2011 Ducati MotoGP
Two weeks ago (Aug. 5, 2011), Ducati MotoGP’s Nicky Hayden piloted a Ducati 1198 SP at the newly refurbished Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Ducati teammate of Valentino Rossi became the first man to lap the Indy circuit, which was repaved from Turn 5 to 16, an area that plagued the MotoGP grid with bumps.
The YouTube video above shows Point of View footage of Hayden lapping Indy.
Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team MotoGP) says: “The new surface is just what I expected, it’s pretty much perfect. There are a couple corners that the riders requested to be redone and IMS went above and beyond, and actually the whole infield from Turn 5 to the finish is repaved, so I’m looking forward to getting back here on the race bike and laying some rubber down and cleaning up the racing line and trying it out.”
Crews began repaving the bumpy sections of the track (1.5 miles) June 9; on July 7 the FIM inspected and approved the repaved section.
The MotoGP grid will be on IMS Aug. 26-28 for the Red Bull Indy Grand Prix.
