What went on in first COTA MotoGP practice

VR46 Ducati rider Luca Marini led the way in the first MotoGP practice session at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.

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Key moments:

> Ducati 1-3-4, Quartararo impresses

> Martin best of medium-tyre runners

> Crash for points leader Bezzecchi

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Marini hitched a ride with fellow Ducati rider Jorge Martin in the closing stages of the session, in which many a rider elected to run a fresh soft rear tyre – potentially influenced by rain in the area that could impact riders’ chances of bettering their times in the second Friday session and making it to Q1 directly.

The tow translated to a 2m03.250s for Marini, which proved enough for the top spot, although Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo – who has struggled for single-lap pace so far this season – did close to just 0.150s off with his final attempt.

The rest of the top seven was almost entirely Ducati-flavoured. Johann Zarco was third for Pramac, ahead of Gresini’s Alex Marquez – who had led virtually the entire first half of the session.

Jack Miller placed fifth for KTM, ahead of Ducati duo Martin and Pecco Bagnaia – with both having run the medium rear late on instead of the soft rear.

Maverick Vinales was the only Aprilia representative in the top 10 in eighth, followed by the LCR pair of Alex Rins – who initially had his best laptime wrongfully deleted before it was reinstated – and Takaaki Nakagami.

Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi was among those to crash at the sharp Turn 12 left-hander at the end of the back straight – a corner that also caught out Miller and rookie Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 Gas Gas). Bezzecchi did remount but could only recover to 13th.

A slightly disgruntled-looking Aussie 🛑@jackmilleraus tips off at the end of the back straight 💥#AmericasGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/DaaIyqH1rp

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 14, 2023

The three stand-ins in play this weekend were at the back of the order. Stefan Bradl, replacing Marc Marquez, was 0.001s clear of Ducati’s Enea Bastianini stand-in Michele Pirro.

Jonas Folger, in line for his first MotoGP start since his premier-class career was interrupted suddenly in 2017, had to cruise around with a stone caught in his bike’s radiator on his very first outlap and wasn’t really on the pace after, finishing 4.926s off the pace.

A bit of a false start for Jonas Folger on his return to #MotoGP 🛑

Looks like something was rubbing on his out lap so he dived straight back into the pits 👍#AmericasGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/uALN0zl8HI

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 14, 2023

Folger, a new KTM/Gas Gas recruit this season, is racing in place of Pol Espargaro, for who there is still no clear timeline for a recovery – with KTM motorsport boss Pit Beirer telling MotoGP.com that Espargaro was still in “going through some real pain” following his Portimao accident.

Practice 1 Results