Moto2 mayhem at Barcelona
There’s no doubt that MotoGP is the premier class of motorcycle racing on the planet. Exotic, 800cc prototype motorcycles that reach 215 mph. All of the biggest names of the sport: Rossi, Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa, Hayden, Spies, Edwards and more. It’s where the biggest money is spent and where most of the world’s motorcycle racing eyeballs are focused.
But if you’re coming to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 27-29 (and we sure hope you are!), you’ll miss out on some of the most frantic, exciting, nail-biting action of the weekend if you don’t watch the new Moto2 class.
Moto2 replaced the 250cc class this season. Riders compete on bikes with 600cc Honda engines and Dunlop tires, with the emphasis placed on lower costs and rider skill.
The new formula has worked brilliantly. Grids of 40 bikes or more compete in Moto2 at nearly every race. Arguably the most exciting moment of any MotoGP event weekend is watching 42 bikes pile-drive into Turn 1 on the first lap of the Moto2 race. Think of the tightest sprint car start you can imagine on a short track, and Moto2 tops it. Bikes sometimes spread five- and six-wide to get the edge into the first corner.
Moto2 bikes going six-wide into Turn 1 at Jerez
Moto2 starts are not for the faint of heart, even by the “get me a straitjacket” standards of the lunatic fringe that competes in Grand Prix motorcycle racing for a living. And there’s a good chance that at least one rider isn’t going to make it out of Turn 1 upright, adding to the breathtaking nature of the class.
Plus the racing has been fantastic. The focus on technical equality has let rider talent take center stage.
The class has a great mix of MotoGP veterans like points leader Toni Elias, Alex De Angelis, Anthony West, Gabor Talmacsi and Yuki Takahashi battling with rising young stars like Andrea Iannone, Thomas Luthi, Julian Simon, Mike Di Meglio and American Kenny Noyes. There’s a ton of passing, dicing and slicing on bikes that sound much more throaty, look more muscular and are a heck of a lot closer to their MotoGP cousins than the more spindly 250s.
Still need more convincing? Check out this video of Moto2 action. All of that insanity occurred at ONE race, in Barcelona. So expect more of the same frenzied action at Indy from Moto2.
Please make a point to check out the Moto2 class next weekend at IMS. You won’t regret it for one second!
Thanks for the update. The thought of watching 40 bikes hitting those 16 turns is very exciting. Will be sure to be at the track and watch all of the action.
No problem, Tony. Thanks for your kind remarks. Have a great time at the race!
The accident in Barcelona was insane… I wish I could make it to the race, going to have to watch on TV with a few cold ones instead.
The most exciting race is not Moto2…nor MotoGP, it’s 125 cc, for sure!!
I will never understand why in Laguna Seca there’s only MotoGP. You Americans seem not to like small categories, and I can’t understand why…in Europe we love them!
I’ll also be at Indy this Sunday with my Spanish flag, supporting ‘my boys’. See you there!