Here's a few more Saturday pics.... inside the Yamaha tent, here is Lauryn getting a photo-op on the actual YZF-R1 that Ben Spies used to capture the World Superbike title last year:
Also outside the Yamaha tent were all the current models.... Lauryn claims this white R6 will be her next bike, but as you can clearly see towards the bottom of the picture, she is already on her tippy-toes, so this ain't gonna work unless we can get dog-bones to lower the bike by about 1.5"-2.0"
As they typically do, Ducati spent mega-$$$ to set up "Ducati Land" just inside the Final Turn before the Start/Finish Line. Here is Lauryn in front of the entrance... it was, admittedly, pretty neat:
Sunday, May 30
Today was Parade Lap day! I thought it would be neat to take Lauryn out on the track, but the fact is, the 25-mph pace made it all a bit tedious. Still, it was pretty cool to ride the track in its entirety.
Here's Lauryn next to the FJR, in line for the Parade Lap... we were on the first row!
There were a metric buttload of riders signed up for this Parade Lap:
Parade Lap begins.....
Lauryn turned around and shot the riders behind us in the Parade.....
The final turn ("Release") before the mile-long straghtaway.....
On the final stretch to the Start/Finish Line... pretty awesome!
After the First Qualifying Session on Sunday, fans were allowed to walk the paddock and check out the garages of their favorite racers... here's a shot of the factory Xerox Ducati team working on Noriyuki Haga's 1098 bike:
The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda factory team, working on Johnny Rea's CBR1000RR:
The factory Kawasaki team, working on the bikes of Tom Sykes and Chris Vermeulen:
Roger Lee Hayden's satellite Kawasaki team:
Daddy and daughter enjoying the trackside sun towards the end of Sunday....
Next up: the Main Event: Lauryn goes for a 2-up Superbike ride, and Races finally begin!