COTA's racing surface is a wrinkle in MotoGP's U.S. future

The problem is not a new one. The most commonly cited explanation is that the Circuit of the Americas suffers from the constant swelling and shrinking of the clay soils of the region, despite some extraordinary construction methods used when it was built outside Austin, Texas. That kind of soil expands and contracts with moisture, and consider that Texas has everything from hot, dry summers to hurricane-level rains. The results of all that earthly movement are not just cracks in the asphalt, but also undulations.

That may not mean the situation is hopeless, however. Autosport quoted track-building specialist Jarno Zaffelli as pointing out that the Silverstone circuit in Great Britain, which was so bumpy and drained so poorly that a MotoGP race there was canceled in 2018, was repaved successfully despite similar problems.

The future of MotoGP racing at COTA may depend on whether the track can be repaired because riders were nearly unanimous that something has to be done before they return next year. While the riders (most of them speaking in a second language) referred to bumps, they're really talking about depressions and rises that are more like waves, not something so obvious as a sharp-edged bump.

pic.twitter.com/IDsIQLA9kb

— Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (@YamahaMotoGP) October 1, 2021

Championship leader Fabio Quartararo called it "a joke." Brad Binder said the jolts were so hard it was difficult to maintain throttle control. Pol Espargaró said "I have a lot of pain in my neck from the bumps around the track... the race will be difficult."

If you're inclined to make a comment about how these Europeans should come over to South Philly and see some real potholes and stop complaining about a beautiful race track, you should consider that MotoGP bikes can easily top 200 mph and have ultra-stiff chassis, to enable them to be the fastest roadracing motorcycles in the world. It's not just about being comfortable. Riders were experiencing moments when both tires were off the surface due to the undulations in the asphalt. The limits of their strength were tested as suspensions went from full extension to full compression and they experienced constant G forces. It was easy to see the motorcycles bouncing around on some parts of the track.

Stumbling upon the bumps this afternoon 🥴🇺🇸#KTM #Tech3 #MotoGP #Tech3KTMFactoryRacing @MotoGP #AmericasGP #IL27 #DP9 pic.twitter.com/MdghzuRIa5

— Tech3 Racing (@Tech3Racing) October 1, 2021

Nor are the complaints anti-U.S. bias. Riders invariably say they enjoy coming to the United States. For the mostly European racers, Texas is maybe not as "exotic" as some place like Malaysia, but it's definitely a different culture and new scenery for a series that has spent too much time in Europe during the pandemic. Riders want to race here. They also like the layout of COTA. They just don't want to take the Texas metaphors like "bucking bronco" quite so literally.

P13 #AmericasGP Friday

"The track is really tricky. It doesn’t really make a difference to me if tomorrow is wet or dry, the main thing is to improve my feeling because it’s very difficult with these bad bumps on the track, it unsettles the bike."@motogp @suzukimotogp pic.twitter.com/QFdVsU09YZ

— JoanMir36 (@JoanMirOfficial) October 1, 2021

By the time the Safety Commission meeting (the riders' chance to raise these issues formally) came around on Saturday, there was consensus that a big portion of the track needed to be repaved before next year's race or there should be no MotoGP race at COTA. And since the MotoGP race at COTA is traditionally in April, that doesn't leave a year to fix the problem, but rather a few months. Any work on the track would have to be done after the Formula One race later this month and before next year's racing.

Aleix E says 95% of the riders in yesterday's safety commission agreed that it'll be impossible to return next year unless the problems are fixed. COTA told them that Turns 2 to 10 at least will be resurfaced

— Mat Oxley (@matoxley) October 2, 2021

Is there an alternative for a U.S. GP?

Built just a decade ago, it seemed COTA was going to be the permanent home for the U.S. round of MotoGP. A beautiful new track with a fun layout and modern safety standards with quality amenities and next door to a city with a vibrant cultural scene. But the very earth itself has put some literal wrinkles in the plan.

Miguel Oliveira's Austin dental repair.

If the rider's fill-ins are getting knocked loose due to the bumps, head down to KTM and Miguel will fix you up 😂🦷#MotoGP #AmericasGP pic.twitter.com/Wbc19byxKZ

— CRASH.NET/MotoGP (@crash_motogp) October 2, 2021

For several years, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the U.S. round and it was successful enough. Nobody liked the road course layout in the IMS oval as much as COTA's striking elevation changes, but the facilities that handled up to half a million Indy 500 fans in the past were certainly more than adequate to serve 70,000 MotoGP fans in comfort. But the IMS was always very focused on cars, not motorcycles. Management seemed content to let the MotoGP race slip away to Austin without a struggle.

Van tomando medidas para los baches de COTA pic.twitter.com/l0j0qenW7w

— Maca (@jdpmad) October 2, 2021

What else? WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has hosted MotoGP in the past, but it's a small track for MotoGP bikes and safety standards are not where they need to be. Lots of people say they'd love to see a MotoGP race at Barber Motorsports Park, which also has top-notch facilities, but that track is also small and tight by MotoGP standards. To compare apples to apples, MotoAmerica Superbikes, which have raced at both tracks, are 30 mph faster at COTA than Barber. MotoGP bikes would never have a chance to stretch their legs at Barber.

There isn't an easy alternative. And World Superbike veteran Loris Baz, who just finished his first season racing in the United States in MotoAmerica, put it another way.

If only they know Austin is the best pavement of US 😂 https://t.co/082XKNy6JV

— Loris baz (@lorisbaz) October 2, 2021

Despite all this, there is clearly a big desire by MotoGP organizer Dorna, as well as the riders and teams themselves, to have a race in North America. This year, despite canceling races in Malaysia, Australia and Argentina, MotoGP decided to go ahead with the U.S. race even though that decision time coincided with rapidly rising COVID-19 cases in the Austin area and Texas hospital ICUs filled to capacity.

Everyone wants a MotoGP race in the United States. The question is whether the shifting Texas soil will create bumps big enough to throw that plan off course.