possible 2nd US round of Moto GP

[SVRACER01]

got my new RRX and it says that Indy Motor Speedway might be getting a round of moto GP. IMS is supposed to release a ya or nay by spring. IMS also says they are willing to change ANYTHING they have to satisfy FIM. im surprised that Barber isnt the first choice for a second round. isnt that what that track was designed for.. Moto GP?

[smf]

awesome news if it's true. although I'm surprised it's indy as well... seems like road atlanta with the reconfig would be a better candidate as well...

[OreoGaborio]

isn't that not till '08 though? I thought Laguna Seca had a contract as being the only site of the USGP through 07..... or maybe it was just a 2 year contract

[tls25rs]

Barber is actually not a track for the high horsepower bikes like the MotoGP bikes. The AMA guys are actually too fast for Barber and have recently complained about it. I guess there is nowhere for the big bikes to stretch their legs and run.

The closest thing we have in the US to a true MotoGP type track I would think is Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. From what I have heard it was designed with the faster higher horsepower bikes in mind.

Another good track for those bikes would be Road America in Wisconsin. I am pretty sure it would take a lot of changes etc. to make it happen but it is definitely a more european style track. I believe a single lap is somewhere around 4 miles.

Joel

[a13x]

Barber - too small
Miller - too close to west coast and remote (so they say)
Indy - has the famous name, road course would suck.

I say Miller.

[SVRACER01]

they said the event would fall on IMS 100th anniversary of the facilitys first race which just happens to be a motorcycle race. IMS is expected to make an announcement this spring

[BMFR6]

well rumor has it IMS just hired a bunch of former AMA bigwigs to start getting things in line.

[13]

Duh! They should be ripping it up at Loudon! Right.

I would vote MMP also, bad ass track.

Or run indy's oval! That would be scary.

[Karaya One]

Indy would run the F1 course in reverse, but some changes would be needed. It's a real mickey mouse set-up, but it will keep the big bikes happy and stretch their legs. No way they can run at Barber.

Tammy and I are planning on attending Indy F1 this year after years of going to Montreal. It would be nice to see that course in person, not just on TV or playing a PC F1 sim.

[Supah Dave]

If Miller wasn't 4 miles from the middle of nowhere, it'd be a perfect MotoGP track. Lots of fast sweepers and a hella long front straight. Then again, it's location isn't any worse than the middle of the Qatari desert and there's never been problems with any pesky insurgents in Utah...
Miller Motorsports Park: Track Overview

[capt1014]

Would love to see it at indy. Got family out there.

[SVRACER01]

and its within driving distance

[kermita]

Regarding Miller, being in the middle of nowhere may be a good thing. Plenty of room for parking and (hopefully) more access roads in and out. We were at Laguna Seca in '05 for the USGP and it was a nightmare getting in and out.

[benVFR]

Miller is probably too far out in the middle of nowhere to handle 250,000-500,000 fans, which Indy can handle without breaking a sweat. IIRC when I went for the F1 race at Indy there were 250,000 fans and that wasn't even close to the track capacity. Being in the middle of nowhere means plenty of dirt/grass parking but you still need major major roads to move the crowd in and out. Indy has that, the police can handle the traffic without even breaking a sweat.

Going to the F1 race was a picnic compared to what I've read the Laguna Seca GP is like. The track has fantastic parking, services, etc.. you sit in near golf-course quality grass and not in the dirt when you're in the infield. Probably no mud if it rains, etc.. there will be no water shortage if the weather is hot, etc.. The track is right near the city with lots of restaurants & hotels, very short distance from the airport, etc.. and the track has more then enough high quality paddock space & plenty of room in the infield for each manufacturer to have private parking for people who ride bikes to the track, places to show off their latest models and have events, etc.. Because parking is so easy they don't even care if you bring in your own coolers so that right there takes care of the water (and more importantly beer) issue. IIRC it took us less then 30minutes to leave IMS and get back to our Hotel after the race. They've got the crowd control worked out that well.

The *only* issue Indy has to deal with is getting the track layout right. And it's only the 1 or 2 turns on the banking that will be the issue. That nice long straight will have it's plusses as you'll get to see the big GP bikes stretch their legs.

IMS knows how to put on a show, they totally own the other tracks in that aspect. If they're committed to making this happen they'll get the track layout setup and put on a first class race. I'd be psyched if it happens!