The Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 28-30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway offers a dream weekend for motorcycle racing enthusiasts, on and off the track.A full schedule of events is planned during the second annual MotoGP event at IMS, including more than 11 hours of overall on-track time for the best riders in the world on Practice Day, Friday, Aug. 28, Qualifying Day, Saturday, Aug. 29 and Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 30.The action starts at 9:30 a.m. Friday with rider question-and-answer sessions and a Riders For Health Charity Auction until 12:30 p.m. at the 6th Street Stage located in the IMS infield.
Fans can get an up-close look at the exotic prototype motorcycles raced in MotoGP during the popular Pit Walkabout, which takes place from 9:45-11:30 a.m.All three classes – MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc – each will have one-hour practice sessions Friday afternoon. MotoGP superstars Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, and American stars Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden will get their first laps of the weekend on the 2.621-mile circuit from 1:55-2:55 p.m. Friday.The Saturday schedule is packed with more than five hours of on-track time among the three classes, with practice in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon.Morning practices start at 9 a.m., with MotoGP on track at 9:55 a.m. A Cycle World Seminar will take place from 11 a.m.-noon on the 6th Street Stage before qualifying begins at 1 p.m. MotoGP riders will start their high-speed quest for the pole at 1:55 p.m.After qualifying, a stunt riders show will take place at 4:05 p.m., followed by a free concert by Crash, the rock band led by MotoGP star James Toseland, on the 6th Street Stage from 4:30-5:30 p.m.Race Day adrenaline kicks in quickly with a stunt riders show at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by separate Warm Up sessions for all three classes from 9:40-11 a.m.The 125cc race, featuring American rookie Cameron Beaubier, starts at noon, followed by the 250cc race at 1:15 p.m.Pre-race festivities for the featured MotoGP race will start at 2:15 p.m. with parade laps by 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz on the 500cc Suzuki that legendary American Schwantz rode to the world title.The countdown then will continue to the MotoGP race, which starts at 3 p.m.Motorcycle enthusiasts also can browse and purchase the latest gear and aftermarket accessories all three days at the Vendor Marketplace in the Gasoline Alley Garages.Race weekend activity outside of IMS includes the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship and Motorcycles on Meridian events Friday and Saturday evening in downtown Indianapolis, and the Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National race on Saturday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
2009 RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP SCHEDULE(All times local)FRIDAY, Aug. 28 (PRACTICE DAY)
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Public Gates Open8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Vendor Marketplace Open, Gasoline Alley Garages9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Riders For Health Charity Auction, Rider Q&A’s, 6th Street Stage9:45-11:30 a.m.
Pit Walkabout12:40-1:40 p.m.
125cc Free Practice 11:55-2:55 p.m.
MotoGP Free Practice 13:10-4:10 p.m.
250cc Free Practice 16 p.m.
XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship, Downtown Indianapolis7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Motorcycles on Meridian, Downtown IndianapolisSATURDAY, Aug. 29 (QUALIFYING DAY)7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Public Gates Open7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Vendor Marketplace Open, Gasoline Alley Garages9-9:40 a.m.
125cc Free Practice 29:55-10:55 a.m. MotoGP Free Practice 211 a.m.-noon
Cycle World Seminar, 6th Street Stage11:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
250cc Free Practice 21-1:40 p.m.
125cc Qualifying1:55-2:55 p.m.
MotoGP Qualifying3:10-3:55 p.m.
250cc Qualifying4:05 p.m.
Stunt Riders Show4:30-5:30 p.m.
Live Music by Crash with MotoGP Rider James Toseland, 6th Street Stage6 p.m.
XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship, Downtown Indianapolis7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Motorcycles on Meridian, Downtown Indianapolis7 p.m.
Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National, Indiana State FairgroundsSUNDAY, Aug. 30 (RACE DAY)7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Public Gates Open7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Vendor Marketplace Open, Gasoline Alley Garages8:30-9 a.m.
Stunt Riders Show9:40-10 a.m.
125cc Warm Up10:10-10:30 a.m.
250cc Warm Up10:40-11 a.m.
MotoGP Warm UpNoon
125cc Race (23 laps)1:15 p.m.
250cc Race (26 laps)2:15 p.m.
Parade Laps by 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz on 500cc Title-Winning Bike3 p.m.
MotoGP Race (28 laps)