Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca MotoGP

Though it violates an adventurer’s prescription for a life well lived, occasionally the destination is as important as the journey. Really.

The annual MotoGP race at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway is one of those special places. Being there isn’t just about watching races; the scene is much more than what happens on the racetrack for 45 minutes Sunday afternoon.

Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway is located in a park, (yes, it is on public property and is publicly owned and managed by a not-for-profit corporation) halfway between the captivating seaside city of Monterey and the dusty inland city of Salinas. These two communities are separated by a mere 18.64 miles, according to Yahoo maps, yet they are as culturally distant as Toronto is from Miami. One is a resort destination, the other a farming town and an affordable place to live for the workers serving Monterey. And so, as you might guess, the seaside community is where it all happens on a MotoGP weekend.

Each evening and on Friday and Saturday afternoons, Cannery Row becomes party central, because, as we all know, some enthusiasts do prefer communing over spectating. The scene ranks right up there as one of America’s best biker gatherings, with the cultures of V-twin customs, touring fanatics, and sportbikers harmoniously convening.

The Laguna MotoGP event has gotten some bad press in recent years, due to hotel price-gouging and a bus system for spectators that failed dramatically in its first year, stranding passengers for hours in over 100-degreee heat. The bad economy and a competing MotoGP in Indianapolis that received rave reviews also contributed to the fall-off in attendees passing through Laguna’s gates.

So now there is more reason than ever to attend. The buses have been fixed and, to paraphrase Yogi Berra, now is the time for everybody to go to the Laguna Seca MotoGP because the crowds are so small. Some may wonder if braving any crowd to speak of, dealing with parking hassles, and shelling out major money for hotel space is really worth it – but if you’re going to be riding there, you already know that that’s okay. This is the Monterey Peninsula we’re talking about, one of the most impressive motorcycling venues in the country.

So why watch racing when you can be riding? Because the MotoGP prototypes are the best that humans have ever designed, and the riders are an elite class of athletes. Each race is in many ways like a manned flight to the moon, giving us a chance to celebrate the limits man can accomplish. A race is not just a competition of individuals; it is a rivalry between ensembles of mechanics, designers, scientists, and racers battling for the top honors in craft, imagination, ideas, culture, economics, skill, prowess, planning and execution. And it is there for us to share, to experience by proxy, what is best in all of us.