After a three-week hiatus following the Portuguese GP, MotoGP finally made its return to the track at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. The Argentina round was unfortunately canceled due to a lack of government funding, making the stakes even higher for the riders in this particular round. Additionally, the recent acquisition of Dorna Sports by US media giant Liberty for a jaw-dropping €4.2 billion added another layer of excitement to the event.
Maverick Vinales wasted no time in showing his skills on the track, setting the initial pace with a time of 2m07.601s. He continued to push himself and eventually clocked an impressive 2m03.294s towards the end of the session, securing the top spot by a margin of 0.149 seconds. This performance was especially commendable considering Vinales had faced gearbox issues that forced him out of the previous race in Portugal, a situation that he attributed to human error.
Competition at the Top
Championship leader Jorge Martin trailed closely behind Vinales, showcasing his determination to maintain his position in the standings. Tech3 GasGas rookie sensation Pedro Acosta also made his presence felt by finishing third, building on his momentum from a maiden podium finish in Portugal. Notably, seven-time COTA winner Marc Marquez landed in eighth place on the Gresini Ducati, indicating that the competition at the top was fierce and unpredictable.
As the session progressed, lap times fluctuated as different riders took turns leading the pack. The partially resurfaced Circuit of the Americas posed a challenge for the competitors, with the track conditions evolving throughout the practice. Riders such as Vinales, Acosta, Martin, Marco Bezzecchi, and Marquez all took their shots at setting the fastest times, showcasing the depth of talent in the MotoGP field.
In the end, Vinales’ impressive lap time stood unbeaten, securing him the top spot on the timesheets. Martin put up a strong fight and came within 0.149 seconds of Vinales, highlighting the intensity of the competition. Enea Bastianini, the 2022 COTA winner, finished fourth, followed by VR46’s Bezzecchi and KTM’s Brad Binder in fifth and sixth place respectively. Franco Morbidelli, Marc Marquez, Jack Miller, and Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the top 10, showcasing the diversity of teams and manufacturers in the MotoGP grid.
Last year’s Americas GP winner Alex Rins represented the top Yamaha in 13th place, closely followed by his teammate Fabio Quartararo, who recently signed a new two-year contract with the Japanese brand. Luca Marini led the Honda charge in 15th place, with his teammate Joan Mir trailing closely behind. Unfortunately, a crash for Gresini’s Alex Marquez relegated him to 20th place, highlighting the unforgiving nature of the Circuit of the Americas.
The return of MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas provided fans with thrilling racing action and unexpected results. With Vinales setting the pace and Martin closely behind, the competition promises to be fierce as the riders battle for supremacy on the track. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the standings evolve and which riders emerge as the frontrunners in this highly competitive sport.
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