A duel at the top, a close contest for third and another stunning statement from Acosta? Friday at COTA delivers.
Friday at the Bull Grand Prix of the Americas was a duel at the top, and the shootout for direct entry to Q2 went to the wire as lap records fell in MotoGP™ Practice. Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) set a statement 2:01.397 to destroy the lap record by 0.495 and secure top honours by the end of the day, but that was still only enough to deny Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) by less than a tenth after a fast start for the Aprilia Racing rider, who also topped FP1 ahead of… Martin.
By the end of play there was another duel just behind them too, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) jumping up to third on his final lap but just 0.002 ahead of reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team).
With 10 minutes to go, a fair few big hitters looked safe enough, but Bagnaia was one of those outside the top 10. As the #1 has often managed before though, with less than two minutes on the clock he pulled out a 2:01.808, ultimately ending the session in fourth and oh so close to Marquez ahead.
Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) concluded a storming Friday with a late lunge into the top five, setting a fast lap seconds after Bagnaia to jump up the timesheets. Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro also found strong pace at the end of Friday, crossing the line to end Practice in sixth after a tougher opening session.
Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) will also have direct entry to Q2 for the first time since the British Grand Prix in 2023, setting a stunning 2:02.103 despite starting the season down on bike time after getting sidelined from pre-season testing. The Italian was ahead of compatriot Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), who nevertheless had spent most of the session inside the top five. Rounding out the top 10 at the end of Friday were the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team duo of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi, who showed consistent pace throughout the day.
A competitive field, including Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller, the former of whom is second in the Championship heading into COTA, now have to battle for the top two positions in Q1 on Saturday after they ended PR in P14 and P16, behind Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez and split by Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). And that’s to name a few of those they’ll have to outpace to move through, which also includes the likes of two-time COTA winner Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and teammate Fabio Quartararo.
The stage is set for another super Saturday, with everything to play for in qualifying ahead of the Tissot Sprint. Who’ll come out on top? Tune in to find out!
FP2: 10:10 (UTC -5)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
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