Day 4 – This is MotoGP!

Posted byDerek 2 Comments on Day 4 – This is MotoGP!

This is MotoGP! Multimillion dollar prototype motorcycles; riders paid millions to race these 350 pound and 260 horse power machines; running over 220 mph and up to 68 degrees of lean; dragging knees, elbows, and the occasional shoulder in recent years; racing within feet, inches, and sometimes less as elbows and carbon fiber flies. MotoGP is a festival of speed, sound, and color. A traveling circus racing 21 tracks in 17 countries in 2024.

There are no scheduled pit stops other than during rain in which case they are allowed to pit and jump onto their backup bike already fitted with rain tires. Like all European based racing, they run rain or shine.

This is the 75th year for MotoGP. When I was growing up, the Japanese manufacturers dominated and the US had several multi-year champions. Honda and Yamaha are the only Japanese bikes still in MotoGP. In recent years, the series is dominated by the European brands of Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia. GasGas entered this year. BMW is coming next year. Triumph does not field a MotoGP team but they are the sole engine supplier for the Moto 2 class which are required to run the same spec motor across all manufacturers.

These guys are very fit but the average racer runs a heart rate around 170 for the entire race. MotoGP races are typically 50 minutes.

The motorcycles themselves are not the only high tech equipment on the track. Racing leathers have evolved to. They are kangaroo hide which is more abrasion resistant but lighter than cow hide. The hump on the back originally started for improved aerodynamics behind the helmets. Now they house sophisticated electronics which controls an airbag system in the suits. It also measures all kinds of telemetry the rider is subjected to on or off (crashing) the bike. The airbag will reset as most racers will return to the race after a crash if the bike isn’t damaged.

Some race fans were more intrigued by the wildflowers than the action on the track.

I probably should have explained that Friday and Saturday activities lead up to the Sunday race day. And we had a great day! First half was cool and breezy but it really warmed up for the afternoon. Took our camp chairs today as we found out yesterday that Texas ground is hard.

Check out the wings the Aprilia is sporting. This is a new satellite factory team based in the U.S. Trackhouse Racing is in Tennessee and runs in NASCAR. They are fielding a MotoGP team this year.
Joe Roberts from California placed 2nd in Moto 2 and is also 2nd in the championship at the moment. We’re hoping he will eventually make it to the premiere MotoGP class so we have an American to cheer for.
Some victory celebrations are stranger than others. This is the Moto 3 winner. Moto 3 are smaller 250cc single cylinder (thumpers) machines but still capable of 150 mph.

We have really enjoyed our time at Circuit of the Americas and thrilled to finally make another MotoGP weekend. The time really flew by. We are back on the road tomorrow and heading into the Texas Hill Country. We’ll be camping the next few nights but I think I will have reception to continue posting. Until tomorrow.

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2 Comments

  1. Mind blowing talent, skill and confidence these bike riders have! Excellent pictures! 
    Hey Don!! Sue

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