Moto GP gone from Laguna Seca / Mazda Raceway

[kevin 714]

Considering the sub-standard way Race-Goers are treated at Laguna, I have to admit that I don't feel all that broken up about it.
On the other hand, the times I have been on the track itself have been great. But I have to attribute that to the track day organizers.

How about we bring Sear'sPoint up to Moto-GP standards and have it there?

I dont think thats even physically possible. woul dhave to demolish and start over.


its gotta be raceable in the rain as well

 

[TheRiddler]

How about we bring Sear'sPoint up to Moto-GP standards and have it there?

I would love that. But I feel like they'd need to repave the entire track

 

[RaptorFA]

I don't mean to simplify things, but the grid's larger than it's been for nearly a decade, no? And as previously pointed out, despite losing Laguna Seca from this calendar, more than one has been added.

Therefore, it's really hard for me to think that Dorna is putting the series in a downward spiral.

Now, that's not to say that they aren't moving away from a particular trend, like say fan-friendly entertainment into enterprising, or something like that. But you know, you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

I have to agree with this. It just so happened that sadly, Laguna was one of those eggs. It still sucks, and I feel badly that I never got to go to a GP race there. It is possible that we might get the race back as I emphatically stated in a previous post, but after the smoke of passion cleared, I have to concede that it likely won't happen. I don't know if the "shitty little track" comment was actually said by the DORNA talking heads, but if it is true and that is what they think of the place, I don't think they will be back. Perhaps the facilities don't measure up to other places. Maybe it's too technical for them and that is not the kind of racing they want to do. Whatever the reasoning, DORNA has decided that they can do better elsewhere. So fuck 'em.

While GP may be gone, we have WSBK now, which was great. I enjoyed the AMA races very much. And there are other oppurtunities to go and watch some great auto racing. And I will do that because I do love this track. I have never had anything but an epic time when I have taken in a race there. So I am going to make the best of it and enjoy what is left while it is still there, because as others have stated, it may not be for the long term. I still think there is an agenda under way to make that track disappear, and they may yet succeed.

 

[afm199]

It's a fun track. The runoff sucks for racing but is better than it ever has been. There is NO way this track has a future in racing. It will be gone in 20-24 years when the lease expires. Dorna is not going to invest tens of millions into a leased track with a twenty year life and constant lawsuit problems. Laguna is toast. Get over it.

 

[Deftone]

It's a fun track. The runoff sucks for racing but is better than it ever has been. There is NO way this track has a future in racing. It will be gone in 20-24 years when the lease expires. Dorna is not going to invest tens of millions into a leased track with a twenty year life and constant lawsuit problems. Laguna is toast. Get over it.

It sucks but I agree on all counts. I'm glad I went to every race and trackday there I possibly could.

 

[Archimedes]

It's a fun track. The runoff sucks for racing but is better than it ever has been. There is NO way this track has a future in racing. It will be gone in 20-24 years when the lease expires. Dorna is not going to invest tens of millions into a leased track with a twenty year life and constant lawsuit problems. Laguna is toast. Get over it.

Agreed. But I believe the lease only has about 15 more years on it.

 

[clutchslip]

It's a fun track. The runoff sucks for racing but is better than it ever has been. There is NO way this track has a future in racing. It will be gone in 20-24 years when the lease expires. Dorna is not going to invest tens of millions into a leased track with a twenty year life and constant lawsuit problems. Laguna is toast. Get over it.

Dorna doesn't invest sh!t into tracks. The track is only lacking run off in 3, 4, and 8a. Otherwise, it is really tits for crashing. I know, unfortunately or fortunately. I find your comment particularly amusing considering your LONG history at Sears Point, with walls everywhere, but in your leathers.

If you think about the original Laguna track and how much better it is now, anything is possible, unless you just want extremely wide tracks with little character. It's a better racing track than some other famous places, like Imola, for example. Yes, off the track, some of the facilities need ...... HELP!

Anyway, it does not matter as long as I get to ride all our NorCal tracks for a few more years. We are very, very lucky here, unlike most of the world that never gets to ride anything, with or without character.

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

gah.

so the fam and I discussed it last night. we'll get over it. We'll find something else to do.

the last few years have been an absolute blast with the kids. It's not just motogp...we started camping there for wsbk back in the day, and it was probably the luckiest moment of my life when we scored our camp spot over 11 years ago. every year going there was like my own personal christmas. both kids have been going since they were 1. I watched sebastacruz grow up, and hung out with his family over the last several years.

I have no hate for SCRAMP. They were generous with us in helping me get the spot in the first place, and it was really cool they let us keep it when motogp came back. We were planning on buying a custom-fitted fancy awning built specifically for the campsite for next year. Had the measurements and everything. good thing I haven't ordered it yet. And with WSBK starting this year instead of next (to create the seamless transition like wsbk-to-motogp), there's no possible way we'd get that spot back. too bad...but time to move on.

Our newly freed-up weekend will be replaced with something fun. Maybe I'll finally buy my boy a dirt bike and we'll go camping in hollister instead. maybe we'll swing by a random weekend and rent our camp spot out, then hit monterey for the day or something. we'll figure it out. not the end of the world.

 

[afm199]

Dorna doesn't invest sh!t into tracks. The track is only lacking run off in 3, 4, and 8a. Otherwise, it is really tits for crashing. I know, unfortunately or fortunately. I find your comment particularly amusing considering your LONG history at Sears Point, with walls everywhere, but in your leathers.

If you think about the original Laguna track and how much better it is now, anything is possible, unless you just want extremely wide tracks with little character. It's a better racing track than some other famous places, like Imola, for example. Yes, off the track, some of the facilities need ...... HELP!

Anyway, it does not matter as long as I get to ride all our NorCal tracks for a few more years. We are very, very lucky here, unlike most of the world that never gets to ride anything, with or without character.

And 6, and the corkscrew exit, and please note that good Euro tracks have LOTS of asphalt runoff to prevent gravel trap crashes, and allow riders to recover and ride back on to the track. Laguna was never a moto track and is not now.

 

[Motorcycle RN]

Sent a poison pen email to Dorna.

 

[clutchslip]

And 6, and the corkscrew exit, and please note that good Euro tracks have LOTS of asphalt runoff to prevent gravel trap crashes, and allow riders to recover and ride back on to the track. Laguna was never a moto track and is not now.

I mentioned 8a, and 6 seems fine to me. I think the asphalt is really for cars, but it works for bikes, too. I am still not getting your issue, however. What tracks have been designed for bikes? It gets a bit ridiculous after awhile. The MotoGP traps are very deep and wide, cars get stuck in them, and don't like the traps. No track is perfect for bikes and cars, whatever one's cookie-cutter definition of perfect might be. Certain MotoGP riders bitch about little bumps at a lot tracks, are they out of bike spec, too? I just am not sure where you draw the line unless you want NASCAR bumper safe racing. These are motorcycles going fast.

 

[fast4ward]

Considering the sub-standard way Race-Goers are treated at Laguna, I have to admit that I don't feel all that broken up about it.

What are you talking about specifically ? It's way better than any European track I've been to, and the access to riders / teams and free entertainment they put on is far in excess of any other track I've been to to see a World Championship race (Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Misano, Monza)

 

[aminalmutha]

The problem with Laguna is that there are no real fuckin' freeways in Monterey Co., so the whole place turns into a parking lot Sunday evening. Traffic blows there when there's nothing going on, so MotoGP makes it absurd.

I really hope Laguna doesn't go away in my lifetime. It's iconic, just too bad its surrounded by shitheads.

 

[budman]

Considering the sub-standard way Race-Goers are treated at Laguna, I have to admit that I don't feel all that broken up about it.
On the other hand, the times I have been on the track itself have been great. But I have to attribute that to the track day organizers.

How about we bring Sear'sPoint up to Moto-GP standards and have it there?

Jim,

It is what it is.. sort of like nostalgic in ways. Like it was when I went in 1974 and in 1984 and 94 and... small movements of a non business owned facility that is charity based. If Sonoma Raceway folks owned it or some other professional group looking for a profit the track would have had major improvement by now. Hillside seating all the way up to the corkscrew.. in the corkscrew.. etc etc..

So if any fan wants to see what MotoGP racing was like in Europe 30 years ago.. I give you Laguna Seca.

IMO DORNA is doing the needful. They step on the toes of some, but the sport needs some of that. Mine have been bruised because of copyright shit, but hey.. they have their rights and I want to respect that.

The racing is pretty good. Not like the 80's and early 90's, but it sure is safer for the racers and better for attending spectators I would guess. I loved COTA and plan to go back for sure. If the state of California pitched in some bucks like COTA got from the big star state I am sure Laguna could be made a bitchen ass venue too. Gill has done an outstanding job as far as I can see working within a system that has you wearing clogs in a running race.

I will miss it, but then again I missed it for a while before too.

 

[Motorcycle RN]

Is Laguna Seca worth it to take up smoking?

That is the question.

It's worth bringing back tobacco advertising IMHO. I don't think very many smokers started their habit because of the Rothman's Honda, The Lucky Strike Suzuki, or the Marlboro Yamaha. Governments forcing motorsports to turn their backs on so much advertising $$ to me is ridiculous. (Btw, I don't smoke.)

 

[Caddywumpus]

Damn I miss the lucky strike zooks.

 

[jmhamilton68]

It's worth bringing back tobacco advertising IMHO. I don't think very many smokers started their habit because of the Rothman's Honda, The Lucky Strike Suzuki, or the Marlboro Yamaha. Governments forcing motorsports to turn their backs on so much advertising $$ to me is ridiculous. (Btw, I don't smoke.)

This. Let tobacco and alcohol companies advertise all over the bikes again. It would probably brig a lot of much need funding back into the sport. Hell maybe the AMA could even afford a tv deal.

 

[Spec-ECU]

For the record, I'll chain-smoke for one race weekend a year if it means keeping GP in Laguna.

And I don't mean that pussified vaporizer stick either.

Although, what if vaporizers sponsored moto racing...?

 

[Motorcycle RN]

 

[Tharkûn]

Oh thanks I'm addicted to cigarettes now