Archive for July 7th, 2010

(News Release)

HONDA UNVEILS GRAPHICS FOR RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP Moto2 EFFORT
Famed artist Drudi designs scheme for bike, leathers used by Roger Lee Hayden at IMS

Roger Lee Hayden's stunning Moto2 bike.

Roger Lee Hayden's stunning Moto2 bike.

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, July 7, 2010 – World-renowned artist Aldo Drudi, founder of Drudi Performance, has designed the patriotic American graphic design schemes for the American Honda Moto2 effort at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 27-29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

American Roger Lee Hayden will ride a Moriwaki MD600 at IMS for the wild-card entry, which will be managed by American motorcycle racing legend Kevin Schwantz, the 1993 500cc World Champion.

Drudi’s designs for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP feature red, white and blue as the primary colors and stars and stripes on the motorcycle and rider leathers.

“To work with Kevin, who is a friend and a champion, on a project that American Honda is supporting, it was a given that I was honored to be asked to create the graphics,” Drudi said. “This assignment has been particularly special to me because for a long time I have wanted to create a theme that focused on the stars and stripes of the USA, which turns out to be the perfect match for this project. It is a very exciting opportunity and a project that will be of the highest level.”

Drudi Performance has left its mark in motorsports for decades. Beginning in the early 1980s, Drudi design schemes have adorned machine bodywork, leathers, racing suits and helmets in motorcycle racing as well as auto racing, including NASCAR.

Hayden's equally beautiful racing leathers.

Hayden's equally beautiful racing leathers.

Commercially available Arai helmets have featured Drudi Performance graphics, and the company has also designed motorcycle-riding apparel and motorcycling-related casual wear. In addition, participants in sports as diverse as bicycle racing, soccer, track & field and offshore racing have borne the handiwork of Drudi Performance.

Most recently, Drudi designed the graphics for the 2010 Gresini Moto2 team.

Schwantz’s ties to Drudi also run deep. Drudi began working with Schwantz in 1991 when he designed the starburst helmet Schwantz started wearing in 1992. Drudi has continued designing Schwantz’s helmets since that time. Schwantz was the first GP rider wearing a Drudi-designed helmet to win a World Championship, in 1993.

American Honda plans to have Drudi-designed commemorative shirts and hats available to the public with all proceeds to benefit the Ride for Kids. Availability details will follow at a later date.

***

IMS tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event.

Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29.

Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.

General admission tickets provide access to the grounds and to the viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

(News Release)

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, July 7, 2010 – It’s looking more and more like MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi will race at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 27-29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2008 Red Bull Indianapolis GP winner Rossi tested a Yamaha World Superbike Team machine July 7 at Misano, Italy, just 32 days after he suffered a compound fracture of his lower right leg in a vicious, high-side crash June 5 in the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.

Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi turned 26 laps and may return to his Fiat Yamaha MotoGP machine as early as the next event, the German Grand Prix on Sunday, July 18 at the Sachsenring.

“We made this test in order to understand how we must work from here and to see more or less how I can ride the bike,” Rossi said. “The test was positive, because I can at least ride, but there is a lot more to a MotoGP race than to a test like this one. I had some pain in the ankle, the knee and the shoulder, but above all I lacked strength in the shoulder and a bit of movement in the ankle.

“I would really like to come back at Sachsenring, but it is still too early to say. We still have 12 days, and we must wait and see how much we can improve my condition in the next few days. The Superbike today was good and great fun to ride! I really would like to ride at Sachsenring, but we must wait another week before making a decision.”

Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha teammate, 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP winner Jorge Lorenzo, has won three of the four races during Rossi’s absence and leads the World Championship by 52 points over Dani Pedrosa. Rossi has slipped from second to seventh in the standings.

There are three American riders in the top 10 of the MotoGP point standings: 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden is tied for fourth, rookie Ben Spies is eighth, and Colin Edwards is tied for 10th.

***

IMS tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event.

Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29.

Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.

General admission tickets provide access to the grounds and to the viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

Steve Lamson (6) and Ricky Carmichael (4) lead the pack early in 250cc Moto 1 at the Hangtown National in 2002. Stephane Roncada (21), Sean Hamblin (99), Keith Johnson (38) and John Dowd (16) and Jeremias Isreal (89) give chase to Lamson and Carmichael. Carmichael went on to win the moto and the overall. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Steve Lamson (6) and Ricky Carmichael (4) lead the pack early in 250cc Moto 1 at the Hangtown National in 2002. Stephane Roncada (21), Sean Hamblin (99), Keith Johnson (38), John Dowd (16) and Jeremias Isreal (89) give chase to Lamson and Carmichael. Carmichael went on to win the moto and the overall. (Larry Lawrence photo)