATOR: Dani, congratulations, your third win of the season.

In second place, of course, riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, Ben Spies. Very, very close, Ben, but a great second place for you.

BEN SPIES: Yeah. I mean, we can't complain, you know. We came in and did better than I thought we were going to do. We got the pole yesterday and got out and had a good start today and led some laps. Didn't set the world on fire, but we, you know, we had a good pace. If just wasn't fast enough when Dani came by. His bike was working good, and he had good grip. We had a good setup, too; it just wasn't fast enough. And I tried as hard as I could and didn't make too many mistakes. Saw that we had a gap to third and, you know, just tried to manage it and ride as hard as I could. It was really tricky, and I saw a lot of crash marks out there and I knew some people were hitting the ground, and it was quite easy to make a mistake. But in the end we had to ride 100 percent the whole time with only a three-second gap. So I'm happy for all the friends and family and fans that are here to get a second in the American Grand Prix for the first season, you know, it's a hard weekend, you know. It hasn't soaked in yet, but I'll try to go and enjoy it a little bit and hop on a plane and do it again next weekend.

MODERATOR: I believe you said Thursday afternoon when we spoke, you finished second in the Grand Prix, your Grand Prix future is confirmed replacing Valentino Rossi, pole position, I think you'd have said, yeah, I'll settle for that.

SPIES: Yeah. I mean, it's a lot of confidence, too, to know that next year what's happening, to have Yamaha behind me. It's knowing that they believe in me that they want me on the factory bike, you have a lot more confidence in it. It just takes pressure off you, you believe in yourself. You push and push and having the American fans here, they wanted something big. We tried as hard as we could, which we didn't win today but to get on the podium, I'm happy with that. I think everybody that's with me is.

MODERATOR: You've moved up into sixth place in the championship, one point in front of Nicky Hayden, so that in itself is turning into a bit of a battle, isn't it?

SPIES: Yeah. It depends how you look at it. For me, you know, Nick is just another rider. He's a great rider; he's a world champ. To be doing what we're doing, not looking at the top American, anything like that, or top satellite bike, just to be the first year and jumping over some of the hurdles we've had, I didn't think it would be going this well. So two podiums, you know. If you had told me we would have had one at the end of the first season, I would have been happy with that and took my money. But we'll just keep clicking away, keep trying to learn. I think me and the team and everybody is doing a good job, and I'm happy with it.

MODERATOR: Ben, congratulations, second place.

We come on to the championship leader, ladies and gentlemen, of course Jorge Lorenzo riding the Fiat Yamaha. Out of the first two, the first time, Jorge, but you picked up some very, very important points, didn't you, and you're still on the podium. Still a 68-point gap. You can't be too disappointed.

JORGE LORENZO: Yeah, I must not be disappointed, no, but I'm not happy with my race. I didn't ride so well. The start didn't help me to make better. That's why I didn't feel so good with my physical condition, no? The third lap I was tired and I was not able to make the same pace as in practice. Anyway, this our worst result, and I think for Misano we will come back again, and we will see.

MODERATOR: As Dani said and Ben said, it really was very, very difficult out there. The track, you had to concentrate so hard, no mistakes, and the heat as well.

LORENZO: Yeah, the track was so slidey and also the bumps were difficult to use it. So I almost crash in some corners, so I prefer to finish third and not to take so many risks.

MODERATOR: Finally, Misano, is it a track you like?

LORENZO: Yeah, I love it. I love it. I finished second in the last two years and I think it's a good track for us.

MODERATOR: Jorge, thank you very much. Congratulations.

OK, any questions from the floor, ladies and gentlemen? Put those hands up.

Q: Ben, when did you hear about the passing of Peter Lenz [Lenz was killed in a crash during the warm up lap for the USGPRU Moriwaki 250 support race - MM]? Did you know him and did that have any impact on this race? Was there a cloud over this race for you or for any of the other riders?

SPIES: Yeah, I mean I found out about it about an hour and a half before the race. You know, you try to put the stuff out of your head as much as you can, but he unfortunately had been injured a couple years ago and had sent some stuff to him when he was in the hospital. You know, Colin was, I guess, quite close with him. And, you know, I could see it crushed Colin pretty bad before the race. It's the race in life, unfortunately. There's nothing really that can be said right now that's positive. I mean, I told myself before the race, I was riding my heart out for him today. And I've lost a teammate in the past, my best friend. He was at an age at least he knew what he was doing; he obviously loved it. He knew how dangerous it could be, and it's an unfortunate accident. There's nothing that can be done right now. But it definitely did put a damper before the race but when the green flag goes. You've got to look straight ahead and hopefully it will give me some motivation out there.

Q: Ben, you had a chance to lead for a bit and run at the front the whole race and follow Dani for a bit. Did you feel like you picked up a lot of information and learned a lot that will help you in the future?

SPIES: You know, yeah. First time leading a GP race, really. I think I led for about 10 feet at Brno. But here I actually led for a few laps. Again, the pace wasn't fast enough to lead for half the race or anything like that, but I don't really think I made too big of mistakes when I was out front. We were consistent, just wasn't fast enough, but was comfortable, so that was key. When Dani came by, you know, a combination of his bike was quite quick on the straightaway but he was riding really well and not making any mistakes and getting the bike off the corner really well; it was difficult with the grip. So a couple of those key factors, you know. We couldn't follow him too close but I just tried to let him pull me away as much as I could to get away from third and then manage as much as I could. So I think once he got out to his gap, he could manage it, too. And I congratulate him, he rode a great race. I'm happy with how we rode. It wasn't fast enough, but I think we were quite fast with not too many mistakes and that was important with the way the track was today.

Q: Dani, could you discuss your choice of extra hard rear tire?

PEDROSA: I wasn't able to choose, the only hard compound, that's it. I had to choose the extra hard because on the softer one, it was for me my bike generates too much tire -- too much temperature in the tire. So finally after some laps I lose the stability going into the corners, so I had to choose the harder one. I had no choice.

Q: Dani, does today make up for last year here?

PEDROSA: No, last year, it's lost. But, yeah, it's a little less pain, you know. Because when, you know, you have the chance to win and you didn't do it, it feels bad inside. But today I was able to do it, so I'm very happy.

Q: This goes to all of you. Considering the tragedy today, is this course perhaps maybe too difficult for someone 12 or 13 years old to navigate considering how difficult it was for you all over the course of the weekend?

SPIES: No, not at all. You know, I wouldn't say that at all. It's a normal racetrack, and, you know, racing incidents happen and as unfortunate as it is, it is a horrible thing. Like I said, I didn't know him really well, but I had spoke to him once on the phone and sent some things to him. But, no, from what I understand, it was a pure racing accident, and it's happened before to people. The fact is, it's going to happen again at some point to somebody and we hate it, but we know what's going on when we put a helmet on; we know what can happen. That's it.

MODERATOR: I think Dani and Jorge are probably not aware of the tragedy that has happened, so I think are you happy with Ben's reply there? Yeah, OK. They weren't aware of what had happened before the MotoGP race. Thanks.

Anybody else, ladies and gentlemen?

Q: A question to Jorge. You said you struggled physically. What was it, muscles or just a problem with the heat here?

LORENZO: Well, of course the heat doesn't help anybody to ride a bike, but especially I lost a little bit my training during these two last weeks. So I have to push again to make stretch and to recover.

Q: Just a quick question to someone like Dani. Dani, very hot day here at Indiana today. Comparing to a Malaysian race or when we used to race in the daytime in Qatar, was it hotter today than Malaysia or --

PEDROSA: Close. I mean, I have raced sometimes in Malaysia that it wasn't that bad and sometimes it was really, really bad. And this was close to one of the hottest days in Malaysia or Qatar in the daylight.

Q: Jorge, a quick comment about comparing the heat today with Malaysian heat or Qatar heat.

LORENZO: I guess in Malaysia it's worse but today I'm more tired than in Malaysia.

Q: Jorge, your start today, just trying to be careful? On your start?

LORENZO: No, I really didn't make a good start, and I lost two or three positions. And then after my bike wasn't so quick on the straight, so fast, and it was like I was riding a 250 bike. I lost a lot of meters on the straight. I got a chance to overtake Dovizioso because he make a mistake in the last corner and he make a wheelie. So I exit perfect in the last corner and I overtook him in the first corner. But apart from this, from this mistake, I didn't think I could make it, no, to pass Andrea.

Q: Ben, got a question for you. This weekend you're filled with some good news. Pick one out of the three, which are you most stoked about, is it the factory ride? Is it the pole position or second place?

SPIES: Man, that's a tough one, I think. They all mean a lot. I think it starts with Friday to be able to be a rider that Yamaha picks to be on the factory team is huge. You know, to be in MotoGP, first of all, is a huge thing and then to know there's only a couple people that can ride for a factory team and that you're one of them, that's big. And I think that kind of stemmed a lot how the weekend went, the confidence that was taken from that and just transformed into Saturday's result and today's result. You know, like I said, for it all to happen at the home Grand Prix, there's nothing that can top it unless we won today. But, like, we've got to keep our feet on the ground, and I think we're taking positive steps every weekend.

Q: Question to Ben. After testing in Brno on Monday, did you receive some special parts from Yamaha? And for the second part of the season. And you still ride with a 2009 chassis?

SPIES: Our bike is the same bike that we started at Laguna with. We received a small upgrade at Laguna, and that's the bike I'm on now. So I think it's a little bit of me letting go of the brake. And it makes, you know, it makes me know that the gap between my bike and the factory bike, OK, yeah, there's some differences. Maybe some better things, some worse things, you never know. I mean, the old stuff some way can be better than the better stuff sometimes but they're not that big of a difference. So what he's been doing and Valentino has been doing, Yamaha gives the satellite team, you know, good bikes, and I think it's showing that the bike's the same.

Q: Ben, will you talk about your tire choice, you went with the softer choice, right?

SPIES: Yeah, we kind of went for glory, you know. I couldn't be quick enough on the hard tire. Couldn't quite do with some of the things I wanted to do with the bike to make the lap time. The soft tire we knew was going to go down at the end but we were hoping to be in a position where we could manage that at the end. Fortunately we got a good start. I was able to go early on and go good and then just manage it at the end of the race and it proved to be a good choice. I was on the fence about it, I believed in a couple other people and we went with it. So it worked out today.

As widely expected, and anticipated here just a couple of days' ago, Nicky Hayden announced an extension of his contract with Ducati at the Indy Mile flat track race on Saturday night. The good news for Hayden is that the deal is for two years, with Hayden signed up for 2011 and 2012. Hayden told the crowd at the Indy Mile "Next year I'll be teamed with some guy named Rossi, who knows a little something about bikes."

With both Hayden and Valentino Rossi signed up for two years, Ducati is clearly playing it safe over the formula switch back to 1000cc, due to take place at the end of the 2011 season. This allows both Hayden and Rossi to test and develop Ducati's MotoGP bike for the new formula, maximizing testing without running the risk of losing knowledge should one of their riders want to leave at the end of the 2011 season. But with Hayden having made a huge leap forward this year, and his public profile in the US helping to sell Ducatis in large quantities both at home and abroad, Ducati also felt that signing Hayden was a safe bet.

Below is the text of the official press statement:

DUCATI ANNOUNCE A TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH NICKY HAYDEN

Ducati is pleased to announce a renewed contract with Nicky Hayden that will see the American rider stay with the Italian factory's MotoGP effort for a further two years. His signature completes a new look of the Ducati MotoGP Team line-up for 2011, which will see the 29-year-old line up alongside Valentino Rossi. 

Hayden, who over the past two seasons has won over the Ducatisti with his positive and determined attitude, currently lies sixth in the MotoGP World Championship standings and is confident for two successful seasons ahead, which he will tackle with his trademark enthusiasm.

Filippo Preziosi - Ducati Corse Director
"We are really pleased that Nicky will be staying with us for the next two years. It is no secret that he is a rider who never gives up, his whole racing history shows it. As a person his tenacity is an example for us all because he shows us that nothing is impossible if you truly believe. His progress since arriving at Ducati has been impressive and I am sure this trend will continue in the future. Nicky is also a special rider because of his attention to every detail and for him having Valentino as his team-mate means a huge contribution towards the development of an even more competitive motorcycle. I think it is these characteristics that have won the hearts of all the Ducatisti and that is the reason why a Ducati is the bike for him right now."

Nicky Hayden - Ducati MotoGP Team
"I am very proud to be signing for Ducati again. Last year I  felt like I rode for Ducati but now I really feel as if I am a Ducati rider. The team, sponsors and Ducati fans have really taken me in and supported me a lot and I really hope to pay them back with the results they deserve. Next year I'll be teamed with some guy named Rossi who knows a little something about bikes! We're going to have a strong squad - I won't predict results but I have no doubt this team will have some real passion, real worth ethic and a lot of fun. It is the start of a new era at Ducati and it is an honour for me to be a part of it."

MODERATOR: Ben, quite a weekend for you. Up and down, as it has been for I think most people here at Indianapolis. First of all, congratulations, pole position. Two weeks ago was the first front row, and now you've gone one better in pole.

BEN SPIES: Yeah, it's a dream, I mean to have a pole position at any time in MotoGP and to be able to do it in the first season on the Monster Tech 3 bike in front of the American crowd, it's great and add Indianapolis to it. It's kind of ticked all the boxes this weekend. We just got to, you know, not get ahead of ourselves, so it gives us some common edge for tomorrow but got to kind of live the moment right now. You know, it kind of took the pressure off the announcement on Friday and just knowing what's going on and am I'm really wanting to repay the Tech 3 team because they've helped put me in a place to be there and, you know, to be able to get a pole for them and hopefully can end the season good and keep being consistent and progress. But, you know, today we'll just savor the moment right now and go in tomorrow and try to put a hard 45 minutes and see what happens.

MODERATOR: It's been an interesting weekends, I think, for everybody in MotoGP, grip level has been a problem. You've crashed yourself, and the weather conditions also seem to be getting a little bit hotter.

SPIES: Yeah, the weather is OK for, I think, like me and Nick being back home, this is kind of like a little bit of a cold front for me at least. So it's nice. But today the conditions were difficult with the track, not just because it was hot, but a lot of sliding around. It gets greasy, you know, and through a couple of the turns you're almost kind of twiddling your thumbs, spinning the bike and playing around with it. It was difficult for everybody. We put together a good lap. It wasn't the most perfect lap in the world, but we finally didn't make too many mistakes. Like I said, it gives us confidence for tomorrow, but we've also got to find some more race pace. These guys are going fast. So we'll try to get a good start to stay there in the first few laps and try not to make mistakes and see what happens.

MODERATOR: Can you translate it into a race win from here?

SPIES: You know, there were a bunch of boxes to be ticked this year, but the problem is there's really only one left. We've had a top fives, a podium and now a pole. I mean, why not? You always go for it. In any race you go, like I said, a racer is there to win; it's not always to be had. But tomorrow we're on pole. If we get a good start, yeah, we've got to hang in there, and if we're there we'll try to win the race. We won't be thinking of that the first few laps, we'll just try to stay clean, and a good start's really key here with the first lap and first few turns. Just try to be consistent and give him a race at least, because if we don't he's going to be having a cappuccino with two races to go and not even going to be here. But it would be nice but we've just got to take one step at a time.

MODERATOR: Ben, congratulations and thank you very much.

Turning to Jorge Lorenzo, ladies and gentlemen, riding the Fiat Yamaha, obviously leading the championship. Front row start, Jorge, it's been a tough weekend for everybody, hasn't it? It's been very, very difficult out there.

JORGE LORENZO: Yeah, I think so. The conditions of the track are quite difficult for everyone. It's so bumpy comparing to the normal tracks, especially to the last track in Brno, and also the hot conditions don't give you the best confidence, especially in the front tire. So many crashes today, so today was easy to make a mistake. I obviously I pushed the maximum to get the pole position, but Ben's lap was quite quick, you know, for these conditions. I only could make second place today. That is good, but, well, of course I would like to be in the middle.

MODERATOR: Just not a warning to you but you've got the big lead in the championship and what has happened this weekend, you say so many crashes must make you think, "Yeah, just see how things go."

LORENZO: To be honest, I don't think too much when I am on the bike, no. For me it's better to be concentrating in your riding and to get your instinct to work, no? But anyway, for sure I would try not to make so many crazy things tomorrow to be fast, but not to take a lot of risk.

MODERATOR: And, Ben, his first season, I remember your first season in MotoGP, it's tough. First pole is very important, isn't it?

LORENZO: Yes. He's doing a great progress, no? At the beginning in Qatar, he make a good race but also were special conditions. Now he's getting closer to the top guys. Today he make very quick two laps, so he deserves it, and I think tomorrow if he can keep his level, he can fight for the win.

MODERATOR: Jorge, many thanks. Thank you. Come on to third place, ladies and gentlemen, a local boy, Nicky Hayden, riding the Ducati. It's been an up and down weekend for you as well, Nicky, but this part has been very good indeed.

NICKY HAYDEN: Yeah, you know, it's my first front row since I've been on Ducati. So it's nice, qualifying was something I really struggled with last year and something we worked a lot on in the offseason. Getting on the front row is really important. I know with my race pace and things like that, if I'm going to fight at the front, I can't, you know, expect to start seventh or eighth and just kind of work my way up and pick guys off. So need to be there off the start and see what happens. But the bike felt a lot better this afternoon and, yeah, but I'm happy to be on the front row. It's the first time and it's a good little step for me. We'll see tomorrow.

MODERATOR: Track conditions, everybody says it has been difficult out there finding grip.

HAYDEN: Yeah, well, this morning was a lot cooler and in the afternoon the track changed a lot. It was definitely some long corners and the tires, same tires we used here, exact same tires as last year. So the left side on the hard tire is pretty hard for safety, and you know, spinning around pretty good and moving around, which makes it fun. But, you know, it's certainly a tricky track from the first year we came here. A few bumps in places where you're still on the brakes, so it's not easy, but none of them are.

MODERATOR: And you're set to make an announcement this weekend about you and Ducati. Any closer there? This must put a few more notes on the end there after the front row.

HAYDEN: Yeah, we maybe up discussion again and start negotiating. No, we're close. Official announcement any minute now.

MODERATOR: That's great. Congratulations, everybody on the front row. Ben Spies obviously, Jorge Lorenzo, Nicky Hayden, thank you.

Coming to Moto2, Julian Simon, your first pole position in Moto2. It was a very difficult session, so much traffic, so busy out there.

JULIAN SIMON: Yeah, a lot of traffic, and I am so happy for my first pole position in Moto2. Been a difficult year for me because the middle of the session I changed the chassis and try new chassis and also difficult for to stay in first place. But finally I make pole and I happy, also, because a lot of work this weekend and also another race. So I want to add congratulations to my team because a lot of work here and very good. So for tomorrow I have rhythm, and I hope a very good start and stay in the first place in all the race and try to win it.

MODERATOR: Front row start is crucial in Moto2 because there are so many riders on the track.

SIMON: Yeah, it is very difficult, the qualifying and practice because the final decision, the last minute is too difficult try to push because many riders waiting for to make the best lap. And it's difficult. Check the situation, no? So, yes, today also difficult, but I try to pushing a lot in the last lap and I make up pole, so I am so happy.

MODERATOR: Congratulations, your first Moto2 pole position.

Certainly not this year Marc's first pole position of the season, his sixth season for Marc Marquez, leading the 125 cc championship. After the problems in Brno with the dislocated shoulder, the weather and everything else, Marc, this is really good for you to be back on pole position.

MARC MARQUEZ: Yeah, this is important position for me and the team. Before was not so good but one race, and now we are here in Indianapolis and we are at world level and I am really, really happy for the bike because I have good confidence. We find a good setting for the bumps, and it is important to stay very concentrated because it's very bumpy, this track. And it easy to make a mistake in the race. So just we will see tomorrow, but I think if we can stay there for fight for the podium, for the victory, it's important to finish the race but also finish in front.

MODERATOR: And your shoulder, you did have a fall very early on on Friday, the shoulder appeared OK. But just two weeks ago you dislocated the shoulder. It is OK now?

MARQUEZ: It is not perfect, but it's OK. I don't have pain, but also maybe the power is not the same of the other shoulder, so in the race I think will not be a problem but, anyway, I think in the qualifying the last laps I was a little bit tired but in the race when I stay concentrate, the shoulder was like the other one.

MODERATOR: Marc, congratulations to you, sixth pole position of the season.

OK, questions from the floor, ladies and gentlemen? If you put up your hands, we have some microphones.

Q: This question is for Ben. Ben, I know you raced here a couple years ago, I believe as a wild card and stuff. So obviously this was a little different situation from other tracks, that you had been here before and maybe had a little bit of a feel. Do you feel like that helped you today at all?

SPIES: Yeah, for sure. It definitely -- we know what the problem, some parts of the track, the problem areas that you've got to work on from the first session with, you know, turn 12 there's a lot of spinning, there's a lot of bumps here. The one bump that has definitely caught a few people out, caught me out even though I knew it was there. You know, it does help a lot. It's a tricky track, for sure. I mean, there's different pavement changes and, like I said, a lot of spinning here and different tires can do a whole lot different things to the bike. So it definitely played a big part of it and, you know, so I think it -- but it definitely helped. We had a lot of feedback coming in and put it to use today.

MODERATOR: Anybody else, ladies and gentlemen?

Q: Nick, there's a rumor you're going to ride tonight at the dirt track.

HAYDEN: Well, yeah, there is, I told Ducati if I was on the front row, least I could do is get a couple laps. So, yeah, I mean I'm going to go out, ride around, not like go sign up for the heat races or nothing like that. But definitely I'm looking forward to it. I mean, I haven't ridden a dirt track track since 2002, it will be fun to put the steel shoe on and run a couple laps. See if I remember how to do it, get my foot down and get a little bit dirty, but it's pretty cool. I love dirt track, that's where my roots are, I'm a dirt tracker, and it's going to be pretty neat.

Q: Question to Ben. At Brno you said if you would have known you get a watch, you would have gone faster. Did it help this time to know the watch? And the second question more serious. When you rode here two years ago on the Suzuki, was there anything you could take with you for this weekend that would help you?

SPIES: For sure, that's what I was saying earlier. You know coming in some problems that you've got to start working on from Lap 1 to make the bike go faster here. Last time we were here, I think we had a pretty good qualifying session, I can't remember where we were, but it wasn't bad, but then the rain was like a hurricane. So it was definitely tricky conditions, but for sure, yeah, two years ago, anytime you're coming to a place you've been to before helps a lot. You know, we haven't had a lot of those tracks this year, but the ones we've had we've gone OK at. Just to be able to get it here in front of the home crowd, and there was some extra incentive. But you always try every time we get on the bike, just glad it worked out today.

Q: For Ben and Nicky, as well. How significant in the United States racing here is it to have two Americans on the front row for this race tomorrow?

HAYDEN: You're on pole. The floor is yours. (Laughter)

SPIES: I think it's great. Two or three on the front row, I don't think we've -- you know, we wanted this to happen, but I don't think a week ago we really thought it probably would have happened like this. So it's great. If we can both get good starts, you know, maybe try to one-two a couple people for the first laps and get out there. It's every man for himself. But yeah, for MotoGP in general, I think it's great to have two Americans at the home race on the front row and give some people something to cheer about.

HAYDEN: Yeah, like Ben said, I think it's awesome for MotoGP here in America. A lot of people are pushing to help expose the sport to new people and for everybody here at IMS, I mean everybody likes to pull for somebody they know, somebody in the area. So hopefully draw in a few extra spectators tomorrow. Yeah, we can have a good show for the American fans. So I wish it was the other way around, wish I was starting on pole and he was second or third. But, no, I think it's great for our sport in America, and hopefully, you know, for things to come, the Americans can maybe get hot here and make another little push. At the moment it's all about Spanish are dominating MotoGP in every class this year. We need to step our game up a little.

MODERATOR: Anybody else, ladies and gentlemen?

Q: Question to Jorge. Did you use the 2011 Ohlins fork during the qualifying practice?

LORENZO: No, I heard Casey used it and also Nicky, but we try in Brno and --

Q: Nicky says no.

HAYDEN: No.

LORENZO: Sorry.(Laughter) Sorry. So, no, no. At the moment we wait for maybe Valencia. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Anybody else?

Q: Nicky, any issues with your wrist at all?

HAYDEN: No, not really. I mean, no.

Q: None you would admit to?

HAYDEN: I mean, you know, when I wake up in the morning, like ah, you know, but not really. Yesterday in the crash, I got back and (physio) said, "Does your hand hurt at all?" I said, "It hurt a little before I went out but not worse." Only thing, I tried to protect my wrist when I crashed, so I dug my elbow in and got quite hot, burnt a hole through the leathers and into my arm a bit. But, you know, it's not going to be a big problem tomorrow.

MODERATOR: Anybody else?

Q: Ben, how about your foot, speaking of injuries and things that you're working around. How is that feeling?

SPIES: It's, you know, I'm not going to go run anywhere. I showed my basketball skills off the other day, but on the bike, like I said, even two weeks after the crash, it doesn't affect anything on the bike. It's not 100 percent, I can't do everyday stuff, but on the bike, you know, there's nothing. I mean I don't have a problem with it at all.

Q: Question for Nicky. What can you say about your brother in Moto2 and about his manager, Kevin Schwantz and the job in the --

HAYDEN: I haven't spoke to him since qualifying, probably let him cool down a bit. I'm sure he isn't happy. He hoped to have a good result. You know, yesterday he was more or less OK, he lost the first 20 minutes because they had a little problem. So the race is tomorrow. I'm sure he would like to be closer to the front, but they made some changes for this afternoon and just hearing from my other brother that he liked. But he's starting not a good grid position. So that race, he's going to be right in the middle of all the action tomorrow, but he's a lot better racer than qualifier or practicer or anything else. Hopefully he can put on a little charge.

Valentino Rossi was far from happy with his qualifying position at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, his worst position since Valencia 2008. His attempt to improve his qualifying position had been hampered by a crash with just a few minutes left in the session, the Fiat Yamaha rider going down at Turn 6, a corner that has caught out a lot of riders so far this weekend.

Speaking to the Italian press after qualifying, Rossi complained about the surface of the track in that corner, saying "if it hadn't have been for that hole in Turn Six ... We asked for that hole to be filled in two years' ago in the Safety Commission." The crash was Rossi's second of the day, something that hadn't happened since his first season back in 1996, Rossi claimed. The cause, Rossi explained, was the rear suspension being set too hard, making it impossible for Rossi to catch the bike once it started to slide.

Despite the crash, Rossi was happier with his preparation for race day, and the support he was getting from Yamaha at the first race since he announced he will be leaving the factory he has been for the past six and a half seasons. "I have everything I need," he said, going on to say that they were still working on a setup, and needed three tenths of a second to be on race pace. But the team had made a big step forward, Rossi added, and he was confident that there was more to come.

At the end of the debrief, Rossi touched upon the surprising make up of the grid, with neither himself, Casey Stoner or Dani Pedrosa on the front row. Speaking of Ben Spies' stunning debut pole at Indy, he complimented the American on his fast lap, then hinted at one of the reasons behind his own decision to leave Yamaha. "I'm happy for Lorenzo because now he has found he has his own "Jorge Lorenzo" in his team to be be a nuisance to him next year!" Rossi commented. And he was probably only half joking.