Jorge Martin (Ducati): First place with a good lap / MotoGP

A second key training session on the slopes in Texas followed from the events of the free practice session. The first four drivers also dominated the first third of the second half with a huge margin that Jorge Martin immediately took first place. Viñales, Acosta and Bastanini followed within 0.3 seconds. Back right: Pecco Bagnaia. After a defensive start in the morning, the double world champion was now able to hit the ground running. The same was previously also used for Aprilia’s second works driver. Aleix Espargaro, only 18th in the first practice session, improved by almost a second from the start in sixth place.

The first big chase was started by the COTA champion – Marc Márquez improved to third place. Now, as fans expected, the rodeo course was even more interesting. Using soft rubber, Viñales was the first to push the Martinator from the top.
Already strong in the first practice session, a highly motivated Franky Morbidelli moved into fourth place. Now also with the soft option of Michelin, Jorge Martin followed suit and the #89 was number one in the monitors again.

Twenty minutes later, Pecco Bagnaia also changed the attacking mode. With his low 2:03 lap time, #1 pushed the lead even closer. With 15 minutes on the clock, factory Ducati, Pramac Ducati and factory Aprilia are all in the top ten. Acosta alone represents the RC16 robot.

Now the events are heating up, first Viñales moves forward, then after a minute he is pushed back by Aleix Espargaro, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marc Márquez and Enea Bastianini. Jorge Martin shooting the bird of the day. With an unbelievable lap, the #89 broke the all-time record by 0.6 seconds. With this firework of lap times, world champion Bagnaia jumped out of the top ten at the start with 10 minutes remaining. And Jack Miller and Brad Binder only found themselves 14th and 18th before the final pit stop. When it comes to top speed, KTM is well placed for this. The first three places with Brad Binder and 350.6 km/h top will go to Austria on the first day.

The last three minutes today also had the essence of a razor’s edge. Maverich Viñales will be able to improve again, but the story time of “Martinator” is still unmatched. Marc Márquez took third place on his last lap. But the King of Austin is half a second behind the Pramac driver. Behind “MM93”, Bagnaia also enters safely into Q2. The VR46 duo takes the final two spots with direct entry.

A big disappointment in the KTM box, however. Even in the final race, the Red Bull RC16 failed to improve. 14th, 15th and 16th place for Trio Binder, Fernandez and Miller.

Results MotoGP – Practice

1. Jorge Martín (L) Pramac Ducati 2:01,397 sec.
2. Maverick Viñales (E) Aprilia +0.076 sec
3. Marc Márquez (L) Gresini Ducati +0.409 sec
4. Francesco Bagnaia (I) Ducati +0.411 sec.
5. Pedro Acosta (E) GASGAS +0.569 sec.
6. Aleix Espargaró (E) Aprilia +0.627 seconds.
7. Franco Morbidelli (I) Pramac Ducati +0.706 sec.
8. Enea Bastianini (I) Ducati +0, sec.
9. Fabio Di Giannantonio (I) VR46 Ducati +0.847 sec.
10. Marco Bezzecchi (I) VR46 Ducati +0.961 sec.
11. Miguel Oliveira (P) Trackhouse Aprilia + 1,069 sec.
12. Raúl Fernández (E) Trackhouse Aprilia +1,079 sec.
13. Alex Márquez (L) Gresini Ducati +1.096 sec.
14. Brad Binder (ZA) KTM +1.154 sec.
15. Augusto Fernandez (E) GASGAS +1.156 sec.
16. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM +1,405 sec.
17. Fabio Quartararo (F) Yamaha +1,442 sec.
18. Alex Rins (E) Yamaha +1,478 sec.
19. Johann Zarco (F) LCR Honda +1,617 sec.
20. Joan Mir (E) Repsol Honda +2,047 sec.
21. Luca Marini (L) Repsol Honda +2,124 sec.
22. Takaaki Nakagami (J) LCR Honda +2,587 sec.