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Lap the Circuit of the Americas on a Ducati 1199 Panigale R

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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.

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MotoGP

MotoGP Preview of the Americas GP: A New Clear Favorite?

By 5 Comments

It has been a rough start to the 2022 MotoGP season. Qatar started relatively smoothly, but things started going downhill from there.

The Indonesian round at Mandalika barely scraped through, the newly resurfaced track already coming up in the final corner as the new asphalt had not had time to bed in.

Then two broken cargo aircraft suffered technical problems and left part of the freight stranded in Mombasa, Africa on its way to Argentina.

A hastily rescheduled two-day event at the Termas de Rio Honda followed, which came off surprisingly well. Then with a short turnaround getting the freight from Argentina to Texas, there was another problem with cargo planes breaking down, and freight arriving late.

Fortunately for the GP of the Americas at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, the delay was merely stressful rather than problematic.

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Bikes

Big Red Soft-Launches the Honda Hawk11 for the Japanese Market

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The Honda Hawk11 made its public debut this past weekend, unveiled at the Osaka Motorcycle Show.

Thanks to spy shots and details that leaked ahead of the bike’s debut, there aren’t too many surprises to be found from this Africa Twin powered roadster.

In fact, the biggest surprise is not on the spec-sheet, as Honda is so far saying that the Hawk11 is destined only for the Japanese market, with nary a word from the European and North American subsidiaries about the bike arriving in those regions.

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Bikes

American Honda Debuts the CRF-E2 Electric Dirt Bike for Kids

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American Honda is bringing an electric dirt bike to market for kids, but it is not quite what you think. The CRF-E2 is actually designed and built by Greenger Powersports, which is in turn licensing the “CRF” designation from American Honda.

Despite the bike not coming from the Japanese factory, the CRF-E2 (note the lack of a “Honda” name in that title) will be sold through Honda’s dealerships in the United States.

With 3.4hp (2.5 kW) of peak power, a two-hour ride time, and a 2.5-hour charge time with the optional quick charger, the CRF-E2 is aimed at young new riders as an entry point into dirt riding. The MSRP is set at $2,950 in the USA.

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Racing

Officially Official: Danilo Petrucci Is Headed to MotoAmerica for 2022

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A move that has been rumored and tipped for some time now, Danilo Petrucci is headed to the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship for the 2022 season, on a Warhorse HSBK Ducati racing a Panigale V4.

The Italian rider all but confirmed the news when he was on our Paddock Pass Podcast, and even then the news was widely expected to come to reality soon, with Petrucci simply saying that the paperwork needed to be completed before he could make an announcement.

That day is here now though, and the Italian’s arrival in the MotoAmerica paddock is certainly going to help elevate the status of the series, not only with American fans, but also with international racing enthusiasts.

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Racing

Danilo Petrucci Headed to MotoAmerica for the 2022 Season?

By 17 Comments

Much has been said about Danilo Petrucci’s next move after MotoGP, and currently the Italian rider is making headlines in the 2022 Dakar Rally.

Petrucci’s Dakar debut may not being so good, considering his KTM 450 Rally broke down, and he had to be rescued by helicopter (effectively ending his bid for a good result), but there is other news about the former-MotoGP racer.

That is to say, Danilo Petrucci seems set to be MotoAmerica’s next big name, as the Italian confirmed the news while talking to Raquel Jiménez Rodríguez at the Motosan.es website.

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Reviews

What It’s Like to Ride the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S, A Review

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My first proper introduction to the Ducati Panigale V4 S happened in Spain, almost  four years go. Testing Ducati’s first proper four-cylinder superbike around the Valencia circuit was like witnessing a moment in history.

The Italian brand had slaughtered the last of its sacred cows, and laid them as tribute on the alter of speed – Ducati was serious about winning in WorldSBK, and had built a machine designed for that specific duty, with a whatever it takes attitude.

Our first outing with the Panigale V4 S showed that Ducati was on the right track. The bike was potent, not perfect, but potent.

Now here we are again, testing the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S at another Spanish race track, and I have to revisit those thoughts from my first meeting.

Potent? Yes, certainly. The 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S only hones the formula further in terms of on-track potency for the Italian brand’s superbike package.

But how close does this new Panigale V4 come to perfection? That is why we were in Jerez de la Frontera, to look for the unobtainable dream.

Our conclusion? For those who can afford to put one in their garage, the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S is two-wheeled nirvana. Let me explain.

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MotoGP

Saturday MotoGP Summary at the Americas GP: Predicting the Last Rider Standing

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It has been four years since anyone lapped the Circuit of The Americas quite so rapidly. In 2018 and 2019, nobody, not even Marc Marquez, managed to get under the 2’03s.

So it is a testament to how much faster the MotoGP riders are going that two riders managed it on Saturday in Austin. And this, despite the fact that the track has become so much more bumpy in the past couple of years.

So bumpy, in fact, that it appears as if the circuit has been issued an ultimatum: resurfaces the section from the exit of Turn 1 all the way through Turn 10, or MotoGP is not coming back.

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MotoGP

Friday MotoGP Summary at the Americas GP: The Dangers of a Bumpy Track

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Pol Espargaro summed up the complex emotions of almost the entire grid (possibly bar Jack Miller, but more of that later) at the end of an eventful first day of practice at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

“First of all we need to say that it’s super nice to come here to America, to be able to race here,” the Repsol Honda rider said. “Already this is something super good after so long in Europe.”

“And to see the American fans is super nice, they are super excited and it’s nice. Saying that, I think we are in a professional MotoGP championship that, we need a minimum of quality in the tracks, about safety, run off area.”

Then came the ‘but’. “We must say that the track is not at the level of a MotoGP championship, sure. First of all, there are parts where the asphalt is super bad.”

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MotoGP

MotoGP Preview of the Americas GP: Mastering the Bumps in Texas

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For the first time in two years, MotoGP is headed for a flyaway race which isn’t in Qatar.

After a long period of uncertainty, and facing a certain amount of opposition from inside the Grand Prix paddock, the series is heading to the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

After having 12 of the first 14 races all inside the same timezone (give or take an hour), a flyaway race feels like something of a novelty.

The novelty will not be quite as great as hoped for all those traveling to Austin.

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MotoGP

The MotoGP Calendar Has Been Changed, Yet Again – Sepang Out

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There has been yet another change to the MotoGP calendar for 2021. As had been expected, the Malaysian Grand Prix scheduled for October 24th at the Sepang International Circuit has been canceled.

In its place will be an extra race at the Misano circuit in Italy. Misano will be the second circuit, after Portimão, which will host two races this year, but not back to back.

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