STARS AND STRIPES FOR THE MOTOGP
US GP – PREVIEW
The Championship returns to the States after ten years. The
last GP disputed in the States was in fact in 1994 when Luca
Cadalora won on his Yamaha in front of John Kocinski (Cagiva)
and Mick Doohan (Honda). Since then, the only international
race disputed on the Californian track has been the SBK championship
race. The track record belongs to Noriyuki Haga with a 1’25”475
(2002). This time is purely a reference as the MotoGP riders
will find a modified track compared to what their SBK colleagues
rode on.
This fascinating track of Laguna Seca, famous for its “corkscrew”
, an area in which the track contorts downwards and obliges
the riders to exhibit not only their technique but their courage
as well. This track underwent massive transformation during
the winter months a Dorna and FIM created more run off areas
and distanced some of the walls.
The project comprised of all these changes cost 2 million
dollars and changed the look of the track fro! m a safety
point of view: the work began in January involved the 2.238-mile
track : the run off areas were increased and the curbs were
replaced. Amplifying the gravel beds was the biggest job,
just think that 15,000 tons of gravel were brought in during
this period. Other major works were the repositioning of the
bridge at turn 9 and taking away some of the hill side on
the exiting of a corner in order to give more escape way.
When the work finished on 16th June, the FIM gave the Laguna
Seca track the homologation to host a MotoGP race.
“The inspection went really well” comments Claude
Denis, official inspector of the FIM, “the modifications
we had asked for have been carried through completely. We
will add airfence devices and hay stacks to the already existing
structure before the race.”
“The most substantial modifications have been done
at the first corner after the pits, at the beginning of! the
corkscrew, at turn 9 and at the last corner before the pits”
comments Franco Uncini, IRTA Safety Delegate, “ the
curbs have been modified as well. Now in Laguna we will find
all the curbs which are standard in MotoGP, FIM homologated,
which means negative 2.5. Structural modifications have been
done to the pits and garages and are now ready to host a MotoGP.
From a profile point of view the track is beautiful and sufficiently
safe. I am sure that the Laguna race will be spectacular.”
More than positive reviews have come from Kenny Roberts Jr.
who, in quality of representative of the riders safety commission,
visited the track. “Laguna put in 100% to make this
track safe. The intervention project was huge, every corner
had to undergo a modification. I think they have done a great
job on the curbs, the best of the entire championship. As
official representative of the safety commission I think Laguna
has now become a very s! afe track.”
The eighth round of the championship will see the MotoGP
as the unquestionable main attraction. Sunday 10th July in
fact only this top class will race. The MotoGP will share
the paddock with the American AMA.
SETE GIBERNAU LOOKS TO THE STATES FULL OF ENTHUSIASM
AND MOTIVATION
Sete Gibernau arrives in the States with much curiosity and
enthusiasm as taking on a new track is always cause for greater
motivation. The Vice World Champion has never ridden on this
American track but does know Laguna as a spectator, both by
having been there, and watching it on television. Sete also
has a particular tie with the American Riding School. He spent
a lot of time on Kenny Roberts Ranch in Modesto where he has
practised and got into contact with some of the greats of
American Riding School.
His ties with the States continued: his passage to the 500
class happened thanks to Wayne Rainey, ex world champion of
the 5! 00 class, American, born in Los Angeles. Sete began
the world Championship in 1996 with a private team. Noticed
by Wayne Rainey, Gibernau gets called half way through the
championship to ride an official Yamaha 250. Thanks to Wayne
Rainey, in 1997 the Spanish rider passed on to the 500 class.
From this point on he begins his brilliant career which has
twice been crowned with a second place finishing in the championship.
After a difficult begging to the season, the twice world champion
looks to the States full of hope.
SETE GIBERNAU AND LAGUNA SECA
“I have never ridden in Laguna Seca but I have watched
a race as a spectator in 1993. I was spending a couple of
days on Kenny Roberts ranch in Modesto and on that occasion
I accompanied Kenny to Laguna where he was racing as a wild
card. I was very taken by the track, different than all the
others and with its famous “corkscrew” which makes
it unique and distinguishes it from all the others. I ! can’t
wait to race on this track, Laguna is considered one of the
classics to race on and I still haven’t! Considering
its location and atmosphere, I am sure it will be and absolutely
special Grand Prix.”
MARCO MELANDRI, A SECOND PLACE THAT TASTES LIKE A
VICTORY
Marco Melandri just cannot hide that energy which his much
deserved second place in Assen has given him. A race in which
Marco demonstrated to be a rider in constant growth and who
has proven to know how to take on a difficult race. To begin
with, during the first half of the race, he maintained his
cool when overtaken by Valentino. He stayed glued to him,
trying to learn where the best place was to attack. An error
cost him precious tenths of a second which did not allow him
to recuperate the lost distance but the second place was celebrated
as a victory.
Thanks to his consistency (four podiums and three fourth places)
Marco maintains his second place in the ri! ders championship.
Passionate for Motocross, Marco will be able to watch one
of the American championship races of the National Championship
in Red Budd, Mitchigan before taking on the legendary Laguna
Seca.
MARCO MELANDRI AND LAGUNA SECA
“Laguna Seca is a surreal track, weird because there
are lots of ups and downs. In reality the track is different
than how it looks on television. Everything revolves around
the corkscrew, you get to it by coming down from a long left
hand corner, followed by a tight choke towards the bottom,
very tight and in the opposite direction. You really need
to be brave because it is a blind corner. I can’t wait
to ride on this track as it is one of the legendary tracks
of motorcycle racing.”
LAGUNA SECA – TECHNICAL DATA
Name of the circuit: Laguna Seca
Grand Prix : Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix
Opened: 1957
Modified: 2005
Length : 3.610 m Width: 15 m
Pole position: a destra
Right Corners : 4
Left Corners : 7
Longest straight : 966 m
MotoGP Race: 32 laps equal to 115,520 kms
RECORD:
Track Record: new racetrack for MotoGP
pole position: new racetrack for MotoGP
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