In the end, just before this qualification for the Grand Prix of the Americas, it seems impossible to say who will start from pole position between Marc Márquez, the master of the place, and Maverick Vinales, the challenger.
The first has just masterfully raised the bar in FP4 after his two falls this morning, but the second seems to be lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce on his prey.
Unlike FP3, FP4 seemed to proceed normally until a few minutes from the end when a few falls occurred again, as in the following Q1.
This afternoon, the sky is gray, windy, the air is at 19° and the track at 28°.
Here are the references available at the start of this qualification for the 2017 Grand Prix of the Americas:
|
#AmericasGP MotoGP |
2016 |
2017 |
| FP1 | 2'04.953 Marc Marquez | 2'04.923 Maverick Vinales |
| FP2 | 2'04.034 Marc Marquez | 2'04.061 Marc Marquez |
| FP3 | 2'03.741 Marc Marquez | 2'03.979 Maverick Vinales |
| FP4 | 2'04.309 Marc Marquez | 2'04.201 Marc Marquez |
| Q1 | 2'04.740 Bradley Smith | 2'04.438 Jack Miller |
| Q2 | 2'03.188 Marc Marquez | |
| Warm Up | 2'04.421 Andrea Iannone | |
| Course | Marquez Lorenzo Iannone | |
| All time lap record | 2'02.135 Marc Marquez 2015 |
Jack Miller and Jorge Lorenzo drafted for Q2 and thus come to join Vinales, Marquez, Pedrosa, Zarco, Crutchlow, Rossi, Dovizioso, Redding, Folger and Iannone.
Marc Márquez (medium/soft) leaves it to no one to set off first on the track and immediately sets a very solid 2'03.675: the tone is set!
Behind Maverick Vinales (medium/soft) fails to hang on with Valentino Rossi and must abandon his attempt while Jack Miller falls at turn #2. During this time, Marc Marquez continued his effort and recorded a 2'03.042.
The action does not stop for a second and we observe Iannone on the ground at turn #15.
Maverick Vinales, although angry with his teammate, manages to set a good time and positions himself second but already 0,8 seconds behind Marc Márquez, while behind him, Pedrosa, zarco et Dovizioso are in a handkerchief.
At mid-session we find Márquez before Vinales, Pedrosa, Zarco, Dovizioso, Folger, Crutchlow, Rossi, Lorenzo, Redding, Miller and Iannone, when the drivers come in to fit a last new rear tire.
The final packaging sees Maverick Vinales, still in medium/soft, reduce his gap to 83 thousandths while Cal Crutchlow falls at turn #11.
Johann zarco, fifth, improved his time and took third position, just before Márquez and Vinales lit the partials in red. Vinales seizes the temporary pole but Márquez takes back his property a few seconds later, while Red is positioned third and Pedrosa fourth, just ahead John Zarco who will therefore start from the second row.
Ranking compiled by our friends at crash.net:
1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)
2m 2.741s [Lap 7/7] 333km/h (Top Speed)
2. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 2m 2.871s +0.130s [7/7] 336km/h
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 2m 3.673s +0.932s [7/7] 336km/h
4. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 2m 3.866s +1.125s [7/7] 344km/h
5. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
2m 3.928s +1.187s [6/6] 335km/h
6. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
2m 4.151s +1.410s [5/6] 342km/h
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 2m 4.431s +1.690s [3/7] 340km/h
8. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
2m 4.623s +1.882s [3/7] 335km/h
9. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 2m 4.661s +1.920s [3/5] 333km/h
10. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 2m 4.673s +1.932s [6/7] 339km/h
11. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
2m 5.741s +3.000s [5/6] 334km/h
12. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 2m 5.970s +3.229s [4/5] 337km/h
Q1:
13. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 2m 05.221s 341km/h
14. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 2m 05.231s 332km/h
15. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 2m 05.541s 339km/h
16. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 2m 05.920s 335km/h
17. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 2m 05.931s 339km/h
18. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 2m 06.258s 328km/h
19. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 2m 06.295s 338km/h
20. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
2m 07.232s 325km/h
21. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 2m 07.601s 329km/h
22. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) No Time
