MotoGP News
Date: 30/August/2011
Moments after standing on the top step of the Indianapolis podium, straight-talking MotoGP title leader Casey Stoner refused to back the circuit remaining on the World Championship calendar.
Indianapolis is yet to sign a contract for 2012, and is under pressure from the new Austin track. The Texan venue has agreed a ten-year MotoGP deal starting from 2013, while California's Laguna Seca circuit is signed up until 2014.
So unless MotoGP is willing to run three US rounds, Indy has at best one more year of motorcycle grand prix, if terms can be agreed for 2012.
Indianapolis joined the MotoGP calendar in 2008, using a modified version of the infield circuit previously created for its F1 Grand Prix.
Fitting a road course within an oval is always a compromise and the quirky layout, which uses the same main straight as the famous Indy 500 before peeling off into a tight and twisty infield section, has never been a favourite with the riders.
"I'm not like some other riders that really enjoy tracks just because they win there," said Stoner, when asked if victory had changed his negative opinion of Indy. "We ride at a lot of different tracks around the world and I can't honestly say this is better than most of them.
"I don't get a kick out of a track just because I win on it. Mugello is one of my most favourite circuits, and I've only won there once. I look at what quality the circuit has rather than just memories."
When asked if MotoGP should return next year, the Repsol Honda rider dodged a direct answer, speaking instead of the missed opportunity to create a challenging track to match the awesome architecture and infrastructure.
"I think this whole facility and place could be unbelievable," began Stoner, "but in my opinion the corners are too tight and we use first gear a lot more than most other circuits.
"There's maybe two or three corners that I think are a lot of fun. Turn 5, Turn 12. But the rest of the track is just very tight, twisty. You just kind of roll around.
"This facility could be unbelievable with the history and everything. But, in my opinion, I don't enjoy riding it as much as I do a lot of other circuits."
Part of the problem is that MotoGP inherited the failed F1 project, for which the road course was designed to be run in the opposite direction.
Seeing cars drive the 'wrong way' down the Indianapolis home straight was a massive PR blunder and the road course was reversed, and slightly revised, for MotoGP's debut.
But changing the course direction meant many corners tend to tighten, rather than get faster.
"It's not meant to be run the way we're running it," stated Stoner. "So instead of corners opening up for exits, they just keep tightening up."
American Ben Spies unsurprisingly gave a more favourable response regarding Indy's MotoGP future, although his opinion seemed based mainly on it being another home race and a track where he has performed well.
"For me it's a home race. It's in front of the home crowd. I've had good results here. But I think it's more important for America to get involved with MotoGP and for it to grow in the States," said the Yamaha rider. "I would like to see Indy stay, for sure. It's an easy flight for me, so there's a lot of bonuses to race here."
Stoner's team-mate Dani Pedrosa indicated that as long as there are races in America, the venues are of secondary importance.
"Well, as Ben said, as I think it is important to still have races [in the US]," said Pedrosa. "I don't know if it will be Indianapolis or maybe - I don't know when the new track is ready in Texas.
"As Casey said, the track could be a little better. The track is quite strange going in the opposite way. I don't know the future with it."
In a sign of Indy's apparent intention to keep MotoGP beyond this season, the previously patchy infield asphalt was replaced for this year's race.
But what should have been a major improvement backfired when riders found the new asphalt incredibly slippery during first practice.
Conditions fortunately improved, but some riders then struggled with massive front-tyre wear, while off-line debris and dust made overtaking difficult.
"In the first session it was very slippery," said Pedrosa, "then it got better when the dust was cleaned from the race line. But basically the tyres were struggling the whole weekend, and much more in the afternoon with the heat."
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