MotoGP preview: Rd2, Austin, Texas

The Circuit Of The Americas – universally referred to as COTA -- is the first purpose-built grand prix facility in America, and at 5.513km is an expansive layout with nine right and 11 left-hand turns. COTA, designed by well-known German architect and circuit designer Hermann Tilke, was completed in late 2012 and held its first MotoGP round the year after – highlighted by the first victory for Marc Marquez in the premier class. One of the circuit's more distinctive features is a 41-metre elevation change with an aggressive incline at the end of the home-straight followed by a sharp left. There are also fast straights and tight hairpins, which could become real hotspots if the anticipated rain – there's a 90 per cent chance of precipitation on all three days – comes to fruition. If it does unleash from the heavens, watch out for Australia's Anthony West in Moto2, who is a wet-weather guru.

The biggest news since the opening round at Losail, won by Yamaha's Valentino Rossi from Ducati pair Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone – Marquez was fifth after running off the track early -- was Dani's Pedrosa's 'confession' that arm pump has been a constant battle over the last year. He went in for potentially career-saving surgery in Madrid on April 3, and his place in the Repsol Honda squad at COTA and the following weekend in Argentina will be taken by HRC test rider Hiroshi Aoyama. Casey Stoner, who announced last week that he'll ride a Honda in the 2015 Suzuka 8-Hour world endurance race, was mentioned a possible Pedrosa replacement before Honda boss Livio Suppo quickly poured cold water on the idea. Still, would have been fun to watch…

Pedrosa's absence from COTA has certainly opened things up, as he's finished runner-up over the last two years behind Marquez, and it's highly unlikely that Aoyama has the proficiency to match that. Rossi and his teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who was fourth at Losail, are the logical candidates to fill the void, while Dovizioso and Iannone will be keen to continue their scintillating form. Dovizioso was third at COTA in 2014. Cal Crutchlow will be another to watch on the factory-spec Honda, as will Yamaha satellite pair Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro. That trio was in the top 10 at Losail, with Suzuki factory rider Aleix Espargaro nipping at their heels as the Japanese manufacturer made its return to the premier class. Nicky Hayden, the 2006 world champion, will make his 200th MotoGP start at COTA, riding the same production Honda as Aussie Jack Miller. The Townsville lad didn't finish his first MotoGP race after crashing on the final lap, but has happy memories from COTA after winning the Moto3 race in 2014. And who knows: if the rain arrives the form guide could be thrown on its head. And that's where West will come into Moto2 calculations on his Speed Up machine, while Remy Gardner (Mahindra) will be looking to regroup after crashing out at Losail.
COTA's history is only two years old, but Marquez has stamped his name all over the place, especially in 2014 as he completed the 'full monty: he topped every practice session, qualified on pole with a new pole position record lap, led every lap of the race and set a new race lap record. After his tepid Losail opener, Marquez will be galvanised for another COTA clean sweep. Other than Marquez, Pedrosa and Dovizioso, the only other rider to finish on a COTA podium is Lorenzo in 2013, while the intermediate Moto2 class will have a new winner with past champions Nico Terol (2013) and Maverick Vinales (2014) having moved on. Ditto for Moto3 with Alex Rins and Miller no longer there.

The three world championship races will be held over the following distances: