For this last 15-minute qualifying session in Austin, Texas, we forget all the adventures of the morning, or even all the semblances of certainty brought by the first day, to concentrate on the duel which will now oppose Maverick Viñales, Marc Márquez , Valentino Rossi, Jack Miller, Cal Crutchlow, Alex Rins, Pol Espargaró, Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Quartararo and Francesco Bagnaia to Jorge Lorenzo and Danilo Petrucci drafted in Q1.
12 drivers, an almost perfect track or at least allowing the use of slick tires, 22° in the air and 30° on the ground, a significant wind at 18 km/h: place your bets!
Here are the available references:
|
MotoGP ™ |
2018 |
2019 |
| FP1 |
2'05.530 Marc Márquez (See here) |
2'05.311 Marc Márquez (See here) |
| FP2 |
2'04.599 Andrea Iannone (See here) |
2'03.857 Maverick Viñales (See here) |
| FP3 |
2'04.608 Marc Márquez (See here) |
Canceled due to storms (See here) |
| FP4 |
2'04.686 Marc Márquez (See here) |
Marc Marquez (See here) |
| Q1 |
2'05.169 Pol Espargaró (See here) |
2'05.855 Jorge Lorenzo (See here) |
| Q2 |
2'03.658 Marc Márquez (See here) |
2'03.787 Marc Márquez |
| warm up |
2'04.988 Marc Márquez (See here) |
|
| Course | Marquez, Vinales, Iannone (See here) | |
| All time lap record |
2'02.135 Marc Márquez 2015 |
When the red lights go out, Jorge Lorenzo visibly wants to precede his teammate and Pol Espargaro.
Soft rubber is logically popular, except for Hondas and Pol Espargaro who opted for a medium at the front.
From his first lap launched, Marc Márquez overtakes his teammate and pulls him behind him to achieve a very impressive 2'03.787.
The world champion is on fire! 🔥@marcmarquez93 powers past @ lorenzo99! 💪#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/dSZbAfCJld
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 13, 2019
Francis Bagnaia fall at turn 11 while Jorge Lorenzo abandons his motorbike against the wall following a new chain problem and runs back to his box.
Does this look familiar? 👀
This time the other @HRC_MotoGP rider is sprinting down the @COTA pitlane ace @ lorenzo99 hits trouble! 🏃🏼♂️#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/Mkmm25pgh1
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 13, 2019
In the next passage, Marc Márquez returns to his box while Valentino Rossi is positioned 2rd, in front Jack Miller already at 1,4 seconds.
At mid-session, the hierarchy is made up of Marc Marquez, 7 tenths ahead Valentino Rossi, itself 7/10 in front of a package composed of Jack Miller, Maverick Viñales, Alex Rins, Cal Crutchlow, Danilo Petrucci, Fabio Quartararo, Franco Morbidelli, Jorge Lorenzo and Pol Espargaró, Francesco Bagnaia not having recorded any reference time.
3 minutes from the checkered flag, Marc Márquez et Valentino Rossi light the first sector red. The Honda rider ultimately does not improve while his Yamaha counterpart reduces the gap with the leader to less than 3 tenths.
The last seconds see a battle of ragpickers by timers interposed between Cal Crutchlow, Jack Miller and Pol Espargaro.
The session ends with a new fall for Francis Bagnaia, this time at turn 1.
Very good qualification of Pol Espargaro (the best for the Austrian brand in MotoGP) on a KTM from which he is definitely the only one who can get the most out of it at the moment.
Celebrations for KTM! 🔶@polespargaro will start an outstanding 5th on the grid! 👍#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/laAj6nFaGf
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 13, 2019
Marc Márquez continues his extraordinary series in Austin (7th consecutive pole position in MotoGP) but it is obvious that Valentino Rossi isn’t going to make it easy for him in the race…
Long live tomorrow!
The stage is set for a sensational shootout at @COTA! 🤠@marcmarquez93 takes pole number 7⃣ in Austin with @ValeYellow46 alongside in 2nd! 🔥#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/4jN0v31SNz
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 13, 2019
Now that's one hell of a front row. #AmericasGP pic.twitter.com/IyoQB1tIuU
- Circuit of The Americas (@COTA) April 13, 2019
MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas standings in Austin Q2:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
