There is a lot of hype about the first-ever X Games flat-track race that will take place at Circuit of The Americas on June 4. This new medal sport—officially called Harley-Davidson Flat-Track Racing—has created quite a buzz in the flat-track world and motorcycle community in general. Last year, more than 150,000 spectators reportedly attended the inaugural event in Austin, Texas, and millions more watched around the globe, so it’s easy to see why everyone is stoked. It’s the X Games. Not much more needs to be said. One of the unknowns is the racetrack itself. Everyone knows you need a good track for good racing. This event is a potential turning point for our sport. A lot of great things were happening in flat track during the 1980s and early 1990s, but nothing offered this kind of potential international exposure. The whole world will be watching, and a great racetrack will enable us (yes, I’ve been invited to participate, along with my sister, Shayna) to put on a great show for the fans. To find out more about the design of the track, I contacted Mel Harder, VP and general manager at Circuit of The Americas. A lifelong motorcyclist, Harder has worked for COTA since 2013. Previously, he spent more than 20 years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was one of the people responsible for bringing flat track back to Indianapolis in conjunction with the annual MotoGP race at The Speedway. 
The COTA track will be a three-eighths mile oval shaped like a paperclip. Based on my conversation with Harder, I predict the layout will be similar to that of the Elma, Washington, half-mile, which the AMA Pro Flat Track series visited last year, but with longer straightaways and tighter corners. The plan is to have six degrees of banking in the corners and three degrees of banking on the straightaways, which should provide good opportunities for passing and a variety of racing lines. Harder said no shortcuts were made in building this track. If you have been to Circuit of The Americas, you know the pride they take in their facility. High-density clay has been brought in for the build, which is headed by Keith Arnst, an experienced track builder from Houston. I asked Harder if the track will remain on the grounds or if it is only temporary. “As of right now, our main focus is the X Games,” he said. “We have plans for future events on the flat track, such as a possible riding school with Kevin Schwantz to find new talent for the MotoAmerica roadracing series.” Large, temporary grandstands and state-of-the-art lighting will be brought in for the X Games event. Outside-the-track pits for teams and riders are also planned. A test is scheduled in the run up to the event. Let’s go racing. Invited Riders, Harley-Davidson Flat-Track Racing: Jared Mees Brad Baker Kenny Coolbeth Sammy Halbert Henry Wiles Bryan Smith Jake Johnson Brandon Robinson Jeffrey Carver Doug Lawrence Mike Rush Mikey Martin Shayna Texter Cory Texter Briar Bauman JD Beach Stevie Bonsey Michael Kirkness Johnny Lewis Wyatt Maguire Nichole Mees Robert Pearson Jake Shoemaker 
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