Red Bull Grand Prix

Yamaha Tech 3 racer Ben Spies started a fantastic weekend in Indianapolis by winning his first-ever MotoGP pole, and then led the early stages of the race before finishing a career-best second at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 29.

Fiat Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi finished third and fourth, respectively, while Spies' teammate Colin Edwards suffered an uncharacteristic DNF.

Lorenzo's podium edges him ever closer to claiming his first MotoGP world championship as the series hurries across the Atlantic for next weekend's round in Misano, Italy.

Starting from pole position for the first time in his Grand Prix career, Spies made a blistering start on his YZR-M1 and streaked away from the field.

Only rival Dani Pedrosa was able to get close to matching his rhythm as a crowd of over 62,000 fans roared the Texan on.

Spies literally produced heroics to keep Pedrosa at bay, but the Spaniard made a decisive attack on lap seven to move into the lead.

In return, Spies produced a superhuman effort in the grueling heat and humidity to try and keep the pressure on Pedrosa before he eventually eased off to secure a richly deserved second.

Ben Spies says: "I'm really happy to get my best result in MotoGP in front of an American crowd and at a track as famous as Indianapolis. I always said I wanted my best result in my home race, so it's mission accomplished. It was a great weekend and to be top Yamaha rider when you look at who else is on that bike is pretty satisfying."

"It hasn't sunk in yet that I've finished second in my home race. But I'll enjoy it before I hop on a plane and try and do it again in Misano."

Jorge Lorenzo says: "The conditions were incredibly hard and I simply didn't have the physical strength to push as hard or do the same times I did in practice. The good thing is we took some points and now I have to concentrate on recovering before Misano."