This Could Be Your Last Time To Ride Circuit of the Americas. So Join This Amateur Race Before The Track Closes To The Public

Texas' famed Circuit of the Americas, the massive MotoGP, Formula 1, NASCAR, and countless other racing series' hosting venue just outside of Austin, recently announced that it would go private. What's that mean exactly? Well, local high-performance driving experiences, track days, and events are likely to be closed off to the public in favor of private owners paying for the right to play.

Think country club, but with McLarens, Ducatis, Ferraris, and more.

This makes Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association's (CMRA) upcoming Moto-Texas Superbike Challenge road race, the inaugural event, all that much more attractive, as it could not only be your first time riding a motorcycle around COTA's legendary confines. It could also be your last.

For now, however, if you're an amateur motorcycle racer, you'd better get while the gettin's good, and maybe even win some cash for your efforts, as there's $25,000 up for grabs and split between the classes that you can take home. Along with a little piece of racing history, as "I once raced a motorcycle at COTA" sounds like a helluva story you can pass down.

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Let's first talk about CMRA's event, as it deserves the press. According to the organization, the upcoming Moto-Teas Superbike Challenge will be the first-ever sanctioned amateur motorcycle race held at COTA, which would be a big deal by itself. But racers also have a chance to win cash during the event, with a purse totaling $25,000 for the entirety of the race weekend, which will be held over the Fourth of July holiday. 

The organization states that the race will be open to any licensed road racers, so long as they have a license from a recognized organization in the US. Everyone, however, needs to hold a current American Motorcyclist Association membership, as it's in part sponsored by the organization. If you want to race, you'll also have to fork over $525 to practice on Friday and for qualifying, but the sprint races on Saturday and Sunday will only set you back $195 per. Entering yourself into the wheel-to-wheel fray is already open to the public at cmraracing.com, too. 

Spectators wanting to witness the action only have to toss over $25, which ain't bad for some top-level bike racing action, and especially not bad considering how much I've personally given COTA over the years for MotoGP and Formula 1 events...

"We are thrilled to bring CMRA’s biggest event yet to Circuit of the Americas,” says CMRA's Dave Johnson, adding, "COTA is a bucket-list track for any motorcycle racer, and we can’t wait to see riders from across the country compete for a share of the $25,000 purse on one of the world’s most iconic circuits."

But as cool as all this sounds, it could be the public's last chance at riding COTA ever. 

As of 2027, Circuit of the Americas will be going private, and at present, no public trackdays, schools, or events have been scheduled or are seemingly planned. As one person with knowledge of the situation put it, "The private membership [take rate is] so high it covers what they make from trackdays without the damage to the track itself." But more so, COTA itself, in the release talking about the track's new "The Circuit" private membership club announced last fall, states, "Club members will receive a minimum of 250 days a year of fully dedicated track days on the main Circuit of The Americas Grand Prix track. Beginning in 2027, the track will be limited to members, select races and special events."

As for right now, CMRA's event is fast approaching, and may be your last chance to ride COTA's pavement. Wish I had gotten the chance the last time I was there. 

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