The Circuit of the Americas was hammered by riders for the danger of the increasingly bumpy surface, especially in windy conditions. None more explicit than Aussie Jack Miller who said he was lucky to take his place on the grid after a scary moment in the pre-race warm-up.
“I almost killed myself down the back straight. I got big head shake on the first lap in the warm-up,” said Miller of rodeo ride at 340km/h. “I thought it was game over. The wind was in the wrong spot and it started tank slapping and I had no idea what was going on.
“My feet came off, the brakes were gone to the bar and I had to pull the lever six times for Turn 12.
“In the race I had an opportunity to pass Crutchlow on the straight, but when the wind blows when you’re doing 340km/h it’s not what you need at close quarters. Definitely something needs to be done about the bumps.”