WorldSBK heads west to the Golden State for Round 9 of the 2016 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, as the paddock sets up at the legendary Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Action in California kicks off on Wednesday 6th July with a pre-event in San Francisco, with the City by the Bay hosting WorldSBK riders for a Cable Car Tour and Meet and Greet. Nicky Hayden, Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies will be among those enjoying the sights of San Francisco, with the tour setting off from Union Sqaure at 11:30 am local time (GMT -7) and taking in AT&T Park, the Ferry Building, Fisherman’s Wharf and ending at Marina Green, where a Meet and Greet and autograph session at 13:15 gives fans a chance to meet their favourite riders.
Heading south after the pre-event, Laguna Seca opens its doors to WorldSBK for another weekend of high-octane action that gets underway on track on Friday 8th July. Free practice 1 begins at 10:15 local time, with Friday sessions timed for entry to Tissot-Superpole 2 the following day. Saturday starts at 9:15 for WorldSBK, with Tissot-Superpole at 11:30 and then Race 1 – at Laguna Seca, it’s lights out at 14:30. Sunday Warm Up for World Superbike begins at 11:00, ahead of Race 2 at the same fixed hour of 14:30 as the last WorldSBK Race of the Round gets underway at the legendary venue. MotoAmerica will also be joining the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for the GEICO Motorcycle US Round, making sure the track action is non-stop throughout the weekend and keeping the pedal to the proverbial metal.
For a peek behind the scenes of the WorldSBK paddock, fans also have the chance to go on a Pit Walk on both Saturday and Sunday, for a special glimpse at the attention to detail and hard work that teams, riders and mechanics put in throughout the weekend. On Saturday, the Pit Walk begins at 10:25; on Sunday at 13:15 – a sure fire way to get even closer to the pure motorsport experience of WorldSBK.
The Paddock Show keeps the adrenaline high off-track too, staging Meet and Greet and autograph sessions, chat shows with the fastest men of the day, and even live commentary on most practice, qualifying and Race sessions. An autograph session at 16:00 on Friday sees all WorldSBK riders head to the Paddock Show for an opportunity to come face to face with the fans, ahead of a paddock party that begins at 16:30. On Saturday morning at 9:50 many of the faces of WorldSBK will be back at the Paddock Show for a Meet and Greet, with another highlight of the day the one-off “Meet the Fastest Lady on 2 Wheels” show – a chance for fans to see Leslie Porterfield, who holds several land speed records in different categories. On Sunday the Paddock Show hosts “Chat with a Champion” as a one-off special at 9:30, before another WorldSBK Meet and Greet at 12:00pm gives fans another chance to meet some of the most famous faces in the WorldSBK Paddock. The Legends Chat Show at 15:40 starts to wind the action down, before the WorldSBK Race 2 show at 16:00 hosts the fastest men in the second WorldSBK Race of the weekend to give fans their final chance to see the stars of World Superbike up on the stage.
Throughout the weekend of WorldSBK at Laguna Seca, there are other special events to look forward to, too. One definite highlight after the Cable Car Tour of San Francisco on Wednesday sees Nicky Hayden remount a similar steed – but this time for a lap of the track. A specially converted traditional San Francisco style Cable Car is set to take on the Corkscrew with Hayden onboard at 18:15 on Friday – although it promises to be a slower lap of the track than on a Superbike, it could prove equally as action-packed…
In addition, the Market Place at the track is home to more full gas events. With a number of stunt shows including Mini Moto Demonstrations, Freestyle stunt shows and even remote control motorcycle racing from the Radio Control Motorcycle Club of California, the calendar is action packed from Friday through to Sunday with a timetable sure to ensure everybody can check out their favourites. The Go Kart track will also be open for business over the weekend, for those whose competitive instincts need fulfilling. In need of a recharge? You can then relax and Experience Monterey, with the chance to try local produce and wines throughout Saturday and Sunday.
For the full schedule of events and action at the GEICO Motorcycle US Round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, check out the timetable to make sure you don’t miss a thing as Nicky Hayden leads the WorldSBK paddock back home to the US of A for Round 9 – and trackside pick up a program and spectator’s guide to keep on top of it all.
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