Following the season’s curtain-raiser at Portimão in Portugal and the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina at Termas de Rio Hondo, the third round of the 2023 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship campaign takes competitors to the Texan capital of Austin on April 16, and the famous Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
Snaking around its cobra-like observation tower, COTA's anti-clockwise layout comprises 11 right-hand corners and nine to the left. Designed by German architect Hermann Tilke – the man responsible for many of the sport's most successful modern venues – certain sections of the lap pay homage to classic circuits such as Hockenheim, Silverstone, Interlagos or the Red Bull Ring (formerly the Österreichring). Very demanding, the track is characterised by a 40-metre incline from the start-line up to Turn One, as well as a 1,200m-long straight where riders reach speeds in excess of 350kph. These factors combine to make the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas one of the biggest challenges of the season for competitors, bikes and Michelin's tyres.
Over the years, efforts have been made to iron out the bumps that appear on the circuit as the soil and clay underneath its surface constantly shift. Even allowing for these regular improvements, riders will still need to get an initial feel for track before starting to push to the limit.
Texas might be regarded as a hot state, but the weather at this time of year can be changeable, with anticipated air temperatures of around 25°C and overcast skies carrying an ever-present threat of rain.
The MICHELIN Power Slicks allocated for COTA were selected in accordance with the particular demands of the circuit – most notably its abrasive nature. The Soft, Medium and Hard front tyres are all symmetric, while the two rear tyre specifications – Soft and Medium – are asymmetric, with a harder compound on the right in order to withstand the stresses of the right-hand turns.
The MICHELIN Power Rain allocation comprises Soft and Medium options for both front and rear – the latter, like the slicks, asymmetric with a harder compound on the right.
“The Circuit of the Americas always represents a bit of a step into the unknown for riders, as the track evolves from one year to the next," observes Piero Taramasso, manager of Michelin's two-wheel motorsport programs. "Its surface is aggressive, exacerbated by repeated efforts to smooth out the bumps, which have created lots of tiny grooves in the asphalt. That makes COTA one of the most punishing stops on the MotoGP calendar for the front tires, which is why we will take the same range to Texas as we took to Argentina. By contrast, it is not so tough on the rears, hence the choice of Soft and Medium there – both asymmetric to suit the circuit’s characteristics. The flow of the corners and the high speeds also generate plenty of heat in the tyres, while putting riders under considerable physical strain – and that will be even more the case this year with the new Saturday sprint race in addition to Sunday's grand prix."
The action will get underway on Friday, April 14, with the opening two practice sessions, followed by more free practice, Q1, Q2 and the Sprint race the next day. The 20-lap Grand Prix will begin at 2pm local time on Sunday, April 16.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario