Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

ill Campbell would like to sell you a bridge, Not the Brooklyn Bridge, though she could probably sell that as well. Rather she'd to sell you the bridge that spans the straightaway of Mazda Raceway na Seca, the one you see ever), lap ry race. The one that gives you exposure than a Brazilian bikini And the one that Eets you from one to the other of the only world-class racetrack in America and site the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. The CEO/general manager of l'lazda Laguna Seca sold a number of ple on the idea that America should a round of the MotoGP World pionship. The July 2005 event was a ing success from most every stand- nt. Just ask Nicky Hayden. There were Dorna, as it turns out. All pitched in to varying degrees to guarantee the future of the Red Bull U.S. GP "lt's so cool," said Kenny Roberts, a former promoter of the U.S. GP "l really thought it was iust, like, we dorft have any money, unless you're a NASCAR track. I iust expected that. And to come back with'We're doing it.'Wow that's cool." Laguna Seca wasn't on the schedule when Roberts was winning his three 500cc World Championships. That his son, Kenny Roberts rr., as well as Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards, and John Hopkins can race in their homeland, this year and into the future, means a lot to him. "For a motorcycle racer that's into racing, that's a verl nice thing," he said. 'iAmerica should be the safest country in the world. but racetracks aren't con- cerned with it. lt son of blows me away as a normal human being. lt's like, we can't have a play date at your house with- out worrying about being sued, For Laguna to stand up and say that and do it, it s cool, Unexpected let's say. Why in America you can't do anything lwithout threat of legal actionl and the racetracks don't care about safety.'' Robers, like Hayden and others, does- n't agree with all the changes. Eliminating the dip before the Corkscrew wasn't uni- versally welcomed. "Bunch of bloody l'4otocP poofs," one rider e-mailed me. "l thought rhat some of it was not real- ly needed, but the thing was Laguna stepped up and did it," Robers said. "From racing in America, where the track don't do anything, to standing up and saying we're going to lix this track. I never got to race in America for a GP round. That means a lot to me, When you think about how many racetracks that are Grand Prix approved and there are none in America lexcept for Laguna Seca]." Now Robers says, all they need to fig- ure qut is the trirflic, "lf they can solve the in-and-out prob- lem, Laguna will have a bright future,'' he said. Gill Campbell is one step ahead. "There are thin8s in the works," she said.'As soon as lhave the plan si8ned off l'm going to release the entire bloody thing."(See "ln the oingThings Right Wind"'for more details). Course is undertaking significant Kenny Robens Jr. says that some of improvements, including a complete re- those who complained the loudest about surfacing of the track and pit lane, The traffic were the very hypgcrites who changes are admirable and long-needed. could easily have avoided it. Mat Mladin was introduced to Michelle "The imPortant people, like the riders Trueman Gajoch during the race week- that are making millions of dollars, they'-^ siftins in their $50 a day ""nor ..,i :l: :1T: ]TI'::']11".::'""""^ because they don,t want ,o ,p"nd {oi aerc'.Ml-adi1 w3l contacted for his advice on a round-trip treticoper rlde," he said, on the.tra€k changes But he was already "Give the riders helicopters and it'll be home in Australia recovering and unwill- the best race on the calendar." ing to give advice without being on-site' And he pointed out, try getting out of Not that he's the only rider whose oPin- Mugello after a race, or Jerez. lt won't ion matters' Jason Pridmore, for one. has happen. "The traffic's just done," he said. done enough racinS in the U s and Kenny Jr. has been a member of the around world to know what makes a Rider Safety Commission since it's incep- safe racetrack. Pridmore is but one o{ tion in the wake of Daijiro lGto's death in the many sensible, experienced riders 2003 at Suzuka. With Rossi, Sete whose knowledge is bein8 wasted by Gibernau, and Nobu Aoki, the commis- track owners, and AMA Pro Racing. Neil sion gained instant credibility. The group, Hodgson, a World Champion, Ben of which Gibernau and Aoki are no Bostrom, AMA Superbike Champion and Ionger members, mees every MotoGP World Superbike veteran, Mladin, weekend on Saturdal afternoons. Their pridmore, the list goes on. recommendations are always taken seri- The difference between Motocp and ously' and almost always imPlemented AMA is that in l',lotoGp the riders are Not always for the better, The turn-one gravet trap the riders aaaea at er,irrip l:sPected bf the sanctioning body and tstand before tast /ear,s oz Gp ended tn: rat:"*l:. ^tl"v are. partners' not Roberts' 2oo5 season. Neither did it do adversaries AMA Pro Racing does noth- any favors for Loris capirossi, one of the ing !o encouraSe the tracks to meet with permanent members of the rider safety the riders' which is both shorBighted and' commission this season. frankly, asinine. lfallyou heard were com- But overall it work and work well. lf plaints about track safety, wouldn't you the riders say it's needed, and the FIM solicit the rideG'oPinions? \try'ill someone agrees, the racetracks know they have a please explain the downside to me? respected imprimatur. Gill Campbell was blindsided by the Contrast that to this country Only the riders' aftacks at the 2005 Red Bull U.S. most enlightened track owners consult GP even before the track was green for the riders. The best example is lnfineon the first pracrice. Gill isn't a race( so she Raceway, where track president Steve relied on the racers to tell her what was Page, and media and community relations needed. she complied - $2 million worth boss John cardinale have an open-door of compliance. lt wasn,t enolgh. The rid- policy George Bruggenthies, of Road ers wanted more - $7 ,illion ,o.", America, invited FIM safeq/ rep Claude Danis to Elkhart Late ror aavice on mai<] A€ain' sh€ moved heaven and earth to get ing the track a world-class facilit),. it done' but ran out of time to sell spon- Most track don't bother to talk to the sorship for the new bridge' riders. Do they know better? of course Now the riders will have a track they not. No one does. certainly not anyone feel safe on, which rneans the {ans will who doesn't race a 200 horsepower have a better show' notto mention better superbike, Are the track encouraSed b/ concessions' better facilities' and better the AMA to talk to the riderc? Of course transit times. This is a racetrack that lis- not. There's strong evidence to the con- tens to riders and PUts its money where trary according to one track owner. lts mouth is. For 2006, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Care to buy a bridge? (fl CYCLE NEI/YS . JANUARY r r, 2006 127 Bv Hrrunv Rav AsRAr s CHICANERY rlcord

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