#AmericasGP Austin, Texas – Michelin MotoGP preview
A week after the Michelin Grand Prix of Argentina, and just over six months since the previous visit to the Circuit of The Americas, the Michelin team and the rest of the MotoGP™ paddock will be once again heading to Austin, TX for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
The Circuit of The Americas, with its 11 right- and 9 left-hand corners, runs in an anti-clockwise direction, with parts of the track inspired by famous sections of iconic racetracks, including Hockenheim, Silverstone, Interlagos and Österreichring. These corners, together with the intimidating 40m (133ft) climb to Turn 1, a 1,200m (0.74 miles) straight and a very demanding track surface, all add up to one of the biggest challenges of the year for the riders, machines, and their Michelin tyres.
Since the previous race here, there has been some work carried out on certain parts of the track to eradicate the severe bumps that were much talked about by the riders. This should hopefully improve things considerably and may lead to faster lap times in 2022.
Another difference compared to last year will be the temperatures. In late September the average is above 30° C, but now it is back in its usual April slot, the average temperatures should be down around 25° C.
The MICHELIN Power Slick tyre allocation for CoTA has been chosen to cope with the expected demands that will be faced during each lap, and also those generated by the abrasive track surface. Available in Soft, Medium and Hard compounds, the three front tyre options will all be symmetric, while the three rear options will be asymmetric, with a harder right side to cope with the extra stresses created by the right-hand corners.
Although rain is unusual here, it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen, and MICHELIN Power Rain tyres will be available to give the riders confidence to push to the limit if any rain should make an appearance. Available in Soft and Medium compounds for both the front and rear, the rears will also feature an asymmetric design, with a harder right-hand-side, just like their slick counterparts.
Speaking about the CoTA race weekend, Piero Taramasso, Michelin Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager, said: “These two consecutive races in Termas de Rio Hondo and Austin are quite a logistical challenge for our team. However, we are always happy to make the trip across the Atlantic and to contribute to some entertaining races that we know the enthusiastic fans here will appreciate very much.
“We know that following the previous visit, some work has been done to the track to try and smooth out the bumps that caused problems for the riders last time. Now we will just need to wait and see if this has worked, and to find out what difference, if any, this might have made to the grip levels. Having said that, I’m sure our CoTA 22 allocation will give the riders the tyres they need to push their limits and to go all-out for the victory.”
The action will get underway on Friday 8 April with the first two Free Practice sessions, followed on Saturday with another two further Free Practice sessions and Qualifying 1 and 2 to decide grid positions for the race. The lights will go out to signal the start of the 20-lap race at 13:00 local time on Sunday 10 April.
Source: Michelin
