Just curious if anyone else it at Indy this weekend for the race? I'll be here but the NSR didn't make the trip.

Got here late last night and finally got around to getting something to eat around midnight. Most restaurants were closed except for the 24 hour Steak & Shake. A few friends and I were talking that we should keep our eyes open for riders, exriders and the such. Just as we were talking about it I looked up and said hey, there's Kevins Schwantz!!! How's that one for strange. Kevin Schwantz at the downtown burger joint at midnight.

Anyway, should have some decent pics next week.

Don

I wanted to go but I am working the weekend.
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1993 MC21 SP

Good...glad to hear you were working earning dosh!!

You know it Chuck!!
I would like to be there watching #5 !! Colin Edwards rule with Tech 3 Yamaha...now he's out from under Rossi's shadow.

Still haven't had much luck with that a$$ of a seller!!!
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1993 MC21 SP

Man, what a miserable day weather wise. Light rain off and on all morning. It got really bad after lunch.

I've always been told about how loud the MotoGP bikes were but I was really surprised at the 125's. MUCH louder than I expected. I'm sitting right at the beginning of the loooonnngggg straight so I hear the hard acceleration.

Don

Arrived in Indianapolis, after just getting out of Houston before Hurricane Ike rolls in! Not much better weather in Indy. Hoping for some dry practice sessions on Saturday.

Don, PM me your mobile, we can try to meet up.
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30

im watching it on eurosport now and it looks like you took the british weather with you rich
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ive seen more tarts than mr kipling

I have seen 9 F1 races in my life but the raw acceleration even in the wet with the wets on was astonishing, these bikes are loader than F1 cars! hard to believe.....the cornering speeds cannot match F1 cars but good god I was impressed...standing water 2-3 inches deep in spots...the new diamond ground parts of the track were like ice. Interesting because of the wet conditions that all three classes were running close to the same lap times...in the second session in a total downpour West (riding out of his ghord) went 1:54... ten seconds faster than Hayden! Barbera went 1:55 on a 250 in wet but not standing water conditions...that says it all. Stoner highsided badly in first practice and said the track was too dangerous to race on (whiner) Rossi said he felt bad for the fans and that he loved the track and said it would be a riot in dry conditions and thought he could be really good there. They can't even open the throttle all the way but I saw Rossi coming out of turn 9 (about a 20 mph corner) stand the bike up whack the throttle with the tyre spinning backend coming out from under him sliding out on to the track edge and wheelie off of the painted white line and he was gone....stunning ..on a soaked track and in the pouring rain
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'93 MC21 250sp Repsol "Doohan"

Whilst watching on eurosport the commentators mentioned that they dont normally race there in the rain.
Good job the tracks not in the UK they'd never use it.

RichG wrote:Arrived in Indianapolis, after just getting out of Houston before Hurricane Ike rolls in! Not much better weather in Indy. Hoping for some dry practice sessions on Saturday.

Don, PM me your mobile, we can try to meet up.

Rich, PM'd you.

Don

The weather was so much better today. Tomorrow will be another story though. The hurricane that hit the Texas coast is heading straight for Indy and they're expecting rain again tomorrow.

Today was a lot of fun watching practice and then qualifying. Just some amazing riding going on.

Well, what a torrid weekend!
Race day morning was actually totally dry and Saturday was a heatwave. But then the storm rolled in. Rossi rode brilliantly in the wet, so did Hayden (who could hardly walk!). 15 mins after the red flag, the rain stopped and it didn't rain again. I was hoping the MotoGP race would be restarted for an 8 lap dash to the flag, the rule book actually says MotoGP will not be stopped for rain, it was pretty bad though so perhaps a restart was in order? Equally, having already reschduled the 250's, they then cancelled the race??
I stayed at the track for 1.5 hours after the MotoGP race finished and it could have easily been run. Some good pics from the pits & paddock area, I'll get them online soon. Sorry Don, never got the chance to meet up. Maybe next year!
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30


Last edited by RichG on Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:40 am; edited 1 time in total

From what I've read, the race was actually stopped due to the wind and not the rain. Seems as though tropical force winds are a bit much to ride through. There were reports that wind gusts in the Indianapolis area were recorded as high as 85 mph. I knew that when the MotoGP race was cancelled that the 250's would be too. Shame.

Rich, I was still there well after the race too. We probably saw each other and didn't know it!! Where were you sitting?

just got back tonight. Been in Indy since Thursday morning.

I was bummed that the 250 race was canceled, but it was the right thing to do. Running it later in the day wasnt really an option, as they were on a very tight schedule to get things packed and shipped out. within couple hours of the end of the race, most teams were packed and riders heading to catch the flights back to Europe.

The MotoGP race was pretty much red flagged due to the high winds. a tent was picked up and ended up on the other side of the fence (on the track side of the fence that is, it was the Yamaha display tent). As well as other debre ending up on the track, it was just too dangerous to continue.

I got a call Sunday morning asking if my girl friend and I could help out with race control. so I got to spend the day indoors watching the races from behind the scene, as well as in the garages of the some of the riders. Hope I can do it again next year

I really was bummed the 250 race didn't happen, as I was assigned one of the podium finishers to work with after the race was finished. Gives you a different perspective of the races when your working inside
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Charles Gallant

http://www.flickr.com/photos/72156692@N00/sets/72157607374573236/
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30