Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix

The Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix is 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.

Indianapolis Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
VenueIndianapolis Motor Speedway (2008–2015)
First race2008
Last race2015
Previous namesRed 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

Original Motorcycle Circuit layout (2008–2013)

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

The inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP took place 99 years after the previous motorcycle race at the track, in 1909.

National Motorcycle Race Meet (1909)

The 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.

YearDateRaceWinning riderMotorcycleRace distanceClass
MilesLaps
1909Aug 141 A. G. ChappleIndian52Handicap; Private Owners
Aug 142 Fred HuyckIndian10.4Amateur; < 61 cubic inch
Aug 143 Paul E. KoutowskiMinneapolis52Handicap; Indiana Motor Cycle Club
Aug 144 Fred HuyckIndian52Handicap; < 55 cubic inch
Aug 145 Ed LingenfelderN.S.U.104Professional
Aug 146 Fred HuyckIndian52Handicap; Amateur; < 61 cubic inch
Aug 147 Edwin G. BakerIndian104Amateur

Motorcycles on Meridian rally

The 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

YearTrackMoto3Moto2MotoGPReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
2015Indianapolis Livio LoiHonda Álex RinsKalex Marc MárquezHondaReport
2014 Efrén VázquezHonda Mika KallioKalex Marc MárquezHondaReport
2013 Álex RinsKTM Esteve RabatKalex Marc MárquezHondaReport
2012 Luis SalomKalex KTM Marc MárquezSuter Dani PedrosaHondaReport
YearTrack125ccMoto2MotoGPReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
2011Indianapolis Nicolás TerolAprilia Marc MárquezSuter Casey StonerHondaReport
2010 Nicolás TerolAprilia Toni ElíasMoriwaki Dani PedrosaHondaReport
YearTrack125cc250ccMotoGPReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
2009Indianapolis Pol EspargaróDerbi Marco SimoncelliGilera Jorge LorenzoYamahaReport
2008 Nicolás TerolApriliaCancelled - Hurricane Ike[note 1] Valentino RossiYamahaReport

Multiple winners (riders)

# WinsRiderWins
CategoryYears won
5 Marc MárquezMotoGP2013, 2014, 2015
Moto22011, 2012
3 Nicolás Terol125cc2008, 2010, 2011
2 Dani PedrosaMotoGP2010, 2012
Álex RinsMoto22015
Moto32013

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

# WinsManufacturerWins
CategoryYears won
8 HondaMotoGP2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Moto32014, 2015
4 KalexMoto22013, 2014, 2015
Moto32012
3 Aprilia125cc2008, 2010, 2011
2 YamahaMotoGP2008, 2009
SuterMoto22011, 2012

Notes

Support races

Red Bull Rookies Cup (2008)

The 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.

YearDateSeriesWinning riderRace distance
MilesLaps
2008Sep 13Red Bull AMA Rookies Cup Jacob Gagne41.916
Sep 14Red Bull Riders Cup Sturla Fagerhaug36.714

USGPRU Moriwaki MD250H (2010)

The 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]

YearDateWinning riderRace distance
MilesLaps
2010Aug 28 Garrett Gerloff31.512
Aug 29 Garrett Gerloff28.811

AMA Pro Vance and Hines XR1200 (2011–2014)

The 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]

YearDateWinning riderRace distance
MilesLaps
2011Aug 27 Tyler O'Hara26.210
Aug 28 Chris Fillmore26.210
2012Aug 18 Kyle Wyman13.15
Aug 19 Tyler O'Hara26.210
2013Aug 17 Jeremy McWilliams26.210
Aug 18 Hafizh Syahrin26.210
2014Aug 9 Jeremy McWilliams25.910
Aug 10 Steve Rapp25.910

FIM eRoadRacing North American Regional Series (2013)

The 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.

YearDateWinning riderMotorcycleRace distance
MilesLaps
2013Aug 18 Shane TurpinBrammo Empulse RR21.08

MotoAmerica

MotoAmerica Superbike and Superstock 1000 (2015, 2020)

The 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.

YearDateClassWinning riderMotorcycleRace distance
MilesLaps
2015Aug 8Superbike Cameron BeaubierYamaha46.618
Superstock 1000 Jacob GagneYamaha46.618
Aug 9Superbike Cameron BeaubierYamaha46.618
Superstock 1000 Jacob GagneYamaha46.618
2020Oct 10Superbike Bobby FongSuzuki38.915
Oct 10Superbike Lorenzo ZanettiDucati44.017
Oct 11Superbike Bobby FongSuzuki31.112

MotoAmerica Supersport (2015, 2020)

The 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.

YearDateWinning riderMotorcycleRace distance
MilesLaps
2015Aug 8 Garrett GerloffYamaha38.915
2020Oct 10 Richie EscalanteKawasaki41.416
Oct 10 Richie EscalanteKawasaki41.416

MotoAmerica Stock 1000 (2020)

The 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.

YearDateWinning riderMotorcycleRace distance
MilesLaps
2020Oct 10 Travis WymanBMW33.713

MotoAmerica Twins Cup (2020)

The 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.

YearDateWinning riderMotorcycleRace distance
MilesLaps
2020Oct 10 Rocco LandersSuzuki31.112

MotoAmerica Liqui Moly Junior Cup (2020)

The 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.

YearDateWinning riderMotorcycleRace distance
MilesLaps
2020Oct 10 Rocco LandersKawasaki18.17
Oct 11 Rocco LandersKawasaki28.511

References

External links