MotoGP: 2009 Indianapolis Preview
MotoGP correspondent Bruce Allen previews the Indianapolis round of the 2009 season. Check back on Monday for the full report of the Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Even without some contrived “magic number” or the familiar imagery of the fat lady singing, the world seems to have conceded the 2009 MotoGP championship to Fiat Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi. The world, you see, is not dumb. Going into Brno two weeks ago, Rossi had established himself as the odds-on favorite to repeat as the baddest motorcyclist on the planet. His ensuing duel with teammate and rival Jorge Lorenzo, which culminated in Lorenzo’s crashing out and recording an all-she-wrote DNF, effectively turned out the lights on this year’s championship battle. Sure, there are a half dozen more races yet to run this season, including this week’s Indianapolis Grand Prix. But having Rossi up by 50 points with six races left is like trailing Kobe and the Lakers by 16 with four minutes left in the game. You may be able to make it interesting, but they’re not going to make the mistakes that will let you come back. And neither will The Doctor.
Let’s Talk About 2010!
With the 2009 championship virtually decided, people’s attention has started to wander. This week we got some clarity concerning who will be riding for whom next year. One writer presented his take on the subject in terms of “Bums without Seats” and “Seats without Bums”; I wish I’d thought of that one. Here is a look at what we know about the 2010 MotoGP teams at this point.
There are undoubtedly some rich men around the world plotting and planning to reduce their net worth next year by assembling MotoGP teams. Dorna sure hopes so, since as things now stand they will have less than their mandated number of 18 riders on the grid. A larger problem, from where I sit, is the fact that only a half dozen of these riders can seriously compete for the podium each week. The rest are useful for filling out the field and increasing the opportunities available for would-be umbrella girls (Ed. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!). What MotoGP needs are some more strong riders and well-heeled owners willing to spend those riders into contention. What the sport doesn’t need is a few more years of processions led by two Fiat Yamaha riders, neither of whom can even bear to let the other’s name pass his lips.
Indianapolis in August – It’s Not Just Corn Anymore
For those of you traveling to Indianapolis this weekend, you’re probably aware of how much is going on. The usual Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule for MotoGP at the IMS. The Street Party in Broad Ripple Thursday evening from 5 pm to 2 am. XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship riding competition downtown at the War Memorial on Friday and Saturday nights. Motorcycles on Meridian, south of Monument Circle on Friday and Saturday nights – cars NOT welcome. The Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National at the State Fairgrounds on Saturday night, followed by a late night procession from the Fairgrounds to the Circle. Wall-to-wall activities at the track all day Friday and Saturday, including a free concert Saturday afternoon featuring soon-to-be-ex-MotoGP rider James Toseland and his aptly named band Crash.Quick Hitters
The weather forecast for Sunday is impeccable – sunny and 70 degrees. There is a chance of rain both Friday and Saturday however … In the Midwest, the summer of 2009 will go down in history as The Summer That Gave Global Warming a Bad Name … Bridgestone is bringing in its asymmetrical rear slicks again this week for the very left-handed, very counterclockwise Indy circuit.
The best value for your racing dollar this weekend is definitely the AMA race at the Fairgrounds on Saturday night. Twenty bucks gets you in the infield, and watching them taking the turns four abreast and sending clods of dirt into orbit will surely get your adrenaline flowing. And never mind the last turn of the race, four or five screamers drifting wide open into the front straight with the crowd losing it. Just doesn’t get any better than this. Check back Sunday for my report of the Indy Mile, and Monday for the Indianapolis GP wrap-up.
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