2013 MotoGP at Circuit of the Americas
The reunited Yamaha Factory Racing duo of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi is in the most optimal position ahead of round 2 in the 2013 MotoGP Championship.
Lorenzo and Rossi hold the first and second positions in the point standings as the series heads this weekend to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the newly-built F1 circuit in Austin, Texas, which will host round 2 of 18.
Although a fresh circuit on the MotoGP schedule, Lorenzo and Rossi put some laps in at COTA during some private testing earlier this year.
The Yamaha YZR-M1 riders have the advantage due to their results at the opening round of 2013 MotoGP under the floodlights at Qatar two weeks ago. Lorenzo finished first, Rossi second.
Lorenzo simply dominated the round, leading all 22-laps from the pole. This was Lorenzo’s sixth consecutive podium finish at Losail International Circuit, including this year and last year’s wins.
Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1 MotoGP) says: “Qatar was stunning for us. A great start of a really competitive season. It’s always crucial to make a good beginning but Losail was just the first race of a long season. Now we have to change our mindset, we go to the USA and we visit a completely different track, not just the layout but also for the asphalt, the climate and some different circumstances.
“The Austin track has a very long straight and several corners in first gear where you are need good acceleration and traction. There we will have to work really hard from the first session to cut away the distance to our competitors. Anyway, I keep my confidence that we can also make a good result there. I want to win at Austin and that’s my mentality although I know in the USA it will be much more complicated.”
As for nine-time World Champion Rossi, he qualified seventh, but battled his way up through the field. With three laps remaining, Rossi was into third, and began battling with Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez for second. Rossi and the rookie swapped the position a few times, but the 34-year-old Rossi – the oldest rider in the current MotoGP class that began in 2002 – took second ahead of Marquez.
Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1 MotoGP) says: “Austin will not be an easy race but for sure the podium in Qatar is giving us extra motivation. We have done a great job there and we can go to Austin with some more certainty.
“Our competitors will be very strong but our goal will be to bring home points. I am confident, I really like the track and my first impression, when we tested there, was that the circuit is beautiful. The track lay-out is very special: there is some downhill and uphill and the first braking zone is very technical. For me turn two is the best though and after when you enter into the chicane. The straight is very long, which is good for overtaking. I really look forward to racing at COTA.”
Created by leading circuit designer Hermann Tilke, the track will challenge the MotoGP grid over 21 laps with an incredible 41-meter elevation change as it winds through an 20 corners (11 left, nine right) over its 3.426-mile length. The track enjoys a variety of styles including fast sweeping sections and stop-and-go hairpin turns.
