2014 Red Bull Indianapolis GP Notebook
August 05, 2014 | By IMS
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host the world’s best motorcycle racers for the seventh consecutive year during the 2014 Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Aug. 8-10.
Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez has won all nine rounds thus far of the 2014 MotoGP World Championship, and will look to win at IMS for the fourth consecutive year following last year’s Red Bull Indianapolis GP and Moto2 class wins in 2011 and 2012.
In addition to MotoGP, other series practicing, qualifying and competing on the IMS 16-turn, 2.591 mile road course this weekend include the Moto2 and Moto3 classes and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series.
While Marquez is the lead story on the track, the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend features a wide variety of entertainment options and interesting aspects including:
Motorcycles on Meridian to take over downtown: Held in conjunction with the Red Bull Indianapolis GP for the seventh consecutive year, Motorcycles on Meridian is a free motorcycle and motorcycle culture street festival from 7 p.m.-midnight on Friday and 4 p.m.-midnight on Saturday in downtown Indianapolis. The event features thousands of riders parking their machines along Meridian Street from Monument Circle to South Street.
Pedestrians are also encouraged to walk around at the event and enjoy seeing the impressive choppers and sport bikes on display.
The entrance for the 2014 Motorcycles on Meridian is through Monument Circle. Cyclists should enter the route from Monument Circle and continue onto Meridian. View map of downtown Indianapolis for entrances and locations of events for the Motorcycles on Meridian.
During Motorcycles on Meridian the parking lot at 125 South Meridian will be open to guests 21 years of age or older and will feature a beer garden, a Red Bull D.J. and an IMS Ticket Trailer.
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Ultimate party at Moto Midway: One of the summer’s best local parties will take place at the Moto Midway located in the IMS infield during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
The Moto Midway will host an entertaining lineup of live concerts featuring musical groups Picture Yes and Brent James and the Vintage Youth on Saturday, Aug. 9; and Hero Junior and School of Rock on Sunday, Aug. 10.
The center of off-track action during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend, the Moto Midway also features MotoGP Rider Chats and the popular Riders For Health Charity Auction on Friday, Aug. 8, featuring every MotoGP class rider. Additional activities include Motorcycle Stunting, iWheelie, Vendor Displays from Yamaha, Honda and Ducati as well as many other vendors.
Younger fans also will enjoy the IMS Kids Zone in the Moto Midway where Radio Disney and Wish For Our Heroes are providing free games, military-themed competitions, obstacle courses, face painting and more.
The Moto Midway is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9, and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10.
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Fans can enjoy Vendor Marketplace presented by Westfield Powersports: During the Red Bull Indianapolis GP motorcycle riders and enthusiasts can browse and purchase aftermarket motorcycle products from an impressive variety of companies on Friday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Vendor Marketplace presented by Westfield Powersports.
The Vendor Marketplace presented by Westfield Powersports will be open in the Gasoline Alley garages during each day of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Participating vendors include AirHawk, Kawasaki, Pro Pad, Original’s Polish, Motorex and many more.
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Take a Lap Around The MotoGP Course at IMS: During the 2014 Red Bull Indianapolis GP, IMS is offering motorcycle track laps. For just $40, enthusiasts may experience the 16-turn, 2.591-mile MotoGP course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the same track which MotoGP stars such as Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden all compete. Purchase Your Track Lap
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Pit Lane Walkabout: The Red Bull Indianapolis GP Pit Lane Walkabout on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 5:15 p.m. is always a popular activity for fans and will continue for a seventh consecutive year in 2014.
Participating fans will receive an up-close view of the exotic, 1000cc prototype motorcycles that will compete in the MotoGP class during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Skilled team personnel also will be on hand, working on the bikes. The Walkabout is a must for MotoGP enthusiasts; enter and exit the event at the South Pit Gate.
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Red Bull Air Force landing at IMS: The Red Bull Indianapolis GP will feature a performance on Sunday, Aug. 10 from the Red Bull Air Force – a team assembled from the most accomplished and experienced skydivers, B.A.S.E. jumpers and paragliders on the planet.
Throughout their history the Red Bull Air Force has performed at air shows, NFL games and NASCAR and motocross races, as well as skydiving, BASE jumping and paragliding competitions in the U.S. and abroad.
The Red Bull Air Force is scheduled to land at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday during pre-race ceremonies for the MotoGP race.
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She’s back! Shelina Moreda is slated to return to IMS to compete this coming weekend in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend.
Moreda, from Petaluma, Calif., became the first woman to race a motorcycle at IMS when she competed in the Harley-Davidson series in 2011 at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.
She finished 21st in the final 2013 AMA Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series point standings, and is 13th in points this season and looking for her first top-10 finish.
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What’s the score? The Red Bull Indianapolis GP will be the second event at IMS since the addition of a new scoring pylon. The third-generation pylon, residing on the main straightaway just south of the entrance to Gasoline Alley, features full LED panels on all four sides providing improved messaging capabilities including animation and video.
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Colin Edwards to be honored Saturday at IMS: Texas native Colin Edwards is retiring at season’s end and will make his last U.S. MotoGP start at Indianapolis. His best finish at IMS is a fifth in 2009. A “Farewell to the Texas Tornado” live event featuring several MotoGP riders will take place on the Moto Midway stage in the IMS infield at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
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Get a grip: Exotic MotoGP prototype motorcycles will reach nearly 210 mph on the front straightaway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, while riders will lean the bikes at 60 degrees in some of the 16 corners on the 2.591-mile road course at the Speedway.
An area of rubber not much bigger than the size of a credit card connects each Bridgestone tire on a MotoGP bike to the asphalt when a rider is at full lean in a corner.
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The Pagoda Show: Up to 200 fans will display their motorcycles, compete for awards and receive premium parking on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Pagoda Plaza throughout the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend.
All fans will have the opportunity to see the motorcycles that are entered in the following classes: 1949 and older, the ’50s, the ’60s, the ‘70s, the ’80s, the ‘90s, 2000 and newer.
Editors from Cycle World, Motorcyclist and Sport Rider will select the motorcycles they feel best exemplify each of the classes as well as an overall Best of Show.
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See “Why We Ride” at Moondog Tavern: Everyone is welcome on Thursday night, Aug. 7, to enjoy food, refreshment and the opportunity to see the documentary “Why We Ride” playing on screens at the Moon Dog Tavern at 4825 E. 96th Street in Indianapolis. The documentary features a variety of passionate individuals speaking about what motorcycling means to them.
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Red Bull Indianapolis GP Paddock Passes Available: Fans can get access to the paddock where all the stars of MotoGP roam for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. The MotoGP Paddock is an exclusive area for MotoGP riders, teams, sponsors, VIPs and now access is now available to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP’s biggest fans. Take advantage of this limited quantity offer to get behind the scenes of the World’s Premiere Motorcycle Racing Championship. Purchase Paddock Passes Now
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2014 Ticket information: To buy reserved and general admission tickets for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, visit www.ims.com/tickets, call the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office at 317-492-6700 or 800-822-INDY, or visit the ticket office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Monday-Friday.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at 866-221-8775 for more information.