Date: Sunday, 14 September Venue: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Coverage: Live on the BBC via the red button (a re-run "as live" will also be shown on BBC Two at 2245 BST); lap-by-lap updates on BBC Sport website.

Rossi won in San Marino after rival Casey Stoner crashed out

History will be made as MotoGP makes its Indianapolis debut this weekend, the first competition on two wheels at the legendary circuit since 1909.

Wet conditions were forecast for Friday, with riders set to take to the new MotoGP venue for practice laps.

Italy's Valentino Rossi - who won last time out at San Marino, his second victory running - will seek to extend his lead in the riders' standings.

He leads Australia's Casey Stoner by 75 points with five races left.

A motorcycle race has not been run at Indianapolis since the year the venue was first opened 99 years ago, and Friday's rain will make the riders' task of learning the new track tougher.

Although MotoGP is not hugely popular in the United States, large crowds are expected at the iconic venue and there is plenty of interest from a variety on angles as the World Championship enters its 14th round.

Steve Parrish's MotoGP column The track seems to have jumped through the hoops that MotoGP wanted it to and they are going to use some of the banking on the circuit and part of the track that's used for Formula One... Steve Parrish

Aside from the battle between Rossi and Stoner, Dani Pedrosa will emerge on his new Bridgestone tyres after switching mid-season from Michelin.

Local hero Nicky Hayden will also be testing his fitness as he comes back from the foot injury which has prevented him racing since Laguna Seca on 20 July.

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