MotoGP news
Schwantz tipping local heroes
27 August 2009Former World Champion Kevin Schwantz hopes to see a non-interrupted race at Indianapolis this weekend and believes that American riders could be the favourites whilst on home turf. The event at the legendary venue was seriously compromised by poor weather conditions in 2008 although sunshine is expected for this year's event.
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| Better weather is both hoped for and predicted this year |
The MotoGP return to Indianapolis last year was dogged by a hurricane in the area which causes high winds, rainstorms and the eventual premature finish to the Grand Prix. A heavy rain shower is expected on Thursday night this year although, if weather forecasts are anything to go by, temperatures should reach highs of 21°C (70°F) on a bright Sunday in 2009.
"I think last year we didn't get to see the full effect of what Indianapolis being on the calendar meant for MotoGP because the hurricane came through," explained 1993 title winner Schwantz, of Houston, Texas. "I think this year we'll be able to get a far truer impression of what it means; having Indianapolis on the schedule and being here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a huge draw, a huge attraction. People are genuinely excited about coming here. Let's hope Mother Nature is a little friendlier with us this year and we actually get some decent weather for the weekend!"
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| Rossi is title favourite, says the 1993 Champion |
With the Yamaha team easy to tip for victory at the front, Kevin will also be looking out for the homegrown talent. "I'm sure Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards are both going to be really strong," he continued, "but I still think, championship-wise, the Number 46 (Valentino Rossi) seems to have the measure of everybody.
I don't know if it's just a mental edge that the guy has because I really felt like - in watching practice both at Donington and at Brno - that Jorge Lorenzo was smooth and he was consistently fast but Rossi has a way of just upping his game a little bit on Sunday afternoon and it's been devastating to Lorenzo on both of those weekends."
Schwantz also believes that 2007 Champion Casey Stoner, who is sitting out a second consecutive race due to illness and will not be travelling to Indy, should be on the Ducati at Indy. "As a rider, my feeling is that Casey needs to be out there competing," the former Suzuki man added. "This championship, apart when he made a tyre choice at Donington that seemed to be a little bit off the norm, had him right at the top of it."
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