Circuit of the Americas MotoGP Confirmed
After many legal issues, one involving 3FourTexasMGP’s founder and president Kevin Schwantz, MotoGP confirmed that the series will head to the Circuit of The Americas in 2013.
The race is set for April 19-21, 2013, at the Austin-based Grand Prix venue that will host Formula 1 this November.
With COTA on the 19-race MotoGP schedule, the U.S. will host three rounds in 2013, the Texas circuit joining Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Aug. 18) and Laguna Seca (July 21).
Carmelo Ezpeleta (CEO, Dorna Sports, commercial rights holder for the MotoGP series) says: "We are excited to be working with Circuit of The Americas to expand our programming in the United States and bring our series to an exceptional new Grand Prix facility in Texas. We see tremendous opportunities to market MotoGP and grow its fan-base through this agreement and know Circuit of The Americas is the right promoter to help us achieve that goal."
Steve Sexton (Circuit President) says: "The Circuit of The Americas team is delighted to introduce yet another world-renowned racing series to our 2013 event calendar, one we know will be hugely popular with fans coming to experience MotoGP for the first time at our state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex in Austin. MotoGP has a worldwide fan base with more than two million fans watching races in person each year. We’re confident it will be a great addition to our programming and draw tens of thousands of people to Central Texas, creating yet another major event with significant economic impact for our region."
MotoGP 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden, who hails from Kentucky, rides for the Ducati Factory Team and said he’s eager to try out the new Austin circuit.
Nicky Hayden says: "It’s great for riders and fans to have another MotoGP event in the United States, and Circuit of The Americas will give us a chance to expose more of our homegrown fan base to MotoGP in an up-close-and-personal way. I love competing at new, fresh tracks and am really looking forward to racing at the Austin circuit."
Texan Colin Edwards races for the NGM Mobile Forward Racing team and their CRT project said a MotoGP race at a new circuit just two hours from his home in Conroe, Texas (near Houston), means he can actually "drive to work" for a change.
Colin Edwards says: "Adding a race to the U.S. schedule makes a statement that MotoGP is working to expand it influence on American soil. The best way to grow our sport is to add races, and with events on the East and West Coasts-and now one in Middle America-it’s the perfect opportunity for more fans to see us in action. Plus, my family is really looking forward to jumping in a pick-up truck and driving up to Austin to see me compete."
Rider Ben Spies, who calls Longview, Texas, "home," is also excited about the 2013 schedule.
Ben Spies says: "Who wouldn’t be excited to have a MotoGP race in their home state? I hope all of my CMRA, WERA and AMA racing friends and family storm the track. It will be so easy for me to cruise down to Circuit of The Americas from my house in Dallas."
MotoGP’s reach extends to more than 200 countries and territories that receive live or same-day delayed broadcasts of the MotoGP events, with the coverage delivered to more than 337 million households worldwide.
Tickets for the MotoGP event at Circuit of The Americas go on sale Oct. 16, 2012, will range in price from $133 to $199 and be available for purchase through Ticketmaster. Patrons with Circuit of The Americas Personal Seat Licenses will receive price discounts on MotoGP tickets. For more information, visit CircuitofTheAmericas.com/tickets.
About Circuit of The Americas
Circuit of The Americas will be a world-class destination for performance, entertainment, education and business. It will be the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the United States designed for any and all classes of racing, from motor power to human power, and be the U.S. home to the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIXTM Nov. 16-18.
The Circuit of The Americas’ master plan features a variety of permanent structures designed for business, education, entertainment and race use. Its signature element will be a 3.4-mile circuit track. Other support buildings will include an expansive outdoor live music space, a conference center, a banquet hall as well as a state-of-the-art medical facility. Future proposed amenities include a driving/riding experience, a motorsports driving club, kart track, grand plaza event center and tower, and a trackside recreational vehicle park. For more information and downloadable video, audio and photos, visit CircuitofTheAmericas.com.
