LETTER OF THE ISSUE
States of matter
If Liberty Media’s takeover of Dorna (AMCN Vol 73 No 21) looks like its F1 model, they will try to expand the sport into the US. Let’s hope that doesn’t mean a return to Laguna Seca or Indianapolis.
When Laguna last hosted a MotoGP event in 2013, it yielded the lowest top speed, lowest average speed and least lean angle. Ben Spies’ data showed he was at full throttle for just 2 percent of the lap.
As Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez showed, you have to invent places to pass, both of which would be disallowed with current track limitation rules. There was the amazing pass by Casey Stoner on Jorge Lorenzo down the not straight in 2011, but that was more to do with Stoner’s gifts than Laguna’s offerings.
There is of course The Corkscrew – a legendary piece of motorsport real estate – but hardly a game changer. Sure, it’s fun
