Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss is relishing a return to the USA this weekend but is wary the Miller Motorsport Park track may well cause problems as it's a bit dusty. And it would seem the world champion-elect is pining a little for Laguna Seca, the track where he made his mark in World Superbikes.
He said: "I miss America and so am happy to be going back there this season. In one way I'm sorry we're not going back to Laguna, a track I enjoyed and know well but having said that, I met the owner and designer of the Miller track while at Assen and saw the layout and it looks like a great track too.
"To be honest that is about all I know of the track at the moment, it looks pretty safe but might also get very dusty so we'll have to see when we get there. I have good memories of racing in America - my last visit was when I was in GP and I did ok so yeah, I'm looking forward to going back there again!"
Team-mate Michel Fabrizio, who appears to be quite narrowly-travelled for a pro bike racer and has been learning the track on his XBox, said: "I've never been to the States, not even on holiday, so I'm excited to go there. It will be good to ride a completely unknown track and as it's new to everyone, not just me, it means that we're all going there blind and no-one has any particular advantage. All I know of the track so far is what I've learnt by seeing the track on the SBK08 X-Box videogame and it seems like a great track. It should be nice, also with the American Superbikes racing too and so I'm really looking forward to it."