Chris Carr. Indy Mile.

MotoGP @ Indy next week!

The MotoGP World Championship returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next weekend for the 2nd inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Last year I went as a general admission spectator; this year I'm fortunate to be working as a credentialed member of the fourth estate. Let's hope the weather is improves in kind.

Some photos from last year:

Every race is a home race for Valentino Rossi





It is a home race for Colin Edwards, and he'll be looking to improve on last year's form



Jorge Lorenzo might just be looking to finish . . .


* * *

MotoGP isn't the only happenin' on the weekend, with the Legendary Indy Mile going off Saturday evening.

Chris Carr is the defending race winner, but Smokin' Joe Kopp (pictured here at Indy last year) is coming off a dominant win on the Beulah Mile.



Stay tuned for updates, and maybe a surprise or two . . .

Hagerstown 2009

Another Hagerstown National is in the books. Jake Johnson won the GNC Twins Main event, rain-shortened as it was, over Ken Coolbeth and Sam Halbert. Brad Baker won the Pro Singles Main.


Damn. Next they’ll tell me I can’t run the blender in the bath.



Lloyd Bros. Ducati



Ready to Race



Not ready to race






Unfortunately rain and track-prep delays meant there were no bikes on track during the “golden hour,” the early evening period of low and warm sunlight that usually illuminates practice and qualifying at flat track events. By the time bikes rolled onto the track Saturday evening the sun was gone for the night.


Jake Johnson’s brake works



Brad Baker (17M) leads his heat



Sam Halbert (43) leads Jared Mees (21) in their heat



Sideburn Magazine fans. In the tswphoto blog is as good as in the magazine, right girls? Right?

Last Saturday in June: Lima, Ohio

The Allen County Fairgrounds on the east side of Lima, Ohio, are host to the longest continuously running event on the AMA Pro Flat Track schedule. I know this because the PA announcer said so and I was there to hear it--my first trip to the half-mile cushion.

This guy had been there before, however.



As had this guy, last year's winner, Slammin' Sammy Halbert. Think he's wide open?



Classic high-low, over-under cushion track racing: Nichole Cheza was robbed of a trip to the Main by a flat tire two laps from the end of the Semi.



Many, including me, miss the single-cylinder framers, but the racing doesn't seem to suffer in their absence.



Next up: Laguna!