Ok – let’s start at the top. You can accuse me of being biased. Hardcard is formally engaged by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to advise on motorcycle related projects. So there.
Nonetheless, the prospect of a motorcycle race at IMS is the most important news for motorcycle racing in the US in many, many years.
Why? It’s simple. Indianapolis is racing in America—and to much of the world. There are few facilities, if any, that come close to its history, grandeur, size and penetration into the mind of the casual sports fan. Indy legitimizes.
Ask around about NASCAR’s experience after its first appearance at the Brickyard. That event was one of the key reasons for NASCAR’s mainstream legitimacy. And EVERYONE knows the Indy 500. It is the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
As for bikes? If MotoGP gets to the famous Speedway, look for a new MotoGP record attendance number for six of the seven continents it visits with a legitimate shot at topping some of the outrageous Spanish round attendance numbers. That’s how big this could be. And for legitimizing motorcycle racing, it will benefit motorcycling in the US. That’s good for all of us.
You see, Indy infuses Mojo, hosting only three major events a year with little or no activity beyond that. This is in stark contrast to the demand for 100% utilization most facilities face. The few series invited into Gasoline Alley immediately join an elite and exclusive club and the nation’s mainstream media, gearheads of all types, casual fans and captains of industry take notice. And when they do, they’ll love Nicky. And his parents. And his brothers. Go. Watch. Kiss the Bricks. Let’s all hope it happens.
April 12, 2007 at 9:39 pm
This is all noble and true and your work on the effort is to be applauded.
The only issue is that Indy is not a good track for events which require left _and_ right turns. Indy isn’t a good F1 track nor will it be a good MotoGP track, regardless of the proposed changes. A couple of fast turns and a stop and go, go-kart infield don’t showcase this fantastic product in the way that it deserves.
April 12, 2007 at 10:23 pm
True. From a purist perspective, the track would not showcase these bikes on a true road course. But what Indy will do, though, is let them stretch their legs. No MotoGP bike has gone faster than 165mph in this country. At Indy, they’ll likley do 210.
Also, the purist tracks are becoming an endangered species. Tracks like Spa Francorchamps, the Salzburgring and Hockenheim can no longer meet the strict homologation standards. Mostly just the more “stadium-like” facilities do.
April 17, 2007 at 8:36 am
I think you are absolutely right about the status and prestige which Indy exudes, and which will attach itself to MotoGP by association once MotoGP runs there. It is possibly the best chance of growing MotoGP in the US. I’m not so sure about the Jerez-style attendance figures (which are only the _official_ figures, not the _actual_ figures, which can be a fair bit higher!), but anything over Laguna’s numbers will be a vindication.
I just hope that the track makes for great racing. I don’t think the layout is particularly attractive, but then I don’t think Shanghai is a good track either. I think we just have to pray for close racing and large crowds.
April 17, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Close racing will be a key. We can never really get that at Laguna as there are no opportunities for drafting. At Indy, the nearly-half-mile-long front straight will keep the fields close and allow someone who bobbled and lost a couple of tenths in the infield to pull it back in the draft. That can’t be done at Laguna.