Indy GP Calendar
The Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend is jam-packed with activities, both at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and around the Indianapolis area.
From Aug. 27-29, all three classes of the MotoGP World Championship – MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc – and the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 practice, qualify and then race on the 16-turn, 2.621-mile road course at IMS.
Motorcycle riders, fans of events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and hardcore MotoGP fans enjoy the highest level of motorcycle racing on the most impressive race bikes in the world at the track and also check out the many cool scenes and events around town away from the track.
Here is a calendar of the great events and features of action at the Speedway and around Indianapolis during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend that make it a race unlike any other at IMS.
All events (except for the Lap of Champions) on Aug. 27-29 at IMS are free for Red Bull Indianapolis GP ticket holders that day.
Aug. 27: Pit Walkabout. Fans can get an up-close look at the exotic prototype motorcycles raced in the MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc classes during the popular Red Bull Indianapolis GP Pit Walkabout, which takes place from 9-10:45 a.m. Friday morning, Aug. 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Aug. 27: Cycle World Seminar. An American motorcycle racing legend and two rising American stars will be the featured guests at the Cycle World Seminar from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27 on the SPEED Stage located on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz and current Moto2 rider Kenny Noyes will be among the guests. Cycle World editors, including renowned longtime Technical Editor Kevin Cameron, also will participate in the seminar.
Aug. 27: Riders For Health Auction. Fans can bid on a wide variety of motorcycle-related items during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the Riders For Health Charity Auction from 10:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27 on the SPEED Stage located in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. All MotoGP riders participate in the auction. All proceeds benefit Riders For Health, an international non-profit organization that provides medical care to rural African villages using motorcycles and motorcycle ambulances.
Aug. 27: Red Bull Indianapolis GP Practice. On-track action for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP gets underway at noon Friday, Aug. 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a 25-minute session for the rising stars in the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 class and one-hour sessions for each of the three World Championship classes. The 125cc machines will take to the 2.621-mile circuit at 12:40 p.m., followed by Moto2 at 1:55 p.m. and the superstars of MotoGP at 3:10 p.m. USGPRU riders will finish the day with two qualifying sessions, at 4:25 p.m. and 5:50 p.m.
Aug. 27: GEICO AMA EnduroCross. The 2010 GEICO AMA EnduroCross series will race at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 at the Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. EnduroCross is a mixture of Supercross and enduro-style racing, with smooth track sections, jumps and obstacles such as logs, boulders, sand, water and special obstacles.
Aug. 27-28: XDL Championship Series. This high-energy, high-thrill motorcycle stunt event starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis. XDL is the top level of the sportbike freestyle scene and features the best riders from the United States, Japan, France and Russia. The competitions feature non-stop thrills and spills as the athletes unveil the latest tricks in an action-packed format.
Aug. 27-28: Motorcycles on Meridian. From 7 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27 and Saturday, Aug. 28, South Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis will be filled with the sound of engine roars and the sight of leather-clad riders. Motorcyclists will gather on Meridian all the way from Monument Circle to South Street to share interests and celebrate the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The event is for people with and without bikes. Interested parties with no steel horse of their own are welcome to walk around at this free event and marvel at the impressive choppers and sport bikes. On these two nights in August, the motorcycle culture of Indianapolis is open for everyone to enjoy.
Aug. 27-28: Crash Concert. Crash, the pop-rock band led by former MotoGP rider James Toseland, will play two shows in Indianapolis during Red Bull Indianapolis GP race weekend, including one at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Toseland and his band will play at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 at Jackson and Meridian streets in downtown Indianapolis during Motorcycles on Meridian. They also will play from 4:50-5:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage at IMS. It’s the third consecutive year that classically trained pianist Toseland, who is racing for Yamaha in the Superbike World Championship this season, will perform at IMS during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
Aug. 27-29: Ducati Island. One of the most popular fan attractions at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Ducati Island is a celebration of all things Ducati. The Italian manufacturer features a large display inside Turn 1 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including current and historic Ducati machines, custom Ducati bikes, Ducati apparel and accessories, entertainment, fan giveaways, entertainment, fashion shows and the always popular Ducati Girls. Ducati riders from a variety of series sign autographs, and there are a variety of special perks for Ducati owners, including gear check, special parking and more.
Aug. 27-29: Manufacturer Displays. Major motorcycle manufacturers, including Honda and Yamaha, display their latest products under large, colorful tents in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield for fans to see and touch during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Manufacturer representatives also are available to answer questions from fans interested in putting one of the beautiful new machines in their garage.
Aug. 27-29: Vendor Marketplace. Motorcycle enthusiasts can see and purchase gear from top motorcycle equipment and accessory companies at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP Vendor Marketplace, as the popular display area for aftermarket products returns for a third year. The Vendor Marketplace also will feature the largest selection of motorcycle apparel anywhere. The Vendor Marketplace will be open in the Gasoline Alley garages at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the entire Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Friday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 29.
Aug. 27-29: Grid Girls. Gorgeous women are a longtime hallmark of MotoGP events. Whether it’s beautiful girls dressed in team colors on the grid before the race or models at Ducati Island, there are plenty of pretty sights everywhere at IMS during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
Aug. 28: Red Bull Indianapolis GP Practice, Qualifying. World Championship machinery will be on track for more than five hours Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc riders participate in practice in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon.
125cc practice starts the day from 9-9:40 a.m., followed by practice sessions for MotoGP from 9:55-10:55 a.m. and Moto2 from 11:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
The starting grids for Sunday’s races will be set in three exciting qualifying sessions Saturday afternoon, each featuring all riders in each class turning unlimited numbers of laps in great action against each other and the clock. The 125cc machines will take to the 2.621-mile circuit at 1 p.m., followed by the superstars of MotoGP at 1:55 p.m. and Moto2 at 3:10 p.m.
Talented young riders from across North America also will be on track on 250cc machines in the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 support class, with a 12-lap race at 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 28: Ride for Kids ‘Lap of Champions’. Motorcycle enthusiasts who register for this charity event can ride around the MotoGP circuit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 5:15-5:35 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, led by 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz. This great ride benefits the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, supported by Ride for Kids. A variety of support levels are available for the Lap of Champions, with some levels including tickets for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
Aug. 28: Yamaha Rider Chats. Yamaha MotoGP superstars Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Ben Spies and Colin Edwards will participate in a rider chat at 5:45-6:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
Aug. 28: AMA Flat Track Racing. The Lucas Oil Legendary Indy Mile Grand National AMA Flat Track race is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Heat races start at 7:30 p.m., followed by the main event.
Glorious memories of the Indy Mile go back for decades. Top riders always have coveted a win at this race, long considered the “Crown Jewel” of AMA Pro Racing’s oldest and most tradition-rich professional racing series, the Flat Track Grand National series.
Aug. 29: Red Bull Indianapolis GP Race Day. The best riders in the world will push their machines to the limit nearly all day on Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with warm-up sessions in the morning and races in the afternoon for all three World Championship classes plus a race for the young riders of the USGPRU Moriwaki MD250 support class.
Warm-up sessions will take place at 8:40 a.m. for 125cc, 9:10 a.m. for Moto2 and 9:40 a.m. for MotoGP. The final USGPRU race starts at 10:20 a.m. World Championship racing will start with a 23-lap 125cc event at noon and follow with a 26-lap event at 1:15 p.m. for Moto2, featuring Americans Kenny Noyes and Roger Lee Hayden. The world’s best riders, including Americans Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards and Ben Spies, will compete in the 28-lap MotoGP race at 3 p.m.