MotoGP adds Austin to schedule in 2013

The MotoGP World Championship announced Tuesday that the series will race at the new circuit in Austin, Texas beginning in 2013.

The league signed a 10-year deal with the Circuit of the Americas, which is currently under construction. Of course, the track also has struck a deal for Formula 1 to use its facilities beginning in 2012 for the U.S. Grand Prix.

The race will be the third such event that MotoGP has in the U.S., which leads some to believe whether or not one of the two current tracks (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Indianapolis Motor Speedway) will be cut from the schedule. It’s either that or MotoGP is trying to propel the sport in America, like it is currently doing in Spain, which has FOUR races this year!

If MotoGP is to cut a race in the States, people are pointing to IMS because there is currently no contract for the race in 2012 or 2013.

IMS President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus made a statement about the new addition:

“This can only help elevate the profile in America of this thrilling form of motorsport, which will benefit all existing MotoGP races in this country and enhance the global prestige of the World Championship.”

Whatever happens, it’s always a good thing to have an international racing series as popular as MotoGP get another race in the States. It gives the people of another region the opportunity to see these riders go close to 200 miles per hour on a motorcycle, with their knees nearly touching the ground on turns while not wearing a seatbelt.

But, keeping a race in Indy needs to be a priority. Yes, the place isn’t packed like for the 500 but because it is so large, people forget that there are still massive crowds at IMS for the race. Let’s just hope 2011 isn’t the last year for motorcycles “again” at the Speedway.