– Not an optimal MotoGP training start for Marc Marquez on his favorite track in Austin (USA)! The Ducati driver crashed in his first run, but was able to get back on track later. KTM driver Pedro Acosta set the first best time of the weekend (to the result).
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The first training session took place under slightly cloudy skies but with optimal conditions. Since the Circuit of The Americas is 5.5 kilometers long, the number of laps per run in the 45 minutes was limited.
Unlike the first two race tracks, the standard tire carcass from Michelin was used here again, which is used on most of the tracks. Beforehand, the question arose whether this carcass would favor Ducati or Aprilia.
After ten minutes, training had to be interrupted. Marc Marquez had a crash in the fast left-hand corner 10. Over the bumps, his front wheel collapsed at around 192 km/h. The world champion then slid on his belly across the gravel bed.
At first, Marc Marquez needed a few moments to get back on his feet. But he seemed to be okay and was taken back to the paddock by Manuel Poggiali, Ducati’s riding coach, on a scooter.
In the room behind the box, Marc Marquez was examined by MotoGP doctor Angel Charte. He had sustained abrasions on one forearm. His crew prepared the second motorcycle in the meantime.
Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi gave the all-clear at MotoGP.com: “Yes, Marc is fine, but he has severe abrasions on his right arm and left hand. But Doctor Charte examined him and said nothing serious.”
“So yes, he has pain, but it’s not about the bones. That means if he wants to, he can ride again, but he definitely has pain.” Tardozzi also confirmed that no X-rays were necessary.
Eleven minutes before the end of training, Marc Marquez got back on track with a new leather suit. Lap after lap, the 33-year-old worked his way up to the limit and improved his time. He finished training in fourth place.
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Aprilia factory team forgoes new tires
Some drivers switched to new tires for their final run, including Acosta and Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati). Acosta set the best time with 2:01.715 minutes. “Diggia” finished second with a tenth of a second behind.
The Aprilia factory team did without new tires. Nevertheless, Jorge Martin posted the third fastest time. The former world champion had stated after the Brazil weekend that he was experiencing pain again in his left wrist, which had been operated on during the winter.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi was seven tenths of a second behind and finished ninth. Behind Acosta, Di Giannantonio, Martin and Marc Marquez, Raul Fernandez with the Trackhouse Aprilia finished fifth.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) finished sixth, followed by Luca Marini (Honda), Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia), Bezzecchi and Franco Morbidelli (VR46 Ducati). On the long track, the gaps were relatively large, as only 13 drivers were within one second.
Best Yamaha driver was Jack Miller (Pramac) in twelfth place. The Australian was nine tenths of a second off the top. Miller also switched to new tires in the final phase. His teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu finished 19th with a 1.3 second deficit.
For the reigning Superbike World Champion, the Circuit of The Americas is not a completely unknown track. In 2013, the Red Bull Rookies Cup ran as a support program. At that time, Razgatlioglu finished third in both races.
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The second training session begins at 21:00 CET. Then, as always, it will be decided who qualifies directly for Q2.
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