Malaysian Grand Prix Preview
Friday, October 23, 2009
EVENT: Grand Prix of Malaysia
WHERE: Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Circuit is 3.447 miles (5.548 km), with 15 turns. Race is 21 laps.
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 25. It is the 16th of 17 events this season.
2008 RACE WINNER: Valentino Rossi, by 4.008 seconds over Dani Pedrosa
2008 POLE WINNER: Dani Pedrosa, 2 minutes, 1.548 seconds
U.S. TV: MotoGP: 6-7 p.m. (ET), Sunday, Oct. 25, SPEED. 250cc: 5-6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, SPEED.
THE AMERICANS: U.S. riders Colin Edwards (Houston, Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Nicky Hayden (Owensboro, Ky., Ducati Team) will compete in this race. Edwards is sixth and Hayden is 14th in the MotoGP standings after 15 races this season.
•Colin Edwards: "Yeah, it scheduled out I needed three points a race for the last three races to beat him (fifth place Andrea Dovizioso), and I just got one (at Phillip Island). We need to get up into the top three, top four. He needs to finish a sixth or a seventh, and then we'll be back on level terms. We've got some work to do. It's not going to be easy. But we've got to get a few points on him."
•Nicky Hayden: "I wouldn't say that Malaysia is one of my favorite circuits, and it's almost as if I've got ownership on fourth place there because I finished in that position five times out of six. Having said that, if I were to manage fourth place this year, I'd probably be more than happy. We've arrived here on the back of a disappointing weekend in terms of what might have been, but that's over now, and we have to look forward. I'm expecting the usual heat - having suffered from the cold in Australia, it will be the opposite here - but it will be interesting to get back on track at a place we have tested at. Sepang is one of the circuits where I have ridden the bike the most, back in January, and we have made a lot of progress since then. Fortunately, I'm faster now, so it will be interesting to see where we're at."
THEY SAID IT: "We have the first match point for the championship. After Jorge's mistake at Phillip Island, we have a good advantage. But we have to treat this like a normal race, especially in practice, because I like this track a lot and have had great results and races here in the past." - Fiat Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi, who needs to finish fourth or better at this event to clinch his seventh MotoGP World Championship
FAST FACTS: 2008 Red Bull Indianapolis GP winner Valentino Rossi will clinch his seventh MotoGP World Championship by finishing fourth or better at this event. Rossi has finished on the podium seven times in nine starts in the premier class at Sepang, including five victories …If Rossi wins the World Championship, it will be his ninth career world title, as he also won in 125cc and 250cc. A ninth title would tie Rossi with Mike Hailwood and Carlo Ubbiali for third on the all-time list. Giacomo Agostini leads with 15 world championships, followed by Angel Nieto with 13 … Aleix Espargaro will replace the injured Niccolo Canepa on the Pramac Racing Team Ducati at this event. Canepa needed a skin transplant on his arm after a crash during practice for the Grand Prix of Australia. Espargaro impressed during two previous starts with Pramac this season, including the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, and landed a full-time ride with the team for 2010 … Last weekend at Phillip Island, Australia, Casey Stoner earned his 19th victory since the MotoGP formula changed to 800cc at the start of the 2007 season, equaling Valentino Rossi's total during that span … American Nicky Hayden has finished fourth five times in six career MotoGP starts at Sepang … Sepang is not one of the best tracks for American Colin Edwards. His best finish there is eighth, in 2008 … Julian Simon of Spain clinched the 125cc World Championship by winning Oct. 18 at Phillip Island, Australia … American Cameron Beaubier will continue his first season in the 125cc class at this event. Beaubier, 16, from Roseville, Calif., is tied for 27th in the World Championship standings this season for the Red Bull KTM 125 factory team.
***
IMS tickets: Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. Beginning in 2009, the Speedway celebrates its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2011.
Race tickets can be purchased online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
Share:
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway Talkback | Post Comment |
|
|
|