Jacque: One metre from the wall.

2.6 miles length? That's quite short. Pitty to see a new track be such a compromise.

Seems that MotoGP audience-widening in the US might not be that easy after all.

That wall looks bad...scarey bad...!
@ Assen Hopper falls, slides through gravel, then hits a soft wall...
Broken leg...(get well soon)..
Here, fall..Straight into a concrete wall...Broken everything..????..
Safe/Unsafe??

I don't think the wall is so unsafe as it is on the same direction as the bike. Any way AMA is used to such tracks, so it is nothing new.

I don't like the idea of using a tracks'name without the original layout.
It's like the F1 in Indy: looking like a downgrade race on a midget circuit using a part of the infield of the real '500'track.Not even mentionning the very poor grid.Imagine 16-18 bikes at Indy !!!Same counts for Daytona although maybe the original track can't be used by bikes either.
No Eurosport but concrete walls....oh dear !
Bring back our beloved Spa !!

I don't like the idea of using a track's name without daring to compete on it's original layout.F1 is looking totally ridiculous at Indy on a midget track using part of the infield of the men's '500'circuit.By the way imagine a starting grid with 16-18 bikes at Indy ???Is that worth the name world championship race?To a less degree this counts for Daytona too although I understand those tracks are too dangerous for bikes because of the walls.Aren't there any other real natural tracks in the States?

Bring back our beloved Spa Francorchamps !!!

"Aren't there any other real natural tracks in the States?"

There are a few really great tracks in the US. Road America, Miller Motorsports Park, Virginia International Raceway, and Barber to name a few.

Each of them would be less suitable than Indy for different reasons. The lack of facilities would be foremost.

Just as MotoGP wanted a race in glamorous California, the Indianapolis name, facilities, and the very professional and well financed owners and management of the Indy circuit makes it too a very desirable venue.

The States, however developed are not that big in what is our own (European, that is) prime racing form: A tarmac track full of turns and a long straight for the start-finish show. They have loads of other series which are bigger there, like NASCAR, dirt track and of course the all-powerful American MX and SX dirt bike championships.

Even the terminology is different. Where we simply state "racing" they state "road racing", because they need it to specify what they mean from the other forms of racing.

Two very different worlds indeed...

AMA is not motogp, from what I've heard about AMA and this track(i'm sure their are plenty to choose from)the yanks don't know sh7t about motorcycle racing. The US should be left to it's own devices....

What is DORNA doing actually ? No more Eurosport,less sponsors,less bikes,shorter circuits (Assen), but on the opposite allowing more injured riders on the grid, more concrete walls, traction control, races by night ...

Still love Motogp though, but...for how long??????

Thought the Bostrom Bros are having some kind of a crusade against dangerous tracks, haven't they?

The ever smaller grid is a real problem for Dorna. Maybe by eliminating the 250cc class, some of the teams could be enticed into MotoGP. They really need to address this though it means less on TV than trackside. Team Roberts is still in there trying, something about Vagas hotels as sponsor, but the recession has hurt their biz and it's not going to get better anytime soon.

'I don't think the wall is so unsafe as it is on the same direction as the bike'

dont agree guy, if 2 guys touch in a straight line, like de angelis did in 250 at turkey, they spear in different directions, in this case that is a wall at 180mph. u dont stand much chance of walking away.

for somereason that senerio is something that is forgotton on most modern bike tracks. why im not sure, as from a rider point of view its very obvious.

Aussie for courses apparently knows nothing about road racing in the U.S. There are a number of excellent tracks here. Fortunately most of them still have some character, as opposed to the bland generic courses used by F1 and MotoGP.
As for the wall, the last fatality I'm aware of at Daytona(which uses the banked oval for much of the course) was in 1992 and actually occurred on the infield part of course.

do you actually think you can compare you long wheelbase glitter paint job custom racing to Motogp????
We are talking about the track choosen for the motogp race having walls??? which dorna have apparently been trying to get away from for years ..If there are good tracks it makes the US look even worst than I thought by choosing this one....
How have Dorna managed to sanction this....makes them look incredibly bad. If someone is badly hurt because of it, it will send motogp back to the dark ages..

Um, correct me if I am wrong....but, didn't Daijiro Kato die from injuries sustained from hitting a wall that was parallel with the racing path??

If it's anything like the Indy 500 you want to stay off the wall to allow the air to flow around the bike and maximize top speed.

"US look even worst than I thought by choosing this one" - yes we took a vote and that determined Indy as the track. Everyone in the US came out for the vote...it was great. Obviously MotoGP promoters and regulatory body approached Indy or were approached by Indy and they worked out a deal.

You should wait and hear what the riders have to say.

Don't get scared because you might might see something a little different!

Aussie, what are you talking about? NASCAR? It's boring as hell.
As for us(U.S) knowing nothing about motorcycle racing, kindly consult the list of past GP champions and SBK champions. Not to mention Troy Corser who came to the U.S. to hone his riding skills in the AMA series.
But hey, don't let facts prevent you from voicing your opinion, however ridiculous it is.

Aussies for courses...I know that we are supposed to be talking about the track, but you jumping into left field talking about yanks and their lack of knowledge is wrong. Then name calling.....? Go back to school. Also turn your T.V. off and do some riding in the states or anywhere for that matter, you might change your mind a bit.

If you can't have a wall next to the front straight then I'm pretty sure that rules out just about every track on the MotoGP circuit. But hey, what do I know, I live in the US (Scottish refugee)