Rainey's Grand Plan Results in Grand Prix

By SHAV GLICK

June 10, 2005 12 AM PT

One world motorcycle road racing champion’s love of his sport -- even though it put him in a wheelchair -- will enable American race fans to see the latest world champion compete.

Valentino Rossi, winner of the last four MotoGP championships and apparently on his way to a fifth, will be at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway next month for his first appearance on U.S. soil, thanks to the determination of Wayne Rainey, a three-time world champion before his career ended 12 years ago in a paralyzing crash at Misano, Italy.

“I wanted a world Grand Prix back at Laguna Seca, so I worked with Gill Campbell [Laguna Seca CEO] in getting one on the calendar this year,” said Rainey, a resident of Monterey who grew up in Downey. “We went to Barcelona a year ago and got acceptance from Dorna and then we called Yamaha for financial support. When they ponied up to the table to fund needed safety measures on the track, we were in business.”

Dorna Sports is a Spanish company that holds the rights to the FIM MotoGP world championships.

Yamaha has a rich history in road racing. It has won five of six Laguna Seca USGP races. Rossi rides for Yamaha now and the factory counts among its former riders Rainey and Kenny Roberts, who popularized road racing in the U.S. in the 1970s when he became the first American to win a world 500cc road racing title.

The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend is July 8-10 on a refurbished 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course in the hills outside Monterey.

“Since the race corresponds with Yamaha’s 50th anniversary, we could think of no better way to celebrate than with over 100,000 U.S. fans,” said Bob Starr, Yamaha communications manager. The $2-million improvement is being funded by Yamaha Motor Co.

Laguna Seca officials report that about 60% of the projected attendance of 40,000 on July 8, 50,000 on July 9 and 55,000 on July 10 has been sold.

Rossi won last week in Mugello, Italy, his fourth win in five races. Sunday, the MotoGP will be in Barcelona for the Catalunya Grand Prix. Rossi’s only loss was to Alex Barros of Brazil in Portugal.

“It might not look like it from his results, but Rossi can be beaten,” said Rainey, who won at Laguna Seca in 1989, 1990 and 1991. “It could be one of the Americans. We’re not doing so well, but coming home always gives the guys a little bit extra emotionally, something you can’t get anywhere else.”

Four Americans are riding in the MotoGP series -- Colin Edwards, Rossi’s Gauloises Yamaha teammate from Conroe, Texas; Nicky Hayden, of Owensboro, Ky., on a Honda; and two Californians, John Hopkins from Ramona, and Kenny Roberts Jr., the 2000 world champion from Modesto, on Suzukis. Their best finish was a third by Edwards at Le Mans, France.

From 1978 to 1983, U.S. riders won 12 world championships, but since then, only the younger Roberts has won.

Rainey, along with fellow world champions Eddie Lawson and Kevin Schwantz and U.S. superbike champion Doug Chandler, will also compete July 9 in a super kart race.

“People look at super karts and think they’re cute little toys, but they haul butt around Laguna Seca,” said Lawson, a former USGP winner as well as four-time world champion. Lawson lapped the track in his kart in 1 minute 23.875 seconds, a 100.864-mph average. The official motorcycle record is 1:24.833 by Troy Bayliss on a Ducati superbike.

“Eddie’s serious about his kart,” Rainey said. “He wants to see if he can get close to the time for the Grand Prix guys. For myself, I just want to feel what it’s like again to pull on my helmet, challenge myself, and have fun no matter what position I finish. It will be my first race this year.

“I’ve done everything that can be done in bike racing, I’ve been through the headaches and the glory and I’m looking forward to watching the big race. The only one I’ve seen in the last six years was last year at Barcelona. I’m really happy to see a Grand Prix back here in Monterey.”

Rainey has a custom-built kart with hand controls for the brake and clutch.

Southland Scene

Defending USAC/CRA sprint car champion Rip Williams will carry a 70-point lead over Damion Gardner into Saturday night’s program at Perris Auto Speedway. Williams finished second to Ricci Faria last week at Hanford.... The USAC western midget car series will visit Ventura Raceway on Saturday with Robby Flock continuing his quest of a fifth championship. Flock, who has won 50 times in his career, leads former champion Steve Paden by 43 points.

Another Twin 50s program, this one for NASCAR super late models, is scheduled Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway. Todd Southwell will try to hold off former track champion Rod Johnson in a tight points race.... The annual Boat Racers’ Reunion will be held Sunday at the Pomona Fairplex as part of the Southern California Marine Assn. boat show. Among those to be honored in ceremonies at 1 p.m. are Eddie Hill, Bud Meyer, Betty Cook, Don and Jim Ermshar, Chip Hanauer and Gar Wood.

Gavin Trippe, who brought the U.S. Grand Prix motocross to Carlsbad Raceway in the 1970s, and Nick Nicholson, multi-winner of the Catalina Grand Prix and winner of the 1954 Daytona Beach race, are among nine individuals to be inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio.... The Long Beach City Council gave unanimous approval Tuesday to the purchase of the Toyota Grand Prix by Aquarium Asset Management, an associate of the Champ Car World Series.

Passing

Larry Carrier, a pioneer NASCAR and drag racing promoter who was instrumental in the building of Bristol Motor Speedway in 1961, died Tuesday in Bristol, Tenn., after a long illness. He was 82.

This week

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP

Pocono 500

* When: Saturday, qualifying (FX, 2 p.m.); Sunday, race (Channel 11, 10 a.m.).

* Where: Pocono International Raceway (triangular oval, 2.5 miles, 14 degrees banking in turn 1, 8 degrees in turn 2, 6 degrees in turn 3); Long Pond, Pa.

* Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.

* 2004 winner: Jimmie Johnson.

* Next race: Michigan 400, June 19, Brooklyn, Mich.

NASCAR BUSCH

Federated Auto Parts 300

* When: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 2 p.m.), race (FX, 5 p.m.).

* Where: Nashville Superspeedway (tri-oval, 1.33 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).

* Race distance: 300 miles, 225 laps.

* 2004 winner: Jason Leffler.

* Next race: Meijer 300, June 18, Sparta, Ky.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Chex 400K