Camel Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden (Photo: Getty Images / Javier Soriano) » More Photos

West Coast race fans needn't fear that their precious race at Laguna Seca will be yanked from the schedule. Both Italy and Spain already have multiple GP events each season, and Speedway officials state they aren't trying to take the USGP away from California. Instead this will be an addition, and one with perhaps the best infrastructure of any racetrack in the world.

Not only is the Speedway fully self-sufficient and will be undertaking the reconfiguration of the track privately, but it is also home to the largest collection of jumbotron-type TVs in the world. IMS reps say nearly every seat in the massive complex has a view of a TV. Plus, there will certainly not be as much of a traffic bottleneck as in the public-held land of Laguna Seca. The Indy 500 regularly draws hundreds of thousands of fans, so there is plenty of experience with dealing with large crowds.

"The Speedway has been looking at hosting a motorcycle event for some time, and we continue to be enthusiastic about the prospects," said IMS President Joie Chitwood in a press release put out by Hardcard, a motorsports management and consulting firm started by industry veterans Andy Leisner and John Farris. "Hardcard will advise and consult with the Speedway as we continue to pursue and devise plans for this exciting opportunity."

IMS representatives couldn't confirm their plans for what kind of bikes would be coming in support of the headlining MotoGP class, but they did hint that the AMA Superbike class might be a good bet. As for a possible date for the MotoGP event, it looks like August 2008 could be the likely time. The month of May is booked for the Indy 500, the U.S. Grand Prix is in mid-June, and the Brickyard 400 is in late July, the same month as the Laguna Seca GP.

We are expecting an official announcement of this momentous occasion in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.