Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts can enjoy an even larger area to celebrate the two-wheeled lifestyle during Motorcycles on Meridian on Aug. 27-28, as the popular annual event in downtown Indianapolis during Red Bull Indianapolis GP race weekend is expanding.Motorcycles on Meridian will take place from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27 and Saturday, Aug. 28 on Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis. Meridian will be open to motorcycle traffic only from Monument Circle to South Street, a larger area than in the first two years of the event. Riders must enter Meridian at Monument Circle and head south, parking their bikes on the Circle and Meridian.The event is free and open to everyone, riders and non-riders, to experience the motorcycle culture of Indianapolis. All parking garages in the area will be open and accessible to automobile traffic.Motorcycles on Meridian is being organized by the Red Bull Indianapolis GP Local Organizing Committee – a group comprised of members from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, ABATE of Indiana, Department of Public Works, the Indiana War Memorial, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and multiple merchants located on South Meridian Street.ABATE of Indiana will assist motorcyclists with parking and also provide safe rides home for riders if necessary. Enthusiasts also can enjoy the Red Bull culture through a variety of activities in the unique Red Bull interactive area or at bars and restaurants in the vibrant Wholesale District.***Yamaha stars on stage at IMS: Yamaha MotoGP superstars Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Ben Spies and Colin Edwards will participate in a rider chat at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi and current MotoGP points leader Lorenzo are teammates on the Fiat Yamaha Team. Texas residents Spies and Edwards are teammates on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team.Rossi captured the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP in 2008, with Lorenzo winning in 2009.The chat is free to all Red Bull Indianapolis GP ticket holders.***Cycle World Seminar: An American motorcycle racing legend and two rising American stars will be the featured guests at the Cycle World Seminar from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27 on the SPEED Stage located on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield.1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz and current Moto2 riders Roger Lee Hayden and Kenny Noyes will be among the guests. Cycle World editors, including renowned longtime Technical Editor Kevin Cameron, also will participate in the seminar.The seminar is free to all Red Bull Indianapolis GP ticket holders.***Schwantz to lead Ride for Kids: Motorcycle riders can enjoy a special thrill and raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation by participating in the Lap of Champions supported by Ride for Kids during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.American motorcycle racing legend Kevin Schwantz, the 1993 500cc World Champion, will lead the ride, which takes place at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 on the 16-turn, 2.621-mile circuit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway upon which the worldwide stars of MotoGP are competing the same weekend.Three different levels of support, each granting increasing levels of access and other perks, are available for participants who want to ride their motorcycles around the IMS course with Schwantz during the Lap of Champions. Riders can register at www.rideforkids.org or purchase ride tickets at the Cycle World/Ride for Kids booth at the Vendor Marketplace in Gasoline Alley at IMS.The national Ride for Kids program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation promote childhood brain tumor research and provide family support through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships.***Fan shuttles on Race Day: The Town of Speedway is facilitating roundtrip bus service for 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP fans on Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29 at two convenient locations, one in downtown Indianapolis and one at Indianapolis International Airport. Service in air-conditioned shuttles will be provided by the Free Enterprise System, Inc. Tickets are $22 per person for one-way or round-trip service.Tickets can be ordered in advance at www.motogpparking.com or www.freeenterprisesystem.com until 5 p.m. (ET) Friday, Aug. 27. All advance orders will be held for will-call pickup between 8-11 a.m. Race Day at the customer’s selected location.On-site purchases also will be available from 8-11 a.m. on Race Day at each location, with credit card, debit card or cash accepted.Service to the track will start at 8:30 a.m. at both locations with runs every 45 minutes. The five service times are 8:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.Return service will take place for two hours after the end of the final race, with all shuttles leaving from the staging area at 1200 Main Street and Gilman Street in Speedway.Handicapped-accessible vehicles will be available on all routes. Specific route details:Downtown South (Yellow Route) .Location: The Free Enterprise System, 1220 S. West St., Indianapolis Corner of West and Morris Streets). .Parking: $5 per car, cash only.Indianapolis International Airport (Blue Route) .Location: Ground Transportation Lobby, Zone 1 at the airport .Parking: $10 per car, fifth floor of airport garage. Fans must show race ticket stub to cashier upon exit to receive this special rate.For more information, call (888) 209-0226.***IMS tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event.Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29.Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.General admission tickets provide access to the grounds, viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit and selected grandstands, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world.Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
