Elena Myers made her debut on a MotoGP machine at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, when she completed a handful of laps onboard Álvaro Bautista's Suzuki GSV-R.
The 17-year-old AMA racer completed five laps of the 4,216m MotoGP circuit as part of the build up to this weekend's Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Watched by Bautista and many other grand prix stars, Myers managed to clock an impressive 306km/h (190mph) down the main straight and all were impressed with her smooth and self-assured riding style.
Bautista was also on-hand before Myers took to the track to offer advice and was waiting in the pit-box as she returned his bike ready for Sunday's race.
“Wow! I can't really say anything else; it was just such an incredible experience!" said Myers. "I can't thank the guys at Suzuki MotoGP enough – they have been awesome! This makes me so hungry to come out here and try it someday for real on a race weekend - well I guess this is a race weekend, but I mean for real next time.
"I can't say enough about the bike either, it does everything 20 times better than I ever would have imagined - this has just been amazing, and I think I'll slowly realise what just happened over the next couple of days. The GSV-R just blew me away!”
Myers became the first female racer to win an AMA Pro road-race when she took victory in the SuperSport event at Infineon Raceway in 2010.
This season Myers has recorded a podium finish at Barber Motorsports Park, plus five more top-five finishes, on her way to an impressive fifth overall in the 2011 AMA Pro SuperSport West Division - despite missing two rounds due to injury.
The young American will now remain at Indianapolis for the rest of the weekend.
“It was great to see Elena out on a MotoGP bike and very cool that - as the Suzuki MotoGP team - we could help her fulfil one of her dreams," added team manager Paul Denning. "At 17-years-old, and judging by her performances in the AMA Pro SuperSport championship, she has a significant amount of ability that is only going to develop as she gains experience.
"She treated the run today with great intelligence and maturity, but nonetheless it was impressive to see that she wasn't afraid of either the speed or the power! Thanks to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for helping us to make this happen, the boys for preparing the bike and to Álvaro for letting Elena use it!”
First practice for the Indianapolis MotoGP takes place on Friday morning.
