 hat a difference a year makes. After having to endure triple digit temperatures, an inadequate traffic plan and numerous schedule changes due to problems with the racetrack in 2006, attendees this year for the 3rd running of the MotoGP World Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca enjoyed a welcome return to the “Laguna Seca” of old. The weather was great, traffic improved, and events ran as scheduled.
With Parts Unlimited on board again as a major sponsor, the company was busy all weekend entertaining nearly 1,000 industry guests in their Turn 5 Chalet, as well as hosting an invitation-only dinner for selected sales reps sponsored by AGV and Michelin Tires. Guest of honor for the dinner was the legendary Fiat Yamaha team rider Valentino Rossi.
Speaking of legends, Yamaha again hosted its Yamaha Weekend of Champions, where Yamaha racers from the past representing both roadracing and off-road were on hand for the ever-popular poster signing sessions. Yamaha legend Wayne Rainey received special recognition this year when he was inducted as a “Legend of Laguna Seca.”
On the racetrack, fans were entertained by a busy schedule of events from the AMA National series, as well as America’s round of MotoGP racing with points counting towards the 2007 MotoGP World Championship. In other action, the AMA Supersport and Superbike classes were also included.
Attendance was reported this year to be a three-day total just over 143,000, down only slightly from the 145,120 reported in 2006. Considering the many problems associated with the 2006 event, the promoters must be relieved that they held onto that many of the previous attendees, with the future now looking very promising. The date of next year’s event is set for July 18-20, 2008. |
Unlike the two previous years, attendees at the 2007 event enjoyed a much improved infield vendor area.
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The highlight of the annual AGV/Michelin sales rep Laguna Seca dinner was the appearance of “The Doctor,” the great Valentino Rossi. Parts Unlimited’s Rob Buydos handled the emcee duties.
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AGV made a special batch of helmets as gifts for the selected Parts Unlimited sales reps invited to attend. Rossi would later personally sign each of them for the recipients.
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From one champion to another. Valentino presented fellow AGV helmet rider and 2007 Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp with a special framed message congratulating him on his win in Florida in March.
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The great evening with Rossi concluded with a group photo.
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The Boz Brothers, Ben Bostrom (left) and brother Eric (right), stopped by the Fan Party and talked with Rob Buydos.
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Everyone gets in the act at Laguna Seca. Parts Unlimited’s big rig driver Ed Giesing receives a warm welcome to the event from the Repsol umbrella girls.
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Parts Unlimited hosted a Fan Party at the Turn 5 Chalet one evening for many of the motorcyclists that came to Laguna Seca.
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The fans found the Parts Unlimited VIP center to be very comfortable and it certainly added to their enjoyment of the race weekend.
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Suzuki Then & Now. Former World Champion Kevin Schwantz (left) with the latest star of the sport, Ben Spies.
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Josh Hayes (4) leads the way early in the AMA Supersport race. Turn the page to see how his day ended. Supersport race winner Roger Lee Hayden is running 3rd at this point of the race.
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Ben Spies (1) grabs traction off the starting line alongside arch rival and Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Mat Mladin (66). Spies took the win.
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Nearly 1,000 dealer guests enjoyed the AMA and MotoGP races from the Parts Unlimited Turn 5 Chalet.
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Superbike class winner Ben Spies.
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Wayne Rainey Laguna Seca Legend banners were hung at the racetrack.
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Three-time World Champion Wayne Rainey was honored this year at Laguna Seca by being named as only the 2nd “Legend of Laguna Seca” (Dan Gurney was the 1st). At a special induction ceremony, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca president Gill Campbell makes the presentation.
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The records will show that Josh Hayes won the 2007 AMA Formula Xtreme championship, but the season also included some tough moments such as this crash in the Supersport race at Laguna Seca. Luckily, Josh was unhurt, but his Erion Honda was trashed after flipping through sand.
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Some fans waited literally for hours to make their way through the line to get the autographs of the Yamaha Weekend of Champions group.
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Yamaha gives each fan that comes through the line a free group poster to be signed by all of the former Yamaha stars on hand.
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Five-time Daytona 200 winner Scott Russell chats with a fan on his way through the line.
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Parts Magazine Publisher Don Emde, also a past Daytona 200 winner, participates in the Yamaha Weekend of Champions. He is seen here during the parade lap.
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At the conclusion of the poster signing sessions, all Yamaha Weekend of Champions stars took a parade lap around the track in Mazda convertibles. |
Stoner was the fastest in practice, won the pole position in qualifying, and took off in the lead at the start of the MotoGP final.
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The Ducati garage is abuzz with preparations for series leader Casey Stoner.
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Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi pushes his Yamaha M1 through the chicane.
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2005 and 2006 Laguna Seca MotoGP winner Nicky Hayden saw his USA GP win streak broken this year. A first turn collision with John Hopkins caused some damage that ultimately put him out on lap 22 of the 32-lap race.
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American Roger Lee Hayden (95) got a guest ride on a Kawasaki MotoGP bike and put in an impressive ride to finish 10th. He is seen here chasing fellow Kawasaki rider Anthony West, the 7th place finisher.
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Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen leads Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi into Turn 5 during the MotoGP final. Vermeulen finished 2nd, Hayden DNF’d and Rossi finished 4th.
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As he had been all season long, Stoner was flawless on his Ducati at Laguna Seca and sped to a 9-second win over Chris Vermeulen.
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Rossi struggled for traction during the race. He is seen here about to be passed by Honda rider Marco Melandri, who went on to finish in 3rd place.year. A first turn collision with John Hopkins caused some damage that ultimately put him out on lap 22 of the 32-lap race.
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Stoner accepts the applause of the crowd following victory of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. Runner-up Chris Vermeulen is on the left with 3rd place finisher Marco Melandri on the right.
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