Qualified in 12th position on the starting grid, Loris Baz made a good start to place himself in 11th position after a few turns.
At the start of the second round, Loris was once again unlucky. Hit by a driver at the first turn, the French driver fell. However, Loris managed to get back on the track. Despite a damaged toe clip and swing arm, a good comeback from 20th position followed. The Ducati rider progressed lap after lap to reach the finish in 15th position and score his first point of the season.
In around ten days, the Frenchman will return to Europe and the Jerez de la Frontera track that he loves, to compete in the Spanish Grand Prix. Despite shoulder pain caused by the fall in Austin, Loris hopes to shine and score new points in the provisional ranking.
“I don't really know what happened. At the start of the second lap, at the first corner, I put myself in position to overtake Bautista who had just passed me on the straight. I braked late, as I had to. As I took the turn, I saw a motorcycle trying to pass me on the inside even though I was already in the best position. I can't tell if it was him who touched me or if it was me, when picking up the motorcycle, who touched Bautista. In all cases, the outcome remains the same.
I was able to leave, but the bike was really damaged. I no longer had a shifter, the swingarm was bent and my toe clip measured a centimeter. I fought to get a point.
There were some positives during the weekend. We are driving faster and faster and I participated in my first Q2. What matters is Sunday. I have always been stronger on Sunday, but since the start of the season, it is a day that does not smile on me. We need to finish where we need to be from Jerez.
Until then, I'll see how my shoulder behaves. It's just a blip, but I'll try to get back to 100%. It's a circuit that I like and on which I have always ridden well. We can go fast everywhere, we just have to finish the races without falling, that becomes my priority. »
