Álex Rins gradually climbed the field to take the lead from Maverick Viñales and never let go. The Suzuki rider proved his good track record on the Circuit of the Americas track by clocking 2min04s007, while the owner of the #12 bike was just 0s008 behind.
Vinãles led the session for most of the time, setting up a good fight with Mac Marquez, who is back in the MotoGP World Championship after a serious accident at the Indonesian GP. But he couldn’t hold the lead and took the second position. Who closed the top-3 was Jack Miller.
Fabio Quartraro and Marc Márquez followed, noting five different bikes in the top five. Rounding out the top-10: Pol Espargaró, Enea Bastianini, Aleix Espargaró, Takaaki Nakagami and Johann Zarco.
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The second MotoGP free practice for the GP of the Americas, in Austin, takes place this Friday (8), at 16:10 (Brasília). THE BIG PRIZE accompanies all the activities of the 2022 Motorcycle World Championship.
How was the first MotoGP free practice in Austin:
MotoGP started its fourth round in 2022 with sunshine at the Circuit of the Americas, but temperature at just 15°C and track in the 22°C range. As soon as the green light appeared in the pit lane, the drivers left the pits.
Jack Miller was the first to set the time, taking the lead with 2min08s296. The first crash was for Pol Espargaró, who lost control of the bike and crashed at turn 18. He, however, had no major injuries. And, in the meantime, Fabio Quartararo took the opportunity to take the lead with 2min06s900.
The defending champion continued to lower his time in the following minutes, reaching 2:05.624. That’s when Miller regained the lead, proving a good pace from Ducati. And with 30 minutes to go, Marc Márquez, who is back in the World Championship after a serious accident at the Indonesian GP, took the lead: 2min04s469.
With 23 minutes to go in the first session, behind the #93 Honda were Quartararo, Maverick Viñales, Álex Rins and Álex Márquez. Miller was Ducati’s best placed sixth. His teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, was only 11th until then.
Minutes later, Rins had problems with his Suzuki, which was taken to the pits. Maverick Viñales took a while, but soon managed to take the lead from Marc Márquez, with 2min04s373. The Honda rider was second, just 0s096. Rins even passed Marc, staying 0s062 behind Viñales.
With three minutes to go, Rins’ Suzuki took the lead. He scored 2min04s007, leaving Viñales behind. Aprilia #12, however, came close: it was 0s008 behind the leader.
MotoGP, Free Practice 1, GP of the Americas:
| 1 | IN RINSES | suzuki | 2:04,007 | |
| two | M VIÑALES | Aprilia | 2:04.015 | +0.008 |
| 3 | J MILLER | Ducati | 2:04,437 | +0.430 |
| 4 | F FOURTH | Yamaha | 2:04,450 | +0.443 |
| 5 | M MARQUEZ | Honda | 2:04,469 | +0.462 |
| 6 | P ESPARGARÓ | Honda | 2:04,581 | +0.574 |
| 7 | AND BASTIANINI | Gresini Ducati | 2:04,594 | +0.587 |
| 8 | FOR ASPARAGUS | Aprilia | 2:04,686 | +0.679 |
| 9 | T NAKAGAMI | Honda LCR | 2:04,744 | +0.737 |
| 10 | J ZARCO | Pramac Ducati | 2:04,893 | +0.886 |
| 11 | J MIR | suzuki | 2:04,900 | +0.893 |
| 12 | B FINDER | KTM | 2:04,983 | +0.976 |
| 13 | F BAGNAIA | Ducati | 2:05,003 | +0,996 |
| 14 | J MARTIN | Pramac Ducati | 2:05,050 | +1,043 |
| 15 | TO MARQUEZ | Honda LCR | 2:05,146 | +1,139 |
| 16 | L MARINI | VR46 Ducati | 2:05,177 | +1,170 |
| 17 | F MORBIDELI | Yamaha | 2:05,287 | +1,280 |
| 18 | THE DOVIZIOUS | Yamaha RNF | 2:05,324 | +1,317 |
| 19 | R FERNÁNDEZ | Tech3 KTM | 2:05,326 | +1,319 |
| 20 | M BEZZECCHI | VR46 Ducati | 2:05,386 | +1,379 |
| 21 | R GARDENER | Tech3 KTM | 2:05,672 | +1,665 |
| 22 | D FINDER | Yamaha RNF | 2:06,198 | +2,191 |
| 23 | M OLIVEIRA | KTM | 2:06,445 | +2,438 |
| 24 | F DI GIANNANTONIO | Gresini Ducati | 2:06,497 | +2,490 |
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