Moto GP / Trent Burton / 13 September 2008 /

Casey Stoner may not be able to catch Valentino Rossi in the race for the championship but he will want to prove a point a the Brickyard, says Trent Burton.

In my preview for the last round I suggested that the 2008 MotoGP Championship engraver was already choosing what font to put 'Valentino Rossi' on the trophy in. Well, after Misano he's packed up the wife and kids and taken the rest of the year off.

Casey Stoner's second successive DNF, and Rossi's third straight win sees him open up a 75 point lead with just five races remaining. He's into an unbackable [1.04] for the title while the defending champ is now out to [21.00]. For each individual race win from here on, it's every man for himself.

This week the paddock shifts to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Sorry, I meant Indianapolis. It's just that at the moment, they kind of look the same. All season long we've been looking forward to the MotoGP bikes making their debut at the famous Brickyard but unfortunately the weather has put a damper on the celebrations. Literally. Today's opening sessions were held in massive unseasonal downpours. And it's tipped to get worse.

Regardless of the conditions, two riders with massive points to prove are Stoner and Dani Pedrosa. The Aussie will be eager to put his past two disappointing crashes behind him and capitilise on his undoubted speed. Pedrosa on the other, having sensationally switched from Michelin to Bridgestone for the remainder of the year following Misano, must prove that he has made the right decision dividing an already divided Repsol Honda garage, even further.

Considering he lead the title on Michelin just a handful of races ago, the decision beggars further belief. Taking into account also that it took Rossi months of testing and a few races to get used to the new rubber after he switched to Bridgestone at the end, (Yes that's right Dani, the end), of last season, Pedrosa will have his work cut out for him. At [8.2] for the win he is far too short, given he has ended up 19th in both Friday's sessions. As Rossi himself said of the move, merely sticking a Bridgestone sticker on the bike doesn't make it go any quicker.

The locals may be hoping for some homegrown success from the four American's contesting this weekend. Colin Edwards has gone as far as to promise a naked run up the main straight if he can record a maiden win. Nicky Hayden too is desperate for a good result at a circuit just a few hours from his hometown. But the top two American's in the title chase, along with countrymen John Hopkins, all sat outside the top ten after Friday.

The best local hope may rest with wildcard Ben Spies. The AMA Champ is the only rider to have put in some laps at the new circuit before Friday, having tested for Suzuki there earlier in the year. A good wet weather rider, coupled with that little extra experience could see a top three punt at [4.5] worth a go.

But given the conditions, it could be two Aussies that spoil the party. Ant West and Chris Vermeulen are well-noted wet weather specialists. In fact, Westy is more a flood specialist. The wetter the better. In today's rain soaked sessions he topped the time sheets in both sessions, a rare highlight in a rather lacklustre season for the Kawasaki pilot thus far. He is at the shortest top 3 odds of his life at [5.0] and at [27.0] for the win is worth a shout if it stays soaked.

Vermeulen on the other hand has been in great form of late, in the wet and dry. His ride from 15th to fifth in Misano on the brand new Suzuki chassis was a race highlight. He always adapts well to new tracks and his times, and smoothness, so far at Indy put him as a race favourite for mine. He's presently [26.0] for the win which is a no brainer for a punt in my book. As the weekend progresses, the former winner in the wet's price should tumble.

So what of the big two then? Stoner and Rossi. They are favourites in the market at the moment on [2.2] and [3.1] respectively and you'd be crazy to think they won't be fighting for a win come Sunday, regardless of the conditions. But if conditions remain as is, and they are expected to, anything could, and probably will, happen.

With the time difference to the US, remember the race will be live in the early evening on Eurosport come Sunday instead of the usual afternoon affair. Here's hoping it fines up for race day, but reports are that that's about as likely as Rossi not ending this year with his stunning eighth world title. Either way, it should be a cracker with a few upsets on the cards at The Brickyard.

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