Marquez, COTA were the big winners from MotoGP

Marc Marquez easily won the Grand Prix of the Americas for the fourth time, but Circuit of the Americas won the weekend when MotoGP visited Central Texas last weekend.

This year’s event drew the largest three-day crowd in the four-year history of the event in Austin. According to Dorna, the commercial rights holder for MotoGP, the attendance over the three days was 131,811, including a race-day crowd of 56,528.

During the inaugural event in 2013, the three-day attendance was 131,082, with a race-day crowd of 61,901. Attendance numbers then dropped to 118,918 in 2014 and 119,673 in 2015 before spiking this spring.

So, what changed?

Event organizers will point to the festival feel of the event for motorcyclists. There was free motorcycle parking, and there were chances to test ride different manufacturers’ models. There also was a trade show vibe, with riders able to buy anything from helmets to custom fireproof suits below traditional pricing.

Being the lone race in North America didn’t hurt, either.

From 2013 to 2015, MotoGP also had a race in Indianapolis, and California’s Laguna Seca Raceway was on the calendar until 2014. This year Austin was left as the only North American race when MotoGP officials didn’t renew the contract in Indianapolis.

“I was really disappointed when Indy was gone from the calendar, because America is very important for MotoGP,” Marquez said. “It’s really important for the market of USA.”

Indianapolis’ loss was Austin’s gain; the race in Indianapolis had bigger attendance each of the past two years. In 2014, Indianapolis had a three-day attendance of 132,588, and that jumped to 145,588 in 2015.

“If you’re a MotoGP fan in the United States, it was an easy choice to go to Austin this year,” said Mark Hoyer, the editor-in-chief of Cycle World, one of the top publications on motorcycles. “This was your only chance to see a race live.”

For the time being, it’s going to stay that way. MotoGP and COTA officials signed a 10-year contract in 2013.

The race also has a geographic benefit with its proximity to Mexico.The paddock and grandstands had a more international feel last weekend, and English was often a second language to Spanish in many conversations.

“Motorcycle racing is big in Mexico,” Hoyer said. “Those riders have a big following there. And obviously, Austin isn’t too far from Mexico. Obviously, it’s much closer than any other race to Mexico.”

While crowds grew, the number of crashes decreased. According to the official fall report, which MotoGP issues after each race, there were 44 falls across all classifications and sessions. That was down from 71 in 2015 and 56 in 2014. There were 46 crashes in 2013.