Red Bull US Grand Prix 2013
Posted on Jul 15, 2013 by Nick Harris
ROUND NINE 2013 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - SUNDAY JULY 21
Bradley Smith steps into the unknown when he makes his Laguna debut in his rookie MotoGP season. The Oxfordshire rider finished a very impressive sixth in Germany and has been to California to ride a road bike round the Laguna circuit that includes the infamous Corkscrew corner.
Bradley Smith:
“I was truly happy with my sixth place in Germany. I got a good start and I was really pleased with my pace for most of the race. It is particularly pleasing because that was a track where I expected to struggle more because it has a lot of left-hand corners and you are constantly pushing with the left part of your body. That’s where my injury is but I felt strong for the whole race. This result has given me a lot of confidence and I am really looking forward to going to Laguna Seca. It is a very difficult track and while I did test there earlier this year on a production bike I am still expecting a tough weekend.”
MARQUEZ STEPS INTO UNKNOWN TO DEFEND CHAMPIONSHIP
German Grand Prix winner Marc Marquez steps into the unknown to defend his two point championship lead when he makes his debut in the Red Bull US Grand Prix at the legendary Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway on Sunday.
The Repsol Honda rider won his very first MotoGP race at Austin in Texas this year and his second in Germany on Sunday to lead the title chase in his MotoGP rookie season. The 20 year old Spaniard leads his team-mate Dani Pedrosa who missed the race on Sunday after a big Saturday practice crash. Pedrosa, who won at Laguna in 2009, damaged his collarbone and suffered concussion. A decision about his fitness to ride in Laguna will be made later this week but it is likely he will compete.
World Champion Jorge Lorenzo also missed the race and is back in Barcelona after an operation to fit a new plate to the collarbone he broke in Assen. The Yamaha rider said he will not ride in Laguna but may change his mind with the championship so close.
Just 37 points separate the first five riders with battling Crutchlow fourth and chasing his fifth podium and even his first grand prix win in the 32 lap race on Sunday. He leads 2008 Laguna winner Valentino Rossi by six points after the nine times World Champion was third in Germany. His former team-mate Nicky Hayden has won twice at Laguna in 2005 when grand prix racing returned after an 11 year absence and in 2006 when he went on to capture the World title. His current Ducati team-mate Andrea Dovizioso is sixth in the championship ten points in front of the LCR Honda of Stefan Bradl who is coming under pressure from Alvaro Bautista, Hayden, the impressive CRT leader Aleix Espargaro and Laguna debutant Bradley Smith.
Alex de Angelis replaces the injured Ben Spies on the Ignite Pramac Ducati while his team-mate Andrea Iannone hopes to be fit after missing Germany with a dislocated shoulder. American Blake Young is a wild card entry for the Attack Performance team.
LAGUNA SECA FACTS AND FIGURES
Circuit Length: 3.610kms
Width: 15 m
Pole Position: Right
Longest Straight: 453m
Left Corners: Seven
Right Corners: Four
Pole Position Record: Jorge Lorenzo/Yamaha 120.554 (2012)
Lap Record: Dani Pedrosa/Honda121.229 (2012)
TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT
Friday 19 July
MotoGP FP 1/FP 2 Connected TV & Online
22:00 – 23:00 MotoGP FP2/British Eurosport
Saturday 20 July
MotoGP FP3 Connected TV and Online
22:00 – 23:00 MotoGP Qualifying Red Button/British Eurosport 2
Sunday 21 July
22:00 – 23:00 MotoGP race BBC 2 HD
23:00 MotoGP action British Eurosport 2