The Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event held on the combined road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. From 2008 to 2015, it was held as part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season (MotoGP). The event was revived in 2020 with MotoAmerica.
 | |
| Grand Prix motorcycle racing | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2008–2015) |
| First race | 2008 |
| Last race | 2015 |
| Previous names | Red Bull Indianapolis GP (2008–2015)[1] MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Brickyard (2020) |
| Most wins (rider) | Marc Márquez (5) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Honda (8) |
The addition of a motorcycle race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway loosely coincided with the track's Centennial Era, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the opening of the track (1909) and the 100th anniversary of the first 500 (1911). The motorcycle race represented a "throwback" to the early days of the Speedway, as motorcycle races were in fact the first competitive racing events held on the track in August 1909.
Track layout
edit
The circuit used is a modified version of the combined road course used for the Formula One United States Grand Prix from 2000 to 2007. The circuit was reversed to a counterclockwise orientation, and a new complex of corners was added inside the infield of oval turn one. The new "Snake Pit" section, as it became known, was nicknamed for its location where notorious revelry once took place during the 1970s. The new series of corners precluded the bikes from using any of the banked oval corners. The double-hairpin near the museum and before the Hulman Straight was replaced with more traditional esses. Furthermore, the motorcycles stay low in the south short chute (approaching the Snake Pit section) between oval turn 1 and 2, using the pavement of the warm-up lane rather than the oval track's short chute.
The circuit was re-profiled in 2014, with three new motorcycle-only sections: one in the Snake Pit (which has become a prime overtaking spot), a more open entrance to Hulman Straight, and the final esses leading to the pit straight was changed to be more open and flowing.
History
editThe inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP took place 99 years after the previous motorcycle race at the track, in 1909.
National Motorcycle Race Meet (1909)
editThe first motorsports event at the track consisted of 7 motorcycle races, ranging from 1 to 10 miles in length, on August 14, 1909 on the 2.5 mile oval.[2][3] All races were sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM). A planned feature race of 25 miles was canceled, as was a proposed second day of competition, due to concerns over suitability of track surface for motorcycle use.
| Year | Date | Race | Winning rider | Motorcycle | Race distance | Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | ||||||
| 1909 | Aug 14 | 1 |  A. G. Chapple
|
Indian | 5 | 2 | Handicap; Private Owners |
| Aug 14 | 2 | Fred Huyck
|
Indian | 1 | 0.4 | Amateur; < 61 cubic inch | |
| Aug 14 | 3 | Paul E. Koutowski
|
Minneapolis | 5 | 2 | Handicap; Indiana Motor Cycle Club | |
| Aug 14 | 4 | Fred Huyck
|
Indian | 5 | 2 | Handicap; < 55 cubic inch | |
| Aug 14 | 5 | Ed Lingenfelder
|
N.S.U. | 10 | 4 | Professional | |
| Aug 14 | 6 | Fred Huyck
|
Indian | 5 | 2 | Handicap; Amateur; < 61 cubic inch | |
| Aug 14 | 7 | Edwin G. Baker
|
Indian | 10 | 4 | Amateur | |
Motorcycles on Meridian rally
editThe race became part of a major motorcycle event organized by Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Motorcycles on Meridian motorcycle rally, held on Meridian Street near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, attracting approximately 10,000 cyclists each night.[4] Various dirt tracks held flat-track motorcycle races during the weekend which became analogous to midget car racing's "Night Before the 500" held during the Indianapolis 500, often drawing star MotoGP riders in attendance. The event continued to be held, and with the 2020 Indianapolis 500 being moved to the August event of the Motorcycles on Meridian date, both the Motorcycles on Meridian and the MotoAmerica round were changed.
Grand Prix motorcycle racing winners
edit| Year | Track | Moto3 | Moto2 | MotoGP | Report | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | |||
| 2015 | Indianapolis |  Livio Loi
|
Honda |  Álex Rins
|
Kalex | Marc Márquez
|
Honda | Report |
| 2014 | Efrén Vázquez
|
Honda |  Mika Kallio
|
Kalex | Marc Márquez
|
Honda | Report | |
| 2013 | Álex Rins
|
KTM | Esteve Rabat
|
Kalex | Marc Márquez
|
Honda | Report | |
| 2012 | Luis Salom
|
Kalex KTM | Marc Márquez
|
Suter | Dani Pedrosa
|
Honda | Report | |
| Year | Track | 125cc | Moto2 | MotoGP | Report | |||
| Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | |||
| 2011 | Indianapolis | Nicolás Terol
|
Aprilia | Marc Márquez
|
Suter |  Casey Stoner
|
Honda | Report |
| 2010 | Nicolás Terol
|
Aprilia | Toni Elías
|
Moriwaki | Dani Pedrosa
|
Honda | Report | |
| Year | Track | 125cc | 250cc | MotoGP | Report | |||
| Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | |||
| 2009 | Indianapolis | Pol Espargaró
|
Derbi |  Marco Simoncelli
|
Gilera | Jorge Lorenzo
|
Yamaha | Report |
| 2008 | Nicolás Terol
|
Aprilia | Cancelled - Hurricane Ike[note 1] | Valentino Rossi
|
Yamaha | Report | ||
Multiple winners (riders)
edit| # Wins | Rider | Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Years won | ||
| 5 | Marc Márquez
|
MotoGP | 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| Moto2 | 2011, 2012 | ||
| 3 | Nicolás Terol
|
125cc | 2008, 2010, 2011 |
| 2 | Dani Pedrosa
|
MotoGP | 2010, 2012 |
| Álex Rins
|
Moto2 | 2015 | |
| Moto3 | 2013 | ||
Multiple winners (manufacturers)
edit| # Wins | Manufacturer | Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Years won | ||
| 8 |  Honda
|
MotoGP | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| Moto3 | 2014, 2015 | ||
| 4 |  Kalex
|
Moto2 | 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| Moto3 | 2012 | ||
| 3 | Aprilia
|
125cc | 2008, 2010, 2011 |
| 2 | Yamaha
|
MotoGP | 2008, 2009 |
 Suter
|
Moto2 | 2011, 2012 | |
Notes
edit- ^ The 2008 250cc race was initially postponed after the MotoGP race due to torrential rain & winds caused by Hurricane Ike just before the start of the race, it was subsequently cancelled for the same reason.
Support races
editRed Bull Rookies Cup (2008)
editThe Red Bull AMA Rookies Cup was an entry-level series for young riders, held as support features primarily at AMA Superbike events. It was the US counterpart to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, a similar series held as support features at European MotoGP events. The Red Bull Riders Cup was an all-star event combining the leading riders in the AMA Rookies Cup and MotoGP Rookies Cup series. The Red Bull AMA Rookies Cup and Red Bull Riders Cup each held a race, as support to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. All participating motorcycles: KTM.
| Year | Date | Series | Winning rider | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | ||||
| 2008 | Sep 13 | Red Bull AMA Rookies Cup | Jacob Gagne
|
41.9 | 16 |
| Sep 14 | Red Bull Riders Cup |  Sturla Fagerhaug
|
36.7 | 14 | |
USGPRU Moriwaki MD250H (2010)
editThe Moriwaki MD250H series is an entry-level category for young riders, sanctioned by the United States Grand Prix Racers Union. The series held twin races, as support to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. All participating motorcycles: Moriwaki chassis with Honda engines.[5][6][7][8]
| Year | Date | Winning rider | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | |||
| 2010 | Aug 28 | Garrett Gerloff
|
31.5 | 12 |
| Aug 29 | Garrett Gerloff
|
28.8 | 11 | |
AMA Pro Vance and Hines XR1200 (2011–2014)
editThe Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series, sanctioned by AMA Pro Road Racing, held twin races, as support to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. All participating motorcycles: Harley-Davidson XR1200.[9]
| Year | Date | Winning rider | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | |||
| 2011 | Aug 27 | Tyler O'Hara
|
26.2 | 10 |
| Aug 28 | Chris Fillmore
|
26.2 | 10 | |
| 2012 | Aug 18 | Kyle Wyman
|
13.1 | 5 |
| Aug 19 | Tyler O'Hara
|
26.2 | 10 | |
| 2013 | Aug 17 |  Jeremy McWilliams
|
26.2 | 10 |
| Aug 18 |  Hafizh Syahrin
|
26.2 | 10 | |
| 2014 | Aug 9 | Jeremy McWilliams
|
25.9 | 10 |
| Aug 10 | Steve Rapp
|
25.9 | 10 | |
FIM eRoadRacing North American Regional Series (2013)
editThe North American series of the FIM eRoadRacing World Cup, a championship of electric motorcycle road racing, held a race as support to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
| Year | Date | Winning rider | Motorcycle | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | ||||
| 2013 | Aug 18 | Shane Turpin
|
Brammo Empulse RR | 21.0 | 8 |
MotoAmerica
editMotoAmerica Superbike and Superstock 1000 (2015, 2020)
editThe MotoAmerica Superbike Championship ran two races, each with two classes being run concurrently, as support to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. The Superstock 1000 class was abolished after 2017. In 2020, the series was originally scheduled to return as part of Motorcycles on Meridian. Because of the Indianapolis 500 being rescheduled for the Meridian weekend, the races occurred in mid-October with limited number of spectators.
| Year | Date | Class | Winning rider | Motorcycle | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | |||||
| 2015 | Aug 8 | Superbike | Cameron Beaubier |
Yamaha | 46.6 | 18 |
| Superstock 1000 | Jacob Gagne |
Yamaha | 46.6 | 18 | ||
| Aug 9 | Superbike | Cameron Beaubier |
Yamaha | 46.6 | 18 | |
| Superstock 1000 | Jacob Gagne |
Yamaha | 46.6 | 18 | ||
| 2020 | Oct 10 | Superbike | Bobby Fong |
Suzuki | 38.9 | 15 |
| Oct 10 | Superbike | Lorenzo Zanetti |
Ducati | 44.0 | 17 | |
| Oct 11 | Superbike | Bobby Fong |
Suzuki | 31.1 | 12 | |
MotoAmerica Supersport (2015, 2020)
editThe MotoAmerica Supersport series held a race as support to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. In 2020, the series was originally scheduled to return as part of Motorcycles on Meridian. After Motorcycles on Meridian was canceled due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, the races occurred anyway in front of a limited number of spectators.
| Year | Date | Winning rider | Motorcycle | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | ||||
| 2015 | Aug 8 | Garrett Gerloff
|
Yamaha | 38.9 | 15 |
| 2020 | Oct 10 |  Richie Escalante
|
Kawasaki | 41.4 | 16 |
| Oct 10 | Richie Escalante
|
Kawasaki | 41.4 | 16 | |
MotoAmerica Stock 1000 (2020)
editThe MotoAmerica Stock 1000 series race was originally scheduled as a companion event to Motorcycles on Meridian in 2020. After Motorcycles on Meridian was canceled due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, the race occurred anyway in front of a limited number of spectators. This series was effectively the replacement of the Superstock 1000 class, with slight differences.
| Year | Date | Winning rider | Motorcycle | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | ||||
| 2020 | Oct 10 | Travis Wyman
|
BMW | 33.7 | 13 |
MotoAmerica Twins Cup (2020)
editThe MotoAmerica Twins Cup series race was originally scheduled as a companion event to Motorcycles on Meridian in 2020. After Motorcycles on Meridian was canceled due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, the race occurred anyway in front of a limited number of spectators.
| Year | Date | Winning rider | Motorcycle | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | ||||
| 2020 | Oct 10 | Rocco Landers
|
Suzuki | 31.1 | 12 |
MotoAmerica Liqui Moly Junior Cup (2020)
editThe MotoAmerica Liqui Moly Junior Cup series races were originally scheduled as a companion event to Motorcycles on Meridian in 2020. After Motorcycles on Meridian was canceled due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, the races occurred anyway in front of a limited number of spectators. This series is an entry-level class exclusively designated for riders younger than 25 years old.
| Year | Date | Winning rider | Motorcycle | Race distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | ||||
| 2020 | Oct 10 | Rocco Landers
|
Kawasaki | 18.1 | 7 |
| Oct 11 | Rocco Landers
|
Kawasaki | 28.5 | 11 | |
References
edit- ^ "2008 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
- ^ Scott, D. Bruce; INDY: Racing Before the 500; Indiana Reflections; 2005; ISBN 0-9766149-0-1.
- ^ Dill, Mark; "1909: The Great Motorcycle Invasion;" 2008 Red Bull Indianapolis GP Official Program; Indianapolis Motor Speedway; 2008
- ^ Gamers and bikers take over Downtown, Indianapolis Downtown Inc., 2014, archived from the original on 2014-08-14, retrieved 2014-08-14
- ^ "Updated With Medical Report: Garrett Gerloff Dominates USGPRU Moriwaki MD250H Race Two At Indy". www.roadracingworld.com. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
- ^ "Updated: Garrett Gerloff Runs Away With USGPRU Moriwaki MD250H Race One At Indy". www.roadracingworld.com. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
- ^ "Race Results". USGPRU. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
- ^ "Race Results". USGPRU. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
- ^ "Harleys To Race In August At IMS During Red Bull Indianapolis GP". IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com. 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-04.