The MotoGP World Championship will visit Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, this weekend, racing for the first time ever at one of the world’s most impressive motorsports venues.
Designed to attract the Formula 1 series and the sponsorship money that comes along with it, Shanghai International hosted its first F1 race last year. The 3.387 mile track features huge grandstands and an incredible pit area which is reached via an attractive bridge over the front straight, and features glass-walled buildings surrounded by beautiful man-made ponds.
The circuit features two extremely long straightaways (the front straight is nearly three quarters of a mile!) which should allow the MotoGP machines to reach top speeds in excess of 200mph. The corners are interesting as well, with some very tight turns as well as two lengthy rights that have the bikes turning almost 360 degrees. In total, the circuit features 14 turns, split evenly between lefts and rights.
This being the first time that the series has visited the Shanghai International Circuit, all the teams will be starting from scratch in terms of bike settings. Gearing, in particular, is likely to become important at a track that features such a mix of tight corners and long straights. Friday practice will be the beginning of a race to find as near an ideal setup as possible before Sunday’s race.
According to the Speed TV website, the Chinese GP will be shown on Speed this Sunday May 1st at 2:00pm Eastern Time. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top at this impressive new circuit.
