MotoGP at Indy through 2014!!!

[BikerGeek]

Good news for us midwesterners:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Sep/110904b.htm

[68W]

poor Hayden....I heard he let it slip that he did not like this track (of course I dont know any rider that actually likes it).

[vroompow]

This is great news for many. IMS is a great host with the ability (and capacity) to increase the interest of motorcycle racing in the States in a big way. Of course, there will be vocal critics of the layout and riders that point out its challenges (as they will with other circuits); my hope is that the racers will come back to Indy with the priority of putting on a show for the fans.

Mark Gardiner has a neat perspective on the venue's deserved contract renewal:
http://backmarker-bikewriter.blogspo...togp-race.html

Looking forward to the next IndyGP!!

[BikerGeek]

poor Hayden....I heard he let it slip that he did not like this track (of course I dont know any rider that actually likes it).

And where did you find this supposed Hayden quote? Please link us. Hayden does not dislike IMS. He dislikes the Ducati at IMS (there is a big difference). Nicky went on a diatribe yesterday on live BBC about how much he hates the Misano track (after crashing out of the San Marino race for the umteenth time). There are several riders that enjoy IMS. If the track was hated as much as you claim, Dorna wouldn't hesitate in bringing MotoGP racing to some other international track instead (like the new multi-billion-dollar track in India).

The track layout at IMS is just as good as Catalunya, Silverstone, Motegi, Valencia, and the other stadium circuits. And IMS has better facilities than many on the MotoGP calendar. The IMS road course is not equivalent to places like Bruno, Mugello, and Philip Island. But few places are equivalent to those iconic road courses.

[twin4me]

I have to say from a television point of view it's a really horrible, boring track, it looks like they are racing around a Wal Mart parking lot.

Mind you Silverstone isn't much better!

[duc slayer]

Geek, do you own stock in IMS ??

[Rugbydawg13]

It's well known that it's most of the rider's least favorite on the tour. By next year though, that new pavement will be more broken in and reduce some of the complaints.

[duc slayer]

Now there were a lot of comments about a dirty track surface, can anyone that attended the race confirm this ?? From what I saw on TV it looked to be chunks/pieces of rubber from the new (still rough) pavement

[BikerGeek]

Now there were a lot of comments about a dirty track surface, can anyone that attended the race confirm this ?? From what I saw on TV it looked to be chunks/pieces of rubber from the new (still rough) pavement

Your question implies that the track surface was falling apart which was not the case. I can tell you from walking near it, the new track surface is pristine (probably too smooth for some). Fresh asphalt is abrasive. The rubber balls off of the racing line were created by tire wear. The dirt issue was simply a haze of dust on the circuit caused by dry weather in Indiana leading up to the race event.

To those that claim that IMS is the least favorite track on the MotoGP circuit, please post links to support your opinion.

It is interesting to note that despite all of the negative and overblown press about a "dirty" and slippery track, this year's event had the lowest number of crashes with no serious injuries (compared to the three previous events). And multiple track records were broken.

Memories are short. Please recall the severe track surface issues and major tire problems (and other issues such as running out of drinking water) that plagued the Laguna MotoGP events in past years.

The USA deserves three MotoGP races. Now that we have it, let's enjoy it!

[Powerful Pierre]

I'm curious, why does the USA 'deserve' 3 Gp races?

There's not a great deal of public interest, not a great representation of US riders across the classes, the smaller classes are excluded from the Laguna event, the riders generally expressed that they were unhappy with the track surface this year at Indy, principally because the lack of grip and large amount of debris off a narrow racing line which hindered overtaking and also was the cause of many crashes. Although its stated that the amount of crashes has reduced from previous years at the circuit that's coming down from a very high benchmark so its not really anything to celebrate.

To compare Indy with the likes of Valencia is not really valid......yes Valencia is a stadium and frankly the circuit is a bit Mickey Mouse but the event sells out, the seating hugs the track for its entire circumference and the atmosphere in the crowd is something else......I don't ever see a Mexican wave doing the full circuit at Indy like it does at Valencia..........

I've seen racing on TV from many other US circuits and some of them look spectacular, maybe they lack in infrastructure, geographical position, on site facilities etc but Phillip Island has them beat on all levels for perceived disadvantages yet it is hailed by the riders, draws massive crowds and produces epic racing without fail.

[cggunnersmate]

I'm curious, why does the USA 'deserve' 3 Gp races?

There's not a great deal of public interest, not a great representation of US riders across the classes, the smaller classes are excluded from the Laguna event, the riders generally expressed that they were unhappy with the track surface this year at Indy, principally because the lack of grip and large amount of debris off a narrow racing line which hindered overtaking and also was the cause of many crashes. Although its stated that the amount of crashes has reduced from previous years at the circuit that's coming down from a very high benchmark so its not really anything to celebrate.

To compare Indy with the likes of Valencia is not really valid......yes Valencia is a stadium and frankly the circuit is a bit Mickey Mouse but the event sells out, the seating hugs the track for its entire circumference and the atmosphere in the crowd is something else......I don't ever see a Mexican wave doing the full circuit at Indy like it does at Valencia..........

I've seen racing on TV from many other US circuits and some of them look spectacular, maybe they lack in infrastructure, geographical position, on site facilities etc but Phillip Island has them beat on all levels for perceived disadvantages yet it is hailed by the riders, draws massive crowds and produces epic racing without fail.

True Valencia sells out for GP races but how many spectators is that? 50-60k-ish? About the same numbers at Indy, so attendance isn't an issue. Though at a track that can hold 300k, 60k will make it look empty. Compare that to race attendance at Losail, they get a pittence compared to the rest of the calendar. Similar problems with Shanghai when GP went there.

The track layout is nothing spectacular and the new surface was hard on tires but I don't think grip could have been a huge issue since the lap record was broken, and by a decent margin too. Tire wear was more the issue but that'll work out after the new surface is worn in. The facilities at IMS are top notch. The track has heritage to match Assen and Monza (if not as much character).

If the U.S. fan base grows, it could be a real cash cow for MotoGP. We are a large and diverse country and I would love for motorcycle racing to become more mainstream. Maybe Speed will finally show something other than NASCRAP.

[V4Victory]

The track layout is nothing spectacular and the new surface was hard on tires but I don't think grip could have been a huge issue since the lap record was broken, and by a decent margin too. Tire wear was more the issue but that'll work out after the new surface is worn in. The facilities at IMS are top notch. The track has heritage to match Assen and Monza (if not as much character).
.

The grip was an issue off the very narrow racing line, making overtaking an act of faith. The lap record being broken was more to do with the old surface being so poor rather than the new surface being very good.

[MikeT]

True Valencia sells out for GP races but how many spectators is that? 50-60k-ish?

Over 132k on each of Saturday and Sunday

[Powerful Pierre]

[quote=cggunnersmate;2923777]

Compare that to race attendance at Losail, they get a pittence compared to the rest of the calendar. Similar problems with Shanghai when GP went there.

Agreed....there is no interest in bike racing in the Middle Eastern countries in particular, they shouldn't be racing there, but somebody is making a lot of money out of racing at those venues and while they do so it will continue.

The facilities at IMS are top notch. The track has heritage to match Assen and Monza (if not as much character).

The facilities may well be to a high standard if that's what's most important to you, personally as a spectator my main priority is the quality of the racing, which is mostly down to the track character/layout, condition and closeness to the action.....Casey Stoner has gone into great detail over why he considers the track a venue lacking from a riders perspective, he may be the most outspoken but he's certainly not on his own. Indy is essentially a car racing venue, most specifically oval racing, unlike Assen, Monza etc its heritage has nothing to do with bikes. Is it true that even the AMA (or whatever its become now) series doesn't even go to Indy?

If the U.S. fan base grows, it could be a real cash cow for MotoGP. We are a large and diverse country and I would love for motorcycle racing to become more mainstream. Maybe Speed will finally show something other than NASCRAP

No argument with that, but I still believe that you must have better venues in the US in terms of tracks that would provide better quality bike racing and as a consequence be more enjoyable for riders and spectators alike......Laguna is hardly an F1 class facility but the racing is good, the riders generally enjoy the challenge of the circuit and it always seems to be well attended by spectators even if they don't all have a seat.

Trying to think of circuits I've seen that look good......Barber? What about Salt Lake City? The run-offs there are a mess and the names of the corners a little wierd but it seems to promote decent racing.

[charger]

I'm curious, why does the USA 'deserve' 3 Gp races?

There's not a great deal of public interest, not a great representation of US riders across the classes, the smaller classes are excluded from the Laguna event, the riders generally expressed that they were unhappy with the track surface this year at Indy, principally because the lack of grip and large amount of debris off a narrow racing line which hindered overtaking and also was the cause of many crashes. Although its stated that the amount of crashes has reduced from previous years at the circuit that's coming down from a very high benchmark so its not really anything to celebrate.

To compare Indy with the likes of Valencia is not really valid......yes Valencia is a stadium and frankly the circuit is a bit Mickey Mouse but the event sells out, the seating hugs the track for its entire circumference and the atmosphere in the crowd is something else......I don't ever see a Mexican wave doing the full circuit at Indy like it does at Valencia..........

I've seen racing on TV from many other US circuits and some of them look spectacular, maybe they lack in infrastructure, geographical position, on site facilities etc but Phillip Island has them beat on all levels for perceived disadvantages yet it is hailed by the riders, draws massive crowds and produces epic racing without fail.

This is correct. Nobody deserves more than one race event. And people have been holding their breath waiting for cycles to catch on big in the states since the first GP at Laguna in the 80's. It just aint ever gonna happen. Doesnt baother me a bit. I dont need the approval of a sport I enjoy to be shared by the masses.

That being said, Pierre. Explain to me again why there are 35 brits in WSBK and none of them can do anything??