Can you believe that the Indianapolis Speedway will host its first motorcycle race in
99 years when the second U.S. MotoGP (Motorcycle Gran
Prix) race in the same year takes place next September? Actually the first race ever at the Indianapolis Speedway in 1909 was a motorcycle race. It is also
the only motorcycle race to take place there. I guess when I ran my T around the Speedway in 2001 that did not count. That hurts. 
It has only been a few years that the Speedway expanded from its annual Memorial Day Indy car race to also include NASCAR and Formula One. I am not aware of
many changes that were required to run the Brickyard 400 at the Speedway, but millions were spent so that Formula One would have a true road course.
MotoGP will run on that same road course, but still millions will have to be spent to get the track ready,
with run-off areas that meet motorcycle safety requirements. Plus these 250 HP, 800cc motorcycles will have to run in the opposite direction to the Formula
One cars. There are currently 18 MotoGP tracks around the World. Only one of those is in the USA, Leguna
Sega in California. The popularity of MotoGP racing in the U.S. is riding the coattails of current World
Champion Nicky Hayden, the Kentucky Kid. After a 10 year absence, this year's Red Bull MotoGP event
at Leguna Sega was only in its third year when Tony George, owner of the Indianapolis Speedway, decided the U.S. and particularly the mid-West and East Coast
could support a second U.S. MotoGP event. After all these are the most exotic and fastest motorcycles in
the World based on their size and weight. How many of us do you think could handle a 250 HP, 326 lb. two-wheeled monster made of expensive metals including
titanium? The fact that Ducati, BWM and the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers spend untold amounts of money to produce 2 or 3 copies of these incredibly fast
and agilie machines is remeniscent of the unlimited money spent to compete in Formula One car races. Actually the Indianapolis Speedway is already considered
to be the fastest MotoGP track. Top speeds down the front straightaway are expected to reach
210 mph!
I hope that Tony George's Sept. event next year is a resounding success. Anybody here thinking of attending the first MotoGP event in Indy?
Below are a couple of link where HSATF Members discussed MotoGP.
http
//hondashadowacetourer.yuku.com/topic/1569
http//hondashadowacetourer.yuku.com/topic/1641
