The completely rebuilt Circuit of the Americas has made the track “safer,” but several riders are sceptical that the repairs for 2022 will be a long-term answer.
Last year’s Americas Grand Prix was interrupted by a severely rough track conditions, prompting riders to express worries about coming to COTA unless the issues were resolved.
Before this weekend’s race, the track received a complete resurfacing from Turns 2-10 and Turns 12-16.
Joan Mir, a Suzuki rider and the 2020 world champion, thinks the track is now better than it used to be, but that bumps on American circuits must be expected.
“When we come here to America the track is always really bumpy,” he said.
“We have to live with that but it’s a lot better than last year and probably I don’t complain because I know how bad last year was. It’s bumpy. Yes, this year it’s safe.”
Enea Bastianini of Gresini repeated Mir’s thoughts on security, but said that it is now much more difficult to get a respectable lap time because one error might jeopardise your entire effort.
“Not a big step, but a step especially in Turns 2 and 10,” said Bastianini, when asked if the bumps that remained were at least better than they were in 2021.
“Now it’s not dangerous. Only now it’s difficult to make a very good lap time because if you make one error you aren’t fast, because if you make an error in Turn 3, four, five [and] six is impossible.”
Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia believes the tasks completed on the surface is enough for the time being.
Nevertheless, he stated that the resurfacing works are still falling short of the MotoGP level.
“Regarding the bumps, the track is much better than last year,” he added.
“But, as new tarmac it’s terrible because when you have new tarmac it has to be not [just] better – it has to be perfect.
“It has to be fully flat and it’s not. So, yes, I’m happy because it’s another story from last year.
“But still, there’s a lot of bumps, it’s still a very difficult track.
“I know also it’s not easy because this track is crazy, it’s up and down, left, right, left, right, many corners.
“So, it’s very difficult also for the tarmac to try to make it like a new tarmac in Misano, Barcelona.
“So, they did a good job. At least for 2022 it’s fixed, but the future is not super good for this circuit.”
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