Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128360
Laguna Seca: The Work Begins Monterey announcement:' said Bob Starr, corporate County Parks Department, our friends at Dorna and Yamaha, communications manager at Yamaha. "Plus, with our SOth anniversary celebration begin- and, of course. our fans for mak- ning in just a few days, we've got one very exciting year ahead of us." "Moving the turn-nine bridge will have a huge visual impact for both the riders and the fans," said Wayne Rainey, who was on hand for the relocation. "Rainey Curve, which I've always considered the most and contractors, ing today a reality. It will only be a matter of months before we'll get to see Valentino Rossi (reigning MotoGP World Champion) and our American riders - Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden, John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts Jr. plunging down the Corkscrew at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix," "We are thrilled to see the work beginning and this event coming closer to reality. The anticipation and enthusiasm from each and every employee at Yamaha, our customers and American fans has been building since the "T"'wo I and nine bridge was relocated some 440-feet back toward the Corkscrew as work on the racetrack official got under way in preparation for the MotoGP World Championship at the Monterey, California, racetrack in July. Moving the bridge allows for more demanding corner on the circuit, just got more challenging for the racers. With the bridge moved and additional runoff area being created, riders will have nothing to distract them and will be totally focused on maximizing their speed through the corner, And for the fans, the bridge will no longer obstruct their view as the bikes go through the turn." the changes, The improvements, funded by Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, will not affect the configuration of the I I-turn, 2.238-mile track. On Wednesday, December 22, the 150foot bridge was lifted from its previous location and rotated clockwise 90 degrees. One end of the bridge was placed on a purposebuilt "rear" trailer and the other end was placed on a separate trailer that was days before Christmas, workers dignitaries were at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to watch as the tum- runoff area in turn nine, as the excavation attached to a normal, road-going, semi-type of 35,000 cubic yards of dirt from the hillside on the right side of Rainey Curve creates an additional 175 feet of runoff truck. The special rig transported the bridge near its new location, On December 23, two cranes hoisted and placed the bridge in room in the impact area on the outside of the turn. The turn-nine project is the first of sev- its new location, between its previous home at turn nine and the exit of the Corkscrew. eral changes mandated by the FIM for motorcycle racing at the facility. The other changes include improving runoff areas, replacing curbing and widening a portion of the front straight. The track will shut down between May 2 and June 15 to complete "Today is a significant milestone on the road to bringing the MotoGP World Championship back to the USA," Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway laguna Seca said, in a release from the track. "I'd like to thank our track operations staff, supporting engineers Rolfo To D'Antin Team Roberto Rolfo will contest his rookie MotoGP World Championship in 200S after signing a contract with Team d'Antin last week, according to the official website of MocoGP. The Italian has signed in a one-year deal to ride a Ducati Desmosedici with Dunlop tires on the team run by Luis d'Antin. "We're delighted that Roberto will be joining our project for next season," d'Antin said in the release. "He is going to be in charge of developing the Dunlop tires. He's a top quality rider, as he demonstrated when he finished runner-up in the 250cc class in 2003, and he is technically very gifted. Also, he spent a period as a test rider for Aprilia, and his experience will be very valuable to us. His incorporation to the team has been backed up by several Italian sponsors." D'Antin is also reportedly in negotiations with former British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne to take the second spot in the team. D'Antin is starting over after losing Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus at the end of the 2004 season. Roberto Rolfo will race for D'Antin Ducati in 2005. (Left to right) Bob Starr, corporate communications monoger for Yamoha; Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager at Ma"da Raceway Laguna Seea; Don Ask, president of SCRAMP; John Pinio, director, Monterey County Parks Department; and three-time World Champion Wayne Rainey.