Indianapolis receives special visit

The MotoGP paddock was paid a visit by Indiana Governor Mitchell E. Daniels Jr on Saturday, who also took the opportunity to talk to motogp.com about his enthusiasm and passion for the sport.

Governor Daniels arrived at the track on his Harley Davidson low rider painted in the state flag colours and attended the post-qualifying press conference, where he awarded the pole men with their Tissot watches. Governor Daniels also met the media and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and made a lap of the track in the safety car.

“I love the fact that tens of thousands of additional fans may be seeing our state and this fantastic facility for the first time, and as a motorcycle fan myself I was obviously thrilled when we landed MotoGP,” explained Governor Davies. “I tell everybody if you haven’t seen this in person it cannot be described, you simply have to come!”

“We love racing in this state and in the mid-west, and in addition to the greatest venue in the world we are so centrally located and I think as the word about MotoGP spreads there’s no reason this crowd shouldn’t grow every year. We’re easy to get to on two wheels or four!”

Governor Daniels also expressed his admiration for the premier class riders, adding: “I’m in awe of all these guys. The first year (in 2008) which was the first time I saw it live there was basically a hurricane and it didn’t even slow them down. That’s when I knew these guys were of a different species!”