The squad for this 1-minute Q15 was determined by an early morning FP3 in Austin which had a few surprises in store. It will be recalled that it was the reigning champion Fabio Quartararo who achieved the best time there. The Yamaha rider set the best lap with a time of 2'02.361, a time which allowed him to beat Enea Bastianini and his Ducati Gresini by only 59 thousandths. Third place went to Jack Miller and his red GP22. The Australian only regrets a gap of 86 thousandths, he precedes the returning Marc Márquez and his teammate Pecco Bagnaia.
Pol Espargaro with the second Repsol Honda is sixth, ahead of the Suzuki of Joan mir which fell without consequences, the Honda LCR of Takaaki Nakagami, and the Ducati of Team Mooney VR46 of Luca Marini.
Aleix I will espargaro closes the Top Ten, but he will have to move on from Q1 given that despite a fall and the 15th time, Johann zarco advances to Q2 thanks to his performance during FP2. Rins, Morbidelli, Vinales, Dovizioso, Brad Binder et George Martin are also these drafts with the rookies of which here is the ranking: the best is Remy gardner (Team Tech 3) 20th. Darryn binder (Yamaha WithU RNF) is 21st, followed by Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) 22nd, Fabio DiGiannantonio (Ducati Gresini) 23th and Raul Fernandez (Team Tech 3) 24th.
What will this Q1 have in store for us, from which the two best drivers will exit to continue the adventure in Q2? Both Aprilia, so promising in Argentina last weekend, are there, with the current leader of the championship Aleix Espargaró who will find the one who had been his dolphin at Termas de Rio Hondo either Jorge Martin et alex rins who was on the Argentinian podium… The second in the provisional general classification Brad Binder is also on the list.
Before launching into this fray, here is the table which summarizes the facts so far:
|
MotoGP™ Austin, Texas, USA |
2021 |
2022 |
| FP1 |
2'15.872 Marc Marquez (See here) |
2'04.007 Alex Rins (See here) |
| FP2 |
2'04.164 Marc Marquez (See here) |
2'02.542 Johann Zarco (See here) |
| FP3 |
2'02.923 Jack Miller (See here) |
2'02.361 Fabio Quartararo (See here) |
| FP4 |
2'04.028 Jack Miller (See here) |
2'02.983 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) |
| Q1 |
2'03.410 Luca Marini (See here) |
2'02.487 Jorge Martín |
| Q2 |
2'02.781 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) |
|
| Warm up |
2'04.074 Takaaki Nakagami (See here) |
|
| Course | M. Márquez, Quartararo, Bagnaia (See here) | |
| All time lap record |
2'02.135 Marc Márquez 2015 |
A strong wind and a blue sky are the conditions proposed to the pilots for this quarter of an hour.
It's time for #MotoGP qualifying! 🙌
Q1 first up, only two from a stacked field can advance! ⚔️#AmericasGP | # GP500 pic.twitter.com/Wsn8MvM4zD
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 9, 2022
Darryn binder entry drop at turn 3 and the first reference goes back to Alex Rins in 2'02.723, ahead Aleix Espargaró.
Following his brother! 💨@ DarrynBinder40 tags the kerb at Turn 3! 💥#AmericasGP | # GP500 pic.twitter.com/lt27WulQjf
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 9, 2022
George Martín leads the way in 2'02.487. Remy gardner fall.
First runs complete! 💨@ 88jorgemartin and @Rins42 hold the top spots for now 💪#AmericasGP | # GP500 pic.twitter.com/9nirE8tM2l
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 9, 2022
The last five minutes have begun, the second assault of the protagonists is launched. Aleix Espargaró fall…
Game over for @AleixEspargaro! ⚔️
The World Championship leader will not go through to Q2! 🛑#AmericasGP | # GP500 pic.twitter.com/CFU4Ps63hB
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 9, 2022
Under the checkered flag, these are George Martin and Alex Rins who save their skin. Aleix Espargaro, his teammate Casa Particular in Viñales et Dovizioso close the top 5. Bezzecchi follows as first rookie.
Results of Qualifying 1 of the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
