Francesco Bagnaia took MotoGP pole in Americas GP after a new lap record as Alex Rins was second and Luca Marini in third.
Q1:
The first part in MotoGP qualifying in Americas GP at COTA saw VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi led the way after first run from Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco, with Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli not far off in third as they fought for a place in Q2.
There was an early crash for Tech3 GASGAS’ Jonas Folger without a lap time set. With the second runs in where Honda’s Joan Mir moved up to second, there was a fall for RNF Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez which brought out the yellow flag at dying moments.
A late quick lap from Zarco of 2m02.287s helped him to top Q1 and make it in Q2 along with Bezzecchi, with Mir ending up third and missing out. The Spaniard is to start from 13th ahead of Morbidelli with returning RNF’s Miguel Oliveira in 15th.
Gresini Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio was 16th from LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami, as Ducati’s Michele Pirro slotted in 18th from Fernandez, Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez, Honda’s Stefan Bradl and Folger to round out the 22 runners including replacements.
Q2:
The second part in MotoGP qualifying in Americas GP saw riders set their initial laps when Pramac’s Jorge Martin had a crash. It was quite the scene when Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and Gresini’s Alex Marquez set the same time of 2m02.242s.
Bagnaia was ahead at the moment since his next best lap was quicker than Marquez, with VR46’s Luca Marini in third but more than half a second behind. The final runs had dramas already between Bagnaia and Marquez, with both not wanting to give each other a tow.
The game started in the pitlane and continued on the race track. That drama cost them in some ways where Marquez had a fall but continued. There was a crash for KTM’s Jack Miller and also Martin again on his second bike after rushing into the pits.
At the front, LCR’s Rins went quickest with a 2m02.052s but Bagnaia came through with a 2m01.892s lap to take MotoGP pole in Americas GP with a new lap record. Rins kept second with Marini rounding the first row for the sprint and the main race.
Marquez was fourth despite not completing a second lap, as Bezzecchi was fifth from Q1. Couple of late laps from Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo helped them to be sixth and seventh, with Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales in eighth.
Zarco was ninth from Q1 as Miller was 10th after suffering another fall on his final lap, with teammate Brad Binder in 11th and Martin 12th.
Tactics, mishaps and unexpected challengers! 🙌
The #MotoGP grid is settled ✅#AmericasGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/0Xmn9DlVqx
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 15, 2023