From what I've read it seems the last corner is really slow, so that might by why they can get away with it, they are 'only' reaching 180mph ish on the huge straight because they come out of the final corner so slowly.

I suspect that the safety commission was asked to keep silent on those walls, and I really don't like the idea that broken bones might be paid in US$.
Just my opinion, of course.

Vale is on the Safety Commission, or whatever it is called, so is there any information that he and his fellow safety members have approved the track? I will write to my Motorhead club friends. They might know some answers.

I'll keep an eye on the answer you get.

Don't know much more but find this:

From Ben Spies: "On the front straightaway, yeah, you're between two walls, but with how everything is with the bikes, usually there's not too much going on in a straight line. But run-off in Turn 1, once you're actually in the turn, there's plenty. So it's fine."

"The preparation of the track was very, very good," FIM Safety Director Claude Danis said. "Everything was according to what we decided on my last inspection. Of course, there are some small adjustments to be done. Among those adjustments are the addition of artificial grass adjacent to Turns 1 and 16, installation of curbing, final grass work adjacent to the track, addition of road course striping and removal of some oval striping."

This video gives good view of ride around track:

YouTube - Lap around the new Moto GP track at Indianapolis

Thanks for the video.
I hope they know what they do.

I was really surprised by the bad quality of the surface.
Very bumpy. A lot of white painted lines. And those damned walls close to the last left turn.

We'll see...

PS: can't resist to post the greatest motorcycle save: YouTube - Greatest Motorcycle Save
Just incredible.

Tassie,,

I will be there with my hubby, who is actually from Indy. Let's meet up! And I think Jossi said she is going...I have never been to the track, but I have been to the city and I feel that its pretty safe. And should be great weather at that time. When will you arrive? We go Wednesday afternoon so we can do the "pit walk" on Thursday.

Any other Yellows going?

hey, sorry that i answer so late...
what i meant is that you cannot buy paddock passes usually. i heard for laguna it's possible, but it's hard to imagine, because they invented the paddock to give riders their space/freedom. because otherwise everyone would just buy these passes, and we all have seen pictures of vale and his trailer and a few dozen fans standing around it. and that even thou you can only get passes through "connections" so to say.

maybe they opened the paddock a bit, so that you can see the pits or whatever, i have no clue. and i don't know if they'll do the same for indianapolis as they do in laguna. maybe someone who's had paddock passes for laguna can explain, i have no idea. but it's hard to imagine all people who go to laguna can buy p-passes just like that. you'd be walking side by side with brad pitt then? lucky americans if that's the case!

you can buy vip passes usually for a couple hundred bucks...

Hi, Valegrl

I had posted this earlier but it got moved, so maybe this will help you if you missed it before.

MONTEREY, Calif. (July 3, 2008) - If you are looking for Paddock Passes for the fourth annual Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, you better act fast as they are almost sold-out. There are fewer than 200 Paddock Passes left for round 11 of the MotoGP World Championship and limited tickets are available for Flagroom hospitality.

Paddock Passes, $50 for all three days, are a rare opportunity not available at any other MotoGP event. The Flagroom, which is located between turns four and five offers private, covered hospitality trackside and has the added benefits of live TV feeds and private restrooms. General Admission tickets ranging from single-day to three-day tickets are still available. Motorcycle parking and all other hospitality options including the Paddock Suites are sold-out for this round of MotoGP.

This is the biggest event on the 2008 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca schedule and attracted more than 140,000 fans in 2007. The dates for the 2008 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix are July 18-20 and will include support races from AMA Superbike, AMA Supersport and Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup.

MotoGP is the world's premiere motorcycle championship, featuring the best racers on the planet riding multi-million dollar, prototype machines that can reach speeds in excess of 200mph. MotoGP takes its glamorous circus to all corners of the globe. The machines produce more than 240 horsepower and weigh in at just 325 pounds, demanding the ultimate in riding skill, which is personified by the likes of champions Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and American contenders Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards and John Hopkins.

Race tickets are available by call (800) 327-SECA or logging onto Welcome to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca or Tickets for Concerts, Sports, Arts, Theater, Family, Events, more. Official Ticketmaster site . Race information is also available at Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.

i'll be at indy as well...we bought some ticket package which apparently does have paddock access. not sure how it works, or what the story is...when we actually receive the tickets i'll fill you in.

i'm actually planning on riding down...i picked up a used bmw gs a few weeks back and if all goes according to plan i'll be bringing it along (or it will be bringing me along). i'm booked in for the parade lap as well...so look for the only bmw rider with a rossi helmet...haha!