The Grand Prix and Me
So I’m not one for racing. Nascar, Formula 1, Drag Racing, none of them have really caught my attention. In fact being from Buda my races tend to be of the wiener dog variety rather than the sports car variety. So you can imagine my indifference towards the Motor Grand Prix held at the Circuit of the Americas this past weekend. Not only is it not wiener dog racing, but it’s not even car racing. Instead, motorcycles careen around hairpin turns, punch the gas through the straightaways, and lay rubber to tarmac to win top position. But hey, even if I don’t know a single thing about Moto GP, a trip to the track would be fun. Good food and drinks, a strangely American-European atmosphere, and good seats to boot; I couldn’t pass up the chance.
And I’m glad I didn’t. It turns out you don’t have to know much about racing to get the full body rattling, ear shattering experience of Moto GP. Every time the bikes would pass my seat, they’d send a sound wave of energy and excitement through me and I couldn’t ‘t help but grin. Every time they’d slow on the curve and sprint out onto the straightaway (momentarily popping a wheelie in the process) a piece of me felt like cheering, even if the rider couldn’t hear me. And every time they’d lean their bikes centimeters from the ground just to gain a fraction of a second, I’d clench my teeth in nervous anticipation. That is the full effect of Moto Grand Prix.
And by the time you’ve watched a few laps, you even begin to pick out some of your favorite riders. While I used the complex scientific and mathematical formula of choosing based on “who has the coolest looking bike,” some of the more advanced race fans might choose based on country of origin or actual racing statistics. Either way, what I found out is it’s just as fun cheering on a racer, as it is the star of a football team.
So even if you don’t consider yourself much of a racer, I recommend getting out to the track for a day or two. It’s time to embrace this European sport transported to the heart of central Texas. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Story By: Dio Gomez