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Going to MotoGP/MotoAmerica at COTA - April 21-23

2K views 20 replies 7 participants last post by  Strider 
#1 ·
Are any other forum members planning on attending?
 
#3 · (Edited)
How's the viewing experience there for folks with "normal" access tickets? Any good? I was at Catalunya last year in the big grandstand section where you could see everything from the hairpin at Turn 9 (where Iannone punched Lorenzo's ticket) through 12 so the view was really great! And there were huge displays so you could follow the race when they were in the other sections.

Is COTA anything like that? I might be goaded into checking it out if you guys say you can find good viewing locations.

thanks
 
#4 ·
How's the viewing experience there for folks with "normal" access tickets? Any good? I was at Catalunya last year in the big grandstand section where you could see everything from the hairpin at Turn 9 (where Dovi punched Lorenzo's ticket) through 12 so the view was really great! And there were huge displays so you could follow the race when they were in the other sections.

Is COTA anything like that? I might be goaded into checking it out if you guys say you can find good viewing locations.

thanks
I can't say from personal experience but since COTA is a much newer venue I have to believe that it will be at least as good as Catalunya.
 
#5 ·
My wife and I will be there!!! We won't make it there in time to see anything Friday though :frown I got turn 15 on saturday and MG Sunday. Mainly because I want to hear a full grid of GP bikes go full throttle all at once :devilish

I hope there's time to see something good from several of the GA spots. I plan on spending saturday going around the track and watching from several places.
 
#6 ·
Ok since there seems to be a few of us, is there any interest in getting together at some point for maybe a beer and a bite?

I will be in the Parts Unlimited VIP box for all 3 days but intend to wander around quite a bit to see the races from different angles.

Honestly I am just as excited to see our local guys in MotoAmerica rip it up as I am about seeing MotoGP. I really want to chat up some of the 600cc riders to get their take on the series since I hope to be running at least one at the end of the year.
 
#11 ·


Burger, Beer, and Bell at the airport! Layover on the way to Austin =)
 
#17 ·
Sorry I wasn't able to meet up with any of you guys. It was a lot faster and busier than I thought it would have been. We went all over the track and watched from every where except 11 and 20. there were lots of diffrences in lines and braking points between moto 1, 2, and 3. My Favorite section of the track, turns 8-9, moto 3 and moto 2 had almost the same lines but GP was TOTALLY different. It was also awesome to see what these guys do compared to the lines and braking points that I used when I did my track day there last year. My lines looked similar to the moto 2 lines in the sections I saw.... Made me a little proud. Granted they were loads faster and smoother but that's why I have to pay and they get paid to do it...

How was the VIP area and perks? Worth the price?? What was your take on the paddock passes? I felt a little like an idiot in the motoamerica paddock just looking with nothing really to talk about... Next year if it's worth it we may do the VIP otherwise I really enjoyed the different GA spots. I also liked turn 15.

I got MG for sunday just because I wanted to experience the race start from close by. I'm glad I did that this time but I probably wont next time.
 
#21 ·
Sorry I wasn't able to meet up with any of you guys. It was a lot faster and busier than I thought it would have been. We went all over the track and watched from every where except 11 and 20. there were lots of diffrences in lines and braking points between moto 1, 2, and 3. My Favorite section of the track, turns 8-9, moto 3 and moto 2 had almost the same lines but GP was TOTALLY different. It was also awesome to see what these guys do compared to the lines and braking points that I used when I did my track day there last year. My lines looked similar to the moto 2 lines in the sections I saw.... Made me a little proud. Granted they were loads faster and smoother but that's why I have to pay and they get paid to do it...

How was the VIP area and perks? Worth the price?? What was your take on the paddock passes? I felt a little like an idiot in the motoamerica paddock just looking with nothing really to talk about... Next year if it's worth it we may do the VIP otherwise I really enjoyed the different GA spots. I also liked turn 15.

I got MG for sunday just because I wanted to experience the race start from close by. I'm glad I did that this time but I probably wont next time.
Turn 8 - 9 is my favorite section to watch from as well!
 
#18 ·
I still have a crapton of pictures and video to process, just no time.

As for the VIP pass, I got a tour of the paddock with 500gp era rider Randy Mamola (who now test rides and does VIP 2-up rides for Ducati). To me, it was absolutely worth the experience. Having an inside guy not only to talk to but to take you places most cant get to.

I spent about 15 minutes in the tech3 garage (Zarco's pits) while they were prepping for FP3 and when the riders went out and there is a LOT to take in. We talked about the bikes, the riders, and riding at that level...things that I would not be able to discover any other way. I got to play with a carbon fiber rotor and we discussed various technologies (as much as they could). They allowed us to take pictures until they took the fairings off the bike and then asked that we did not...way too much to go into here.

The SOUND is staggering while they are warming bikes. They were warming up Rossi's Yamaha while we were there right in front of us and the thing that sticks to my memory more than anything was the way that the motorcycle simply shuts off the throttle. There was no ramp down. They would rev the bike and it would be almost instantly back to idle which is simply amazing. I asked some tech questions and although they would not answer most I did learn that the Ducati is making between 280 and 290 horsepower to the rear wheel and is 'above 20:1 compression ratio' which explains why it returns to idle so quickly.

Afterwards he took us to the edge of the track, beyond the fences and up against the armco barriers while FP3 was running. Literally 3' from the track while they were running. There is just something awesome about being that close when 10 bikes go by at 180mph.

Worth it? Once in a lifetime experience. I can't wait to get to the track this weekend to see if anything that I learned can be put to use.
 
#19 ·
That sounds like an amazing experience! Would love to hear more details some day! And wow....280-290 rwhp?? That's insane! I thought most were right around 250 with Ducati being more in the 260 range.

How did you get the VIP pass if you don't mind me asking?
 
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