The first batch of tickets for the revived Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg have sold out just 48 hours after going on sale.
Formula One last visited Austria in 2003 before the old A1 Ring was condemned and became unused. However, it has since been bought by Red Bull, redeveloped, renamed the Red Bull Ring, and has hosted top level events such as German touring car series DTM. With an Austrian team now dominating the sport, the time is right for the sport to return to the Red Bull Ring with a provisional date of June 22 set for 2014.
However, any fans hoping to make the trip to Austria for the race may end up disappointed after the first batch of tickets for the race sold out in just two days, according to the Austrian Press Agency. This has come as a result of low ticket prices – most probably due to them being subsidised by Red Bull – with the cheapest ticket for the race on Sunday being just $120, which is considerably cheaper than many other European races.
The circuit does not have a large capacity, although a request has been lodged to increase the seating numbers to 80,000 for qualifying and the race on Sunday. Following this initial batch of sales, another 10,000 tickets are expected to be released before the race next June.
This is a good sign for Formula One in Austria despite some concerns about the suitability of the circuit, and it also sets an example to the other races on the calendar. That said, most of the events do not enjoy the same kind of backing as this race does.
Three riders remain locked in a tight battle with 17 points separating the leader Cooper Webb from third-place Chase Sexton and these are only a few Supercross numbers to consider entering Seattle.Chase Sexton made a statement in Detroit with his second win of 2023. – Feld Motor Sports
Webb and Tomac won the last four championships with two apiece in alternating years, but they were not one another’s primary rival for most of those seasons. On the average, however, the past four years show an incredible similarity with average points earned of 21.0 for Webb and 21.3 for Tomac. With five wins so far this season, Tomac (23 wins) leads Webb (19) in victories but Webb (43) edges Tomac (41) in podium finishes during this span.
Tomac has won two of the last three Seattle races and those two wins in this stadium are topped only by James Stewart. Fittingly, if Tomac gets a third win this week, he will tie Stewart for second on the all-time wins’ list. Tomac tied Ricky Carmichael for third with 48 wins at Oakland and took sole possession of that spot with his Daytona win.
Sexton still has a lot to say and after winning last week in Detroit, he is speaking up. The Supercross numbers are against him entering Seattle, however, because a points’ deficit this large after Round 10 has been erased only once. In 1983 David Bailey was 47 points behind Bob Hannah, and like Sexton he was also in third place. Bailey took the points’ lead with one race remaining.
The seven points Sexton was penalized last week for jumping in a red cross flag section in Detroit could prove extremely costly.
In fact, it has been a series of mistakes that has cost Sexton the most. In the last two weeks, he lost 10 points with a 10th-place finish to go with his penalty. Erase those, and all three riders hold their fate in their hands.
Plessinger’s heartbreak in Detroit is still fresh, but the upside of his run is that was his best of the season and could turn his fortunes around. Prior to that race, he led only seven laps in three mains. He was up front for 20 laps in Detroit with five of those being the fastest on the track.
Last week’s win by Hunter Lawrence tied him with his brother Jett Lawrence for 17th on the all-time wins’ list. With the focus shifting to 250 West for the next two rounds, Jett has a great opportunity to pull back ahead. The real test will be at the first East / West Showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 22.
Last Five Seattle Winners
450s 2022: Eli Tomac
2019: Marvin Musquin
2018: Eli Tomac
2017: Marvin Musquin
2014: Ryan Villopoto
