This page will contain an extensive photographic archive of the 2007 MotoGP Grand Prix race at Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway in Salinas, California.
Saturday Qualifying Practice Round for 2007 US MotoGP
During the Saturday morning's free practice run, and the afternoon qualifying practice, 21 year-old Australian Casey Stoner had the quickest time in every session at Laguna Seca, taking the pole position at this year's 11th MotoGP.
MotoGP Laguna Seca Garage & Pit Area
Riders had positive comments about Laguna Seca's recent track re-surfacing, barrier upgrades, and other improvements, making the course much smoother, grippier, and safer than in previous years.
Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) - 07 US MotoGP - More USGP Action Shots
Despite the improvements, there were some misshaps. Valentino Rossi's crash at the exit of turn 6 during Friday's free practice session (FP1) placed him in the fifth starting position, and left him with a bruised shoulder and pinky-finger injury to the left hand.
Saturday Qualifying Results
1. Casey Stoner (27) 1:22.292
2. Dani Pedrosa (26) 1:22.501
3. Chris Vermeulen (71) 1:22.590
4. Nicky Hayden (1) 1:22.624
5. Valentino Rossi (46) 1:22.683
6. Loris Capirossi (65) 1:22.914
7. John Hopkins (21) 1:22.933
8. Colin Edwards (5) 1:22.943
9. Shinya Nakano (56) 1:23.006
10. Marco Melandri (33) 1:23.018
Casey Stoner out in front on Lap 1 of FP1 - Hairpin turn no. 2
The pole position is Casey Stoner's third of the year, and he was joined at the front of the gird by fellow Aussie, Chris Vermeulen who qualifyed with the third fastest time. The only cloud over Stoner's positioning was the fact that for the last twelve years, no MotoGP rider had won the race from the pole. Of coarse, this year would be different, and the MotoGP hex was broken.
The pack coming out of the 'Andretti Hairpin' Turn 2
Italian rider Marco Melandri (33) crashed his Gresini Honda as he was entering turn 3, during the morning free practice run. Although he was reportedly unconscious when the track crew arrived, and was taken away from the crash in an ambulance, he was ready to race on Sunday. The installation of the air-fence retaining wall was credited with his positive outcome.
Qualifying lap 1 at the Corkscrew - Laguna Seca 2007
Alex Hofmann of Germany riding for Ducati was injured when he collided with Sylvain Guintoli at the 'corkscrew,' during Saturday's 'free practice' session. British AMA Supersport rider Chaz Davies will be the replacement rider for Hofmann at Laguna Seca on Sunday. Hofmann will have surgery to repair a fractured left second metacarpal bone.
MotoGP - Race 11
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Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix | |
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Race Date: |
07/22/2007 |
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Pole Position: |
Right |
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Track Length: |
3,610 m |
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Track Width: |
15 m |
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Longest Straightaway: |
966 m |
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Left Turns: |
7 |
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Right Turns: |
4 |
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Year Track Opened/Upgraded: |
1956/ 1995 |
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Track Location: |
Salinas, California USA |
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Detailed Laguna Seca Track Map
Full Circuit (All 18) MotoGP Track Data
Alex Barros (4), Marco Melandri (33), & Dani Pedrosa (26) at Turn 4
The Laguna Seca track was built in 1957, in the hilly Steinbeck country of Monterey County, California. Laguna Seca is one of the more challenging tracks on the MotoGP circuit, with numerous elevation grade changes, several off-camber turns, the tight 'Andretti Hairpin' turn 2, turn 3, and the notorious 'corkscrew' left-right chicane which snakes down a steep incline, are all particularly difficult sections of the track.
Sunday's USGP Pre-Race Photos
Midday diversion on the Ducati 2-Seater
Pre-race skydivers
Motorcycle Hall of Fame's Wayne Rainey during pre-race memorial lap
Sunday's US MotoGP
1st Place winner Casy Stoner No. 27 (Ducati Marlboro) - Sunday USGP Action Shots
US MotoGP Race Results
Pole Position: Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati (No 27)
Circuit Best Lap: Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati (No 27) 158.536 1'22.292
Air Temperature: 83 degrees F
Track Temperature: 105 degrees F
1. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati Marlboro (27) 156.323 kph 44'20.325
2. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Rizla Suzuki (71) 155.746 kph 44'30.190
3. Marco Melandri (Italy) Gresini Honda RC212V (33) 154.831 kph 44'45.966
4. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Fiat/Yamaha M1 (46) 154.542 kph 44'50.989
5. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Repsol Honda RC212V (26) 154.258 kph 44'55.947
6. Randy De Puniet (France) Kawasaki (14) 154.104 kph 44'58.631
7. Anthony West (Australia) Kawasaki (13) 153.927 kph 45'01.74
8. Makoto Tamada (Japan) Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 (6) 153.873 kph 45'02.680
9. Alex Barros (Brazil) Ducati Pramac d'Antin (4) 153.807 kph 45'03.845
10. Roger Lee Hayden (USA) Kawasaki ZX-RR (95) 153.796 kph 45'04.045
11. Colin Edwards (USA) Fiat/Yamaha (5) 153.588 kph 45'07.701
12. Shinya Nakano (Japan) Konica Minolta Honda RC212V (56) 153.278 kph 45'13.173
13. Sylvain Guintoli (France) Yamaha (50) 152.965 kph 45'18.735
14. Carlos Checa (Spain) LCR Honda RC212V (7) 152.017 kph 45'35.691
15. John Hopkins (USA) Rizla Suzuki (21) 142.521 kph 45'35.595
16. Chaz Davies (GB) (replacing Alex Hofmann) Ducati Pramac d'Antin GP7 (57) 140.910 kph
Dropped Out
Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda RC212V (1)
Loris Capirossi (Italy) Ducati Marlboro (65)
Miguel Duhamel (Canada) Gresini Honda RC212V (69)
Kurtis Roberts (USA) Team Roberts KR212V (80)
Distance: - 32 laps (115.52 km)
MotoGP Circuit - Track Data (All 18)
MotoGP Track Data - Full Circuit
Laguna Seca Paddock Photos
MotoGP Paddock Girls
Monterey's Cannery Row during MotoGP weekend - Cannery Row Photos
1000s of motorcycles at the western Laguna Seca parking area.
Chopper-cam over Laguna Seca Raceway during Sunday's USGP
Unless otherwise noted, all MotoGP racing photos were taken using Nikon D3, D2Xs, and D200 camera bodies, with Nikon 300mm and 105mm f/2.8 VR telephoto lenses, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 and 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lenses, and Nikon 14mm f/2.8 and 18mm-35mm f/3.5-4.5 wide angle lenses.
