The MotoGP series began racing at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in 2013. Six years and six events later, Marc Marquez (Honda) has established a perfect record at COTA with six wins and six pole positions. If anyone is unstoppable at a particular track, it is Marquez at COTA.
Here is a brief preview of this weekend’s MotoGP race in Austin from Repsol Honda:
Marc Marquez returns to happy hunting grounds in Texas as Jorge Lorenzo prepares to turn his bad luck around.
Introduced in to the MotoGP World Championship calendar in 2013, the Circuit of the Americas offers an interesting mix of tight and technical turns in the first sector and the two high-speed straights split by the tight turn 11. This mix results in a bike setup unique to the American track.
Since the Argentina GP, Marc Marquez has enjoyed time in Brazil with Estrella Galicia 0,0 as well extra time in the US. After the most dominant dry weather win of his premier class career, Marquez arrives in Austin, Texas with winning on his mind. Having qualified on pole and won all six MotoGP races at the Circuit of the Americas, Marquez’s riding style and the strengths of the Honda RC213V have always excelled at the Americas GP.
Given Marquez and Honda’s record on American soil, Jorge Lorenzo is excited to see how he will perform on his new machine. While he was again hit with bad luck come Sunday’s race, Saturday’s sessions and Warm Up in Argentina proved he and the RC213V can challenge at the front when conditions are right and with a deeper understanding of the bike, their challenge will only grow.
The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas begins with Free Practice 1 on Friday, April 12 at 09:55 local time.
Marc Marquez
“We only had a short time to relax between races but I am ready to go again! COTA is one of my favourite tracks; these counter-clockwise circuits always seem to suit my style the best. Although we have achieved a lot of success here in the past, we will work as we always do from Free Practice 1 and remain focused. Every year when you go to a track there are new things to understand and adapt to.”
Jorge Lorenzo
“After the disappointment in Argentina I am ready to get back out on track and ride again. The result didn’t show it, but we made good progress last time and we are understanding the bike more and more. When the conditions offer grip, I feel very strong on the Honda – the team and I just need more time riding to understand how to have this strong feeling when the grip is less.”
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I live in Austin and was offered tickets but passed. Why?? For too many years, it has been a parade on race day with almost no passing or even close racing anywhere in the field after the first lap. Maybe the long straights make it a horsepower track.
He is my faborite too.
Don’t want to “Jinx” him but I have my $ on MM.
2013, not 2003. 😉
Marc’s got this.
Chris
Well MM has to be the odds on faborite to win, but this is racing, and anything can happen.
Regardless who wins the race I will look forward to watching it.