After a three-week summer break, the MotoGP riders return to the United States for the Indianapolis Grand Prix, round 10, this weekend.

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP pair Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo lead the standings and are defend their top spot in the championship standings.

Last year’s Indianapolis Grand Prix saw a brilliant scrap at the front that resulted in team-mates Rossi and Lorenzo taking a double podium finish.

As with last year, Rossi has enjoyed a very successful first half of the season. He has finished on the podium at every round so far, led the standings from start to date and claimed a GP win in Qatar, Argentina and the Netherlands. Having been able to fully recharge during his holiday, the rider they know as “The Doctor” returns to the scene ready for action and aims to extend his championship lead over the coming nine rounds.

Lorenzo had a challenging start to the season, but made a sensational comeback at Jerez. This home race victory marked the beginning of a stunning four GP winning streak that lasted until Assen. The summer break not only gave the Spaniard time to unwind but also allowed him to get his physique up to a new level, leaving him ready to give his all during the rest of the season.

Thanks to his strong start to the season, Rossi leads the championship with a 179 point total and a 13 point gap to Lorenzo in second place. Both riders are eager to climb onto Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s podium again this weekend.

Though originally constructed in 1909 it wasn’t until 2008 that MotoGP arrived at the ‘brickyard’.

Rossi conquered the first Indianapolis GP when he bravely withstood the remnants of Hurricane Ike to take the chequered flag in brutal conditions. One year later it was Lorenzo’s turn to claim the win and he returned to the podium four more times over the next five years.

Though both riders admit that Indianapolis is not their favourite circuit, they like the layout that consists of 16 turns and an incorporated main straight of the famous oval. Last year’s resurfacing of the 4.170 m long track has also improved the grip level considerably for the riders, which gives the fans plenty of overtaking action to look forward to.

“I’m ready to start racing again during the second part of the season,” said Rossi.

“I had a few days of rest, I went on holiday with my friends and I also trained. After nine races, this stop was very important so I could recharge myself. Now there are another nine races waiting for us and each of these will be very important for the championship.

“The first part went very well with nine podiums in nine races and I hope that the second part of this season will go just as well. Some of the tracks we’re going to I really like, I have to be defensive at others. We start with Indianapolis, not one of my favourite circuits but there’s always a great atmosphere here and the circuit is very nice. I’m ready to go!”

Lorenzo was similarly upbeat.

“I feel great, I’m in a very good shape and ready to face the important second part of the season. The first half was not so bad considering the beginning, so we are feeling very positive and hopefully we can fight in the best way possible with Valentino and Marc (Marquez).

“Usually Indy is not one of my favourite tracks but I’ve won there in the past. Last year the tarmac improved a lot but its layout is different to that of other circuits. I think we can contend for the podium again so we need to be very focused during the whole weekend to try to gain valuable points.”

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World Championship standings after 9 rounds:

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 179 points
2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 166 points (-13)
3. Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 118 points (-61)
4. Marc Marquez SPA Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 114 points (-65)
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 87 points (-92)
6. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 87 points (-92)
7. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 67 points (-112)
8. Cal Crutchlow GBR CWM LCR Honda (RC213V) 66 points (-113)
9. Pol Espargaro SPA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 64 points (-115)
10. Maverick Viñales SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 57 points (-122)
11. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.1) 51 points (-128)
12. Aleix Espargaro SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 44 points (-135)
13. Yonny Hernandez COL Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 32 points (-147)
14. Scott Redding GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 30 points (-149)
15. Hector Barbera SPA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 19 points (-160)
16. Loris Baz FRA Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)* 14 points (-165)
17. Alvaro Bautista SPA Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 13 points (-166)
18. Jack Miller AUS CWM LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)* 12 points (-167)
19. Stefan Bradl GER Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 9 points (-170)
20. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 8 points (-171)
21. Nicky Hayden USA Drive M7 Aspar (RC213V-RS) 8 points (-171)
22. Eugene Laverty IRL Drive M7 Aspar Honda (RC213V-RS)* 7 points (-172)
23. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS) 5 points (-174)
24. Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 2 points (-177)
25. Alex De Angelis RSM IodaRacing (ART) 1 points (-178)