I just arrived back in California, after spending the last few days in Austin, Texas — taking part in the Ducati 1199 Panigale R international press launch at the new Circuit of the Americas race course.
As I put the finishing touches on my reports about Ducati’s new homologation-special, as well as the newest MotoGP circuit in the United States, I thought I would share a view not too many track day enthusiasts will get a lap to see: a lap around the Circuit of the Americas.
Unless you are one of the few lucky riders who will attend the very limited number of events COTA has to honor this year, riding on this purpose-built GP circuit is going to be an expensive proposition.
That is a real shame because the Circuit of the Americas is a first-rate facility, and once you get the hang of this very-unstraight-forward track, COTA is a very rewarding course to ride on two wheels.
Learning the track is a whole different story though (I should have paid closer attention to what Colin Edwards said). We only got four 15-minute sessions to learn the 20 turns of COTA during the press launch, and let’s just say the first session was a complete shit-show for everyone involved.
I would have loved to spend a few more sessions on the course, which really played to the strengths of the Panigale R, and figure out a couple of the corners/sections that were still giving me troubles — but, such is life.
If you have the opportunity to snag one of the few remaining track days still available, I highly recommend it (how often do you get to ride a GP circuit??!).
Be forewarned though, it is 175+ mph down the back straight (bring your Brembos), your T1 brake marker is halfway up the hill (bring an extra pair of underpants), and the course is 3.427 miles long (bring some Ibuprorfen). Detailed reports coming soon.
Photo: © 2012 Scott Jones / Scott Jones Photography – All Rights Reserved
Glad you enjoyed it Jensen. It appears I’m only press when they need a photographer for free ;)
Still got the bike on order ( even though I’ve not been given a final price ) and look forward to adding it to the stable.
Won’t drag it around COTA but got some track time coming up at Donnington for the 999r & Desmo so you never know.
Lovely bike. Visually and to ride.
Let the haters begin.
Jensen,
Lucky Man!!!!! Silly question for you. for a non-sanctioned race/Motorcycle Trackday do you know if they are going to have a decibel restrictions like they do at Laguna Seca Trackdays.
I think you’ll like it Zoot.
Tim, I can’t see why they’d put a noise restriction…there’s nothing around the track. Laguna Seca is an oddity because of where it’s located, and the fact it’s a part of the park service.
The downer though is apart from the few track days that had their contracts honored, there aren’t going to be any opportunities for mortals to ride the course. There’s a real opportunity for them to partner with a bike OEM and do ride-hires, etc.
Jesus, that thing sounds mighty as it climbs to the rev limiter.
It does sound and look awesome from the few pictures I’ve seen. do you know if during the Gp week end they COTA will let the fans do a LAP like LS does?…
Don’t care much for something that’s not open to the community to ride and enjoy as well. (or so ridiculously expensive that its not possible to ride)
It will be like another Indy. no track days, no club races…just GP.
“Jesus, that thing sounds mighty as it climbs to the rev limiter.”
Yeah, that really grabbed my attention, too. It’s a total beast at full song. <3
re: “Unless you are one of the few lucky riders who will attend the very limited number of events COTA has to honor this year, riding on this purpose-built GP circuit is going to be an expensive proposition”
breaking news: we’re more than a dozen years into the 21st century, EVERYTHING in motocycling is an expensive proposition. and so it goes for all things luxury.
Don’t say ‘breaking news’ before you make a point. It makes you sound like a complete twit.
Lovely bike and interesting track :)
Jensen,
Lovin’ the A&R logo on the knee sliders. Subtle and very clever.
Thanks Trane, it was a real bitch to get done (CAD time, CNC machine time, paint-filling), and I owe a lot of beers to the people that helped make it happen.
If we can figure out a better way of doing it, maybe it’ll be something readers can get their hands on too.
Hi Jensen Beeler, I’ve noticed the comment I posted yesterday with the video of Ismael Bonilla from the same event that you attended has been deleted. I don’t really know why but if it has offended you in any way, please accept my apologies, it was by no means meant to be anything against you or the web, just a comparison of the same bike, the same track, the same event and different riders witch I thought would be enjoyed by the other readers.
Greeting from sunny Spain.
@zoot
If your posts here are to be believed you have a 999r, two Desmosedicis, an RC45 AND you have a 1199R on order?
I am calling bollocks, or Sir Richard Branson is your generous uncle.
from that video, the track seems awesome. not sure what some of the pros are complaining about…? now i see why marquez was so fast. it’s a track, outside of safety hazards, it’s SUPPOSED to offer a challenge… not be a cakewalk.
re: “If your posts here are to be believed you have a 999r, two Desmosedicis, an RC45 AND you have a 1199R on order?”
believe it. there are a few motorcyclists left who have WAAAY more than that. i know it may seem like a crazy concept, but even in 2013, there are people who actually VALUE motorcycling in the same way another say…? values automobiles, fishing, gun collecting, etc.
re: “Don’t say ‘breaking news’ before you make a point. It makes you sound like a complete twit.”
or a complete twit of those unable to see what should be obvious.
@Norm G.
I think Squidar was getting at the point that Zoot claims to have over $400k USD worth of motorcycles.
I have 4 bikes in garage right now, but none of them are worth more than $7k.
re: “think Squidar was getting at the point that Zoot claims to have over $400k USD worth of motorcycles.”
again, that’s not a lot for some. think about it, what’s $400k when your bank balance ends in 7 zeros…? or even 8 zeros…? i’ll admit, if you don’t know anyone like this or have never met someone like this, sure it would seem far fetched. but trust me when i tell you, these people exist (especially ducatisti) and are more common than you think. note, it doesn’t mean they bought their kit new either. that’s just the value being placed upon it. poseurs with money by this stuff all the time at full pop, get bored, or crash it and end up selling it for a song. that’s when the “enthusiasts” come knocking.
@Norm
I imagine people with 8 figure bank accounts have better things to do than boast on an obscure motorcycle blog.
Hence the “bollocks”
Did you just call Asphalt & Rubber obscure? Shame on you sir.
@Jensen
I mean homeboy is a self described squid.
True…true…
again, whether 8 zeros, 7 zeros, or just 6 zeros is really neither here no there. just know enthusiasts exist REGARDLESS of whether we include ourselves in the category. i’ve seen the screen name of somebody on here and on other sites who i specifically KNOW has a stable and a mint. last person i would think would ever bother being on the net…? but yet, there he was. not entirely unreasonable… in his current life he’s an enthusiast, but in his former life he was a commercial airline pilot. airbuses iirc, A319′s and A320′s.
Track rental fee is 50k USD per day. No more than 24 participants.
http://circuitoftheamericas.com/visit/track-rental
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