Laguna Seca Ready for 2009 USGP

Racing begins at the Monterey, Calif. circuit with the AMA Supersport class on July 4 at 5:30 p.m. with some of Americas top up-and-coming young racers between the age of 16 and 21.

The MotoGP series starts off the racing action on Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m. Following the MotoGP podium ceremonies, the AMA Daytona Sportbike class will line up on the grid at 3:30 p.m. The AMA Superbike class will close things off with a 4:15 p.m. start time.

We welcome some of the best American riders to grace this famed facility and look forward to the great show that they provide in great American style, says Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Several events have been planned around the weekends races.

Yamaha is presenting a Superkart exhibition race July 2 at 3:30 p.m. Reigning MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi will race Superkarts against three other former Yamaha World Champions, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Kenny Roberts Sr.

Following the Superkart race, Laguna Seca will welcome the media to join racers to ride the circuit on bicycles.

A MotoGP fan party will wrap up a day of practices on July 3 at 5 p.m. Race fans will also be invited to take part in the Ducati Track Walk. AMA Superbike racer Larry Pegram will narrate the walk, providing insights and strategies for riding the track including the famous Corkscrew section.

Monster Tech 3 Yamaha racer James Toseland takes the stage with his band Crash at the Yamaha Marketplace on July 4 at 5:30 p.m. for a free concert.

Laguna Seca officials say up to 200 paddock passes for the USGP are still available. Paddock passes allow race fans to walk the MotoGP paddock and take in practice and qualifying sessions in the Rev Limiter Zone along the front straight.

Also available is Flagroom hospitality admission. Fans who purchase Flagroom hospitality will get a visit from Red Bull sponsored MotoGP riders Chris Vermeulen, Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa after the Saturday qualifying sessions. Flagroom hospitality also includes a three-day general admission ticket and a paddock pass.

Tickets, paddock passes and Flagroom hospitality are available at http://www.mazdaraceway.com/.