USGP banners are up on the lamp posts around Monterey. Or, if you're from the South, on the 'phone poles'. image by tim monteryington

POWER! POWER! POWER! Next Thursday Valentino Rossi will take on three of his heroes in a shifter kart "exhibition" at Laguna Seca Raceway. The reigning world champ will race against Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey in a race open to the public.

Background:

Rossi has raced karts before, as a tot. He's also tested an F1 car and presumably has a valid drivers license.

Eddie Lawson is preparing all karts. Any suggestion that 4-time Ed's kart is "more equally prepared" than the others may result in the famed Lawson "death glare". Go wide.

Roberts has not raced a kart in recent memory, (meaning ever) hence "Roberts Rules" will apply. If he leads for one lap or one corner or even one single three-foot long section of the track--he believes he has won. Even if he alone believes that he led, he's won.

Rainey has a near perfect record at Laguna and this must be maintained. He never had the chance to race heads up against Roberts at Laguna on a real 500 so now it is time.

Spectator seating is pretty much wherever you desire to sit behind the fence. It's assumed that Laguna will offer Dorna and Yamaha execs special seating where they can watch in mortal fear as their golden egg tries to run it inside of Kenny 'I gave you enough room, I thought' Roberts, at like 120mph. Will there be a closed circuit TV loop so we can watch Dorna and Yamaha execs crap their pants if Rossi spins/tumbles into the dirt? Unknown.

Like the Simpsons episode "Bart the Daredevil": 'You better be there or you better be deaaaaad.'