Moto3 Q2: David Alonso the favorite
Based on training, the favorite for the Pole is clear, but can anyone challenge the Colombian?
Moto3 Q1: Best time Adrian Fernandez
Adrian Fernandez sets the fastest lap with a time of 2:15.271 minutes. One and a half tenths of a second behind, rookie Jacob Roulstone is in second place. Joel Esteban and Luca Lunetta secured the other Q2 places.
Ryusei Yamanaka has a lap time canceled due to track limits, then he aborts two flying laps because there is apparently a small problem with his KTM. He ends up in tenth place.
Noah Dettwiler takes eighth place. This means the Swiss will be in 22nd place on the grid tomorrow.
Tatchakorn Buasri no longer took part in qualifying. After his crash yesterday, he only did one inspection lap in the morning.
Moto3 Q1: Highsider Almansa
On his first flying lap, David Almansa flies spectacularly off the exit of turn 20. Luckily, all the following drivers are able to avoid it. Almansa is holding a hand that he broke in Qatar. Hopefully he didn’t get injured again.
Moto3 Q1: Who will advance?
We continue with the qualifyings. In Q1, Yamanaka, Roulstone, Almansa, Fernandez and Rossi are among others. Noah Dettwiler was behind on his first CoTA visit so far and will probably not be considered for one of the Q2 places.
MotoGP: Warning for Nakagami
In the morning practice before qualifying, Takaaki Nakagami blocked Marco Bezzecchi on the ideal line in turn 11 because he was driving too slowly. As the first offense this season, the race stewards will issue a warning.
Moto3: A penalty and further warnings
Eight drivers drove slower than 135 percent of their fastest sector times in the morning training. They were Matteo Bertelle, Angel Piqueras, Adrian Fernandez, Riccardo Rossi, Noah Dettwiler, Luca Lunetta, David Munoz and Joshua Whatley.
Because it was Bertelle’s second such offense this season, there is a long lap penalty. The rest only receive a warning for the first offense.
Maverick Vinales: “I feel stronger and stronger”
Maverick Vinales (Aprilia/Pole): “We feel very confident. With every race I feel stronger and stronger. I’m really enjoying it here in Austin. It’s a track that suits my driving style. I feel great here and I love America. That gives me that an extra push. The sprint race will be tough, but we will put on a good show.”
Pedro Acosta: “My team works so hard”
Pedro Acosta (Tech3-GasGas, 2nd): “I’m super happy. My team works so hard so we can achieve things like this. This weekend was important for us to see what we’re capable of on a track as difficult as this.”
“Let’s wait for the sprint. We made a few changes compared to Portugal to be able to fight for something. So let’s try.”
Marc Marquez: “I feel better and better”
Marc Marquez (Gresini-Ducati, 3rd): “Qualifying is one of the most important moments of the weekend. Being on the front row will make it a little easier to fight with the top drivers. Yesterday I was far away, today I got a little closer.”
“But we still need to understand a few things that I tried in FT2. Let’s see if they are better for the rhythm and race pace. But overall I feel better and better and can improve over the course of the weekend. That’s the most important thing .”
MotoGP Q2: Martin in row two
Ducati factory riders Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini follow in fourth and fifth place. Jorge Martin manages to limit the damage with sixth place on row two.
Aleix Espargaro, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli will attack from the third row. Places ten to twelve go to Marco Bezzecchi, Jack Miller and Alex Marquez.
MotoGP Q2: Pole for Maverick Vinales
The Aprilia driver sets a new lap record with 2:08.864 minutes. It is the first lap under 2:01 minutes on this route. For the first time since Valencia 2023, Maverick Vinales takes the best starting position.
Pedro Acosta will attack from the front row of the grid for the first time in the premier class in second place. He is 0.328 seconds behind Vinales.
In third place, “King of CoTA” Marc Marquez completes the front row. This ultimately makes him the best Ducati rider.
MotoGP Q2: Acosta second
The rookie catapults himself into second place.
MotoGP Q2: Bezzecchi crashes
The VR46 driver now goes down in turn 1.
MotoGP Q2: Strong lap Vinales
Things are going better for his teammate. Maverick Vinales sets the fastest time in all four sectors and improves to 2:00.864 minutes. This puts him four tenths of a second ahead of Marc Marquez and Bagnaia.
MotoGP Q2: Espargaro crashes
At the beginning of his flying lap, Aleix Espargaro flies off turn 2 and causes yellow flags.