The qualifying session begins in Austin with this Q1 where the reigning World Champion Joan Mir is among the squad. A disappointment that the Suzuki official will want to erase and especially since he is currently very far from the performances of his teammate Alex Rins, the last winner on this bumpy track, in 2019. But others will also wish to be among the first two who will have the right to continue the adventure on this Texan Saturday, ultimately spared by the rain...
And among them, we count Alex Marquez which fell during the FP3 from which only his distinguished companions escaped Honda are already ready to fight for the best places on the starting grid of this Grand Prix of the Americas. There will also be bastianini, transcended from his podium in Misano. We won't forget anymore Olive tree who wishes less than anything than to leave his box companion Brad Binder lead the dance KTM.
Finally, we will mention the three M1s from a manufacturer Yamaha who definitely owes everything to Fabio Quartararo who is in another world with the same motorcycle. As for Aleix Espargaró, we don't know what he will bring to Aprilia, having already expressed the wish not to race in such degraded track conditions…
What will this Q1 have in store for us? Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.
MotoGP ™ | 2019 | 2021 |
FP1 |
2'05.311 Marc Márquez (See here) |
2'15.872 Marc Márquez (See here) |
FP2 |
2'03.857 Maverick Viñales (See here) |
2'04.164 Marc Márquez (See here) |
FP3 |
Canceled due to storms (See here) |
2'02.923 Jack Miller (See here) |
FP4 |
2'05.478 Marc Márquez (See here) |
2'04.028 Jack Miller |
Q1 |
2'05.855 Jorge Lorenzo (See here) |
2'03.410 Luca Marini |
Q2 |
2'03.787 Marc Márquez (See here) |
|
Warm up |
2'04.573 Marc Marquez (See here) |
|
Course | Rins, Rossi, Miller (See here) | |
All time lap record |
2'02.135 Marc Márquez 2015 |
We will recall the misadventures of Joan mir during FP4… But it was the second time of this last free practice session with his second Suzuki!
A slightly overcast sky and 30° in the air like 41.4° on the bumpy Austin track are the conditions offered to the pilots for this American quarter of an hour.
Who will join the party in Q2? 🤔#MotoGP Q1 starts now! 🚥#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/NdmhtSWOf6
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 2, 2021
Aleix I will espargaro fall at the start, it's his second of the day and the third since Friday. The first reference is signed by Joan mir in 2'03.902 ahead Morbidely. Alex Marquez et Luca marini follow. Olive tree fall at turn 11.
No sign of improvement for @AleixEspargaro yet! 😲
Turn 12 catches out the Aprilia man! 💢#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/eybNOOe3MF
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 2, 2021
Aleix I will espargaro leaves with less than six minutes to go. He leaves when the others enter to prepare for the final attack against the clock.
So far so good for @JoanMirOfficial! 👍
The world champion is currently on course for a spot in Q2! 👊#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/Ei27MQ1al8
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 2, 2021
Olive tree will be there as Aleix Espargaro in this last run. Under the checkered flag, Luca marini achieves the sensation in 2'03.410 in front Joan mir. Morbidely is the first eliminated and Valentino Rossi fall. He will start second to last. Quite a symbol… Dovizioso et Alex Marquez complete the top 5 refused to bastianini.
No Q2 appearance for The Doctor! ❌
A crash for @ValeYellow46 leaves him tenth 💢#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/zzuDoJFcD6
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 2, 2021
MotoGP Austin Q1: times
Classification credit: MotoGP.com