It’s July in Monterey, California, which means the Grand Prix boys are due for their annual visit to the
Red Bull USGP at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The first of two American stops on the 2010 schedule promises high drama, with the American contingent expected to swing for the fences in front of the home crowd.
American Nicky Hayden knows how to win at Laguna Seca, but has struggled ever since the switch to 800cc, his last victory coming at Laguna in 2006. Look for the Kentucky Kid on the podium with the Ducati.
There’s also some fellow named Valentino Rossi that’s planning to race, with The Doctor returning from a nasty crash and broken leg way ahead of schedule. Not to mention the other regular heavy hitters looking to make an impact in the US. Here’s what to watch for this weekend.
There was a time when American riders completely dominated
Grand Prix motorcycle racing, but the balance of power has long since has swung back across the Atlantic. The same can be said of the racing at Laguna Seca since the USGP returned in 2005. Americans dominated in 2005 and 2006, but haven’t even sniffed the podium the past three years. Four Americans looking to correct that trend this time around.
Heading the list of American hopefuls at Laguna is Nicky Hayden, the man who dominated those first two USGP returns in ’05 and ‘06. The 2006 victory was one of two wins during the then Honda rider’s MotoGP title run. That’s the good news. The bad news is the Kentucky Kid hasn’t won a race since that 2006 USGP, with his subsequent Laguna finishes being a DNF in ’07 and fifth-place finishes the past two attempts. Hayden’s begun to show his stride this season aboard the Ducati, just missing podiums with fourth-place results and anything less than a podium on Sunday would be a disappointment.
Joining Hayden on the starting grid will be little brother Roger, who fills in for injured LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet. It’s not the first time the younger Hayden has contested the USGP, having finished 10th as a Kawasaki wild card entry in 2007. Roger Hayden has plenty of experience at the California circuit from his AMA days and the LCR Honda has been the best points scoring satellite rig in the paddock, making for an intriguing combination to keep an eye on.
The Lone Star state has two riders looking to score at Laguna, with Ben Spies' chances to shine at the USGP increased by word of better engines from Yamaha.
The Tech 3 Yamaha’s all-American contingent of Colin Edwards and Ben Spies are most assuredly not Yankees, hailing from the Lone Star state, but will both be strong candidates representing the Stars and Stripes on Sunday. Each Texan has a winning history at the American circuit, though not in MotoGP. Edwards scored a win at Laguna in 2002 during his final World Superbike title run. Spies proved unstoppable at the circuit during his AMA heydays battling Mat Mladin, the rookie also secured an eighth-place result at Laguna during his 2008 USGP wildcard ride for Suzuki.
Aiding the team’s cause, Speedtv.com’s Dennis Noyes reports Ben Spies’ requests for a higher-spec engine from Yamaha for both him and Edwards will be accommodated in time for Laguna (
MotoGP Upgrade for Spies USGP Podium Targeted). Spies already scored a podium this season, so given the latest news, expect Elbowz out and up front with the leaders.
After the four Americans there’s also the regular Big Four in MotoGP right now, headed by heir apparent Jorge Lorenzo. The Mallorcan has not finished below second-place this season, yet he’s never placed higher than third at Laguna. One of those streaks will break on Sunday, we're guessing the latter one.
Stoner bested Rossi last weekend at Sachsenring, passing for the final podium spot. Can Rossi get back on the step at Laguna, where he claimed victory in 2008.
The other three men at the top of the GP heap are Rossi, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa. Rossi, of course, has hobbled back early from his broken leg suffered at Mugello making his US appearance an unexpected treat for Rossi’s American fans. Originally eyeing a return at August’s Brno round, instead the Italian scurried back last weekend with a solid fourth-place result at Sachsenring. Rossi got his first USGP win in 2008 and while a repeat in 2010 may not be probable, it’s certainly not impossible.
The man that bested Rossi for that final Sachsenring podium spot, Stoner, also has a USGP win under his belt courtesy of his dominating 2007 title run. The Aussie knows the right lines around the California circuit, remember he finished second in 2008 even after dumping his ride in the gravel. Still winless in his final season with Ducati, look for Stoner to be a podium player on Sunday.
The final man in the front-running four, Pedrosa secured his second MotoGP win of the season (10th of his career) last round at Sachsenring. The Spaniard also defends his Laguna Seca victory from 2009. With 47 points to make up on Lorenzo as the championship reaches the halfway mark, another victory is critical to Dani P’s title hopes.
Pedrosa’s Repsol teammate, Andrea Dovizioso, is the final legit contender on Sunday. Dovi opened the season with four podiums in the first five races, but has been curiously absent the last three rounds. Scoring an impressive fourth at Laguna during his rookie campaign with a DNF last year, don’t be alarmed if the Italian gets on the steps with his third try at Monterey.
Loris Capirossi a former USGP Laguna Seca winner? It's true! Though the MotoGP vet doesn't figure to be in the running this time around, a young Capirex took the 250 flag in 1993.
The MotoGP paddock arrives at Laguna Seca sans the Moto2 and 125 classes, as the road-racing elite share the track with AMA Pro Road Racing. The absence will make the GP’s lean grid seem even leaner, as looking down the remaining list of contenders there’s not a whole lot to point out.
Suzuki vet Loris Capirossi has been consistently awful at Laguna and doesn’t figure to do much better with the GSV-R this season. Strike that, Capirex has done well at a Laguna USGP. In fact, he’s won there! Of course it was a victory back in his 250GP days back in 1993... 1993! John Kocinski took the checkers in the 500cc race that year ahead Alex Barros, Luca Cadalora and Kevin Schwantz, the latter securing the title that season. See, Capirossi remembers the days when Americans ruled GP!
Simoncelli making an impression in his rookie campaign.
Of the remaining satellite crews, the San Carlo Gresini Honda riders Marco Simoncelli and Marco Melandri could play the biggest role. After Spies, Simoncelli has distinguished himself as the most solid rookie performer. As for Supermarco, the Italian has a podium at Laguna to his credit. We also can’t shake those pre-Kawasaki/Ducati days when Melandri seemed the only rider capable of racing with the incomparable Rossi. Of course, that was 2006…
Enough with the past. Stay tuned to Motorcycle-USA for Laguna Seca USGP updates from our on-scene editors - including in our very own Steve Atlas, who will race the Motorcycle-USA Yoshimura GSX-R1000 project bike in the AMA American SuperBike race.
