Spent this year working corner 5 at the MotoGP race at Laguna Seca with USARM, which was A LOT of fun! During the FIM events (MotoGP bikes on course) I worked flagging on the entry of turn 5, under the ped bridge. Can't take photos though, so no photos of the MotoGP bikes on track (but on the cool down lap after the race, as we were waving the flags in celebration I got to experience Rossi do a wheelie about 8 feet from me). But during the AMA events, I was able to take some breaks and catch photos on the outside of turn 5. In addition, got to pick up a few AMA bikes that crashed there. I believe our corner had the most crashes out of any corner this year, including MotoGP and AMA. None of the crashes at the track were serious, though for a little bit they were concerned that Lorenzo and Stoner may have broken something (but they ended up racing anyways).

Action highlight, we did have Hayden, Melandri, and Talmacsi crash in our turn. The other guys got to handle and touch and awe at those bikes before they got picked up back to the pits.

Shot with a 40D. Still shots are with a 24-105mm L, and action shots are with a 70-200mm f4 L w/ 1.4x mk1. Some still shots should be a good variety for the side of the bikes we don't often see. Walking the pits is pretty cool.

All of the below shots and more can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/isaac_eos/sets/72157621154844582/

1. Check out the details on this exhaust - Pedrosa's Honda


2. San Carlo Honda warming up in the pits


3. The Ducati Desmosedici MotoX2. Piloted by Randy Mamola who gives you a ride at 90% of MotoGP race pace for $10k. I can't honestly think of anything scarier/awesome.


4. Ducati MotoX2


5. Practice in one of the AMA events. Michael Jordon Motorsports Suzuki.


6. AMA practice


7. More AMA practice


8. Beauty


9. Intricate


10. Expose

Nice stuff!!! great story, I think I just heard that you know an ex coworker of mine in Iowa by the name of Rex?

Really like the Pedrosa exhaust and the warmup of the bike in the pits. If I had the money, I'd love to ride 2up behind Randy!!!

Thanks for the great story and for your work at corner 5...

Hey Chad, I do know Rex, from our days at Purdue in the Cycling Club...he had mentioned you the other day, pretty funny that you happened across my post this quick. Thanks for the compliment!

Very nice!

Great shots from the pits! Too bad you couldn't shoot GP

I really like the shot of Pedrosa's exhaust a lot. Also like #9 of the intricate rear brake rotor, caliper and wheel. Those bikes are just amazing, pieces of artwork. I wish I could see inside the helmets on the Ducati X2 photos, I got to do that on Sunday and it was absolutely incredible. Randy is a really nice guy and makes you feel comfortable getting ready to go way faster than any two people on one bike should. ha. That race was a lot of fun, bummed so many guys crashed but it was good they weren't hurt. I'm hoping to get good photo spots next time, I was a bit too busy this last trip so I didn't have my gear with me. I'd say you found some good locations to shot from and working at the track must give you some good opportunities to shoot when you're allowed to. Well done, thanks for showing those. love it.

Wow, so you got a ride with Randy? That is amazing!

Working the track is hard work, you get dropped off to the corner at 7:15am, and you don't leave until 6pm or so. Everyone works the FIM events so photo time is rare there (USARM policy is no taking photos while working). But during the AMA events, yes you get breaks and can take photos with all of the press photogs, or wander the paddock.

isaacw wrote:


3. The Ducati Desmosedici MotoX2. Piloted by Randy Mamola who gives you a ride at 90% of MotoGP race pace for $10k. I can't honestly think of anything scarier/awesome.



They should offer ME 10k to ride on it !!!! :-)