The 2015 MotoGP™ World Championship continues with the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, after a thrilling opening race in Qatar.
As the paddock prepares for the race at the 5.5 km Circuit of the Americas, there are a number of talking points on everyone’s lips with fans wondering if it could possibly get any better after an incredible opening round under the floodlights in Qatar. It is the third year in a row that the MotoGP™ World Championship returns to COTA, with Honda having completed a 1-2 (Marquez and Pedrosa) at each previous race.
Ducati confirmed that they are “back” in Qatar, completing the reversal in the Italian manufacturers fortunes since Luigi Dall’Igna joined the factory team as Sporting Director from Aprilia at the end of the 2013 season. The new GP15 showed that it was not just a “one-lap wonder” on the softer tyre option and Dovizioso will fancy his chances after he claimed his first podium for Ducati in Austin last season. One change for the Ducati Team and Pramac Racing, is that they will now have to make do with 22 litres of fuel as opposed to 24, after achieving three podiums in the last two seasons.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/0...-better/173079
2015 Points So Far:
MotoGP 2015
1. V. Rossi 25
2. A. Dovizioso 20
3. A. Iannone 16
4. J. Lorenzo 13
5. M. Marquez 11
6. D. Pedrosa 10
7. C. Crutchlow 9
8. B. Smith 8
9. P. Espargaró 7
10. Y. Hernandez 6
Laps: 21
Total distance: 115.8 km - 72.0 miles
Length: 5.5 km / 3.43 miles
Left Corners: 11
Right Corners: 9
Width: 15 m. / 49.21 ft.
Longest Straight: 1200 m. / 3937.01 ft.
Fastest Lap: Marc Marquez in 2014 2'02.773 and 161.6 mph
Circuit Record: MM in 2014 2'03.575
Best Pole: Also Marquez in 2014 2'02.773
Top Speed Marc Marquez in 2013 at 341.6 km/h
About the circuit
The Circuit Of The Americas is the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the U.S. near Austin, Texas, with a 5.513km track and a capacity for 120,000 fans. Construction of the impressive 1000-acre facility was completed late in 2012, with MotoGP lining up at the track for the first time in 2013. One of its more distinctive features is near 41m-elevation change with an impressive incline at the end of the home-straight followed by a sharp left. The circuit is one of the most varied on the GP circuit, with a mix of fast straights and tight hairpins, with most sections mirroring at least some part of a famous track around the world. It was designed by well-known German architect and circuit designer Hermann Tilke. The driving direction is counter clockwise and has a total of 20 corners with 9 right turns and 11 left turns.
SCHEUDLE
Friday 04/10/15
09:00-09:40 40 min. Moto3 - Free Practice 1
09:55-10:40 45 min. MotoGP - Free Practice 1
10:55-11:40 45 min. Moto2 - Free Practice 1
11:55-12:25 30 min. Superbike - Free Practice 2
13:10-13:50 40 min. Moto3 - Free Practice 2
14:05-14:50 45 min. MotoGP - Free Practice 2
15:05-15:50 45 min. Moto2 - Free Practice 2
16:05-16:45 40 min. Supersport Free Practice 2
17:00-17:25 25 min. Superbike Qualifying
18:30-19:30 Motorcycle Parade Laps
Saturday 04/11/15
07:50-08:10 20 min. Supersport Warm Up
09:00-09:40 40 min. Moto3 - Free Practice 3
09:55-10:40 45 min. MotoGP - Free Practice 3
10:55-11:40 45 min. Moto2 - Free Practice 3
12:35-13:15 40 min. Moto3 - Qualifying
13:30-14:00 30 min. MotoGP - Free Practice 4
14:10-14:25 15 min. MotoGP - Qualifying 1
14:35-14:50 15 min. MotoGP - Qualifying 2
15:05-15:50 45 min. Moto2 - Qualifying
16:15 Supersport - Race (12 laps)
17:00 Superbike - Race 1 (15 laps)
17:00 Qualifying Press Conference
18:40-19:40 Motorcycle Parade Laps
Sunday 04/12/15
08:40-09:00 20 min. Moto3 - Warm Up
09:10-09:30 20 min. Moto2 - Warm Up
09:40-10:00 20 min. MotoGP - Warm Up
10:15-10:35 MotoGP - Riders Parade Lap
11:00 Moto3 - Race (18 laps); Press Conference (immediately after the podium ceremony)
12:20 Moto2 - Race (19 laps); Press Conference (immediately after the podium ceremony)
13:15-13:30 Red Bull Air Demonstration
14:00 MotoGP - Race (21 laps); Press Conference (immediately after the podium ceremony)
15:30 Superbike - Race 2 (15 laps)
Fun Facts:
• In 2013 Austin became the fourth different circuit to be used for motorcycle grand prix racing in America. In total, there have been 26 previous grand prix events hosted in the USA: Daytona – 2, Laguna Seca – 15, Indianapolis – 7 and Austin – 2.
• The same two riders have finished first/second in both the previous MotoGP races at Austin, Marc Marquez followed home by teammate Dani Pedrosa.
• Last year at COTA, Marc Marquez topped every practice session, qualified on pole with a new pole position record lap, led every lap of the race and set a new race lap record.
• Third place finisher in the MotoGP race at Austin last year was Andrea Dovizioso – his first podium finish on the factory Ducati.
• The first Yamaha rider to cross the line last year in Austin was Bradley Smith, in fifth place.
• Marquez won the MotoGP race in Austin last year by 4.124 seconds – his largest margin of victory in a MotoGP class, in a dry weather race.
• Honda riders have won the last Ten MotoGP races in the USA. The last non-Honda MotoGP winner in the country was Jorge Lorenzo, at Laguna Seca in 2010.
• At the grand prix in Austin, Nicky Hayden is scheduled to become only the fourth rider to reach the milestone of 200 starts in the premier-class of grand prix racing. Hayden is the first American rider to reach this milestone, and joins Valentino Rossi, Alex Barros, and Lois Capirossi in the exclusive “200 club”.
• At the GP of the Americas last year, 40-year-old Colin Edwards announced that 2014 would be his final season of racing before retiring.