Jorge Martin fastest in FP2 at MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas, Marco Bezzecchi misses out
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Updated 14/04/2023 at 21:42 GMT
The MotoGP season roared into Texas for the Grand Prix of The Americas in Austin. Luca Marini was fastest in FP1, as his Ducati found good pace once the Italian put on a set of soft tyres. In FP2 it was all about Jorge Martin who produced a blistering lap to top the standings. MotoGP championship leader Marco Bezzecchi will have to battle through Q1.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) looks on during the MotoGP Of Portugal - Race at Autodromo do Algarve on March 26, 2023 in Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal.
Image credit: Getty Images
MotoGP championship leader Marco Bezzecchi will have to battle through Q1 at the Grand Prix of The Americas in Austin, after finishing outside the top 10 in FP2 on Friday.
The top 10 automatically advanced to Q2, and Bezzecchi was pushed out of the places when Brad Binder beat his time as the chequered flag dropped.
Half an hour into FP2, Luca Marini’s time from the morning was knocked off the top as Jorge Martin clocked a lap of 2:03.241.
With the fear of rain failing to materialise, the riders had more confidence in the track and the times began to tumble towards the end of the session.
It became apparent that the both Ducati bikes of Martin and Francesco Bagnaia were supremely quick.
They traded blows in search of top spot, and it was Martin who landed the final shot by stopping the clock in a time of 2:02.178 - with Bagnaia close behind at 2:02.241.
Alex Rins looked comfortable on his Honda and he completed the top three with a time of 2:02.395.
Marini improved on his session-leading time from the morning to come home in fourth after stopping the clock in 2:02.416.
Miguel Oliveira suffered a high-speed crash at Turn 2, 10 minutes into the session, but the Aprilia rider emerged unscathed. He was unable to challenge the leading times and finished in 15th.
Marini fastest in FP1 in Texas
Luca Marini topped the timing sheets in FP1 at the Grand Prix of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
The session started out in low-key fashion, with Alex Marquez posting a time of 2:04.473 - and it was good enough to keep him at the top for a considerable portion of the morning.
Fabio Quartararo stepped it up in the final 15 minutes of FP1 and moved to the top of the timing sheets with a lap of 2:04.124.
But it was Maverick Vinales’ decision to put on a set of soft tyres that sparked a flurry of activity at the top of the standings.
The Spaniard was the first man to dip under 2:04, stopping the clock at 2:03.897.
It only proved good enough for eighth, as riders found grip on the softs.
Marini was the rider who made the biggest move, as he went from 14th to top of the standings as his Ducati found good grip to post a time of 2:03.806. He went faster again with a time of 2:03.250 and that proved good enough to top the standings.
Quartararo was consistently fast through the entire session and he put his Yamaha into second, with Johann Zarco on a Ducati taking third.
Marco Bezzecchi arrived in Texas at the top of the MotoGP standings after two races, but he could only fill 13th place - with his session not helped when he slid off at Turn 12.
A second session is scheduled for later in the day, but there is rain forecast for the Austin area and should it emerge it would work to Marini's advantage.
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