COTA Welcomes 118,918 Fans for Spectacular Motogp™ Weekend

Circuit of The Americas (COTA) welcomed 118,918 members, guests and participants for three days of spectacular racing and entertainment during the 2014 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas MotoGP event, April 11-13. While rain clouds threatened most of race day, April 13, weather conditions were overshadowed by scintillating on-track action in the MotoGP, Moto2™ and Moto3™ divisions and the engaging fan activities and live entertainment scheduled throughout the weekend.

Race fans cheered enthusiastically as reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez stormed to another commanding victory for his Repsol Honda Team. The 21-year-old Spaniard (No. 93) is now two-for-two on the year after his season-opening victory in Qatar. The always competitive Moto2 division was full of surprises, as Maverick Viñales (No. 40) of the Pons HP 40 team survived the accident-plagued start of the race to claim the winner’s trophy and improve on his fourth-place finish at Losail. The outcome of an exciting Moto3 contest came down to the final lap, with current series leader Jack Miller (AUS) riding his No. 8 bike to victory for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Team.

“We want to congratulate the world-class riders and teams who once again put on a fantastic show,” COTA President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Dial said. “We also want to thank our members and guests from around the world who again came to Austin to experience the thrill of MotoGP racing. Our three-day turnout was very strong, despite a weather forecast that likely kept some fans at home on race day. Overall, it was another tremendous weekend of racing and entertainment at Circuit of The Americas.”

In addition to the great racing, spectators enjoyed a variety of special events and entertainment, compliments of the circuit and race sponsor Red Bull. The weekend line-up featured stunt riders, skydivers, aerial displays, motorcycle jumping, rider autograph and Q&A sessions, a post-race concert featuring Austin “Musician of the Year” Bob Schneider, and a massive fan track “invasion” following the MotoGP contest. Additionally, fans had the chance to spend time in the MotoGP Paddock and ride their own motorcycles around the track. The famous Ducati Island fan zone made its only U.S. stop in COTA’s Grand Plaza, while motorcycle manufacturers Honda and Yamaha staged elaborate product and merchandise displays, allowing race fans to totally immerse themselves in the two-wheeled universe.

MotoGP racing will return to Circuit of The Americas next year. Race dates and event information for the 2015 MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 races will be released later this year.

License-free, high-resolution images of the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, including photos of racing and entertainment activities, can be downloaded at http://media.circuitoftheamericas.com.

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 has been nominated as the 2014 “Sports Facility of the Year” by SportsBusiness Journal/Daily. The same publication named COTA’s annual marquee event, the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX, “Sports Event of the Year” for 2013. Additionally, COTA 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, business and social functions, and more than 20 performances at the venue’s acclaimed Austin360 Amphitheater, winner of 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 COTA’s dedicated FTP site, media.circuitoftheamericas.com. Follow COTA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CircuitofTheAmericas and Twitter @circuitamericas and @COTAmedia.