Motorcycle.com stopped by the Ducati Island during our visit to the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca (and if you haven’t yet read the event report from Kevin Duke, here’s your chance!).
Here’s a quick look at what Bologna company offered to any Ducatisti who dropped by.
The Motorcycle.com editors are putting the final touches on the report on their annual trip to the MotoGP and AMA Pro Racing round at Laguna Seca, but we thought we’d offer a sneak peak with a video of some of the lovely ladies of the U.S. Grand Prix.
Check out the video after the jump, or visit the official Motorcycle.com Youtube page to see the video in dazzling 1080p HD.
And don’t forget to check back in the next few days for the full event report.
A special one-off Yamaha R1 that “King” Kenny Roberts will ride at Laguna Seca at this year’s U.S. Grand Prix will be auctioned off to benefit an arts school in New York.
The GYTR-equipped R1 with Yamaha’s 50th anniversary red and white paint scheme will be sold at Mecum’s Motorcycle Auction, Aug. 18, in Monterey Calif. by special guest auctioneers Roberts and television personality Jay Leno.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit Bailey’s Café, a school for the arts in the Bronx. Leno is a strong supporter of Bailey’s Café, helping to raise $120,000 for the school in 2009 by auctioning his own personal customized Yamaha V-Max.
[Source: Yamaha]
Related Reading
Ride Laguna Seca with King Kenny Roberts and Steady Eddie Lawson
Leno V-Max auction raises $120,000
Leno donates V-Max to charity auction
MotoGP racing team LCR Honda seems to love America. For the second straight year, the Monaco-based team is enlisting an American racer to compete in the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.
Last year, LCR recruited Roger Lee Hayden as an injury replacement for Randy De Puniet who was sidelined with a fractured leg. This year, LCR is calling upon Hayden’s stablemate at Michael Jordan Motorsports, Ben Bostrom, to race in the U.S.G.P. as a wild card entry alongside the LCR’s regular rider, Toni Elias.
Bostrom will be doing double duty at the July 22-24 Laguna Seca round. He is slated to also compete in the AMA Superbike race on the #23 Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000. Bostrom is currently in sixth place in the AMA Superbike championship standings.
“Words can’t express how excited I am to get this amazing opportunity to race on my home track in front of the whole world. I have to thank Michael Jordan Motorsports and American Suzuki for allowing this to happen,” says Bostrom. “The collaboration between Lucio, LCR and the MJM team has been terrific. I’m going to get on the GP bike and put it as close to the front as possible. Then I’m going to hop on my Jordan Suzuki bike and try to create even more magic.”
Related Reading
Roger Hayden to Race in USGP
Fans of “King” Kenny Roberts will be in for a treat as the three-time World Champion will ride not once, not twice but three times at Laguna Seca during the 2011 U.S. Grand Prix, July 22-24.
As previously announced, Roberts would join Eddie Lawson and about 200 fans in riding parade laps of the Monterrey, Calif., circuit on the Friday, July 22.
The King will return to the track on Saturday, July 23 to ride a few more laps on the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike in the special 50th Anniversary red livery.
And if that weren’t enough, Roberts will ride again on the raceday Sunday, July 24 on the same Yamaha YZR500 he rode to win the 1980 500cc World Championship.
“I’m really looking forward to it!” said Kenny from his home in northern California, “as this will be the very first time I’ve ridden at the USGP and my 31 year old championship-winning YZR is ready to go!”
The Motorcycle.com team will be there at Laguna Seca for the U.S.G.P. so look forward to reading our report on King Kenny Roberts, the MotoGP race and the other festivities.
Related Reading
Ride Laguna Seca with King Kenny Roberts and Steady Eddie Lawson
[Source: Yamaha]
Kenny Roberts and Eddie Lawson will join up to 200 fans in riding Laguna Seca July 22 during the U.S. Grand Prix.
Fans purchasing a special weekend ticket promotional package from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will have opportunity to ride several laps with the two former World Champions.
Roberts (1978-1980) and Lawson (1984,1986, 1988-1989) hold seven 500cc Grand Prix world championships between them, all but Lawson’s final title on the Yamaha YZR500. Roberts and Lawson will ride GYT-R equipped Yamaha YZF-R1 sportbikes for their parade laps which will take place during a break between practice and race qualifying.
“This special fan opportunity is part of a weekend of celebrations that Yamaha has planned in honor of our 50th Anniversary Celebration of World GP Racing,” said Bob Starr, communication manager for Yamaha’s motorsports group. “This event Friday is just part of the surprises we have for MotoGP fans for the entire weekend!”
Press release after the jump
Yamaha marks its 50th year in World Championship Grand Prix racing this year, and what better way to celebrate the anniversary than with a special edition livery?
The special edition WGP50th Anniversary Yamaha YZR-M1 livery reaches back into Yamaha’s past for its classic red-and-white colors inspired by its first factory team in 1961.
Reigning MotoGP Champion and current points leader Jorge Lorenzo and 2010 MotoGP Rookie of the Year Ben Spies will ride the special edition WGP50th Anniversary livery on their Yamaha YZR-M1 racebikes at the June 25 Assen round and the July 24 U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. The red and white colors will also be used for Yamaha’s entire staff, team crew and pit box.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Read the official press release and view the gallery of more pictures after the jump.