MotoGP – Race Day at Indianapolis

Race day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2nd running of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, the twelfth stop on the MotoGP schedule. There was no way the weather could have been worse than last year as the remnants of Hurricane Ike slammed into the Speedway shortening the 125cc and GP races, and canceling the 250cc race, but no one expected the weather to be as absolute gorgeous as it was. Sunrise on Sunday morning found many fans shivering and wrapped up in blankets and jackets as temperatures…

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MotoGP – Saturday Qualifying

The weather during morning warmup was unseasonably cool, again. However, this is likely a good thing since Race Day will be even cooler. It gave the teams perhaps a chance at guessing the grip level correctly for the race and qualification. Tyre degradation was an issue all morning long, and during qualifications. Neither the tyres or the cool weather seemed to phase Dani Pedrosa in the slightest, as he set a new track record of 1’40.271″ during FP2 in the morning. During qualifications, he set a new track record again…

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MotoGP – Friday Practice at IMS

The MotoGP circus returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the second time. Last year, rain engulfed Friday’s practice sessions, and this year started out no different. Although the day started out dry, near the end of the 125cc practice, the skies opened up and the rain continued for the rest of the day. It wasn’t a driving rain, just a steady light rain that soaked the track and many fans. Fortunately, the forecast for Saturday and Sunday look MUCH different than last year when the track was…

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Moto – AMA Tornado Nationals in Topeka – Race 2

The weather for final day of the AMA Tornado Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka could hardly have been better. Sunny skies and temperatures mid-80s with a breeze from the south made for very comfortable conditions. The endurance class, MotoGT, had finished its business yesterday, but the Supersport class gave the spectators a third race to watch in addition to the second American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike races. Supersport The Supersport class is a development class for riders age 16 to 21 running a variety of 600cc bikes. Usually in a…

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Moto – AMA Tornado Nationals in Topeka

I know that motorcycle road racing isn’t our main thing here at Open Paddock, but this weekend I’m at Heartland Park Topeka watching the AMA Tornado Nationals. If you’ve not been hooked on motorcycle road racing yet, then watch this video of the Rossi/Stoner battle at Laguna Seca last year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPM77TsGaA Like what you see? Ok, now go and listen to two of the most entertaining gentlemen in the podcasting business, Bob and Jules, at MotoGPod. Great stuff! Ok, back to Topeka. Its not MotoGP, or even World Superbikes, but…

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