I have ridden to the MotoGP in Monterey several times since the race’s return to the Laguna Seca venue in 2005. I have found that some of the nation’s best roads can be sampled riding to, or returning from Laguna Seca.
In a warm up to the Laguna Seca MotoGP at the end of July, we are going to give you a look at a few of the West’s great roads that can be ridden as part of a great MotoGP experience. In this first installment, we will glance at the big one – California Highway 1, which is also known as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).
The PCH must be ridden at least once by every avid American motorcyclist. The Pacific views are simply stunning, and the highway is a twisty delight. Covering much of the Pacific Coast, every stretch of the PCH has something to offer.
What you will see on the PCH depends on your direction of travel. If you are traveling south to Monterey, Highway 1 will offer the rugged and precipitous tree-lined views of the Northern California coast. If you are traveling north to the race, you will span the gamut from the SoCal beaches to the jagged rocks of the coast near Monterey.
A couple words of warning. Because of its beauty, the PCH can see times of heavy traffic. Also, since you typically have rocks on one side and the Pacific on the other, stay between the lines.
So, ladies and gentlemen, get out your maps and plan a route the samples the amazing Pacific Coast Highway. In coming installments, we will look at a few of the lesser known (and lesser traveled) roads in the area around Monterey.
