MotoGP 21: Grand Prix of the Americas setup guide – COTA guide, settings & more

After a long wait, MotoGP 21 hit shelves last week and we absolutely love Milestone’s latest MotoGP game! You can find out exactly why we can't get enough of it in our full review. If you're new to racing on two wheels, you can check out our beginner’s guide.

If you choose to go with the "full calendar" the Circuit of the Americas will be your third destination. The United States' COTA is a fantastic racing venue and one we'll sorely miss in real life this year.

Thanks to Milestone though, we can continue to tear around the Texan track in the virtual world. Here's our guide to the perfect setup for Austin!

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Tyres

There are two options when it comes to tyres at COTA and we believe two mediums are best. The other is a soft on the front and a hard on the rear, but this doesn't have as much balance as two mediums.

Suspension

COTA's extremely long back-straight tempts you to go for straight-line speed, but the first and final sectors require a responsive and effective suspension setup.

Front pre-load needs to be low at 2 to allow for more consistent steering around long corners. Oil quality has to be higher than normal at 6, with front spring hardness at 5. Front swingarm compression and extension are best at 5.

On the rear, values need to be in and around default for a good compromise. However, the rear pre-load has to be around 2. The rest of the settings have to be slightly higher than the default setting of four.

Vehicle geometry

Steering head inclination is required to be low at 2, to help responsiveness. The trail has to also be low at 3, with the steering plate position also at 3. Lastly, the rear swingarm length needs to be around middle of the road at 5.

Transmission

The gears have to be set high in general, with the exception of first and sixth gear, which are low. The rev limit and slipper clutch have to be high too, to help down the long straights and engine braking.

Brake System

Like most circuits on the calendar, you need top brakes for the USA. The Turn 12 braking zone is massive and anything other than the most powerful anchors will end with you flying wide into the gravel.

ECU

The electronic aids are you friends in the US, so you'll need all of them turned up to the max to be fast.

Power mapping is best at 3 for a flying lap, but you’ll need to turn this around during some points in the race.

All of these can be adjusted out on track using the HUD in the bottom-right of the screen.