Laguna MotoGP

[The Grinch]

Quick report on the MotoGP this past weekend at Laguna Seca...

This was my first race experience of any kind and it was worth it despite the baking heat (110 on Sunday). Getting into the track was quick and easy: park the cage, catch the bus, and walk down the hill to the track. Getting out was a different story, but more on that later.

I spent the first half of Saturday looking at all the vendor exhibits and checking out the paddock area. All of the major manufacturers had big tents set up with their full line on display. Most had special sections for owners where they gave out free food and drinks. Ducati had a special parking area where you could ride your bike right in and park in their "island". Good reason to buy a Duc for next year...

The paddock was a sight to behold. I wandered around there while the AMA events were in progress. There were riders and mechanics everywhere pushing (and riding) bikes right throught the big crowd. You had to pay attention or risk getting run over. Several of the MotoGP riders were out signing autographs and Colin Edwards was launching T-shirts into the crowd with a compressed air gun. In general, the MotoGP riders are small. They look like jockies. Only Rossi and Edwards seem normal sized.

One of the coolest things I saw in the paddock was a demonstration of how easy it is to turn a motorcycle through a tight circle when it's done right. One of the superbike mechanics had to turn a Honda 1000RR around through 180 degrees, so he stood on the left side of the bike holding the bars, turned them to full lock, and then leaned the bike way over and pushed it around him. I thought, "damn, this guy's going to drop a $100K bike right in front of me!" But no, he didn't drop it, he just pushed it right around leaned over around 45 degrees and picked it back up. Smoothest (and coolest) think I've ever seen. It just goes to show that slow speed turns on a bike are 99% technique and 1% effort.

I watched the MotoGP practice, qualifying, and race from atop the hill that overlooks the corkscrew. I had a good view of about 75% of the track and all turns except for 5-7. Man, those GP bikes are LOUD! Hayden was setting some really fast times throughout the weekend. Rossi never seemed to be on pace, even during qualifying, as his speed through the turns was never as fast as Nicky's.

By the time the race started on Sunday afternoon, the hill has packed with spectators, many of them drunk, and whatever hearing I had left was gone once the airhorns started blasting. It was clear that the crowd was strongly pro-Hayden, dispite a strong showing by yellow-clad Rossi fans. Big cheers went up every time Nicky passed someone, and everyone went nuts when he won.

Getting out was a nightmare. SCRAMP didn't learn their lesson from last year. This year, instead of sitting in a car for 3 hours waiting to get out, we stood in line for 3-1/2 hours in the hot sun waiting for the bus. Several people passed out from sunstroke and had to be carted away by paramedics. People were so mad I though a riot would start any minute, but it didn't.

I'll probably go again next year, but I hope SCRAMP learns something about crowd control and logistics and is able to hand the crowd better. Their showing this year was disgraceful.

[jmillheiser]

sounds like you got the best seat in the house. right above the corkscrew would be a great place to watch.

[High_Side]

Sounds like you sat right where I did last year and had many of the same issues. I had fun but the organization of the event made me not want to go back. Next one I see will be in Europe. Too bad they don't have the round in Rio anymore....

[motogirl]

We rode into Monterey on Saturday night, and attended the race on Sunday.

Downtown Monterey was swarming with bikes, which, in general was fun. A few too many squids for my taste, but that's what I get for riding a cruiser to a MotoGP weekend...

The parking at Laguna Seca for bikes was pretty awesome. Everyone entered and exited from a motorcycles-only canyon road. Very smooth in and out. Very little waiting (like, less than a minute at the most).

Yes, it was incredibly hot, but the raceway vendors did everyone a great favor by reducing the cost of bottled water to $1/bottle (everything else was $4). At least that encouraged more hydration, though plenty of folks decided it was better to hydrate with beer...

Did I mention it was hot? They had to cancel one of the AMA races because the asphalt track was breaking down. Scary thought if you're one of the GP guys getting ready to go out there and fly around at top speed.

Though I'm trying to take into consideration that California is experiencing record temperatures, I still think I might just stay home and watch the races on TV next year. We had a decent view (hillside near the corkscrew), and the shopping was fun, but the most enjoyable part of the whole event was the canyon drive in and out. That's just not worth going back for.

[Mustang]

Had a friend who was at Laguna as well. She seemed to be on one of the corners (judging from her pics) but didn't mention any of the problems from the previous posters. But then again all she really told me was 'check out my pics' kind of thing..

Her pics included the riders walking through and signing hats and stuff.....I didn't realize all the racers where so short!

[The Grinch]

One thing I forgot to mention in my first post was the very amusing "Parade of the Squids". This was the opportunity for people to take a parade lap around the track on their bikes between the races and practices.

Most of the guys were squids on sportbikes (shorts, T-shirts, etc., I guess the track didn't have any requirements regarding gear except for helmets), but there were also plenty of Goldwings, cops on Harleys and BMWs, and even a few guys on choppers. One guy on a Harley was trying to make as much noise as he could to impress people, but he wasn't too successful.

The funniest thing I saw, though, was a CHiP trying to pull a wheelie on his BMW. Didn't even come close...

[DirtyD86]

keep the stories comin', i could read about motogp all day

[scooter78666]

We went to the 2005 MotoGP races, but missed this year. Most people were willing to give SCRAMP some 'benefit of inexperience' slack for their poor showing in traffic control in 2005. I read the RedBull website before this year's MotoGP, and it was full of chest-pounding promises of improvements to traffic control. When I read your report, it sounded just like 2005. We rode the bus to the track from Monterey in 2005. The buses got mired in the traffic jams right along with everyone else. The bus driver came on the PA and announced, "It is going to be an hour at least before I can get up the hill to let you folk off. If you want to get off here and walk (meaning at the bottom of the 13% grade/2 mile walk), you are free to do so." Whereupon everyone got off and hiked up the hill.

The root problem to their traffic mess is simply NO ROADS BIG ENOUGH FOR "poo poo"! Squeeky little 2-laners AIN'T GONNA CUT IT. So my advice to me and anyone else thinking about 2007...is simply be prepared for more of the same and be willing to gut it out. Ignore future SCRAMP promises. They are fine folk, they try hard, but they are amateurs working over their heads with no substantial capital to build the 4 or 6 lane roads they need, EVEN IF the community would permit them to do so......FAT CHANCE.

[VermilionX]

anyway... im sure it was fun.