MotoGP riders say COTA “safer” now after resurfacing, but doubts remain

Last year’s Americas Grand Prix was overshadowed by the track surface being dangerously bumpy, with riders raising safety concerns about returning to COTA if the problems were not addressed.

A partial resurfacing from Turns 2-10 and Turns 12-16 was carried out over the winter ahead of this weekend’s race.

Suzuki rider and 2020 world champion Joan Mir says the circuit is now safer than it was last year, but also noted that bumps on American circuits will be something that will have to be accepted.

“When we come here to America the track is always really bumpy,” he said.

“We have to live with that but it’s a lot better than last year and probably I don’t complain because I know how bad last year was. It’s bumpy. Yes, this year it’s safe.”

Gresini’s Enea Bastianini echoed Mir’s comments about the safety, but noted that it is now much harder to put in a good lap time because one mistake will compromise your entire effort.

“Not a big step, but a step especially in Turns 2 and 10,” said Bastianini, when asked if the bumps that remained were at least better than they were in 2021.

“Now it’s not dangerous. Only now it’s difficult to make a very good lap time because if you make one error you aren’t fast, because if you make an error in Turn 3, four, five [and] six is impossible.”

Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro feels the job that has been done on the surface is fine for now.

However, he said that as far as resurfacing jobs go, it is still below the standard expected for MotoGP.

“Regarding the bumps, the track is much better than last year,” he added.

“But, as new tarmac it’s terrible because when you have new tarmac it has to be not [just] better – it has to be perfect.

“It has to be fully flat and it’s not. So, yes, I’m happy because it’s another story from last year.

“But still, there’s a lot of bumps, it’s still a very difficult track.

“I know also it’s not easy because this track is crazy, it’s up and down, left, right, left, right, many corners.

“So, it’s very difficult also for the tarmac to try to make it like a new tarmac in Misano, Barcelona.

“So, they did a good job. At least for 2022 it’s fixed, but the future is not super good for this circuit.”