The Elder statesman of mechanics
Mark Elder returns to Laguna Seca with the Ducati team
By Dave DuVarney Special to The Acorn

POWER OF TWO- Agoura High alumnus Mark Elder, left, and driver Loris Capirossi will team up at this weekend's Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix motorcycle races in Laguna Seca. Elder is the only American mechanic on the motorcycle grand prix tour.

This Sunday, Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey will be home to the fastest motorcycle road racers in the world. They're the ones the Mulholland Highway throttlejockeys try to emulate when they suit up weekends and hit the local pavement.

Many local riders will be among the more than 100,000 fans at the annual running of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix motorcycle races.

Defending champ Nicky Hayden from team Honda will be trying for his third straight win.

Other Americans taking to the blacktop this weekend will be Colin Edwards and San Diego's John Hopkins.

All the racers, Americans or not, have certain things in common: no fear, plenty of determination and good old-fashioned attitude.

But who are the guys that keep the machines running for these fast and furious superstars?

There's Mark Elder of Agoura Hills, for one. The 1986 Agoura High graduate and mechanic to the stars will be turning the wrenches again this year for Marlboro Ducati.

Ducati is the marque known in racing circles as "the Ferrari of motorcycles."

The Italian machines are dominating this year's grand prix series with Casey Stoner the leader of the pack heading as Laguna Seca approaches.

Stoner's Ducati teammate, Loris Capirossi, just had his best result of the season, besting Stoner for a second place finish in Germany.

Behind it all is Elder, the only American in the paddocks as a factory mechanic. Elder graduated from the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 1994.

Elder and Capirossi have become good friends and began conversing in Italian four years ago. They teamed up with Ducati seven years ago.

Success for the pair last weekend in Germany is sure to inspire both as the motorcycle grand prix tour makes its only appearances in the United States Fri. through Sun., July 20 to 22.

For more information about the Laguna Seca races, visit www.redbullusgrandprix.com.