Roberts Jr impressed by Indy circuit

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway officially announced on Monday night that it would be hosting its first MotoGP event next September on a new 16-turn road course.

And Roberts Jr, who was present at the press conference announcing the deal, said he expected the new circuit to be a technical challenge - and very different from the characteristics of the United States' other race at Laguna Seca.

He also expected the long run from the final corner of the new track along the start-finish straight to provide more overtaking opportunities than most other venues on the calendar.

"The way that they've set up and actually modified the existing Formula One circuit is going to create even more passing than I think most of the tracks out there," he explained. "Certainly you're going to have double drafting down the front straight if you have two equal bikes.

"If somebody gets a drive out of the last corner, they get passed, you're going to have the ability to repass into Turn 1. And you're going to have a double right as your first two right-hand corners.

"There's going to be areas to where you can actually block pass up in (Turns) 6 and 7 and areas like that. So I do see that it's going to be one of the more interesting circuits to be able to do that."

Comparing the complexities of the track to Laguna Seca, Roberts Jr said: "It's going to be a completely different challenge because now you're moving into a technical racetrack, which means you're going to have to have the horsepower required.

"You can't physically make the bike go faster down the straightaway. And you don't have that problem at Laguna Seca.

"So you're going to need the quickest or second-quickest motorcycle, and you're going to have to be precise. If the tyre rules stay the same, you're going to have to get lucky on your tyre choice.

"And the safety aspect of it is going to be, from what I've seen today in talking with some of the staff here, is going to be at the level we need it to be. So it's going to be two completely diverse racetracks with two different riding styles.

"The machine is going to be more important here. Of course, the atmosphere here is going to be, you know, you're racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, so it's kind of intimidating in that sense."

Roberts Jr said he expected the first corner of the new track to be spectacular, and very exciting for riders.

"I think it's going to be an interesting corner. And as long as the camber stays to where you can run it off and you don't have any type of camber change between the existing circuit and Turn 1, it's going to be an exciting corner and one that you can gain a lot of time on when you're behind somebody.

"(It will be) one that you can really have an advantage on if you have a tyre or a machine advantage. That should probably be one of the most exciting corners on the circuit."