While I’m personally disappointed, I have to say that it’s for the best.
Texans have NOT had a good track record of wearing masks and distancing
themselves properly (I say this as a Texan) and the GP was sure to be a
super-spreader event.

I suppose COTA will kick my ticket up to 2022; I am worried a bit about its
solvency, as this will be two years without a major event (assuming F1
skips it later this year as well).

Garth

On Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 7:22 AM Vicki Smith vicki@ducati.net wrote:

--
Garth Williams
832.731.1968
garthfw@gmail.com

I was thinking the same, especially with Indy in good hands now and with a proven track record of being able to pull off a “COVID effected event”. If I was in the MotoGP scheduling department I’d have reached out to Indy for 2022 already.  2021 second half is jammed so cancelling the April date is pretty final for any 2021 event on this side of the world.
Vicki

Vicki,

In my own self-interest, I hope you’re wrong about 2022.  COTA has been, if
not the cause of, a huge part of the renaissance of moto and auto racing in
Texas and I think the loss of either F1 or MotoGP on a more permanent basis
would be terrible for the state. I’m not sure events like the Handbuilt
Show could exist without the GP.

Anyhow, I might able to make it to an Indy MotoGP race,  but given I NEVER
went to any other US GPs, I kind of doubt it.

Garth

On Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 7:47 AM Vicki Smith Vicki@ducati.net wrote:

--
Garth Williams
832.731.1968
garthfw@gmail.com

Do they run moto track events at COTA at all?  Track days, club racing etc?
Pags

On Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 8:56 AM Garth Williams garthfw@gmail.com wrote:

Pags

They definitely do.  It’s not like the track doesn’t have revenue (and they
assuredly have a schedule full of team rentals for testing purposes), but I
think it was built with the near-guarantee that they would have at least
one major event each year. Without either for two years (I’m assuming the
F1 GP won’t happen there this year at this rate), that’s gotta be hurting
them severely.

Please understand that this is conjecture and I am not an insider there.

Garth

On Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 7:59 AM Tony Pags ajpags@gmail.com wrote:

--
Garth Williams
832.731.1968
garthfw@gmail.com

Yeah, totally understand that.  I was just curious.  Both Loudon and Pocono
wouldn't exist without their NASCAR weekends for sure.

On Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 9:04 AM Garth Williams garthfw@gmail.com wrote:

I have not been to COTA, but have been to most of the last MotoGP races at
Laguna Seca and all of the races at Indy; so I will add my two cents,
mostly comparing Indy with Laguna Seca.

• I agree that Indy really knows how to pull off this sort of event.
  Laguna does their best, but it is not at the same level as Indy.
• Indy's track is not as interesting as Laguna's, but you can watch
  large portions of the race without the big screens from many places in the
  stands, more so than Laguna.
• As far as the midfield stuff, vendors, manufacturers, food and
  beverage, I'd say the two are about the same.
• Laguna has the best motorcycle route to and from the track on Los
  Laureles Grade. Exciting way to start the day when covered in fog, and a
  great way to end the day when it is dry and sunny.
• Indy has hurricanes, which, as those of us who were there for Ike,
  make for very exciting racing, and viewing (for me, from the top row of the
  Ducati grandstands, trying to hang onto my piece of red cardboard).
• As I recall, Ducati Island was different but equally satisfying at
  both tracks, though I believe Ducati reduced their support during the years
  at Indy, and so the Island got smaller and less spectacular.

As for COTA, I have never been there, so cannot speak to the logistics, or
what the experience on site is like. But, from watching all MotoGP races on
MotoGP.com and flying over the track (my partner pointed it out to me as we
passed "hey, look - isn't that the MotoGP racetrack? Now you have to go"
and she hates motorcycle racing) I would say it is the best of the three
for MotoGP, in terms of racing; a point Marc Marquez would agree with.

As to my wishes, they are personal and political:

• I would like to see all three tracks host MotoGP in the same year,
  just so I can go to all three (and so I finally get a chance to go to
  Austin) but,....
• I don't think it is fair that one country gets 3 events, unless, of
  course, that country is Spain

Kevin

On Fri, 22 Jan 2021 at 07:16, Mario Baroz mariobaroz@hotmail.com wrote: