What went down in first MotoGP practice at COTA

Suzuki MotoGP rider Alex Rins led the opening practice session for the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, as the returning Marc Marquez placed fifth.

---

Key moments:

> Rins beats Vinales by 0.008s

> Marquez competitive right away

> A crash for Espargaro

---

The partially resurfaced COTA venue – with the works coming after both MotoGP riders and Formula 1 drivers made their concerns over the bumpy surface clear – played host to a relatively serene session, with the only crash coming from Honda’s Pol Espargaro, at a section of the track that has retained the old surface.

An early tumble for @polespargaro! 💥

The @HRC_MotoGP rider is thankfully up and OK! 👍#AmericasGP 🇺🇸 | #GP500 pic.twitter.com/YcbRpfSMWW

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 8, 2022

Six-time champion Marquez, unbeaten at COTA in all but one MotoGP race, marked his return from a double vision-induced absence by spending the vast majority of the session out front.

But he was usurped by Maverick Vinales with 12 minutes left on the clock, before Rins – who had one of his Suzukis expire during a run earlier in the session – found another two tenths relative to the Aprilia man, before then improving by another tenth with his next attempt and then again at the chequered flag.

And that final improvement, taking him to a 2m04.007s, was just enough to ward off a late challenge from Vinales, who went 0.008s slower moments later.

The pair were four tenths clear of the chasing pack, with Jack Miller the lead Ducati in third, followed by reigning champion Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and the factory Hondas of Marquez and Espargaro – who, aside from his crash, also had his Honda break down after the chequered flag.

The only manufacturer absent from the top five, or indeed the top 10, was KTM, which was headed by Brad Binder in 12th place.

Practice 1 Results