Ducati 1-2-4-5 in COTA practice, Q1 for its MotoGP points leader

Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin ended Friday MotoGP practice at the Circuit of the Americas on top, as the 10 riders passing directly to Q2 were determined.

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Key moments:

> Four Ducatis in top five

> Rins a standout third

> Mir crashes avoiding Zarco

> Points leader Bezzecchi to Q1

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Martin – who had come into the weekend battling a fever and is feeling “weak” – was actually under threat of missing that top 10 coming into the final minutes, but gathered himself for a 2m02.178s, lapping close to his own lap record of the track.

Thought he didn’t put in a proper push lap after that, simply unable to physically, it was enough to give him the top spot in the session, with erstwhile leader Pecco Bagnaia improving but only getting to 0.063s off Martin.

LCR Honda’s Alex Rins backed up his status as a COTA specialist by getting himself up into third place, as the only non-Ducati rider in the top five and the only Honda in the top 10.

He was followed by FP1 pace-setter Luca Marini (VR46 Ducati) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), the latter having been followed by Martin on what were their respective fastest laps.

After a somewhat muted showing in FP1, both factory Aprilias made it into Q2 directly, Maverick Vinales sixth and Aleix Espargaro ninth at what is one of his weaker tracks.

Slotting in between them at late notice were Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Brad Binder (KTM), with Binder’s last-gasp improvement consigning championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) to Q1.

KTM’s Jack Miller completed the top 10 as the final rider to bag a Q2 spot.

Honda’s Joan Mir challenged for a place in the pole shoot-out but came up short and was caught out on his final attempt. With Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) crashing in the first-sector esses, Zarco’s Ducati was left stranded on the track – and Mir had to hop a kerb to avoid it, which ultimately sent him crashing down, too.

A very close call between @JohannZarco1 and @JoanMirOfficial on their last flying laps! 😮

Great reactions from Joan! 👏#AmericasGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/woy51NYI43

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 14, 2023

There were also falls in the session for rookie Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 Gas Gas), Honda’s Marc Marquez stand-in Stefan Bradl and RNF Aprilia’s Miguel Oliveira – who actually crashed twice.

And then immediately @_moliveira88 slides out on his next lap! 💥

Thankfully it looks as though he's all OK! 👍#AmericasGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/a9dkknBgjj

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 14, 2023

Michele Pirro was the best of the three stand-ins, placing as high as 17th on the Ducati that normally belongs to the injured Enea Bastianini.

MotoGP returnee Jonas Folger, riding in Pol Espargaro’s place at Gas Gas, was again last but closed the gap to the front slightly, to a still-sizeable 4.351s.

Practice 2 Results