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April 3, 2015

WITH ONE WEEK BEFORE MOTOGP, CREWS HARD AT WORK AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS

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With just one week to go before the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, crews are hard at work at Circuit of The Americas.

Some of the team freight has already been delivered to the Austin, Texas, circuit, with more expected in the coming days.

On Friday, large crates that had been sitting on pit lane were being moved into each of the team garages.

Elsewhere, crews were putting up Red Bull-branded banners on the guardrails and on the large pedestrian bridges that go over the circuit.

Along the main straight, Michael Balderas, Armando Martinez Hernandez and Ross Medina with Sports Graphics were busy Friday putting 1,700 feet of banners on the guardrails nearest COTA’s Main Grandstand. Balderas hung the vinyl banners, which come in rolls of 150 feet, while Hernandez and Medina tied down the bottom with zip ties.

Medina has the unique distinction of travelling the length of COTA’s main straight on his butt – twice: He did the same job for last year’s race.

Vinyl stickers will be placed on the wall on the paddock side of the main straight,

a concrete wall about four feet high. In addition to the guardrails on the main straight, banners will be hung at several corners, including a large banner at Turn 20.

Banners are also being hung on either side of the pedestrian bridges near Turn 16 and Turn 3 — each one is 17 feet by about 300 feet, also tied down with zip ties.

All told, the crew will use 13,000 zip ties throughout the circuit.

“And we might be short,” Balderas joked.

Banners on the pedestrian bridges will have “extensions” that make up the top of the riders’ helmets.

The extensions are made of wooden frames with vinyl material stapled on the fronts.

Elsewhere, hospitality tents are being put up in the paddock, while other tents were being placed in the Support Paddock, where fans will find manufacturer displays, demo rides, food, shopping and more.

By Friday, everything will be set to host the fastest motorcycle riders in the world at Circuit of The Americas.

The three-day festival of motorcycles and motorcycle culture will feature non-stop two-wheel action, off-track entertainment including motorcycle, BMX and aerobatic stunt shows, the world’s largest collection of Evel Knievel memorabilia and a post-race concert Sunday by American rockers Cheap Trick.

Three-day general admission passes start at $89, and reserved grandstand seats start at $59. Children 15 and under will receive a free general admission pass with a ticketed adult.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit circuitoftheamericas.com/motogp.

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