Cycle News

VOL. 50 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 20, 2013 RISPOLI DOES INDY! P55 In realizing a (Kent), 24th (Rossi) and dream of racing at 25th (Rispoli). Rispoli's the top level, AMA best lap time was a Daytona Sport1:45.243 – 4.2 secBike rider James onds faster than his Rispoli was thrown best from the opening into the deep end at session and 1.7 secIndianapolis Motor onds slower than the Speedway. And he fastest lap of the race came out of it quite set by Julian Simon. well, thank you very Rispoli was all much. smiles after the race Rispoli was riding when talking about his the GP Tech-backed debut weekend in the bike at Indy in Big Show. Moto2 - the Honda"It was amazing," James Rispoli (43) leads Louis Rossi (96) spec engine class. His Honda Rispoli said. "To sit down now and and Alberto Moncayo (17) during his would be in a Tech 3 chassis, wild-card ride in Moto2. Rispoli ended up really think about what we've done a hindrance to those who have and where we have come from… 25th in his debut in the class. used it in the past (like current racing dirt track and now getting MotoGP rider Bradley Smith) to the world stage. It's awesome. and to those using it currently. It's really cool and it's a dream come true to do it. I But Rispoli's progression at the GP was smooth and want to come back. Everybody who is behind me has consistent and the youngster didn't make any misbeen behind since day one. It's emotional right now. takes. We made it to the highest level." In the first free practice session on Friday mornAnd he did race with a guy named Rossi. ing, Rispoli's GP Tech bike was over-geared and he "Maybe that will be the closest I get to Rossi," struggled with a slipper clutch that wasn't working Rispoli joked. "But it was fun to actually run with the st right. His best lap was a 1:49.452 and that put him 31 other Tech 3 rider. We had issues ourselves in the in the 33-rider field. Things improved in the second race, but we improved every time and I did a string of free practice session and so did Rispoli, the Monsterfour or five laps where I just kept taking 10ths off and th backed rider moving up to 29 with a best lap of improving my lap times from qualifying. Everybody 1:46.745 – an improvement of 2.7 seconds. He was also closing the gap to the other Tech 3 chassis users here worked so hard and the Tech 3 guys have been so helpful. Danny Kent helped me a lot and it's been – Louis Rossi and Danny Kent, the two he would use an open book. And, of course, the GP Tech guys as a benchmark over the course of the weekend. have been great. I wish I could take these guys the Free practice 3 saw Rispoli drop back to 30th, whole year. although his lap time again improved to a 1:46.676. "I wish this was a test for the next one. Now I know In final qualifying, he ended up 29th – his lap times what to expect, I know what to go home and train for. dropping into the 1:45s with a 1:45.567. He was 2.5 I do see light at the end of the tunnel and I do think seconds a lap slower than pole sitter Scott Redding Americans can be at the world stage. From what I after starting the weekend 4.9 seconds a lap slower. saw, they are very fast but they're not doing anything Come race time, Rispoli had a clutch issue at the crazy. It's just more lean angle and more cornering start and that hampered his progression off the line, speed. I hope this is an opening for all Americans and but he fought through and finished 25th, battling with Rossi and losing out to the Frenchman by 1.9 seconds I hope more guys get a chance to do it." as the three Tech 3-chassised bikes ended up 23rd Paul Carruthers

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