For the first time Repsol Honda's two riders will use different brands of tyre, Hayden riding Michelin and Pedrosa using Bridgestone, which he tried for the first time during the Misano tests.

“Everybody starts from zero point at Indy. Dani got a good feeling from his new tyres and the pneumatic-valve engine at the Misano tests, so now we look forward to more progress. At Indy he will need all his ability to set-up a machine quickly”, commented Team Manager Kazuhiko Yamano. “I am also looking forward to seeing Nicky race again and using all his energy and fighting spirit that he wasn't able to use at Brno and Misano. Indy is his home GP, so his family and friends will be there to cheer him. I am sure he will show them a fantastic race.”

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the world's oldest racetracks. The Indiana venue hosted its first event – a motorcycle race – in 1909, just two years after the world's first custom-built banked racetrack was opened at Brooklands in Britain. The IMS has constructed a totally new anti-clockwise infield circuit for MotoGP which uses the oval's start-finish straight and features a tight, twisting infield section of 16 corners.

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