September 12th-14th, 2008 Will be
the Running of the MotoGP at
the New
Indianapolis Grand Prix Speedway, on the Birthday of
the Lone
Ranger (1914 - Clayton Moore, American actor (d.
1999))
The MotoGP is gaining in popularity with all segments of the
racing public. There are games on almost all of the gaming systems
for the modern player (see end of
story for list) and there is also
a level of danger and excitement that is unmatched in any other
race form. A safer barrier in a car race is one thing, it means
nothing when its only you and the road, and your leather jacket
for protection.
The race should be quite a spectacle of performance, speed, and
skill. The skill is the key to success and injury free races,
with a
bit of luck thrown in to keep everyone from getting too sure of
themselves.
Rider Olivier Jacque on his 250cc
bike will make a show of
it on
September 14th. He has a good score card with wins spanning years
of the sport.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
Olivier Jacque from France, Won 250cc World Championship in 2000 and
has competed in MotoGP from 2001-03, 2005 & 2007.
His fans will be cheering him on in Indianapolis.
Erwan Nigon, 24
of France Veteran 250cc World Championship Rider, will be competing in
2008 FIM World Endurance Championship.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
Erwan Nigon, of
France is looking forward to the event coming up in September at the
all new Grand Prix course located at the Indy Track.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
These three historic days marked the first official test by MotoGP
& Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup motorcycles on the new 2.620-mile
road course at the legeandary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This will be the first time a motorcycle has raced here since the
speedway opened in 1909. The Red Bull MotoGP race will be
held rain or shine on the weekend of September 12-14
"MotoGP 101"
with 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz...
was on hand to prep the media for the two-wheel invation at Indy
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
The crowds should love this years races, with all the varied
bikes and riders from around the world, many being world
champions.
Ben
Spies from the USA will add his name for the Grand Prix hopefulls
to be in this years all out race. His crew has the bike already
for the
the track.
©
Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
Ben Spies, 23 from Longview Texas... 2006-07 AMA Superbike Champion
made his MotoGP debut at the British Grand Prix for Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
team on June 22, finishing 14th
He is scheduled
to race for Rizla Suzuki MotoGP in the Red Bull Indianapolis GP in
September 12-14 at the new track.
The locals will be cheering for a hometown boy (Texas).
Niccolo
Canepa relaxes a moment after some high speed tests on the track.
©
Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
#59 Niccolo Canepa age 20, 2007 FIM Superstock 1000 Champion
riding a Ducati motorcyle will keep his fans and
all others busy with his quick turns and leans to the ground,
at speeds most would try to avoid.
William
Costes is
representing Yamaha at the event.
©
Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
by Dan Peters
William Costes of France Won the 24 Hours of LeMans Moto
in 2000, 2005, 2007 & 2008. Costes keeps his mind on the
angles and perhaps the angels too with speeds that are as high
as the heavens and turns devilishly low. It should be a great
race. Get your tickets early....
MotoGP is the world’s premier motorcycling championship, with a season
of
18 Grands Prix in 14 countries bringing together the world’s top
motorcycle manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati,
Kawasaki, Aprilia and KTM - plus an elite crop of riders from every
corner of the globe.
The motorcycles used for MotoGP are purpose-built racing prototypes
which are unavailable for purchase by the general public and cannot be
legally ridden on public roads.
The Grand Prix Road-Racing World Championship was first organised by
the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in
1949 and has been administrated by commercial rights owners Dorna
Sports under the supervision of the FIM since 1992. It is the oldest
motorsport World Championship in existence.
MotoGP began a new era in 2002 when revised regulations allowed for the
participation of bikes with four-stroke engines. For the 2007 season
the adaptation of MotoGP bikes from 990cc engine capacity to 800cc
resulted in an even more exciting spectacle, with higher corner speeds
and even more competitive races – patterns which are continuing this
year.
Furthermore, in the opening round of 2008, MotoGP become the first
motorsports World Championship to host a night-time Grand Prix, with
the Losail International Circuit’s state-of-the-art new floodlight
system permitting a superb start to the season in Qatar.
Grand Prix Weekends
On a Grand Prix weekend there are three individual races, one for each
of MotoGP’s three categories:
MotoGP – the ultimate test for the finest talents in motorcycle racing,
in which maximum engine displacement capacity is now the aforementioned
800cc (four-stroke engines) and the minimum age for riders is 18.
250 – the intermediate category where maximum engine displacement
capacity is 250cc (twin cylinder engines) and the minimum age for
riders is 16.
125 – the class which offers young riders the chance to take their
first step into Grand Prix, where maximum engine displacement capacity
is 125cc (single cylinder engines), the maximum age for riders is 28
(or 25 years of age for wild-card riders or for newly contracted riders
participating in a 125cc race for the first time) and the minimum age
is 15 years old.
Races begin from a grid which is composed of three starting positions
per row (four per row in the 250cc and 125cc classes), with starting
places secured by qualifying times - the fastest rider earning the
famous pole position. The races can vary between 95km and 130km in
distance and usually last approximately 40-45 minutes, each being a
spectacular sprint to the finish line, with pit-stops being rare rather
than the norm.
Tyre selection is therefore absolutely crucial and is undertaken by the
teams following consultation with their riders based on knowledge of
the track, weather conditions and the feel of the bike during free
practice, qualifying and the pre-race warm-up sessions. A critical
balance has to be found between grip and the endurance of the tyre, as
soft, ‘gripping’ tyres permit quicker speeds and faster lap times but
wear out quickly, whilst harder, less ‘sticky’ tyres last longer but do
not assist the rider in achieving maximum velocity.
Riders
The current MotoGP World Champion is Australian Casey Stoner of the
Ducati Marlboro team, who sensationally won the 2008 title in just his
second season in the premier class – securing ten race wins along the
way.
In defending his title in 2008 Stoner is faced with stiff competition
from the likes of Valentino Rossi, the five-time MotoGP World Champion,
and Dani Pedrosa, last year’s runner-up. Meanwhile, Rossi’s new Fiat
Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, the reigning 250cc World title holder,
and Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda colleague Nicky Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP
World Champion, are also stars of the show, with talent in abundance in
each case.
Indeed, the level of racing ability throughout the 2008 MotoGP grid is
exceptionally high, with the likes of Loris Capirossi, Andrea
Dovizioso, Colin Edwards, John Hopkins, Marco Melandri and James
Toseland also competing for podium finishes.
In the 250cc category the title race should be wide open this year,
following the promotion of the likes of Lorenzo and Dovizioso to
MotoGP. A strong Aprilia challenge is presented by Spanish trio Hector
Barbera, Alvaro Bautista and Alex Debon, battling with KTM riders Mika
Kallio and Hiroshi Aoyama.
In the single cylinder World Championship the current title holder is
Hungary's Gabor Talmacsi, one of the older 125cc competitors, who
defends his crown against a plethora of young riding talent in 2008.
The list of participants in each Grand Prix is composed of the
permanent riders, contracted and nominated by their teams for the whole
season, and wildcard entries – who are often local riders.
Approximately 18 participants enter each MotoGP race, about 25 take
part in each 250cc race and the 125cc races usually involve around 35
riders. The ages of the Grand Prix riders range from 34 for MotoGP’s
Loris Capirossi, down to the previously stated minimum age limit of 15
for the youngsters in 125cc. The youngest regular rider in the
championship is Repsol KTM rookie Marc Marquez.
Riders from around the globe take part in the World Championships
including the following countries: Australia, Austria, Czech Republic,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the
Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Spain,
Switzerland, Thailand, UK and USA.
Weights
Minimum Weight - MotoGP Class# of Cylinders 2004
Min 2007 Min Difference
2 Cylinder 135 kg 137
kg 2 kg
3 Cylinder 135 kg 140.5
kg 5.5 kg
4 Cylinder 145 kg 148
kg 3 kg
5 Cylinder 145 kg 155.5
kg 10.5 kg
6 Cylinder 155 kg 163
kg 8 kg
In 2005, fuel tank capacity was reduced by 2 litres to 24 litres
In 2006, fuel tank capacity was reduced by a further 2 litres to 22
litres
Movies and
video games
Movies about MotoGP
include:
Faster, a
documentary film about MotoGP, was released in 2003 and is
now available on DVD. The film features appearances by MotoGP's biggest
stars, including Valentino Rossi. Narrated by Ewan McGregor
and directed by Mark Neale.
The Doctor, The
Tornado and The Kentucky Kid, a documentary on the 2005 United States
motorcycle Grand Prix, also directed by Mark Neale.
Computer and
video games based upon MotoGP:
PC
GP500
(Microprose)
Xbox and PC
MotoGP (THQ)
MotoGP 2 (THQ)
MotoGP 3 (THQ)
Xbox 360
MotoGP '06 (THQ)
Xbox 360 and PC
MotoGP '07 (THQ)
PlayStation 2
MotoGP (Namco)
MotoGP 2 (Namco)
MotoGP 3 (Namco)
MotoGP 4 (Namco)
MotoGP '07 (Capcom)
MotoGP '08 (Capcom)[6]
PlayStation Portable
MotoGP (Namco)
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