Austin, Texas, April 21, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Circuit of The Americas introduced a new tradition at its world-class sports and entertainment venue this weekend, as a robust crowd of 131,082 fans witnessed the debut of World Championship motorcycle racing during the three-day Red Bull MotoGP of The Americas, April 19-21. Spectators were treated to a history-making performance, as rookie Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez became the youngest rider in MotoGP history to win a Grand Prix. His teammate Dani Pedrosa finished second while 2012 World Champion Jorge Lorenzo of the Yamaha Factory Racing Team rounded out the podium with a third-place finish. Repsol Honda claimed the constructor's trophy.
The new state-of-the-art circuit surpassed its original three-day crowd estimate of 100,000, with 26,235 fans coming to watch Friday's practice sessions, 43,756 guests attending Saturday's qualifying rounds, and an enthusiastic crowd of 61,091 turning out for Sunday's races.
Patrons were treated to highly competitive racing in all four participating divisions: MotoGP™, Moto3™, Moto2™ and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Race sponsor Red Bull joined the Circuit in pulling out all the stops and entertaining fans with stunt riders, skydivers, aerial displays, motorcycle jumping, rider autograph sessions and parades, live music on two stages, including the new Austin360 Amphitheater, and even a Red Bull Air Force B.A.S.E. jump from the Circuit's 251-foot observation Tower.
"It has been a remarkable weekend, and we're thrilled with the results and the feedback we've received from guests and competitors," Circuit President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Sexton said. "Our Circuit team extends its congratulations to this weekend's top performers, including MotoGP winner Marc Marquez, and all of the teams for an outstanding show. We also want to thank the fantastic group of fans who traveled from around the globe to help us introduce World Championship motorcycle racing to Texas in such a big way. Circuit of The Americas is pleased to bring large-scale sports and entertainment events to our host community of Austin, and we greatly appreciate the support and vigilance of the dozens of public safety officials who help make each event safe and successful."
High-resolution images of the Red Bull MotoGP of The Americas, including photos of racing and entertainment activities, can be downloaded at www.circuitoftheamericas.com/media-center.
About Circuit of The Americas
Circuit of The Americas is a world-class destination for premium sports and entertainment. It is the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the United States designed for any and all classes of racing, from motor power to human power, and is home to the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX while also hosting MotoGP™, V8 Supercars™, GRAND-AM Road Racing™, American Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championships. The Circuit of The Americas' master plan features a variety of permanent structures designed for business, education, entertainment and race use. Its signature element is a 3.4-mile circuit track. Other support buildings include the Austin360 Amphitheater, an expansive outdoor live music space; an iconic 251-foot, 25-story tower with observation deck; an events and conference center; a banquet hall; and a state-of-the-art medical facility. For more information and downloadable video, audio and photos, visit: www.CircuitofTheAmericas.com, www.Austin360Amphitheater.comor the Circuit's dedicated FTP site, media.circuitoftheamericas.com.
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A photo accompanying this release is available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=18245
