Spies and Iannone deal with past injuries on Friday at Indianapolis

Ben Spies returned to the MotoGP World Championship in a positive frame of mind today after missing the last 4 races of the calendar, due to the intense physiotherapy required to recover from the damage suffered at the end of the 2012 season. The Texan ended the two free practice sessions with a best lap of 1'41.145, which was over one second faster than his morning session time.

Ben Spies, Pramac Racing Team

Photo by: Hazrin Yeob Men Shah

Currently the Texan’s aim is to regain confidence, in the shortest possible time, with his Desmosedici GP13 machine, and to find the necessary pace to obtain the best possible results in the remaining 9 races of the 2013 season.

Ben Spies – Ignite Pramac Racing Team
“Indianapolis has been a really good track in the past for me. It’s difficult, after three months of forced stop, to get back on the bike on such a physical track, with a lot of changes of direction, chicanes and slippery asphalt. Anyway I like this circuit a lot and the fans here at home. We have a lot of work to do but we will try to get back step by step. I am satisfied about today’s results during the two FP sessions and my aim for tomorrow is to get closer to the Ducati Factory riders and possibly to enter in the Top Ten for Qualifying without doing too much to avoid risks. We will take our time but I finally feel good in riding my bike.“

Andrea Iannone returned to the track today after the injury he suffered during the weekend of the German Grand Prix.

The Italian’s shoulder felt better than expected, despite partially limiting movement, and he was forced to compensate for lack of strength and mobility of the arm with the weight of his body.

Nevertheless, the first day of free practice saw him set a time of 1'41.444, over 1 second faster than the morning session.

Valuable assistance from the Clinica Mobile and some changes made together with the Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team will allow Andrea to maintain the confidence necessary to deal with the two hard days that await him here at Indianapolis.

Andrea Iannone - Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team
“All in all today has not gone too bad. My shoulder hurts, especially in changes of direction, and also I can’t brake well when turning into the curves. It’s not ideal, especially because with MotoGP bikes you really have to brake hard. I think that, together with the Clinica Mobile, we will evaluate the possibility of taking painkillers, in order to better withstand the pain, and I hope that, with some small modifications to the bike, tomorrow it can be better.”

Pramac Racing Team