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 Open
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Vendor Marketplace Open, Gasoline Alley Garages
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Riders For Health Charity Auction, Rider Q&A’s, 6th Street Stage
9:45-11:30 a.m.
Pit Walkabout
12:40-1:40 p.m.
125cc Free Practice 1
1:55-2:55 p.m.
MotoGP Free Practice 1
3:10-4:10 p.m.
250cc Free Practice 1
6 p.m.
XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship, Downtown Indianapolis
7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Motorcycles on Meridian, Downtown Indianapolis
SATURDAY, Aug. 29 (QUALIFYING DAY)
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Public Gates Open
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Vendor Marketplace Open, Gasoline Alley Garages
9-9:40 a.m.
125cc Free Practice 2
9:55-10:55 a.m. MotoGP Free Practice 2
11 a.m.-noon
Cycle World Seminar, 6th Street Stage
11:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
250cc Free Practice 2
1-1:40 p.m.
125cc Qualifying
1:55-2:55 p.m.
MotoGP Qualifying
3:10-3:55 p.m.
250cc Qualifying
4:05 p.m.
Stunt Riders Show
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Live Music by Crash with MotoGP Rider James Toseland, 6th Street Stage
6 p.m.
XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship, Downtown Indianapolis
7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Motorcycles on Meridian, Downtown Indianapolis
7 p.m.
Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National, Indiana State Fairgrounds
SUNDAY, Aug. 30 (RACE DAY)
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Public Gates Open
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Vendor Marketplace Open, Gasoline Alley Garages
8:30-9 a.m.
Stunt Riders Show
9:40-10 a.m.
125cc Warm Up
10:10-10:30 a.m.
250cc Warm Up
10:40-11 a.m.
MotoGP Warm Up
Noon
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 Bike
3 p.m.
MotoGP Race (28 laps)
