U.S. Grand Prix - MotoGP at Laguna Seca
July 23, 2006

Text and Photos Courtesy MotoGP, Honda Racing, Kawasaki, Yamaha Racing, Team Suzuki and World Superbike.  Edited by webBikeWorld.

Race Results
Another week, another fantastic MotoGP race!  The world press seems to be picking up on MotoGP excitement, because even the stodgy New York Times had an article about the Laguna Seca race this morning!

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) took another fantastic victory at his home race for the second consecutive year, while his team-mate Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC211V) finished second and another Honda star Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda RC211V) was third as the Honda factory completed a clean-sweep of podium places. 

The 2006 Championship series is now even more hectic, as Valentino Rossi's Camel Yamaha engine expired near the end of the race, putting Rossi out of contention for points in the U.S. round.

This was one of the most intense races this year. Intense not only because of the heat, which provided a 62-degree track temperature and broken pavement, but also because of the importance of this race in terms of where it falls in the World Championship calendar and because of the nature of the track and the raw qualities needed to succeed.

This is the first time a rider who didn’t qualify on the front row has won.  But it was clear from the start that Hayden, who only qualified sixth fastest, was in no mood to be denied in his own backyard.  He rocketed into third place at turn one, but then cleverly took his time to settle into a race rhythm that would get the only result he wanted – a win.

Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) did all that could be asked of him by getting the hole shot from pole and he went hard at it early on stretching out a lead of just under a second over Kenny Roberts (Roberts KR211V) by lap two. 

With the support races delayed until after the grand prix because of the punishing heat and with the track only just retaining its integrity in the beating sun with a 40-degree ambient temperature roasting both riders and machinery, this was a race where only the fittest and the coolest would survive. 

Vermeulen ended up bringing his bike in fifth, followed by his team-mate John Hopkins. 

Nicky Hayden, 1st Place:  “I think this feels better than last year, if that’s possible.  I got a really good start from the inside – I did exactly what my big brother told me and got to the outside – and it worked perfectly into turn one allowing me to pick up a few places.  I tried not to go too fast too quickly to preserve the tire because the pace was quick.  And then I tried to relax and chip away.  It was really big for the Championship today but there’s a long way still to go and I’ve just got to stay healthy and go for some more wins.”

Dani Pedrosa, second on his first ever visit to this track in his rookie year on a 990cc MotoGP machine, said, “In terms of conditions, this was the hardest race I’ve competed in.  It was so difficult to ride at a consistent rhythm.  At the start I braked a little early and lost a couple of places.  And then when I was recovering and moving up I made a mistake and lost the places again so this was tough at the beginning.  Finally I was able to get in front and finish second which is a fantastic result for me. Finishing one and two is amazing for our team.”

Marco Melandri, who has now enjoyed three successive podiums for the first time in the MotoGP class, said, “That was a very hard race because of my physical condition, which is not yet 100%. Since the crash at Barcelona I have not had the chance to train as I want to.  I got a good start from the third row but at the beginning of the race I was struggling a lot.  The bike was sliding a lot in the first 15 laps but lap by lap the feeling got better and at the end I could overtake Kenny (Roberts) Valentino and Vermeulen and get third place.  I'm very, very happy to be on the podium.”

Fourth-placed Kenny Roberts Jr.:  “That’s the best we could do today.  I was up to my maximum traction control early on and that’s usually a sign that I’m in trouble and I just tried to bring it home – a similar situation to Melandri.  But at the end he started using the front a little bit more.  I was just a tiny bit soft and when I tried to load it, it was like using the tire too much, not the suspension, and just risking a crash.  I just tried to stay with him as long as I could and hope he made a mistake – and he didn’t.”

Valentino Rossi (DNF):  "We've been in a really difficult situation all weekend, with a lot of problems and unfortunately things got even worse today!  We made a big improvement this morning in warm-up and I was much faster, so I thought that maybe we could do a good job in the race and to start with we made good progress from our grid position.  But then we had a problem with the rear tire and I lost all grip and was forced to slow right down in order not to crash."

"Then we had a problem with the water-cooling system for the engine, it overheated and when I saw the smoke, I knew it was over.  Anyway, now we're 51 points down on Hayden with only six races left, so for the first time I will race for the rest of the season without thinking about the pressure of the championship.  My plan is to have a lot of fun over the remaining races and try to win as many as possible, and then who knows what might happen?"

Qualifying
A surprising qualifying session saw Chris Vermeulen taking the pole position today at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

This is the second pole this year for Vermeulen, who has been showing good progress during the season.

The conditions at the track were scorching hot, with temperatures approaching the mid 40s (C) when Vermeulen put himself at the head of the grid for tomorrow’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.  A resurgent Colin Edwards is second on the grid, followed by Kenny Roberts Jr., who showed promise in Friday's practice.  Valentino Rossi is a distant tenth.

Vermeulen, who is the Rizla Suzuki Australian MotoGP rookie, clocked a 1’23.168 lap for his first dry MotoGP pole, just ahead of Edwards.  The Camel Yamaha man was himself hotly pursued by fellow American Kenny Roberts Jr, who had been fastest yesterday in both practice sessions.

The second row will be headed by Laguna Seca newcomer Dani Pedrosa, alongside Americans John Hopkins and Nicky Hayden.  The latter was victorious last year and enters the race as World Championship leader, but will have a tough fight on his hands tomorrow as he looks to extend his advantage.

Despite going off track at the notoriously testing Corkscrew section of the track, Casey Stoner was still within half a second of Vermeulen as he put himself on row three, ahead of Shinya Nakano, Marco Melandri and Valentino Rossi.

Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix MotoGP - Qualifying

1. Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki 1'23.168
2. Colin Edwards - Camel Yamaha 1'23.321
3. Kenny Roberts jr. - Team Roberts 1'23.420
4. Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda 1'23.490
5. John Hopkins - Rizla Suzuki 1'23.498
6. Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda 1'23.536
7. Casey Stoner - Honda LCR 1'23.651
8. Shinya Nakano - Kawasaki Racing 1'23.656
9. Marco Melandri - Fortuna Honda 1'23.750
10. Valentino Rossi - Camel Yamaha 1'24.047

Friday Practice
Kenny Roberts Jr. has shown no signs of letting up the pace at his home track, topping the timesheets in both free practice sessions.

The American Team Roberts rider clocked a time of 1’23.859, the only rider to go round in under 1’24 in the entire day.  Nicky Hayden, victor at Laguna Seca last year, was 0.266 seconds behind him in second, with team-mate Dani Pedrosa getting to grips with the track early to come in third.  Marco Melandri, Chris Vermeulen and Colin Edwards rounded off the top six, ahead of Makoto Tamada, Toni Elias, Casey Stoner and John Hopkins.

Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Free Practice 2
1. Kenny Roberts jr. - Team Roberts 1'23.859; 2. Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda 1'24.125; 3. Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda 1'24.194; 4. Marco Melandri - Fortuna Honda 1'24.223; 5. Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki 1'24.253; 6. Colin Edwards - Camel Yamaha 1'24.310; 7. Makoto Tamada - Konica Minolta Honda 1'24.339; 8. Casey Stoner - Honda LCR 1'24.360; 9. Toni Elías - Fortuna Honda 1'24.494; 10. John Hopkins - Rizla Suzuki 1'24.663.

Race Preview
Just five days after their stunning showing at the Sachsenring circuit in Germany the Camel Yamaha Team will be back on track on the other side of the Atlantic as the MotoGP World Championship takes another whirlwind trip across the globe from the east of Europe to the west coast of the USA.

Following an absence of almost a decade, the Laguna Seca circuit near Monterey in California plays host to the world's premier motorcycle race series for the second consecutive season and represents a crucial date with destiny for both Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards.

Last season both riders finished on the podium, an ideal way to celebrate Yamaha's 50th Anniversary and a fitting reward for the factory's role in bringing the sport back to the continent. This time, however, nothing less than a victory will satisfy the Italian and the American, who both have their own agendas as they tackle one of the most important races of the season so far.

For Rossi the eleventh round of seventeen represents another key opportunity to close the gap to series leader Nicky Hayden (Honda) and provides a chance to strike a major psychological blow on the Kentucky rider, who used his explicit local knowledge of the circuit to take victory last season.

However, crucial data gathered by Rossi and his team in that race, as well as track modifications that have taken place since then in the interest of safety, have leveled the playing field and the reigning World Champion is confident the advantage can swing in his favor.

The goal for Edwards is to take his first ever victory in MotoGP racing after coming desperately close in the Dutch TT earlier this season. The American has shown flashes of winning potential this season and he would like nothing more than to finally savor the top step of the podium at his home Grand Prix before heading to Japan with an identical target at the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour race.

Valentino Rossi: Strong from the start Following on from his remarkable victory in Germany, Valentino Rossi is looking forward to his second visit to California thanks to an enjoyable and promising Laguna Seca debut one year ago.  The reigning MotoGP World Champion was the first non-American rider across the line as he took third place in his first ever USGP but this year he doesn't plan to have anybody in front of him at all as he looks to sign off for the summer with another maximum points haul.

"Even though I didn't know the track last year I was able to follow Nicky for many laps and then Colin too, so I learnt a lot from both of them," explains Rossi.

"By the end of the race I was getting stronger and I actually set my best time on the last lap so I hope that this year we can be strong from the start and this time beat the Americans! We had some difficulties with the bike in Germany and we don't have time to make many big changes before this weekend, but hopefully the good setting we found for the race on Sunday and the data we have from last year will be enough.

"The latest modifications to the track will make a difference and we will see how they are when we get there. After last year we discussed everything with the Safety Commission and we made some more suggestions to improve the track, because really it was not at the level of the rest of the championship.  It's okay for Superbikes but we are coming into the corners 40km faster, so it was necessary to make some more changes, especially at turn one.  Now we have to wait to see if it is better and safer this year."

Colin Edwards: Victory still the target Colin Edwards is approaching the second home Grand Prix of his career with his focus completely set on taking victory, despite his set-up troubles with the YZR-M1 in Germany.  After finishing second to Nicky Hayden in Laguna last year and battling with the same rider for victory at Assen in Holland earlier this season - only to lose out in the final corner - conceding ground to his compatriot is a scenario the Texan does not plan on repeating as the pair tussle for home glory this time around.

"Before Sachsenring I said that I am not hoping to win at Laguna Seca, I am expecting to win, and that remains the case," affirms Edwards, who will be in Los Angeles on Tuesday to take part in a MotoGP bike parade along Hollywood Boulevard before attending the screening of the new MotoGP movie 'The Doctor, The Tornado and The Kentucky Kid', in which he stars.

"We had our problems in Germany but we also had problems at Catalunya earlier in the season and seven days later I was fighting to win at Assen.  It seems the bike that we have works at some circuits and not so well at others so, like Assen, Laguna will be a bit of a shot in the dark.  One thing for sure is that I'm going to fight and barge and do whatever it takes to win. If it comes down to a scrap between the Americans, Hayden and I, then I know I can come out on top this time.  Hopefully the bike will work as well as it did at Assen and if it does than I definitely won't make the same mistakes."

Laguna Seca Track Analysis by Daniele Romagnoli
Laguna according to Daniele Romagnoli Famed, feared and revered for the world-famous 'Corkscrew' corner, the Laguna Seca circuit near Monterey in California lived up to its billing as one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar when MotoGP visited for the first time ever last season.

With only a few short straights, a series of fast and sweeping corners and elevation changes that leave front wheels frequently spinning through thin air, the 3.602km circuit provides the ideal viewing spectacle for fans but is surprisingly straightforward when it comes to machine set-up.

"Actually Laguna was not as technical as we thought it might be when we visited for the first time last year," explains Daniele Romagnoli, Chief Engineer for Colin Edwards.  "It is a special circuit because there are almost no straights so there is no need to use the full gear range or the maximum power of the bike.  Power delivery is much more important than top-end power and it must be smooth and easy for the rider to manage." 

"At the same time the circuit is very 'up and down' so the chassis is important because the bike needs to keep turning in several different conditions.  You need good traction when the bike is leaned over - especially at the end of the main straight when the bike is at an angle at high speed and in the Corkscrew.  The Corkscrew also requires stable suspension and good performance under braking because, as we saw with Colin last year, it is a place he likes to overtake.

"Honestly it was quite easy to find a good set-up for Colin last year.  His experience at the circuit meant that we already had some good information for the gear and suspension settings before we arrived.  This time things are a little different because, even though we can dial in the same settings on the bike, the tires have changed a lot from last year so we will need to work on something new to adapt the chassis and the suspension.  We had a difficult weekend finding the right setting in Germany but Colin will not let this affect him and we will come out fighting like we did at Assen."

Laguna Seca Factoids Courtesy of MotoGP

• Laguna Seca Lap Record is held by Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 2005, 1'23.915

• Laguna Seca Best Lap is held by Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2005, 1'22.670

• Yamaha riders have taken five victories at Laguna; Eddie Lawson in 1988, Wayne Rainey in 1989, 1990 & 1991 and Luca Cadalora in 1994.

• Cagiva won the 500cc race at Laguna Seca in 1993 with John Kocinski. Nicky Hayden’s win last year was the first in the premier-class for Honda at Laguna Seca.

• History indicates that a good grid position is important to success at Laguna Seca; all seven previous winners in the premier-class have qualified in the first three places on the grid.

• With seven races remaining of the 2006 season Nicky Hayden leads Valentino Rossi in the Championship standings by 26 points. Over the last seven races of 2005 Rossi scored exactly 26 points more than Hayden.

• Laguna Seca is one of only two circuits on this year’s calendar where Valentino Rossi has not won previously in the premier-class, the other being the Istanbul Park circuit in Turkey.

• If Dani Pedrosa wins at Laguna Seca he will be the first rider since Kenny Roberts Snr. in 1978 to win three or more races in their rookie season.

• Marco Melandri crashed out on the first lap of the USA GP last year after being down in eleventh place on the grid, his worst qualifying performance of 2005.

• Loris Capirossi is the only rider other than Nicky Hayden who has previously won a Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, having taken the victory in the 250cc race 1993.

• Four of the regular MotoGP riders have never previously raced at Laguna Seca; Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner, Randy de Puniet and Jose Luis Cardoso.

• Last year at Laguna Seca John Hopkins was the first rider across the line using Bridgestone tyres, finishing the race in eighth position.

• Colin Edward’s second place last year at the US Grand Prix was his best result of the 2005 season.</p>• Chris Vermeulen won both of the World Superbike races at Laguna Seca in 2004.

• Three riders have scored points at each of the ten MotoGP races of 2006: Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards and Carlos Checa.

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