Team Texas!
I just heard the news about Ben Spies and Colin Edwards joining forces at Tech 3 in 2010, and it’s pretty cool. Especially since it’s the first time that MotoGP sported an all-American lineup since Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins in 2005!
Three-time AMA Superbike champion Ben is close to securing his first non-American nmotorcycle championship in the World Superbike ranks, which everyone said was the first step for Ben to be recognized as a MotoGP rider. So far he’s claimed 12 wins in 24 races and sits just three points behind Haga, who is perhaps the most experienced rider in WSB today.
After seeing Colin Edwards post a podium this season at Donington, it will be interesting to see how well the Texan duo attacks next season. Plus there’s good news for each of them: They’ll be able to ride on the plane from Europe to Texas together!
Here’s a photo of my wife and I in front of Ben at the first Red Bull Indianapolis GP in September 2008, when he finished sixth in a wild-card ride for Suzuki.
Jarrod
In less than one week, MotoGP riders will take to the Indianapolis MotoGP circuit for the second annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP. We can all pray that this year’s weather will be better!
(Silence)
OK, MotoGP was on its “summer vacation” in late July and early August, and both Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards have been able to kick back a bit back home in the States. Nicky’s been off his game this season, but Edwards recorded a podium in July at Donington and could earn his first MotoGP victory at Indianapolis.
Check out Colin’s message to fans about this season and the Red Bull Indianapolis GP by clicking here.
But to win at Indy, he’ll have to outpace the Fiat Yamaha riders Rossi and Lorenzo. It seems that the two of them have owned the field in each outing this season. In Brno, especially, you could see how competitive the teammates are when Rossi pressured Lorenzo into a wipeout under braking. It’s racing, good racing!
Over the next week, the IMS staff will place the final touches on the race course. Just a month ago, 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup cars and drivers competed 400 miles on the oval. Next week, three classes of world elite riders will compete on the road course.
Leading up to the event, the festivities will be aplenty. Motorcycles on Meridian downtown and XBL freestyle stunt shows in nearby Broad Ripple Village on Friday and Saturday night, AMA Flat Track racing Saturday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and three full days of activity on at IMS, with all sorts of cool stuff happening on and off the track.
Tickets are still available at imstix.com!
Jarrod
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the “Greatest Race Course in the World!”
Aug. 14 is officially the most storied day of any race course. Can you believe that over the past 100 years that a single facility would stage a events like the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, United States Grand Prix, Red Bull Indianapolis GP and various other events like the Pan American Games, World Police and Fire Games, the running of the Olympic Torch, several rounds of the PGA and Senior PGA events, countless charity events and 500 Festival Mini-Marathons?
Over the next several weeks, locals and motorcycle enthusiasts are arranging their ride routes and getting ready to the events that surround the Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP event Aug. 28-30 at IMS. Motorcycles on Meridian, stunt bikes in Broad Ripple and Flat Track racing at the Fairgrounds are the many events that take place during the MotoGP weekend here in Indianapolis. For anyone with the two-wheeled bug, it’s sensory overload at its best!
If you read by blog last year, this part of the year was awfully hectic, as I was getting married. Much like last year, I’m struggling to find time to soak in MotoGP. I’m moving, preparing for baby No. 2, and I’ll be working the Chicago IndyCar event the night before the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Thankfully, Chicago is only a swift three-hour drive, but un-thankfully the IndyCar race concludes around midnight (CT), which is 1 a.m. (ET)!!!. That’s without a rain delay!!! (fingers crossed)
So be sure to take a visit Friday, Aug. 14 down to 16th and Georgetown for your slice of cake and a picture with the 1909 Indian motorcycle once you purchase your Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets.
Ride safe,
Jarrod
I’m in the City of Champions, Edmonton, Canada. Home of the Edmonton Oilers. The hockey team that “The Great One” went to after spending some of his junior years on none other than the Indianapolis Racers while attending Broad Ripple High School. Wayne Gretzky would go on to win four Stanley Cups with the Oilers.
I’m in Edmonton for the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races this weekend. The city is complete jacked up about the race this weekend. Everywhere you go there are billboards, advertisements, fan guides and displays highlighting the Rexall Edmonton Indy. It’s a great atmosphere.
Likewise in Indianapolis, Indy is putting on the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Then, Indy will be turning the track over for the two-wheeled animals that participate in MotoGP’s three championship levels during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 28-30.
Not sure if everyone saw the announcement or not, but former 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz is putting on a two-day clinic on the IMS MotoGP circuit.
You can find out more at http://www.schwantzschool.com/
Enjoy the weekend and be careful on the bikes if you are traveling around Indy for the Brickyard.
See you in a couple of weeks.
Jarrod
Finally, a few days off. The IndyCar Series takes its first weekend off in four weeks, and it’s much deserved. For most in the “traveling circus”, the weekend off is time to catch up with family, friends and sleep.
The same is said for the MotoGP paddock, as well. It started at Assen then a weekend off, Laguna, Sachsenring, Donington Park followed by a few weeks before and after Brno. It’s a grueling schedule across large bodies of sea! This is the most tiring stretch of races for all three classes in MotoGP. Luckily for Red Bull Indianapolis GP fans, the riders will be well rested before they hit the bricks at IMS on Aug. 28-30.
On Wednesday, July 15, I took a stroll over to the IMS Hall of Fame Museum to check out the eagerly anticipated Alpinestars line of Red Bull Indianapolis GP clothing. It’s a fair amount of articles ranging from T’s to hoodies for both men and women.
Here are my picks!
1) Vintage Inspired T with Indianapolis Motor Speedway and a Picture of Nicky on the Vintage Indian.
2) Black AStars Hoodie (I like)
3) Black and White Petite polo(Women’s)
4) Flat Billed AStars hat
5) Black Woven Crew Shirt (I like)
I couldn’t resist the crew shirt and hoodie. I wanted to get the entire line, but I figured it would be a little much to be head-to-toe event gear. Perhaps I could get a few pieces for writing this blog?
Most don’t know but Red Bull is extremely sensitive with their brand being associated with other brands. This is a very unique line of clothing that blends Alpinestars(the official clothing line of MotoGP), Red Bull, MotoGP and the IMS Centennial Logo all on great-looking products.
All of these products are available at the IMS Online Store and Hall of Fame Museum Gift Shop. Act fast, though, because the gear is flying off the shelves. Seriously, I had to order my size!
Buy tickets for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard!
Jarrod
The family and I are off to Watkins Glen for the Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen and Corning 100 races. A true family road trip in a rental RV.
I took a day off to spend a little time on the road with my wife, dog, child and future child. We set off on our little journey late evening on Wednesday and set off for a Wal-Mart! That’s right, it’s not a myth: Campers are welcomed at Wal-Mart.
My original route was going to take us to Cleveland for the night. Then we were going to proceed to our “Griswald”-type excursion at the Niagara Falls. None of us have been there before and since its only three hours away from The Glen, we thought it would be a great way to utilize the RV. We spent most of the day walking around. The falls, Canadian and American, are rather impressive. But I thought that Niagara was going to be bigger, really.
Perhaps the highlight of the trip was our voyage on the Maid of the Mist. Each of us adorned our “recyclable” blue ponchos. Good thing, really. As we walked on the boat, I heard a lady comment, “Are there any good places to stand?” The operator responded, “There really aren’t any dry places on the boat.” It was fun, 22 minutes dock to dock and a true misting at the base of both American and Canadian falls.
At first I was very unexcited about the trip, but I warmed up to the idea and became a tourist for the afternoon.
Once we completed our voyage, the family, sans Rex, our dog, marched to the RV for our final leg of the trip, “The Glen”.
We are here, a Thursday night at The Glen in the swampy campground. It’s been raining here for about a week. Van likes it, though, because there are plenty of puddles and mud to play with. Rex, on the other hand, is still torn up after he nearly ripped the awning off the RV.
Catch the “Return” next week!
Jarrod
Here is my excuse for not writing last week: I was completely unplugged from the Internet and cell service for FOUR WHOLE DAYS!
In today’s modern world, that’s nearly impossible! I enjoyed it very much and took the opportunity to recharge my batteries on one of the few off weekends of the IndyCar Series.
If you are new to the blog, I typically spend my summer weekends on the road working for the Indy Racing League. Racing is exciting, especially the IndyCar Series, but for me, it’s tough to miss out on my favorite time of the year – the summer and quality time with the fam.
About a week ago, I went out “camping” for a few days with a bunch of friends. It’s the best way to go “camping.” For the most part, everyone else sleeps in tents, and I snag a couple of 60-year old bunk beds that have nearly crippled my back.
For much of the first two days, my little guy, dog and two buddies were alone on the farm. We spent most of the time getting everything prepped and ready for “the others” and played on the four-wheelers and motos.
My little guy, Van, is only 22 months or so old, but he looooves machinery. I purchased him a small bit of moto gear – helmet, googles and a chest protector – so that he could learn to wear protection and feel like he was a big boy. The two of us spent most of the time riding around, at a slow pace, watching my buddies Phil and Jeff tear up the farm on the four-wheelers.
It was quite a good time with Van on the four-wheeler.
When everyone else showed up, including my wifey, the moto antics picked up a bit more. With a newbie on the farm, a sport quad and a few dirt bikes and a “baby sitter,” things got a little dirtier! We have video of most of it which I will share as soon as Phil gets the time to upload them somewhere.
Jeff flipped hard and managed to drive up a tree, and Greg flipped even harder on “the widow maker” turn during a five-quad race on the long course. Luckily for him, the quad didn’t squash him like a bug.
Then we went off to the woods…where I did my fair share of falling. If anyone can recall last weekend in Indiana, it was awfully muddy. Can you imagine how swampy it was in the woods?
We were tearing through creeks, mud plains, hopping trees, etc, all on an uncut or groomed trail. It was a lot of fun until I hit the wrong branch at the wrong time that completely took the bike out from underneath me.
Thank you to Aceberis for the excellent handguards!
I did, however, impress myself and do something that I’d never done before. We were all weaving through the woods, and we came across a fallen tree. I’d say that the trunk of the tree was about 2 feet or so high. I’d never truly jumped a tree without a take-off and landing area before. Typically I pop the front wheel off the ground, high-center the bike and then rock it off the other side. To be honest, that was what I was going to try to do.
Instead, I popped the front wheel over the trunk and carried enough speed that my rear wheel hit the trunk and catapulted me over the tree. I pretty much bunny-hopped it!
This trip was also a good time to test out the new pit bike. Not much action on it, but Van and I did spend time cruising around slowly. I did take the pit bike out to the flat track when some of the other guys where on the quads. I nearly got the hole-shot, but I had no chance of survival once we got into the corners. One, it was terrible slick with packed mud, which felt like ice, and two, those guys are crazy on the quads. I wasn’t about to get steamrolled. Finally, three, I was helmet-less. Not smart, so I “pulled up.”
All in all, it was a great weekend. Dirt Days with Van, the Wifey and my friends was a much-needed vacation.
P.S.: I did ride my bike on Monday for National Ride Your Bike to Work Day. The company rolled out to the 500 Grill at the Indianapolis International Airport for lunch. I’d honestly never ridden in a group that large before.
Jarrod
It seems like every time I sit down to write the blog “The Ride,” I’m talking about a new toy.
Last time, it was about a friend’s KTM 690R; that was a blast. This time, it’s the pit bike that I pulled the trigger on. Most neighborhoods allow golf carts so that everyone can roam the neighborhood in a safe and comfortable manner. Not me. My household with with my young son, Van, is pretty destructive, so I opted for an SSR Pit Bike. Extremely reasonably priced — about the cost of a really, really expensive dress.
The bike arrived rather quickly in a box. The assembly time was only a few minutes, and all I had to do was check the oil and put in fuel. The bike fired up on the third kick, and I was off.
Right now, I haven’t had the time to ride it, but I plan to this weekend with a lot of off time. I’ll have pictures to prove it!
Jarrod
Last week, I officially rode my bike to work two days in a row. Not quite a streak, but it was the first and second time this year. Therefore, it is noteworthy information!
There really is nothing cooler than riding your motorcycle into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, killing the engine and gliding into Gasoline Alley. Not only is there typically a line of motorcycles along the fence, but you instantly line up among some of them most talented people in racing. The racing fraternity is special. Each weekend, drivers, team leaders and mechanics travel the country and compete in intense atmospheres. Much like the motorcycle fraternity, the IndyCar paddock is filled with friends. To combine those two at the greatest racecourse in the world is outstanding.
So I was thinking. To combine the two, why not come up with a killer biker gang of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To be a part of the club, you have to be a member of the racing community! IndyCar, NASCAR and MotoGP personnel can all belong. Think of it as the “Old Timers Club” for two-wheelers in a four-wheeler community. To qualify, you have to prove that you are a part of the event or credentialed as staff, participant or owner!
Through the Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP event, IMS could come up with a great line of specialty items that would cater directly to this hard-working group. Of course, this would not be a large profit center for IMS, but it would be a unique branding experience recognizing those who compete in the industry.
In other news…
My son, Van, now knows how to twist the throttle. My Scrambler is still up for sale, and I may be trading or selling my Tiger for a Supermoto/Enduro.
Not to knock the sportbike crowd, but there really is nothing like riding a super light bike that can do anything. The Tiger is great for the long road trips, but with another offspring on the horizon, I doubt that a long trip will be happening in the near future. Since I’m nearly grounded to four-hour “2 wheel” vacations, a ligher, fun bike that can do everything is desired.
I’m positive that even if I went down to Brown County with a batch of sports bikes that I’d be able to hang no problem on the windy roads. The only place my buds would ditch me would be on the drag strip. Unlike them, I have no desire to go 100 mph on my motorcycle. It’s entirely too stressful in an “uncontrolled “ environment.
Check them out. KTM Enduro, KTM Enduro R and the BMW XChallenge … Each of them are 600’s and have both on- and off-road capabilities. Most of my riding on this bike would be on the road, which is fine. The bikes are built for both.
Enjoy the weekend. Hopefully it will be rideable.
Jarrod
We are there, hours into the start of the “fastest” month of the year.
Most people think that the Month of May is busy. In reality, it’s one of the most relaxing months of the year. For me, working at IMS Productions, I spend a lot of my time on the road and preparing for 16 other races during the season.
May is relaxing for several reasons:
1) When it’s not raining, the weather is improved.
2) IndyCars are on the track for most of the month.
3) The race weekend extends over 25 days rather than three!
4) I get to sleep in my own bed!!!!!
Even though the month is “relaxing,” there isn’t much time to ride the motos.
One cool part about May, though, is that there are a lot of IndyCar team members that ride their bikes to the Speedway during May. If you’ve been there, you’ll notice that in “Gasoline Alley” a row of bikes lines the chain-link fence. Last year, there were an awful lot of bikes on the nice days.
I remember when the Ducati Hypermotard first came out. Within days there were three parked along the fence. The racing community is a serious group of people!
There’s not a whole lot going on right now besides getting ready for May. May, May May, May, IndyCars, IndyCars, blah, blah, blah …
Jarrod