Page 8 - ISSUE2GRIDFINAL

MOTO AMERICA / GEORGIA
8
GRIDMOTO • MAY 2017
If you talk to any rider in the MotoAmerica paddock, they’ll express their enthusiasm to race at Road Atlanta. It’s undeniably a rider favorite due to the technical nature of the track, the outstand- ing ebb and flow of elevation, the presence of multiple blind corners, the fast and flowing nature of the circuit, as well as the iconic esses section. At the end of the day, the athletes that suit up for competition swing a leg over their motorcycle to have fun -- and Road Atlanta is one of those tracks that provides them with that opportunity from Friday to Sunday, each and every session.
In addition to the forty plus years of history stowed away in the Georgia countryside, Road Atlanta always seems to give the fans their money’s worth with exceptionally close racing from start to finish. The circuit lends itself to closely contested battles, relentless slipstreaming, and late brak- ing antics that always keep the crowd on their feet until the checkered flag. There are multiple long straightaways that lead directly into incredibly heavy braking zones, presenting loads of occasions in which riders play a game of chicken on the brakes. The infamous final corner was recently changed to accommodate the safety of motorcyclists, but it actually provides another overtaking zone at the last possible opportunity, continuing to improve the circuit from a fan’s perspective.