Guzzi Gaggle at COTA Moto GP - April 10-12, 2015

[PJPR01]

There is a really mean joke here  ;D  Dusty

  Totally unintentional I can assure you!  :)

[LowRyter]

As expected, Ducati Austin sent notices today about their MotoGP Party.  Thursday evening from 5 to 8.  Beer and food.  Vito is 'hinting' that some professional riders that have 'recently been on the podium' will be there.

Address is 812 East Braker Lane.   This is north on I-35, probably 5 miles from downtown.  The store is just off the interstate to the east on Braker.  Vito is a really good guy and throws a nice party.

BUT BE FORWARNED!  Traffic north out of downtown Austin at that time of day is bad enough to make even the most seasoned California commuter cry out in despair.   You will have an opportunity find out why this stretch of highway is ranked as one of the 10 worst in the United States.

Just north my Motel, the Taj 6.  I should be able to make it.  Free Beer you say (Guzzi Content)?

Austin I-35 has always been the worst traffic jam in America....even the I5 and the 405 aren't worse.

[LowRyter]

  Totally unintentional I can assure you!  :)

40% rain all weekend...........  ::(

[LowRyter]

wow,  it's 90% chance of TStorms.   I might take the car tomorrow.

[guzziknight]

I'm in Houston now. Will be in Austin tomorrow. Any decision on Saturday breakfast yet?

[LowRyter]

dunno....but come over to the motel and kill a few beers.

[LowRyter]

Mike and I got some free Ducati beer.  Met last GP's podium guys.

[Yukonica]

Hoping everyone there will have a great weekend.
I'm sitting watching rain delayed FP1 on a laptop. Not as near as I'd like to be.

[PJPR01]

Crikey...it's not looking good at all for the race from a weather perspective, but we'll be heading up early Saturday morning by car I imagine now and most likely will hit the Hand built show from 10-12 (sponsored by Guzzi!!).  If it's a total rainout, we'll just enjoy the day up there and watch it on TV from the hotel or maybe at the Oasis on Lake Travis.  I guess we'll just have to wear a Guzzi Tshirt to keep a bit of Moto content for the weekend!

I've just put new Pilot Road 4's on the Norge, got 12K miles out of the Pilot Road 3's (very pleased with their performance), but I haven't even ridden it yet to scrub in the new tires, so riding with a passenger on brand new tires in a total squall for a couple of hours doesn't really appeal to my sense of safety!  :)  Will just have to take the Sports car up! 

[LowRyter]

I thought I'd update with a few photos.

First, I'd like to thank Mike and Trish for their hospitality (spelled D-U-C-A-T-I)







now for some track photos.

COTA is the top road course facility in the Western Hemisphere



I got a few photos of the riders

autograph buddies (see above) (Dovi finished 2nd and the Maniac 5th)








Jorge (finished 4th)



The Doctor got 3rd





Marquez wins the whole deal including and incredible poll run

[jbell]

 I work security (think one step below Mall Cop) at COTA.  Don't hate me, but I worked all three days in the Bonnier Magazine (Cycle World, Sport Rider, Motorcyclist and 8 more) Suite.  Super nice people, the best I've been treated at one of these events, and I met Wayne Rainy, chatted with Steve Rapp (cool guy)  and met and chatted with Peter Egan who is very approachable, unassuming  and a wealth of entertaining stories and who also personalized and signed a 3' x 4' blow up of the Cycle World Cover for March (Ducati Scrambler issue) for me.  Also scored a limited edition, not for sale Dovi t-shirt, met a couple of rock stars, a TV star and Tommy Lee Jones (doesn't talk much) and a number of industry people.  Of course, I didn't get to watch the races on the track, had to settle for three days of air conditioned comfort and seeing it on the four closed circuit big screens in the suite. Sure hope I get that assignment again next year.

[LaGrasta]

I'm all about MotoGP, wasn't able to attend live, but was glued to the screen for hours this past weekend. Thanks for the thread, pics and also the security clearance (JBell)!

Sad about so few Americans on the grid; Nicky is all but done. Many of the guys are easy to route for though, I must say all seem so likable. Generally for me, it's #46, #29, #93

[LowRyter]

I think Honda should've given Pedrosa's bike to Nicky.  He ran about as well as the Honda customer bike will go.  Perhaps Honda could give Pedrosa's bike to each of the satellite Honda riders when they are in their home country?

I think Nicky deserves better from Honda.  Anyway, Honda needs to get a better rider on that bike, otherwise they could be in trouble by not giving Marquez any help in the points race.

[PJPR01]

Moto GP was fun again this year and the turn out looked decent, but I'd venture to was down vs. last year considering how many open seats there were in the stands and the GA spots were nowhere near as packed! 

We enjoyed the race and the whole festivities, plus the Biergarten was nicely decorated!  :) 

The Guzzi tent and Aprilia Tent were decent, always short a bit on nice Guzzi merchandise and goodies, but I did find one nice Red Guzzi shirt for my girlfriend. 

Of course, the weather forecast was woefully wrong...claiming 80-90% chances of rain for the weekend, and nary a drizzle, ironically the 2 pm forecast called for a downpour, and it was the sunniest part of the day!   Anyway,  we ended up not riding the Norge, but driving up in the sports car which was fun anyway as we had a nice spirited run on the Lockhart Autobahn!

Marquez continues to amaze...Il Dottore...well...he's still got some fight in him, the rest of the guys look like amateurs by comparison...it's incredible how much of a gap there is between the top 3 riders and the rest of the field.

Watching these guys lean over almost to the ground makes you grin every time they pass by!  Great fun!!

[LowRyter]

I thought the crowd was decent.  I wouldn't expect the crowd would be as big on year 3 vs year 1.  Typically it ratchets to a sustainable number at probably 50k on race day.  And weather fears was another factor. 

I had no problems with the traffic this year.

[mjptexas]

I thought I'd update with a few photos.

First, I'd like to thank Mike and Trish for their hospitality (spelled D-U-C-A-T-I)...

John, was great seeing you again.  Maybe next time the weather will be a little better for riding.  Let's think about a Hill Country ride on Thursday before the race next year.

[LaGrasta]

Crowd numbers are reported at 140,000 over the three days.

[LowRyter]

John, was great seeing you again.  Maybe next time the weather will be a little better for riding.  Let's think about a Hill Country ride on Thursday before the race next year.

I've been meaning to ride the Greenie on the 3 Sisters for some time now.  I had a really great visit.  Thanks for your hospitality.