MotoGP: pre-qualifying results

From the crash during FP1 to the best time in pre-qualifying: Marc Marquez smiles after an intense day at the Circuit of the Americas. In Austin the Spanish Ducati champion signed the fastest lap with a 2’00″927. Furthermore, despite the crash in the morning, the world champion seems to have immediately found a decent rhythm. The opponents, however, are close. Second position for Ai Ogura: the Trackhouse Aprilia rider closes 53 thousandths behind Marquez. Third was an excellent Fabio Di Giannantonio, 187 thousandths away with the Ducati VR46. Good feelings also for Marco Bezzecchi (+0.200). The world championship leader gives the Aprilia team the fourth fastest time overall.

promoted

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In addition to the protagonists already named, six other drivers gain direct passage to Q2. Alex Marquez is growing. The Gresini rider is fifth (+0.286), followed by Pedro Acosta. The Spaniard on the KTM is very fast in the first sectors of the track. Then here are Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, seventh and eighth: the two rivals for the 2024 title seem at ease on the Texan circuit. Pecco precedes two other Italians. Ninth time for Luca Marini, still the best among the Honda riders. Tenth Enea Bastianini with the Ktm Tech3. Joan Mir mocked by 32 thousandths. The Spaniard is the first of the drivers forced to go through Q1.

new operation

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Maverick Vinales’ forfeit must be recorded. After taking part in the first free practice sessions, the Spaniard from the Tech3 Ktm team decided to stop: the pain in his left shoulder was too intense. The joint had been the victim of a serious injury during qualifying for the German GP. Vinales had undergone surgery, but some tests carried out at the beginning of the week highlighted the displacement of a screw in the shoulder, which will have to be removed with a second operation. Vinales will immediately return to Europe and begin rehabilitation to participate in the Spanish Grand Prix, set for Jerez from 24 to 26 April.

the other classes

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Prequalifications with two faces for the Aspar team in Moto2. Jorge Martinez’s team smiles thanks to David Alonso: the Colombian shatters the circuit record with a monstrous 2’05″847. His teammate Daniel Holgado is decidedly less brilliant. The winner of Goiania finishes twentieth and will have to face Q1. Behind Alonso, Manuel Gonzalez places himself, followed by Barry Baltus, Filip Salac and Senna Agius. Tony Arbolino, sixth, and Celestino Vietti, eighth, also qualified for Q2. while Dennis Foggia, twenty-fourth, will have to start from Q1. The Aspar team also shines in the Moto3 pre-qualifying. Maximo Quiles sets the track record with a time of 2’13”724. The Spaniard from the Aspar-Ktm team precedes an excellent Guido Pini, 172 thousandths away with his Honda Leopard. Alvaro Carpe was much further behind, third on Ktm at 445 thousandths. In the morning the Spaniard had been the fastest in the first free practice sessions. Great fourth time for Matteo Bertelle (Level Up-Ktm). Valentin Perrone completes the top 5.