* DOTD = Data Of The Day*
This weekend would have been the 4th round of the 2020 season as riders and teams would be preparing for the Texas GP at the Circuit of the Americas. While our team wishes we could be arriving in Austin for our home GP, it’s time to do our part in social-distancing and instead, re-watch all our favorite races from over the years.
If COTA was still a go, we would be releasing our pre-race weather analysis right about now. So instead, let’s revisit the brief weather profile that was created specifically for the unique Circuit of the Americas…
“Can you feel the heat? I’m talking about the heat coming off the asphalt circuit in those early afternoon hours! As a transitional month for this region into a wetter, hot summer, COTA experiences little convective activity which results in full exposure for incoming solar radiation to reach Earth’s surface. With scorching circuit temperatures and warm, moist winds traveling up from the Gulf of Mexico that result in humid conditions, the Grand Prix of the Americas is a fitness test for all MotoGP riders and bikes. These conditions require riders to nurse their tires throughout the race to protect their grip and traction as they fly around this unique circuit. With extremely varying characteristics, COTA is considered one of the most technical circuits by many riders. Pairing the challenging configuration with demanding weather conditions, riders must enter the weekend ready to battle while preserving their bodies and their tires.”