Only two months until the world’s premier motorcycle racing series, MotoGP™, returns to Circuit of The Americas (COTA), April 11-13, 2014, and U.S. MotoGP riders Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden are busy getting their respective teams and bikes ready to compete. The new year brings new equipment and plenty of new challenges for these daredevils on two wheels. This week, the “Kentucky Kid” Nicky Hayden takes a break from preseason testing to share his insights on how 2014 is shaping up.
IN THE GARAGE with…NICKY HAYDEN
U.S. MotoGP™ Rider (#69)
Team: Drive M7 Aspar
Motorcycle: Honda
THE SKINNY ON PRESEASON TESTING…
COTA: What were your major takeaways from your first 2014 preseason test in Malaysia?
NICKY: Well, it was great to get back on the bike after the mandatory testing break in December and January and go back to work with the team. Unfortunately, we weren’t as quick at Sepang as I’d hoped. We ended in 14th position after three days of testing.
On the plus side, the bike was handling great, and I really enjoyed being back on a Honda and working with the Drive M7 Aspar team. We improved a lot on our electronics—specifically on the corner entry. But we need to find some top speed to be competitive with the guys at the front of the field.
COTA: What will you and your team focus on prior to the next test session (Feb. 26-28)?
NICKY: It will be good to go back to the same track because we already have the base set-up. So we can start almost immediately evaluating big parts and big changes like head angle, offsets, links and things that. We would like to get things set for the season, and know what each change does to the bike. That way when the racing season begins, we know how to fix the problems we encounter.
Also it will be important for me, after seeing the data and having time to think about things, to work on my riding and what I need to do to be competitive on a Honda again. I need to break any old habits I’m carrying over from my Ducati experience, especially when it comes to braking.
LET’S GET PERSONAL…
COTA: What’s your favorite meal after a long day at the track?
NICKY: Anything and everything! After a long day at the track, when I’m riding most of the day AND evaluating data and the bike’s performance with my teammates, I find myself very hungry. I normally try to be good and grab something healthy like fish or chicken and vegetables. At least that’s the plan. But I usually end up snacking on something before I make it to dinner.
COTA: Who is the person in motorsports you admire most and why?
NICKY: There are lots of people I grew up admiring and trying to watch and learn from, especially in the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) series. My absolute favorite growing up was Texan Bubba Shobert, a Factory Honda dirt tracker and road racer who claimed both the AMA Grand National Championship and Superbike Championship. I also looked up to AMA Grand National Champion Will Davis, who had 31 victories in that series, and fellow AMA star, Hall of Famer and MotoGP competitor Doug Chandler.
Coming up next week…COTA goes IN THE GARAGE with Texan Colin Edwards.
DON’T FORGET – RED BULL GRAND PRIX OF THE AMERICAS TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
COTA’s 2014 MotoGP event features many new fan-friendly options, including
•Three-day weekend passes and single-day ticket options for fans;
•A new dry camping option for fans who want to stay close to the circuit all weekend; and
•Kids 12 and under receive FREE general admission with a ticketed adult.
GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE GREATEST SPECTACLE IN TWO-WHEEL RACING!
Single-day general admission tickets start at $39 for Friday’s practice sessions, and single-day reserved seats start at $59. Three-day weekend passes start at $89 for general admission or $139 for reserved seats. Three-day dry camping passes are available for $150 per space.
MotoGP Ticket and Parking Prices – Circuit of The Americas – April 11-13, 2014
| Seating Type | Single-day Ticket/Person | Three-day Weekend Pass/Person |
| General Admission | $39 to $59 | $89 |
| Reserved Seat | $59 to $109 | $139 to $199 |
| Kids 12 and under | FREE GA with ticketed adult | FREE GA with ticketed adult |
| Dry Camping Space (20’x20’) | N/A | $150 (20’x20’) or $300 (20’x40’) |
| Parking Type | Single-day Parking/Vehicle | Three-day Weekend Parking/Vehicle |
| Cars | $20 | $45 |
| Motorcycles | $10 | $20 |
To purchase tickets, parking and camping, visit http://circuitoftheamericas.com/motogp/.
About Circuit of The Americas
Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, is the home of world championships and a world-class destination for premium sports and entertainment. COTA hosts the annual FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX, which was named 2013 “Sports Event of the Year” by SportsBusiness Journal/Daily, and is the new North American home for the summer edition of ESPN’s X Games. More than one million visitors come to COTA each year for events such as MotoGP™, United Sportscar Racing, the FIA World Endurance Championships, COTA Track Days, business and social functions, and more than 20 performances at the venue’s acclaimed Austin360 Amphitheater, nominated for Pollstar’s “Best New Major Concert Venue” award for 2013. COTA’s 1,500-acre campus includes a variety of permanent structures, including a 44,000-square foot Event Center, an impressive Main Grandstand with hospitality suites and the Velocity Lounge, a 270,000-square foot Paddock Building with 34 garages, and an iconic 25-story Observation Tower at the heart of the facility. For more information and downloadable video and photos, visit: www.CircuitofTheAmericas.com, www.Austin360Amphitheater.com or the COTA’s dedicated FTP site, media.circuitoftheamericas.com. Follow COTA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CircuitofTheAmericas and Twitter @circuitamericas and @COTAmedia.