MotoGP back on track

A bevy of more established stars, including his Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa and Yamaha factory rider Jorge Lorenzo, will be gunning for him with Pedrosa and Lorenzo in particular hoping to reassert themselves in the second half of the season after overcoming injury.

“Now we start the second half and we have recharged our batteries over the summer,” said Marquez, who closed out the first half of the season with a triumph at Laguna Seca in California on July 21.

“It will be difficult and interesting because Dani and Jorge have recovered.

“It’s one of the tracks I seem to ride quite well, so I hope to do the same with the MotoGP bike.”

The race at the famed “Brickyard” is one of three US stops on the MotoGP calendar. In addition to his triumph at Laguna Seca, Marquez won the inaugural event at the new circuit in Austin, Texas, in April.

He also won a race in Germany and with three victories this season tops the standings with 163 points.

Pedrosa is second on 147. Lorenzo third on 137 and Italy’s Valentino Rossi fourth on 117.

Pedrosa had been leading the world championship chase when he broke his collarbone in practice for the German Grand Prix in July. He’s eager to see how his rehabilitated body will stand up to riding.

“Basically it was all about not moving a lot and staying quiet,” Pedrosa said of his rehab.

“The healing process is getting better and over these last days we have seen some signs of the bones recovering, so that is good. Now I’m just waiting to go out, checking how everything is on the bike.”

Lorenzo broke his collarbone in practice for the Dutch GP, then fell again in Germany. He managed a sixth-placed finish at Laguna Seca, but says he’s fitter now.

“I’m not like I was before Assen, but much better than Laguna,” the reigning world champion said.

“I have spent the holiday trying to recover the collarbone, so let’s see how it goes.”

– AFP.