After the season opener in Portimao (Portugal) and the Gran Premio Michelin® de la República Argentina at Termas de Rio Hondo, the third round of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship will take place on April 16, 2023 in Austin, the capital of Texas, on the Circuit of the Americas.
Overhung by its cobra-shaped tower, the route has 11 right turns and 9 left turns, and is taken in an anti-clockwise direction. Designed by the German architect Hermann Tilke, author of the most beautiful modern tracks, the Circuit of the Americas retraces certain sections of iconic circuits, such as Hockenheim, Silverstone, Interlagos or Österreichring. This track is very demanding and is characterized by a 40m drop leading to the first corner, but also by a long straight line of 1m where drivers reach speeds in excess of 200 km/h. The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas is therefore one of the biggest challenges of the year for Michelin drivers, machines and tires.
Work has been done over the years to remove the bumps that form due to constantly changing terrain. Despite these gradual improvements, the drivers will have to get to grips with the track before being able to attack hard.
Although Texas has a reputation as a hot state, the season's weather remains unpredictable with temperatures expected to reach 25°C in the air and overcast skies. The risk of rain is still present.
The allocation of MICHELIN Power Slicks tires for Texas was selected to meet the demands of the circuit, including the abrasiveness of the track. Offered in Soft Drinks, Medium et Hard, the three front tires are symmetrical while the two rear Soft Drinks et Medium are asymmetrical with a harder right side to support the forces generated by right turns.
The MICHELIN Power Rain endowment includes a Soft Drinks et Medium for the front and rear, the latter being asymmetrical with a harder right side, like slicks.
“The Circuit of the Americas is always a surprise for drivers, the route evolves every year”, explain Piero Taramasso, manager of the Michelin 2R competition. “ The asphalt is aggressive, also due to the successive planing operations, which have generated microgrooves on the surface. The Texan track is one of the most demanding circuits for the front tires, so we use the same range of tires there as in Argentina. On the other hand, it is less severe for the rear tires, hence the choice of Soft and Medium specifications, asymmetrical to adapt well to the profile of the circuit. Finally, the succession of turns and the high top speeds generate a lot of heat in the tires, but also considerable physical effort for the drivers, particularly this year with the Sprint race on Saturday which is added to the Grand Prix. »
The action begins on Friday April 14 with the first two practice sessions, followed by FP and Qualifying 1 and 2 on Saturday, just before the Sprint race. The start of the 2023 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas will be given on Sunday April 16 at 14:00 p.m. local time (21:00 p.m. French time) for this race which has 20 laps.
