I am sure this has been a topic before, but cut me some slack I am new here. I am curious why the annual Laguna Seca race (the only one in the Americas, north or south) is the Moto GP class only? I am a big fan of the 125 and 250 classes, which are full of great up and coming riders and probably the best "race" action. It boggles my mind why they don't race somewhere in North America, where my guess is the manufacturers sell the most. There is a Gran Prix of Qatar for crying out loud that from what I hear is mostly empty seats, along with some of the races I have seen in Asia (empty seats). Now granted, I'm not a huge fan of Laguna Seca as a track, and it may be the track choice that they dont like, but I still think the whole Moto GP circuit should come to North America (US or Canada). Can someone let me know Dorna's reasoning behind this? You would think the manufacturers would be frothing at the mouth to hold a big scale event where they sell the most product.
They are only allowed to hold one Motorcycle race a year their. So the AMA boys & MOTOGP boys share the track time. This is why there isn't a WSB race there anymore.
Only one race a year? Then why did the AMA race twice there this last year? Is it Laguna Seca not allowing this or Dorna just thinks north Americans only care about the "big classes" in racing? If its the track then its time to look for another venue.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bootsakah @ Sep 21 2007, 10:26 AM) [snapback]92073[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I am sure this has been a topic before, but cut me some slack I am new here. I am curious why the annual Laguna Seca race (the only one in the Americas, north or south) is the Moto GP class only? I am a big fan of the 125 and 250 classes, which are full of great up and coming riders and probably the best "race" action. It boggles my mind why they don't race somewhere in North America, where my guess is the manufacturers sell the most. There is a Gran Prix of Qatar for crying out loud that from what I hear is mostly empty seats, along with some of the races I have seen in Asia (empty seats). Now granted, I'm not a huge fan of Laguna Seca as a track, and it may be the track choice that they dont like, but I still think the whole Moto GP circuit should come to North America (US or Canada). Can someone let me know Dorna's reasoning behind this? You would think the manufacturers would be frothing at the mouth to hold a big scale event where they sell the most product.
All the big manufacturers are represented in MotoGP - small bikes do not sell well in US - 2 strokes are pretty much banned thru emmission laws - that could have something to do with it
I am sure this has been a topic before, but cut me some slack I am new here. I am curious why the annual Laguna Seca race (the only one in the Americas, north or south) is the Moto GP class only? I am a big fan of the 125 and 250 classes, which are full of great up and coming riders and probably the best "race" action. It boggles my mind why they don't race somewhere in North America, where my guess is the manufacturers sell the most. There is a Gran Prix of Qatar for crying out loud that from what I hear is mostly empty seats, along with some of the races I have seen in Asia (empty seats). Now granted, I'm not a huge fan of Laguna Seca as a track, and it may be the track choice that they dont like, but I still think the whole Moto GP circuit should come to North America (US or Canada). Can someone let me know Dorna's reasoning behind this? You would think the manufacturers would be frothing at the mouth to hold a big scale event where they sell the most product.
All the big manufacturers are represented in MotoGP - small bikes do not sell well in US - 2 strokes are pretty much banned thru emmission laws - that could have something to do with it
Joined Jul 2006
11K Posts | 291+
Texas
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(xx CURVE xx @ Sep 21 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]92084[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Cause in America...
we ride MAN bikes. 600s, 750s, 1000's...
The 250s go faster than most road going 600s..
It costs too much for the privateer teams, I believe.
Cause in America...
we ride MAN bikes. 600s, 750s, 1000's...
The 250s go faster than most road going 600s..
It costs too much for the privateer teams, I believe.
nah.... your all wrong. when motogp came back to the states in 05 they wanted the ama to run with gps as to draw, what they percieved, an unknowledgeable & uniformed american biking public. i think they figured not enough people were aware of gran prix racing!
so u see now that we get a 2nd gp the 125s & 250s are coming right along with the big show!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(frosty58 @ Sep 21 2007, 05:43 PM) [snapback]92094[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
so u see now that we get a 2nd gp the 125s & 250s are coming right along with the big show!
What 2nd GP?
so u see now that we get a 2nd gp the 125s & 250s are coming right along with the big show!
What 2nd GP?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rickyduck @ Sep 21 2007, 01:05 PM) [snapback]92085[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
The 250s go faster than most road going 600s..
It costs too much for the privateer teams, I believe.
bollox a 125 is faster than a harley
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(xx CURVE xx @ Sep 21 2007, 12:48 PM) [snapback]92084[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Cause in America...
we ride MAN bikes. 600s, 750s, 1000's...
yea an all that at <90mph
The 250s go faster than most road going 600s..
It costs too much for the privateer teams, I believe.
bollox a 125 is faster than a harley
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(xx CURVE xx @ Sep 21 2007, 12:48 PM) [snapback]92084[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Cause in America...
we ride MAN bikes. 600s, 750s, 1000's...
yea an all that at <90mph
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rickyduck @ Sep 21 2007, 05:05 PM) [snapback]92085[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
It costs too much for the privateer teams, I believe.
I don't think the cost has anything to do with it, as the 125's and 250's travel to all the Asia locations as well as Oz.
It costs too much for the privateer teams, I believe.
I don't think the cost has anything to do with it, as the 125's and 250's travel to all the Asia locations as well as Oz.
It shouldn't be this way, MotoGP is a championship they should be all together and lets move the AMA boys to a Sat Race.
Now when the top 3 boys from 250cc move up they will not know Laguna Seca and theres 2 years wasted they could have been there in 250s
Now when the top 3 boys from 250cc move up they will not know Laguna Seca and theres 2 years wasted they could have been there in 250s
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rickyduck @ Sep 21 2007, 01:05 PM) [snapback]92085[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
The 250s go faster than most road going 600s..
It costs too much for the privateer teams, I believe.
You havnt rode a 600 lately have you.Any of the big 4 600's will run in the high 150's to low 160's right off the show room floor.With an after market exhaust and tuning, 170mph is attainable.If you meant corner speed,that is different.I did a little checking and came up with a comparison.In a World Supersport test at Phillip Island,the R6 ran a best of 133.9 and the 250Gp bike with Qualafiers for last years Phillip Island was 134.4.The WSS bikes are allowed very few internal mods and have to have factory look alike fairings with dimensions right down to the wheel size of the production bike. And no slicks.Basically a really well tuned bike with aftermarket exaust.Taking into consideration the 250's superior cornering speed,the 600 was making up a lot of time in the straits to end up running a faster lap time.Put a set of lights on it and it is a very legal road going 600.
The 250s go faster than most road going 600s..
It costs too much for the privateer teams, I believe.
You havnt rode a 600 lately have you.Any of the big 4 600's will run in the high 150's to low 160's right off the show room floor.With an after market exhaust and tuning, 170mph is attainable.If you meant corner speed,that is different.I did a little checking and came up with a comparison.In a World Supersport test at Phillip Island,the R6 ran a best of 133.9 and the 250Gp bike with Qualafiers for last years Phillip Island was 134.4.The WSS bikes are allowed very few internal mods and have to have factory look alike fairings with dimensions right down to the wheel size of the production bike. And no slicks.Basically a really well tuned bike with aftermarket exaust.Taking into consideration the 250's superior cornering speed,the 600 was making up a lot of time in the straits to end up running a faster lap time.Put a set of lights on it and it is a very legal road going 600.
Joined Jul 2006
11K Posts | 291+
Texas
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ptk50 @ Sep 21 2007, 01:17 PM) [snapback]92102[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
yea an all that at <90mph
are you ........?
we're not talking about a freaking 1989 Honda Hurricane here... the new 600's are anything but slow.
yea an all that at <90mph
are you ........?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bootsakah @ Sep 21 2007, 01:12 PM) [snapback]92101[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
What 2nd GP?
u been lost in the wilderness for a while?.....indy, sept, 14, 2008
What 2nd GP?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bootsakah @ Sep 21 2007, 07:12 PM) [snapback]92101[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
What 2nd GP?
Indianapolis
What 2nd GP?
Indianapolis
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(frosty58 @ Sep 21 2007, 08:19 PM) [snapback]92124[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
u been lost in the wilderness for a while?.....indy, sept, 14, 2008
could any of our american friends tell me if the new track at birmingham,alabama was ever considered for the second american gp.is this a fairly new track and have i got the location right.must just give my mate lee dickinson a shout who only needs one point this weekend at cadwell park to wrap up the british 250 title.go lee smoke it over the
mountain dude.
could any of our american friends tell me if the new track at birmingham,alabama was ever considered for the second american gp.is this a fairly new track and have i got the location right.must just give my mate lee dickinson a shout who only needs one point this weekend at cadwell park to wrap up the british 250 title.go lee smoke it over the
mountain dude.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jackabean21 @ Sep 21 2007, 03:31 PM) [snapback]92127[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
could any of our american friends tell me if the new track at birmingham,alabama was ever considered for the second american gp.is this a fairly new track and have i got the location right.must just give my mate lee dickinson a shout who only needs one point this weekend at cadwell park to wrap up the british 250 title.go lee smoke it over the
mountain dude.
That is a sore subject in these parts.Barber was a front runner for the 1st GP that ultimatley went to Laguna but the Mayor of Birmingham and George Barber got in a pissing contest over a million dollars and the rest, they say is history.The story goes that when Barber proposed building the track,he virtually got the city of Birminhan to give him the property under a special lease deal because it would benefit the city in tourist dollars.In exchange for the special considerations,Barber was supposed to donate 1 million dollars to a restoration project of some historical building in downtown Birmingham.According to the Mayor,Barber never held up his end of the deal and until he did,there would be no Gp event at his track.After weeks of he said she said,the FIM started to look elsewhere and Laguna made some huge promises,that they kept,and the got the race.In a nutshell,the Mayor and George Barber are total buffons for letting a 300 million dollar event slip thru their hands over a measly 1 million bucks.Then last month after dragging their heels in negotiations for a WSB race,Miller Motosports stepped in and stole the event for next year.East of the Mississippi,George Barber is enemy #1 to bike racing fans.He thinks because he is rich,he is some kind of master negotiator,but those European dudes dont .... around when it comes to their bike racing.He must have thought he was dealing withe AMA.
could any of our american friends tell me if the new track at birmingham,alabama was ever considered for the second american gp.is this a fairly new track and have i got the location right.must just give my mate lee dickinson a shout who only needs one point this weekend at cadwell park to wrap up the british 250 title.go lee smoke it over the
mountain dude.
That is a sore subject in these parts.Barber was a front runner for the 1st GP that ultimatley went to Laguna but the Mayor of Birmingham and George Barber got in a pissing contest over a million dollars and the rest, they say is history.The story goes that when Barber proposed building the track,he virtually got the city of Birminhan to give him the property under a special lease deal because it would benefit the city in tourist dollars.In exchange for the special considerations,Barber was supposed to donate 1 million dollars to a restoration project of some historical building in downtown Birmingham.According to the Mayor,Barber never held up his end of the deal and until he did,there would be no Gp event at his track.After weeks of he said she said,the FIM started to look elsewhere and Laguna made some huge promises,that they kept,and the got the race.In a nutshell,the Mayor and George Barber are total buffons for letting a 300 million dollar event slip thru their hands over a measly 1 million bucks.Then last month after dragging their heels in negotiations for a WSB race,Miller Motosports stepped in and stole the event for next year.East of the Mississippi,George Barber is enemy #1 to bike racing fans.He thinks because he is rich,he is some kind of master negotiator,but those European dudes dont .... around when it comes to their bike racing.He must have thought he was dealing withe AMA.
Joined Jul 2007
5K Posts | 1K+
unda cheese
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(povol @ Sep 21 2007, 04:47 PM) [snapback]92137[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
That is a sore subject in these parts.Barber was a front runner for the 1st GP that ultimatley went to Laguna but the Mayor of Birmingham and George Barber got in a pissing contest over a million dollars and the rest, they say is history.The story goes that when Barber proposed building the track,he virtually got the city of Birminhan to give him the property under a special lease deal because it would benefit the city in tourist dollars.In exchange for the special considerations,Barber was supposed to donate 1 million dollars to a restoration project of some historical building in downtown Birmingham.According to the Mayor,Barber never held up his end of the deal and until he did,there would be no Gp event at his track.After weeks of he said she said,the FIM started to look elsewhere and Laguna made some huge promises,that they kept,and the got the race.In a nutshell,the Mayor and George Barber are total buffons for letting a 300 million dollar event slip thru their hands over a measly 1 million bucks.Then last month after dragging their heels in negotiations for a WSB race,Miller Motosports stepped in and stole the event for next year.East of the Mississippi,George Barber is enemy #1 to bike racing fans.He thinks because he is rich,he is some kind of master negotiator,but those European dudes dont .... around when it comes to their bike racing.He must have thought he was dealing withe AMA.
Povol
Do you think Barber ever had a chance?
I've read that it's a great track but too small.
Supposedly the superbikes barely get out of 4th gear.
I know Laguna is small as well but it's got so much character and history that it was a shoe in for the GP
That is a sore subject in these parts.Barber was a front runner for the 1st GP that ultimatley went to Laguna but the Mayor of Birmingham and George Barber got in a pissing contest over a million dollars and the rest, they say is history.The story goes that when Barber proposed building the track,he virtually got the city of Birminhan to give him the property under a special lease deal because it would benefit the city in tourist dollars.In exchange for the special considerations,Barber was supposed to donate 1 million dollars to a restoration project of some historical building in downtown Birmingham.According to the Mayor,Barber never held up his end of the deal and until he did,there would be no Gp event at his track.After weeks of he said she said,the FIM started to look elsewhere and Laguna made some huge promises,that they kept,and the got the race.In a nutshell,the Mayor and George Barber are total buffons for letting a 300 million dollar event slip thru their hands over a measly 1 million bucks.Then last month after dragging their heels in negotiations for a WSB race,Miller Motosports stepped in and stole the event for next year.East of the Mississippi,George Barber is enemy #1 to bike racing fans.He thinks because he is rich,he is some kind of master negotiator,but those European dudes dont .... around when it comes to their bike racing.He must have thought he was dealing withe AMA.
Povol
Do you think Barber ever had a chance?
I've read that it's a great track but too small.
Supposedly the superbikes barely get out of 4th gear.
I know Laguna is small as well but it's got so much character and history that it was a shoe in for the GP
