If you were in attendance at PTT’s track day at Laguna Seca on May 28th, you may have been rubbing kneepucks with MotoGP’s sure-to-be Rookie of the Year, Stefan Bradl. The reigning Moto2 World Champion, Bradl was at the Californian track learning the circuit’s 11 turns, the most notable of which being the infamous Corkscrew. With Moto2 skipping the Red Bull US GP at Laguna Seca, letting AMA Pro Racing fill in as the support class, this was the LCR Honda racer’s first chance to ride the circuit outside of a video game.

With American Honda providing Bradl with a bone-stock 2012 Honda CBR1000RR in HRC colors, the MotoGP racer is said to have been lapping in the low 1:30’s as he “learned” the course, which is a fairly respectable time for an AMA Superbike mid-packer will a full race-prepped bike.

“Moto2 and Moto3 don’t race at Mazda Raceway so we thought it was a good idea to have a first taste of this tight and twisty circuit,” said Bradl. “I just knew the track from PlayStation and we came to prepare for MotoGP, and I think we will be more ready for it.”

“Thanks to Honda America I had the chance to ride this new CBR1000RR on the only track that I don’t know,” continued the Moto2 Champion. “It is downhill, and there are lots of blind corners. It is really fun. I especially like the banked corners. It is a big challenge to go fast especially from Turn 8 to Turn 11, but the whole circuit is tough. There is really no spot to rest or a long straight.”

Source: LCR Honda & BARF