“Hopefully the chattering problem will be eased at Laguna because the track has been completely resurfaced. I really like it there and had a great race with Shakey last year. It was a very frustrating weekend in Germany and the plan is still for me to get the new frame at the next round at Brno in the Czech Republic,” said Ellison.
MotoGP made its long awaited return to America last year when Laguna Seca staged the United States Grand Prix after an absence of 11 years. Considerable safety improvements had been made to the 2.243 mile Californian circuit and safety has been further enhanced this year with more changes especially on the section before the world famous Corkscrew corner.
To the delight of the sell-out crowd, American
Nicky Hayden secured his first ever grand prix victory last year at the event which also staged a round of the AMA Superbike Championship. Laguna Seca is situated a few miles inland from the famous Pacific Ocean town of Monterey and staged its first US Grand Prix in 1988 which was won by American Eddie Lawson. For the next five years the circuit was the venue for the grand prix and Italian Luca Cadalora was the only non American to win the event in 1994. Wayne Rainey won the race for three consecutive years with Lawson and John Kocinski the other home winners.
Safety and financial problems caused the 11 year gap before grand prix racing returned to Laguna which had continued to host World Superbike rounds. Previously
Daytona in Florida had staged the first two US grands prix in 1964/65 both won by Mike Hailwood.
