Laguna Seca played host to the US Grand Prix on six occasions between 1988 and 1994 before being removed from the calendar. A series of major structural improvements to the facility saw the World Championship return in 2005, although only for the MotoGP class. The track, which flows around the undulating hills on the outskirts of Monterey, is most famous for the Corkscrew, a tight and spectacular left-right downhill chicane. In fact, the entire circuit is a rollercoaster ride, with a few short straights and a series of fast corners and elevation changes that often leave the front wheel pawing at the air. The 3.610km track is the perfect amphitheatre for the fans and is surprisingly straightforward in terms of machine set-up, with little opportunity to maximise full throttle. Frequent downhill braking zones put extra stress on the front end and make tyre wear a crucial factor
The USGP is without doubt one of the biggest dates on the calendar for Ducati and its two riders. For Nicky Hayden the Laguna Seca circuit is one of two home races this season, as well as being the scene of his first ever MotoGP win in 2005 - a success he repeated in 2006 on his way to the world title.
It is also one of Casey Stoner's favourite dates on the calendar, thanks largely to the nature of the circuit - an old-style layout that follows the natural undulations of the land as opposed to the computer-designed modern tracks. The Australian, who travels to America on the back of three consecutive podiums, took victory in California in 2007 and finished second the following year.
CASEY STONER, Ducati Team
“Laguna is a circuit I have always liked because it's tough but great fun and it follows the natural undulations and direction changes of the land. I also enjoy the raucous but respectful atmosphere that the American fans provide. Naturally I am looking for a good result but I don't want to make any predictions because recently we have been close to the front without managing to finish with the result we want. We're not far off - we just need a little more grip, stability under braking and handling, which would give us the extra tenth or two we're missing. It is not much but at the level we're at it will be noticeable. We'll see what happens but the objective is to improve on what we have done so far."
NICKY HAYDEN, Ducati Team
“I can't wait to get to Laguna, a circuit that is extremely special to me. It is tough but really nice and it is where I won my first GP. I'm not just saying it because I'm American but it really is a unique place. There isn't really a straight - all the corners run into each other and they are a mixture of fast and slow bends. The Corkscrew is unique, a three-storey drop with a blind entry - you feel like you're taking off into space. Another thing about Laguna is that you can't afford to run off line at any point because the exit to one corner is the entry to the next and you have to get your line right. At Sachsenring we had a tough weekend but recovered in the race and found a good feeling for the bike. That makes me confident for this weekend.”
Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso and the whole Repsol Honda Team will be working flat-out to secure another victory at the Laguna Seca circuit this weekend to follow Sunday’s classy win for Pedrosa in the German Grand Prix. After the drama of the Sachsenring’s two-part race, MotoGP jets to the west coast of the United States for round nine of the World Championship - the halfway point of the 2010 season.
Pedrosa arrives at Laguna Seca brimming with confidence after his authoritative win at the Sachsenring. The 24-year-old Spaniard knows he has the capability to make it back-to-back victories at another circuit where he typically performs well. He won last year’s U.S. Grand Prix having led from start to finish, and with two second places and a win from the previous three races in 2010, Pedrosa has established the front-running consistency he lacked at the start of the season. He is in second place in the world championship standings with a 47-point gap to Jorge Lorenzo and so Pedrosa’s target is simply to take one race at a time and finish as high as possible. Another race victory this weekend is the clear goal.
His team-mate Andrea Dovizioso is eyeing at least a return to the podium to add to the four top-three finishes he’s secured so far this season. After an impressive and consistent start to 2010, the 24-year-old Italian is now determined to battle for outright race wins and his strong previous form at Laguna Seca means that’s not an unrealistic goal this weekend. He was the top Honda in fourth place on his Laguna debut in 2008 and was unlucky to fall from a promising fourth place last year after damaging his clutch lever during the race, which interfered with his ability to control his machine. Dovizioso lies in third place in the world standings and will want to consolidate that position before MotoGP’s short summer break following this race.
Lying back to back on the MotoGP calendar, the similarities between the Sachsenring and Laguna Seca circuits are several. They are the shortest tracks in MotoGP, with Laguna measuring 3.610km (2.243 miles), which is a mere 60 metres shorter than Sachsenring. Both venues feature steep hills and dramatic corners - the most famous of which is Laguna’s Corkscrew - a unique plunging left-right chicane. And finally they are two of only five circuits on the 18-race MotoGP schedule which run in an anti-clockwise direction.