Schwantz to lead Moto2 wildcard team at Indy with Hayden on board

American Honda has announced that Kevin Schwantz will lead their Moto2 wildcard entry for the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix from August 27-29, with Roger Lee Hayden on board a Moriwaki MD600 frame. The news follows an earlier announcement which confirmed American Honda’s participation as a wildcard in the intermediate category in this year’s event.

The team will be staffed by Erion Racing, who have been American Honda’s premier support team for more than 15 years, and as well as being able to pull on his vast racing experience Schwantz will also use the knowledge he has gained of the Honda CBR600RR machines that he uses at his riding school.

"It's an honour for me to be chosen as team manager," said 1993 500cc World Champion Schwantz. "We've been using CBR600RRs for some time now at our schools, and I've ridden a Moto2 bike and it's very good. I watched the first three Moto2 races and I expect the racing to be just as good at Indy."

Ray Blank, Senior Vice President of American Honda Powersports Division, stated: “American Honda views the Indy GP as an opportunity to support Moto2 in the US. This great new production-based World Championship format is based on the Honda CBR600RR engine platform, so it’s a natural for our participation.”

Continuing his longstanding association with American Honda, 27 year-old Hayden – brother of 2006 MotoGP World Champion and current Ducati Marlboro rider Nicky – will utilise his experience on board 600cc machinery as he rides under Schwantz’s guidance for the team.

"This is a great opportunity for me to race in front of my home crowd at a MotoGP event," said Hayden, who has an AMA supersport championship title to his name. "The Moto2 class is really competitive and I'm looking forward to jumping in the middle of it."

The team will also participate in special fundraising activities which will benefit the Ride for Kids(r) (RFK) program and the Paediatric Brain Tumour Foundation(r) (PBTF). As part of this Schwantz will lead the Lap of Champions at Indianapolis in aid of the PBTF.