Austin Moto GP 2013

So, I am going to the Austin F1 race next month and hoping the logistics, planning, and organization are not too bad. Tickets for the Moto GP went on sale today for 19-21 April of next year. Tickets seem reasonable compared to F1, and I have use of a car and house in San Antonio.

Anyone else bought tickets, and are any of the F1 "issues" affecting your decision? I haven't heard any updates on the lawsuit with Kevin Schwantz and the track. I hope that is resolved and he is there.

 

Bought my tickets today 2 GA for $200 delivered...weekend passes

 

I reserved hotel in downtown Austin. Hopefully, there will be some bike events downtown. I can borrow a motorcycle for the week and check out hill country, too.

I will watch F1 from home. Prefer to go to Europe for an F1 race since I have never been.

 

Does anyone know if the parking shuttle plan is the same as the F1 race? It seemed to work well, and I hope it is the same. I wonder if there is an expected attendance level that turns on the shuttle plan or is it only for the F1 race.

 

I got parking passes from Dorna, so I'm not going to worry about parking. Suggestions for hotels?

Art

 

Driscoll is luxury, and downtown Art..as is the Four Seasons...there's actually a hotel AT the airport, right next to the track.....Holiday Inn Express on Hwy 71 west is close to the Broken Spoke...or, just crash in with us.

I am hoping we re-enroll as Volunteers but obviously this event will be well different from F1 event!

 

I'll drop you a pm before the event.

Art

 

i was super excited about this race but now that Casey Stoner retired. I could care less! Austin is a gorgeous city though with great food.

 

I wish this had turned out better:
Kevin Schwantz vs Circuit of the Americas - Sport Rider Magazine

 

I know Kevin. He's not one of my favorite people. I don't want to put why here though.


Art

 

I understand, and I am sure there are at least three sides to the story. It is sad that he is not a part of this race in his home city.

 

PM me and I'll tell ou why.

Art

 

He's from Houston ...Hurst Yamaha and Marine...old dealership in the Memorial area...

He did indeed walk the cow pasture and sketch the track out with Tavo......they ran the same play, on him.
Both these guys, IMO, should have had their own backing investors...Red McCombs (with Bobby Epstein) wasn't go to pay their way.

 

Moto GP schedule shows that Moto 2 and 3 will be in Austin. That will be very good. Looking forward to it.

Riding in Hill country for a couple of days. Anyone ever stay at Hangar Hotel? TIA.

 

Kind of related - went to the F1 race, and walked the entire track - lots of grand stands, bleachers, booths, toilets, food, water, etc. Watched the Grand Am race on TV last night, and 3/4 of the track side was empty. After turn 1, there was nothing but grass until coming back to about turn 15. Completely different looking place.

I guess the bikes will have more stuff, but less than F1...?

 

KS Facebook page,
I have read several reports regarding my attendance at the MotoGP test last week in Austin. I would like to make this statement:

"I had been in Switzerland over the weekend where I was the guest speaker at the St. Gallen University. I returned to Texas on Tuesday evening and on Thursday I was at CotA for the MotoGP test, with a proper credential supplied by the Attack team, to coach Blake Young. Additionally I was an invited guest of the LCR Honda team.

While there, CotA security informed me that CotA management requested I leave the track immediately and was not welcomed at the circuit. CotA's security force also accused me of criminal trespass and warned I would be arrested the next time I entered the track.

This comes as a tremendous disappointment to Honda, Blake Young, and myself. Especially because I am single-handedly responsible for bringing MotoGP to Texas and for the initial design of the facility to accommodate MotoGP racing."

 

On Facebook I offered to buy dozens of the number 34 Kevin T shirts and hand them out at the main entrance. Anyone else want to participate?

He's not one of my favorites but the good old boys screwed him, and this would be perfect.

Art

 

Here is my take on it, and a brief story......

Riding in the Tour Bus of the track, with a 'close personal friend of Bobby Epstein" giving the tour, there was told The History of the COTA.

After it was told, Tavo's name was mentioned (conspicuous by omission, in the Story told above).....

"I wouldn't know about that, it was before my time here."

I DO know this was a very nice friendy man, but he was large enough that I certainly was not going to ofer any additional comment.

This treatment of KS is quite odd though, to me.....Art, do you think it's because he has not 'settled" as Tavo did??? Out of all the people there, someone was watching the CCTV for HIM????

The Security Camera rack is pretty awesome, I was going to take a pic of it in the Media Center, but forgot. It's the size of a train car!!!

 

Maybe hand them out at the Shuttle Stop downtown...Texas Law would apply there, not COTA Law

Or an air drop!!!!!!!

THAT would be awesome.....they would take your Tail Numbers...

 

I had a better thought: I'm going to ask Ulrich to see if the MotoGP riders will wear number 34 t shirts or caps for their press interviews.

That should frost the track, but they can't touch the rids.

Art

Just heard from JU tells me a bad idea. I'll drop Ben Spies a note and see what he says.

Art

 

Kevin Schwantz Escorted Out of the Circuit of the Americas

 

Art

I will buy a Tshirt. I do have a 34 hat from his school. Send me a PM with address and I will send you a check. We will be in Austin on Friday after a few days of riding in Hill Country.

 

I can understand COTA not wanting him there because of the lawsuit, but it sure would be a stand up move to put it aside and have KS there to support and represent MotoGP. He doesn't have to be the grand marshal. PR-wise, if I was COTA, I would bite my tongue, let KS attend the race, and pick up the politics afterward. "though we are currently in legal discussions with Kevin, he is an ambassador for MotoGP, Texas and the USA. Today is for racing, and we will continue our legal matters afterward."

To threaten arrest, have security remove him, and call it trespassing is petty. And regardless of opinions of KS, his contract, or lawsuit, if he is at home watching the race on TV, that is shameful. A MotoGP in Texas, USA without KS is wrong. This is supposed to be fun entertainment, and it's not.

Would be interesting to know Roberts, Lawson, Rainey, etc opinions.

 

I don't really have much of an opinion concerning Schwantz either way, but I do get the feeling from the last few months that the owners of COTA are more than a bit arrogant. They have probably the best track in North America and one of the best in the world, and they know it.

 

To them, it is an investment. They are investors, not racing fanatics nor enthusiasts of any kind. They are the suits that are in the office building on Congress Avenue, not the employees at the track. At the track, the workers follow the rules layed out by the suits, even though they don't like it. There are employees at the track who are the real enthusiasts, so if you are visiting there, don't think badly of them. They are only doing what they are told. It is a sad situation.