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| Dani Pedrosa- pic by H H |
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| Andrea Dovizioso- Pic by H H |
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| Casey Stoner- pic by H H |
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| Jorge Lorenso- pic by HH |
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| Yamaha helps kids get in on the action |
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| Vendors- pic by HH |
Over 65,000 fans shared in the excitement of the fifth Indy
MotoGP! Even before the race or qualifications or even the practice began,
excitement was in the air. The vendors had a huge selection of the latest technology and gear.
The virtual experience had upclose looks at the newest bikes. Even the kids
could experience biking, as Yamaha had a place for them (see photo.) Many organizations
got in on the excitement, and some let us know that their love for the sport brings
with it a heart, too. For instance,
ABATE had 5 gear checks, free, with donations accepted, for the Hoosier Burn
Camp, to send kids who have had serious
burn injuries a specially designed camping experience. So the excitement went beyond the track. But
the track was really something to behold. In spite of several crashes, not the
least of which kept Nikki Hayden out of the race, the race went on. The riders
voiced concerns over the track condition, notably the three different kinds of
surfaces on the Indy track. Even so, Saturday’s practice saw Dani Pedrosa come
up with a record lap of 1 minute 38.850 seconds.
But even track
conditions and a crash during Saturday’s practice did not keep Casey Stoner from
competing Sunday in the big race, pulling off a major victory, even if it was fourth
place, considering his right ankle injuries (fractured ankle, torn ligaments)
that would have kept all but the most vigilant of riders from getting back on
the bike so soon. He used special Alpinestars boots to accommodate the injury. Ben
Spies had mechanical failure 14 minutes into the race, an incredible
disappointment, as he was at the front of the pack. At the end of the GP, Dani
Pedrosa took first place, for the second time in three years at Indy (He was
first in 2010.) Jorge Lorenzo was 10 seconds behind for second place, and Andrea
Dovizioso took third place, his fifth podium of the 2012 MotoGP season.
After this exciting race (actually it was three races, Moto2,
Moto3, and GP) was yet another- the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series race.
The motorcycles used in this race- these Harleys have minimal variations in
their mechanics and adjustments, so essentially it is a race showing the skills
of the riders. These engines have more of a grumble-roar than the higher
pitched GP bikes. And in the first few minutes, three riders were down, but
none seriously injured. A quick race, in which the winners were: 1st
place Tyler O’Hara, second place Kyle Wyman, third place Benjamin Carlson.
The GP continues to give Indy one more way in which to share
the passion of an awesome sport!
