AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- MotoGP is making its return to Circuit of The Americas in Austin this weekend - the first race in the United States in two years.
Italy's Francesco Bagnaia took the pole position after qualifying on Saturday, looking to make it three wins in a row Sunday afternoon. Current MotoGP championship leader Fabio Quartararo will start second, while six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will start third.
Despite rainy weather to start practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday, the conditions of the track surface are a concern for some riders, including Quartararo and Marquez.
"It’s more or less a track I use to train with a motocross bike, but much faster and with a MotoGP bike,” said Quartararo after Friday's practice session. “So, it’s really bad. I can’t imagine it, we said three years ago they need to resurface and it’s even worse. It’s just acceptable to race, I don’t know what to say. But it’s a joke."
“It’s not a MotoGP track for me. To make a race here – for one lap it’s OK – but for 20 laps, we will see that there will be some bad moments," Quartararo continued.
Marquez, who will be looking to notch his seventh win at COTA, echoed the concerns. “The bumps are on the limit. The condition of the track surface is in the limit," said Marquez. “The problem is it’s not like real bumps. The surface is moving, and then it’s so difficult.”
Speed CIty will have live on-air coverage from COTA for today's race, getting underway at 1:30 p.m. with the race set for 2 p.m.
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