MotoGP Race to Stay in Indianapolis Through 2014

The Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP race will continue at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2012-14 through an agreement reached between officials from IMS and Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder for MotoGP.

The fifth annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP – featuring the high-tech, 200-mph motorcycles and the world’s best riders of the MotoGP World Championship – is scheduled for Aug. 17-19, 2012, a week earlier than this year.

“We’re happy to welcome back the exciting action and colorful, daring riders of MotoGP to IMS,” said Jeff Belskus, IMS president and chief executive officer. “This event brings a unique international flavor and style of racing to the Speedway that has become a solid, new tradition on our annual schedule. We’re excited about the event’s potential for continued growth into the future.”

MotoGP fans will see new machinery in the premier class in 2012. Riders will compete on 1000cc prototype motorcycles, with more speed and power than the 800cc machines used since 2007.

There also will be at least three Americans on the MotoGP starting grid for the fifth consecutive year at IMS: 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden, 2010 Rookie of the Year Ben Spies and Colin Edwards. Hayden and Spies each are two-time podium finishers in the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, and Spies won the pole for the 2010 race.

World Championship support classes Moto2 and the new Moto3 will also return to IMS in 2012. Other support classes will be announced in the future.

For event or ticket information, visit www.imstix.com.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.