Daily Trackside Report - Saturday, August 9
August 09, 2014 | By IMS
DAY 2 – SATURDAY, AUG. 9, 2014
Page 1
TODAY’S SCHEDULE (all times local):
7 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open
8-8:15 a.m. AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series warm-up
9-9:40 a.m. Moto3 Practice
9:55-10:40 a.m. MotoGP Practice
10:55-11:40 a.m. Moto2 Practice
12:35-1:15 p.m. Moto3 Qualifying
1:30-2 p.m. MotoGP Practice
2:10-2:25 p.m. MotoGP Qualifying Session 1
2:35-2:50 p.m. MotoGP Qualifying Session 2
3:05-3:50 p.m. Moto2 Qualifying
4:20 p.m. AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series Race #1 (10 laps)
***
AMA PRO VANCE & HINES HARLEY-DAVIDSON SERIES WARM-UP:
At 8 a.m., the ambient temperature was 68 degrees F (20 C) with a relative humidity of 78 percent and calm winds. Skies were cloudy.
Pole lap, Friday: 1:49.370, #99 McWilliams
8 a.m. – GREEN.
8:15 a.m. – CHECKERED. #99 McWilliams quickest at 1:51.285
***
Kenny Coolbeth Jr. won the AMA Indy Mile Flat Track race on Friday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. He won by 2.47 seconds on a Harley-Davidson.
Defending MotoGP World Champion and current points leader Marc Marquez served as Grand Marshal. While there Marquez sat on a dirt bike customized for him with No. 93 livery and unveiled an AMA-inspired helmet that he will be wearing the rest of the weekend at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
Former MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden was in attendance with his brother Roger Hayden, and other riders participating in this weekend’s racing at IMS also spent Friday night at the Fairgrounds.
***
Moto3 PRACTICE #3:
At 9 a.m., the ambient temperature was 69 degrees F (21 C) with a relative humidity of 73 percent and northeast winds at 10 mph (16.1 km/h). Skies were partly cloudy.
Quickest lap, Friday: 1:42.507, #32 Vinales
9 a.m. – GREEN.
9:04 a.m. – No. 38 Azmi crashes, bike sustains significant damage but rider OK.
9:05 a.m. – No. 4 Ramos has contact with another driver in a turn, crashes. Rider OK.
9:07 a.m. – No. 98 Hanika crashes, returns to track.
9:19 a.m. – No. 8 Miller crashes, returns to track.
9:40 a.m. – CHECKERED. #7 Vazquez quickest at 1:41.103.
***
RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP MotoGP NOTES (by MotoGP statistician Dr. Martin Raines):
Five of the riders competing this year have taken part in all six previous MotoGP races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Andrea Dovizioso, Colin Edwards, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi.
Yamaha riders won the first two MotoGP races at IMS (Valentino Rossi, 2008; Jorge Lorenzo, 2009), Honda riders have won the last four (Dani Pedrosa, 2010, 2012; Casey Stoner, 2011; Marc Marquez, 2013).
Jorge Lorenzo’s five MotoGP podium finishes at IMS are more than any other rider.
Marc Marquez has a 77-point advantage in the standings after his German Grand Prix victory and if he continues his winning sequence for the next five races he can clinch the title at his home-nation Aragon GP in Spain on Sept. 28 (the 14th of 18 races) irrespective of the results of other riders.
Marc Marquez has 41 Grand Prix wins, placing him 13th on the all-time list. He is one win behind two former multi-time World Champions, Toni Mang and Max Biaggi.
At the German GP, Marc Marquez became the youngest rider to win nine successive premier class races, taking the record from Mike Hailwood who was 24 years, 86 days old when he won his ninth in a row in 1964. If Marquez wins at IMS, at the age of 21 years, 174 days, he will become the youngest rider to win 10 successive premier class races. Hailwood was 24 years, 96 days old in 1964 when he won his 10th in a row.
Marc Marquez has qualified on the front row at the last 21 MotoGP races. The last time he did not start from the front row was when he was sixth on the grid in Catalunya last year.
Only four other riders have won nine or more successive races in the history of premier class Grand Prix racing: Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees and Mick Doohan.
The victory by Marc Marquez at the Sachsenring was the 498th Grand Prix win by Spanish riders. By winning two of the three races at IMS, Spain would become just the second nation to reach the milestone of 500 Grand Prix wins across all classes. Italy has 741 Grand Prix wins to lead all nations, while Great Britain is third with 390, Germany is fourth with 187, Australia is fifth with 177 and the United States is sixth with 173.
MotoGP PRACTICE #3:
At 9:55 a.m., the ambient temperature was 71 degrees F (22 C) with a relative humidity of 71 percent and east winds at 12 mph (19.3 km/h). Skies were mostly sunny.
Quickest lap, Friday: 1:32.882, #93 Marquez
9:55 a.m. – GREEN.
10:06 a.m. – No. 93 Marquez bobbles through Turn 16, stays on bike and continues.
10:34 a.m. – No. 19 Bautista has a high-side crash in Turn 13, is OK.
10:40 a.m. – CHECKERED. #6 Bradl quickest at 1:32.522.
***
Top Five Riders, MotoGP Practice #3:
1. #6 Stefan Bradl 1:32.522, quickest lap of the weekend.
2. #46 Valentino Rossi 1:32.538
3. #99 Jorge Lorenzo 1:32.606
4. #4 Andrea Dovizioso 1:32.767
5. #44 Pol Espargaro 1:32.797
Top trap speed: #4 Dovizioso, 214.5 mph (345.2 km/h). New record trap speed for a motorcycle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, topping the 212.8 mph (342.5 km/h) on Friday by #19 Bautista.
American: #5 Edwards, 20th, 1:34.994.
***
Moto2 PRACTICE #3:
At 10:55 a.m., the ambient temperature was 75 degrees F (24 C) with a relative humidity of 69 percent and east winds at 16 mph (25.7 km/h). Skies were mostly sunny.
Quickest lap, Friday: 1:37.518, #77 Aegerter
10:55 a.m. – GREEN.
11:17 a.m. – #54 Pasini runs off track, hits curb. Rider OK but bike sustains damage.
11:40 a.m. – CHECKERED. #77 Aegerter quickest at 1:37.243.
***
The Red Bull Indianapolis GP will be televised on FoxSports1 on Sunday, with Moto3 airing at noon, Moto2 at 1 p.m. and MotoGP at 2 p.m. (all times eastern).
On local radio, the Red Bull Indianapolis GP will air from 1:30-3 p.m. on WFNI-FM 107.5 and WFNI-AM 1070.
Moto3 QUALIFYING:
At 12:35 p.m., the ambient temperature was 74 degrees F (23 C) with a relative humidity of 69 percent and east winds at 12 mph (19.3 km/h). Skies were cloudy.
Quickest lap, weekend: 1:41.103, #7 Vazquez.
12:35 p.m. – GREEN.
12:59 p.m. – No. 32 Vinales pulls off track with mechanical problems.
1:15 p.m. – CHECKERED. #8 Miller wins pole with a lap of 1:40.727. It is his sixth pole of the season; Miller leads the season standings in Moto3.
***
Gavin Emmett, veteran MotoGP reporter for Great Britain broadcaster BT Sport, took time on Saturday to discuss the dominance of Marc Marquez and his feelings about MotoGP being back at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
GAVIN EMMETT: “The big question is can Marc (Marquez) make it 10 out of 10, obviously. He’s won every single race and everyone wants to know if he’s capable of doing it again. He’s a unique, special talent. He’s a winner here already, so it would be no surprise to anyone to see him make it 10 out of 10. And 18 out of 18, he’s getting ever closer all the time. The thing is it doesn’t make it boring, because he’s exciting to watch on the bike. He a fun character off the bike, as well. And he’s always got a smile on his face. He’s someone you want to see do well. I want to see someone beat him in a way, but by the same token you can’t not enjoy Marc winning. To see sheer talent like his and skill on the bike, and to see the success he’s having with that, it’s just a joy.” (On being back at Indianapolis and what this round means for MotoGP): “I love coming here and know so many people who love coming here. And for me it’s not just for the racetrack, it’s this part of the country. It’s the city, as well. I really enjoy coming to Indianapolis. The people are so friendly. And the track that IMS has invested in giving the riders what they want; I’ve spoken to most of the MotoGP riders and riders in other classes and 100 percent of those riders have said they are delighted with the changes that have been made with the surface. They are twice as happy to come here now as they already were. Now it’s a case of focusing on a track that flows better. It looks better for the fans, as well. All around, it’s just put an extra star on the weekend, an extra plus for everyone coming here.”
***
MotoGP PRACTICE #4:
At 1:30 p.m., the ambient temperature was 75 degrees F (24 C) with a relative humidity of 71 percent and east winds at 8 mph (12.9 km/h). Skies were cloudy.
Quickest lap, weekend: 1:32.522, #6 Bradl.
1:30 p.m. – GREEN.
1:35 p.m. – #93 Marquez quickest at 1:33.066.
1:44 p.m. -- #93 Marquez quickest at 1:32.797.
1:52 p.m. -- #93 Marquez quickest lap of the weekend at 1:32.391.
2:00 p.m. – CHECKERED. #93 Marquez quickest at 1:32.391.
***
Top Five Riders, MotoGP Practice #4:
1. #93 Marc Marquez 1:32.391
2. #44 Pol Espargaro 1:32.929
3. #46 Valentino Rossi 1:32.974
4. #4 Andrea Dovizioso 1:33.194
5. #99 Jorge Lorenzo 1:33.297
Top trap speed: #26 Pedrosa, 216.9 mph (349.0 km/h). New record trap speed for a motorcycle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, topping the 214.5 mph (345.2 km/h) in morning practice by #4 Dovizioso.
American: #5 Edwards, 23rd, 1:35.404.
***
Donald Davidson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian, offered his thoughts about the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Saturday:
DONALD DAVIDSON: “I really like this event, I grew up in England and motorcycle racing was huge there and so I knew many of the riders even without knowing much about it. There was Geoff Duke who came even before John Surtees and Mike Hailwood, but Geoff Duke was very famous. I really like the event and the feel here with all these people, and some are walking through the garage area which they normally would not have a chance to do.” (Ties with IMS): “Absolutely there are a number of people who drove motorcycles and raced in the 500, the obvious ones are Joe Leonard and Paul Goldsmith, but there is Ralph Hepburn and Johnny Seymour, Lloyd Ruby, Swede Savage, Jeff Ward and the list goes on and on, and motorcycles raced back in 1909 on the first surface. Cannonball Baker was in the race but he wasn’t even Cannonball then he was just E G Baker. (On taking in the weekend): I like to be incognito and just hear what people are saying and where people are from. It is interesting. It is a very international crowd but
I don’t know how many people came from overseas for the event. So if you talk to them they are from Miami and Chicago but it is still a very international crowd and very polite, a very well-behaved group of people. You also get your locals, your Indianapolis Motor Speedway race fans that will come for everything, but then you have the motorcycle people who came here for their first time. Just because you are a motorcycle enthusiast doesn't mean you are a motorcycle racing enthusiast, but if you are a motorcyclist you need a destination – you need an excuse to ride somewhere. So when you walk around there are a ton of motorcycles here and a ton of people … if you walk around the infield it is very, very impressive.”
MOTO3 POST-QUALIFYING QUOTE:
JACK MILLER (No. 8 Red Bull KTM Ajo, polewinner): “This morning (practice) I did it on old tires, so I knew for sure I could pull it out; the other tires deteriorate really quickly. I definitely thought I could do it. I’m happy with how it all turned out. I had a rider in front of me on the straightaway so I was able to slip one in there. I had a few rear slides (on the fast lap), just pushing; the tire was new and I was really feeding it to it. A couple of slides here and there but nothing too major or out of the ordinary. I really like the new course, it’s awesome. Where there’s a corner and you come out in first gear, the Hondas always have a big advantage on the straight. Now that they have made the last corner faster and more flowing, we come out in third gear so it seems to be helping us out.” (For race day): “No changes really, a little tweak here or there on the suspension. It will be a big ol’ fight, that’s for sure. With such a long straight, there will be no getting away. The times are really close. There is going to be such a group of us (together) that the fans are really going to enjoy watching it.”
***
MotoGP QUALIFYING FORMAT:
Two qualifying sessions will determine the MotoGP starting grid for all races this season.
Combined times from practice sessions will determine participation in the final qualifying session. The 10 quickest riders will advance automatically into the second qualifying session, which starts at 2:35 p.m.
All other riders will participate in the first qualifying session that starts at 2:10 p.m. The two quickest riders in that session will advance to session two, in which 12 riders will compete for the top 12 starting spots on the grid.
The riders not among the two quickest in the first qualifying session will occupy grid positions 13 and above, according to their times in the first session.
***
MotoGP QUALIFYING #1:
At 2:10 p.m., the ambient temperature was 77 degrees F (25 C) with a relative humidity of 64 percent and east winds at 10 mph (16.1 km/h). Skies were cloudy.
Quickest lap, weekend: 1:32.391, #93 Marquez.
2:10 p.m. – GREEN.
2:25 p.m. – CHECKERED. #45 Redding quickest at 1:32.829. #35 Crutchlow second at 1:32.941. They will advance into second qualifying session.
***
Riders qualified for second MotoGP qualifying session: #93 Marquez, #44 P. Espargaro, #46 Rossi, #4 Dovizioso, #99 Lorenzo, #26 Pedrosa, #6 Bradl, #41 A. Espargaro, #29 Ianonne, #38 Smith, #45 Redding, #35 Crutchlow.
MotoGP QUALIFYING #2:
At 2:35 p.m., the ambient temperature was 77 degrees F (25 C) with a relative humidity of 64 percent and east winds at 10 mph (16.1 km/h). Skies were cloudy.
Quickest lap, weekend: 1:32.391, #93 Marquez.
2:35 p.m. – GREEN.
2:41 p.m. -- #93 Marquez quickest lap of weekend at 1:31.718.
2:47 p.m. -- #93 Marquez quickest lap of weekend at 1:31.619.
2:48 p.m. – No. 38 Smith has high-side crash in Turn 2. Official @MotoGP Twitter feed reports that Smith receives treatment for injury to fifth finger of left hand.
2:50 p.m. – CHECKERED. #93 Marquez wins pole with lap of 1:31.619. Front row: #93 Marquez (Honda), #4 Dovizioso (Ducati), #99 Lorenzo (Yamaha).
American qualifier: #5 Edwards, 15th, 1:33.625.
***
MOTOGP QUALIFYING NOTES:
Spain’s Marc Marquez won his eighth pole in 10 MotoGP races this season. He has 17 poles in 28 races in his MotoGP career.
Marc Marquez is the first MotoGP rider to win two consecutive poles at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
Marc Marquez will look to win his fourth race at IMS following wins in Moto2 in 2011 and 2012 and last year in MotoGP. In 2011 and 2013, he won from the pole.
Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso turned in his best qualifying effort of the season. He started third in France, his only other front row start this season.
Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo qualified third and will start from the front row for the fifth time this season.
***
Moto2 QUALIFYING:
At 3:05 p.m., the ambient temperature was 80 degrees F (27 C) with a relative humidity of 60 percent and light winds. Skies were cloudy.
Quickest lap, weekend: 1:37.243, #77 Aegerter
3:05 p.m. – GREEN.
3:16 p.m. – #53 Rabat wobbles and saves bike but runs into sand pit. Continues to pit road.
3:25 p.m. – #15 De Angelis crashes. Rider OK.
3:34 p.m. – #88 Cardus crashes, slides through Turn 15. Rider OK.
3:42 p.m. – #53 Rabat crashes. Rider OK.
3:45 p.m. – #19 Simeon and #2 Herrin crash, both OK.
3:50 p.m. – CHECKERED. #36 Kallio wins pole with lap of 1:36.883. Second pole of season.
AMA PRO VANCE & HINES HARLEY-DAVIDSON SERIES, RACE #1
At 4:20 p.m., the ambient temperature was 82 degrees F (28 C) with a relative humidity of 56 percent and east winds at 14 mph. Skies were cloudy.
Polesitter: #99 Jeremy McWilliams, 1:49.370
Race distance: 10 laps
Lap 1 – GREEN.
Lap 4 -- #99 McWilliams leads #45 Carlson by .047 of a second.
Lap 7 -- #45 Carlson takes lead by .006 of a second over #99 McWilliams.
Lap 8 -- #99 McWilliams leads by .075 of a second over #45 Carlson.
Lap 9 -- #99 McWilliams leads by .519 of a second over #39 Rosli. #45 Carlson in third.
Lap 10 – CHECKERED. #99 McWilliams wins by .083 of a second over #45 Carlson.
***
MOTOGP POST-QUALIFYING QUOTES:
VALENTINO ROSSI (No. 46 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, fifth): “I’m quite happy about the fifth position. I can do better, because today I’m always quite fast. This morning I was always in the top three. I wanted to try for the first row, but I could not unfortunately. It is a shame, because from the first row it’s more easy. But in the qualifying there’s always a lot of traffic, a lot of confusion. For me, starting in the top five is good. So I’m happy; especially I’m happy about the pace. I think that I can be competitive for the race tomorrow. I think it will be crucial -- the rear tire choice -- for tomorrow, because the performance is very close between the two tires. I think some riders can use the hard. Some riders can use the soft. So it will be very important to make the right choice for the tire.” (On the pace of Marc Marquez): “For me the stronger guys are Marquez and also (Jorge) Lorenzo. But Marquez is a bit faster. But this is just Saturday. Maybe tomorrow we can improve. For me, we are not very far. But Marc, at the end, is always in front.”
POL ESPARGARO (No. 44 Monster Yamaha Tech 3, sixth): “This morning in practice we had a problem in the final corner. I did too close of a line and was too much on the curb and I lose a little bit of front and I touch with my elbow the dirt inside the corner. I was so close to flat and finally I got control of the bike. It was a big mistake and a little bit dangerous.” (On qualifying): “We were really on the limit on the lap and finally we got to sixth position. We are really close to Valentino (Rossi). Tomorrow’s race, we’ll have good pace with the bike. It looks like tomorrow’s race will be fun for us.” (On what the best tire choice will be for tomorrow): “It’s not easy with the new asphalt. Before, we did some laps with the hard compound and we found that we can do the race with this tire. Actually, we don’t know with the soft. The soft, it’s too soft. You do a few laps and don’t have any more grip. So we don’t know. Tomorrow on the warm up, we’ll do some more laps with both tires if we can and will choose one of them.”
MOTOGP POST-QUALIFYING QUOTES, continued:
DANI PEDROSA (No. 26 Repsol Honda, eighth): “I couldn't improve. I missed the lap every time because I made a mistake somewhere and wasn’t able to put a good lap together. I wasn't able to improve really. If you don’t improve on the second part, you fall back on the grid. It’s not the best starting position, but I will do my best to make some passes at the beginning and move to the front. It’s important to get in touch with (the leaders) as soon as possible.”
STEFAN BRADL (No. 6 LCR Honda MotoGP, 10th): “I’m disappointed. We were really fast this morning, unfortunately I was not able to bring a good lap together in qualifying. People were waiting a lot, I waited a little too much and I made a few too many mistakes. It was rider failure. It’s not that easy to go out and do your own lap; people are waiting a lot and you have to find the right compromise.” (On race day) “I want to go to the front, move forward, overtake some guys. The pace with everybody is so close that we look at our warm-up and then go.”
CAL CRUTCHLOW (No. 35 Ducati Team, 12th): “I think it was as to be expected. We were going to be in the lower half of the second qualifying. We managed to make it through, which was good. We made a step today. I think our pace is a lot better today than what it was yesterday. Of course, I think we’re still struggling to turn the bike at the moment. But I am happy enough. We’re all looking for rear grip. We’re all looking for the best setting at the moment. I think if I could have got a tow in the last qualifying I probably could have been a second quicker. Hopefully, we can get a good race tomorrow and do what we need to do and the best job we can.”
YONNY HERNANDEZ (No. 68 Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Ducati, 13th): “Not so bad. I expected more and I did my best. When I was out on my best lap I could not finish the lap because one rider stayed in front of me. That was a problem. Tomorrow I think I can (have) a good race. So I feel OK, the setup on the bike is pretty good, I worked with the team and it was perfect and tomorrow I expect to fight for the points.” (On the track): “(The grip) is very good, I like the new track.”
MARC MARQUEZ (No. 93 Repsol Honda, polewinner): “This afternoon I feel so good. We found a really good setup with the new layout and corners. We changed a little bit from last year because it’s less stop and go, and you need to keep more corner speed. So we tried to do that. And I feel good, especially for the race. I have a good rhythm. I feel comfortable. In the qualifying and practice, I'm happy for the pole because after holidays, again to get the confidence, it's important. Tomorrow I hope a normal race, dry race, and try to fight for the victory.” (On tire choices): “We will (determine) tomorrow, depends on the temperature. This morning, the rhythm with the soft tire was so good. This afternoon with the hard tire also was good. So with both options, I feel comfortable. So it depends on the temperature, I will choose one or the other one.” (Continued on Page 10)
“Yeah. In the qualifying session it was the first lap and I was pushing. I braked too late and said, ‘OK, we go wide. We will have more opportunities.’ So for that reason I decide to go straight because I saw that I was too fast, was the first lap, too much risk. And I decide that, but I know why I did the mistake.”
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO (No. 4 Ducati Team, second): “To make that lap time under (1 minute) 32 (seconds) was a really nice feeling. And sure to follow Marc, like I say, the crazy line of Marc helped me to make that lap time. But every section we are really strong, in the top five every practice, so I feel better than the other tracks. We are faster, but especially with the new tires. So we have to see in the race for 27 laps if we are able to keep a good speed.” (On tire choice): “For us it’s easy because our hard is maybe too soft, so we have to use the hard tire. And especially I believe in this track the difference of the soft and hard, the potential is very close, so there is no positive point to use the soft in the race.”
JORGE LORENZO (No. 99 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, third): “Yes, it's important to be in the first row for tomorrow’s race. I try to make the perfect lap in the two tries. The first one I was really satisfied with my lap time. In the second one I just found some riders that were to slow down to follow a wheel, and I lost concentration, so I didn't ride the same as in the first try. But anyway, I improve two-tenths. So it was enough to be in first row.”
MOTO2 POST-QUALIFYING QUOTES:
MIKA KALLIO (No. 36 Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex, polewinner): “Yes, the start was not really perfect for us. Concerning yesterday and now to be on the pole, we can be really satisfied. And, after yesterday, of course, I was really angry, really, really. We destroyed quite fast the tires. It’s good to have a few laps and then the front tire was finished. So I didn't really expect that we could be on the pole today because of those problems. But then the team did really good job. We decide to weigh where we need to go with the settings, and that was the right direction. And immediately in the morning I felt much better, and the lap time improved almost a second. Then when we went to qualifying, we did also a good plan that normally you use the tires, the best tires in the end, but now we put immediately for the first laps, we put the good tires. And I decided I push everything what I could, and I saw the lap time improve quite a lot. I knew that maybe this could be enough to keep the pole position, and in the end it was like that. So good for us, but, of course, today we didn’t get any points and tomorrow it’s important day. And the other guys, for sure, they will push hard tomorrow and it will be tough, also, for the tires. So need to see which kind of plan we make for tomorrow.
JOSH HERRIN (Glendale, Calif.; No. 2 AirAsia Caterham Suter, 23rd): “We were 14th and dropped back to 12th, came back in and thought about it – then went back our and I had a crash trying to follow somebody which was a dumb mistake. I came out of Turn 1 on the outside of a rider and got on the brakes, got pinched off, and was afraid I was going to hit the guy in front of me. (More)
“I got on the brakes harder and it might have been a little too much. I’m happy with being up to 14th, that’s way, way better than we have done all year. The fans are pumping my spirits up. We’ll go back out (for the race) and start new. I’m a better racer than a qualifier. I’d be really happy to be in the points (top 15).” (On moving up) “This is a big challenge – it’s not the bikes, it’s the competition. AMA was really good for me but the talent is really deep (in Moto2). It’s a lot tougher. If you’re not on your ‘A’ game, you’re in 30th place here because of the competition.”
***
AMA PRO VANCE & HINES HARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES POST-RACE #1 QUOTES:
JEREMY McWILLIAMS (No. 99 Harley-Davidson of Bloomington, winner): “It is nice to see these young guys sweating too. At the start of the race you put a lot of pressure on yourself when you start from the pole because you have done all that work and you don’t want to give it away on the first lap. So I put the hammer down and thought stupidly that I could I break away and I gave it everything I got. But that didn’t really work in the end because Benny (Carlson) caught me and he taught be a few things from the middle to the end of the race when he got through. He was using his superior height to get the bike back on the fat part of the tire and drive away from me. I thought ‘if he keeps doing this we’re in trouble.’ So I had to keep working very hard to get back on him in the last sector, because once the draft is broken it’s gone. I think I was quicker in in the first sector in (Turns) 2, 3 and 4 and then he had it all the back way in (Turns) 9 and 10 and all the way through the lap, so I was lucky that Bloomington Harley gave me a bike that could keep me in the draft. It is good as it was last year. It is a pleasure to ride the bike, so that is a bit weight off my shoulders to win again here because this is such a special place.” (On Indy being special, do other riders feel that way?): “Yes, everybody feels that way. When you come to Indy it is a special place. How many riders do you see kissing the bricks? I mean, I haven't done because I thought what if I do and it all turns bad? So I see all those riders do that and I think I should have done that last year. But you come through these doors and it is such an awesome place. We know a lot about Indy, we watch the 500 and all that goes with it. We have a big crowd here but I know they get lost in such a big stadium. I had an autograph session for one of my sponsors and there was a big line and they all knew what had happened last year.” (On the reconfigured road course): “Honestly it is so much better. I think all the guys would agree that it is a proper racetrack. It had elements of a proper racetrack last year but you come to Indy you expect it to be perfect, but it is a small area to make a GP track in. I think they have done a great job. They have taken on board a lot of what the riders have been saying and I know Kenny Roberts was involved in some way, but it really flows, it flows so much better for me, and it is a pleasure to ride it.”
BEN CARLSON (No. 45 Suburban Motors, second): “The last lap, Turn 1, I almost went down. I haven’t won one yet. I had my foot off at one point to gather the thing up. I knew I was getting a better run on the frontstretch than (McWilliams) was. (Continued on Page 12)
“I knew I had the speed, in Turn 8 and 9 I was working phenomenally, getting down to the center of the tire. Hats off to (McWilliams). I sat and didn’t pass when I could have on the last lap. I had an absolute blast. This is one of the better rides I’ll remember in my career.”
KYLE WYMAN (No. 33 Kyle Wyman Racing, third): “I showed up a little late to the party. I got a good start but I was in the third row. By the time I got free, the top five had checked out on me. We had a better load on tire life because of our shocks. I knew if I tried to stay consistent, put down fast laps, every single lap and not make mistakes that the tire life eventually played into my favor. The last couple of laps I stayed the same pace and those guys started dropping off a bit. It allowed me to catch them at the end and make two passes at the end to get up on the box (podium). I would have really like to have seen what I could have done if I had been up there from the get-go.”
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MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez served as Grand Marshal of the 2014 Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Friday. Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Pol Espargaro also watched the race and the kind of sideways-sliding thrills flat track racing has to offer. Flat track racing has long been a training ground for past American MotoGP riders and the current group of riders certainly have an appreciation for this form of racing.
MARC MARQUEZ: “I saw that they are really, really fast. It’s incredible, the top speed, especially of the strongest guys. It was incredible in Turn 1 and Turn 2. They go in maybe 160 (km/h) full gas and the wall was there so close. So it was impressive to see. And nice. So I enjoyed it a lot.”
POL ESPARGARO: “It was crazy. I never saw something like that. In Spain we have some flat tracks, but not as big as that was. I would like to test on one someday on holiday, because during the races the team don’t permit me to do it. It’s really crazy but so nice.” (Are the flat track guys crazier than you guys?): “Well, all the sports are a little bit crazy. But maybe they are a little bit more than us.” (On Valentino Rossi having a flat track in Italy): “I will have to make one at my home. I think that would be a good idea.”
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SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE (all times local):
7 a.m.-6 p.m. Public Gates Open
8:40-9 a.m. Moto3 Warm-up
9:10-9:30 a.m. Moto2 Warm-up
9:40-10 a.m. MotoGP Warm-up
11 a.m. Moto3 Race (23 laps)
12:20 p.m. Moto2 Race (25 laps)
2 p.m. MotoGP Race (27 laps)
3:30 p.m. AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series Race #2 (10 laps)
***END DAY 2 NOTES***