2023 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas News and Results

Bagnaia was on for it when the lights went out on Sunday afternoon. The World Champion took the holeshot and immediately built up a lead to Rins. The race was over almost before it began for Martin and Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), with Martin losing the front in esses and taking Marquez with him.

Half a lap later, Aleix Espargaro bit the dust at the hairpin exiting the back straight, but then the field began to settle down as Jack Miller rocketed up to third from 10th on the grid.

That didn’t lap long, however, as Miller crashed out with 14 laps to go, which promoted Quartararo into third from a charging Marini in fourth.

A lap after Miller’s crash, however, the race was turned on its head. Bagnaia was trying to break the Rins challenge but instead he broke the bike, sliding into the gravel trap at turn two at high speed and out of the race for the second time in a row.

Bagnaia was disconsolate, keeping the visor down as he trundled back to the pits on the scooter and eventually showing a face of thunder, furious at the mistake that could have netted him the championship lead.

Rins thus took command of the race and began to stretch the pace, pulling over two seconds clear from Quartararo and Marini as the latter began to mount a serious challenge for second place.

The coup de grace happened with five laps to go at the end of the back straight, the Italian using Italian horsepower to rip past Quartararo’s Yamaha and into a final second place.

Rins would go on to take the win, his second success at CoTA in his MotoGP career by 3.4 seconds from Marini with Quartararo taking his first podium since Malaysia last year.

Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) took a well-earned fourth from Oliveira in fifth, Bezzecchi took sixth to retain his championship lead and Johann Zarco (Alma Pramac Ducati) was seventh.

Rounding out the top 10 was Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati) claiming ninth and rookie Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing) taking 10th.

The championship reads Bezzecchi still on top on 64 points from Bagnaia’s 53 and Rins third on 47.

It was time to race in Texas as the intermediate class headed into the Moto2™ Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. It was exactly what motorsport fans could’ve asked as a two-way scrap for the victory saw Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) outsmart Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) on the final lap of the Grand Prix, setting up the perfect championship rivalry in Moto2™. The battle for 3rd also raged on all race long, as Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) carved his way through the group on the final lap and took his debut podium.

It was drama before the lights had even turned on in Texas as Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) crashed on the warm-up lap, halting his chances before the race had even started.

The lights went out and it was a perfect start from Pedroa Acosta who took a tight line at turn 1 to defend the lead before Alonso Lopez (BETA Tools SpeedUp) muscled his way through. Meanwhile, Arbolino made an incredible round-the-outside move through the slalom section to put himself into 3rd place.

Acosta was determined as ever as the Spaniard retook the lead on the way down to turn 12 before a Lopez lunge at the penultimate corner attempted to take the lead but saw the Spaniard run wide and drop down to third with Arbolino taking full advantage to slot himself in P2.

With 14 laps to go Acosta attempted to stretch the field as he put the hammer down with Lopez latched onto his coattails. Acosta then hit a false neutral at the tricky turn 12, allowing Lopez to take the lead with the Red Bull KTM Ajo man dropping down to P5.

Acosta wasted no time in getting past Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) as the Spaniard put himself into 4th with his sights set on Arbolino and Lopez in front. Arbolino dived up the inside of Lopez before the back-straight as the Italian moved into the lead. Acosta could smell blood as the Spaniard also found his way through on Lopez, with the front three beginning to break away from Canet fourth.

Three became two with ten laps remaining as Lopez made a mistake and dropped down to 6th place. Arbolino was still leading out at the front with Acosta all over the Italian’s rear wheel.

Acosta settled into the race and was happy to follow the Italian as the laps ticked away at the Circuit of the Americas. Having had a good look at the Italian’s strengths and weaknesses around the Texan track, Acosta found his way through as Arbolino ran wide at turn 1 with three laps remaining. Further on around the lap and the pressure got the Spaniard as he was unable to maintain hold of the race lead, running wide to allow Arbolino back through once again. The Italian led across the line on the penultimate lap and it was gearing up for the perfect last lap scrap for victory honors.

The last lap soon came around and Acosta could not get any closer to the rear wheel of Arbolino’s Elf Marc VDS Kalex machine. Arbolino was running a defensive line but Acosta found his way through on the brakes at turn 12.

The Italian had one more shot at victory coming into the final two corners. Acosta ran incredibly defensively through them, allowing no way through for the Italian. Arbolino then took a wide swooping line into the final corner setting himself up for the drag to the line, but Acosta held strong and took the victory by 0.146s.

With the leading duo checking out at the front, the battle for 3rd was hotting up nicely as Canet was coming under pressure from Fermin Aldeguer (BETA Tools SpeedUp), and the two QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™ men of Jeremy Alcoba and Filip Salac.

Aldeguer got the better of Canet with five laps to go and began to put the hammer down on his Boscoscura machine. Canet began to drop like a stone and it wasn’t long before Alcoba pushed his Spanish compatriot down to 5th pace as the Gresini man was determined not to let Aldedguer run away with third place.

On the penultimate lap, Canet found an extra gear and got back in touch for the battle for 3rd as he slotted himself in fourth spot in between Aldeguer and Alcoba.

The attention turned to the battle out front as the carnage unfolded behind, meanwhile, Bendseyder had come from nowhere to snatch the final spot on the podium after catching to the battle and carving his way through. Alcoba finished the race in 4th with his teammate Salac rounding out the top 5 as the SpeedUp riders of Aldeguer and Lopez finished in 6th and 7th respectively.

Moto3™ served as the perfect appetizer for Sunday’s billing at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. You could not take your eyes off the screen as incredible last-lap drama saw Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) take the first Grand Prix victory of his career. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) made an incredible recovery to take 2nd place after a crash from Ayumu Sasaki (Leopard Racing) pushed the Spaniard off the circuit forcing him to drop down the order. Last corner drama decided the podium, and the final rostrum position was eagerly snatched up by Xavier Artigas (BOE Motorsports).

Lights went out to kick off the racing action in Austin Texas, and the Moto3™ bikes swarmed into turn 1. It was an incredible start for Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) who flew from the front of the fourth row to blast past the riders in front and run around the outside to take the lead at turn 1. Ortola then had a big moment that almost saw him tasting the Texas gravel but managed to slot back into the race in P3.

It wasn’t long before Sasaki hit the front as the Japanese rider was determined to take his second win on the bounce. Moreira tried to fight back but Sasaki wasn’t having any of it. Masia then took full advantage of the battles in front, finding his way through on the Brazilian, determined not to let Sasaki break away.

Ten laps to go and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) clipped the curb in the slalom section and was thrown over the handlebars of his Honda NSF-250. It was at this point that the Sasaki began to put the hammer down out the front and stretch out the field, with the battle for victory narrowing itself down to just five riders as Sasaki led Masia, Moreira, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo), and Xavier Artigas.

This left Ortola in a lonely 6th place as the Spaniard did his best to hang onto the coattails of the leading group. The Angeluss MTA man closed in on the group in front with eight laps to go, putting himself well in podium contention as he began to fight his way through the group and set the fastest lap of the race.

As the laps ticked away it was turning into a battle of attrition out the front, and it very much felt like the calm before the storm as the race neared the final few laps.

Five laps to go and Ortola was on the move, muscling his way through the group into a podium position, demoting the Brazilian Moreira down to P4 with Sasaki and Masia still leading the race.

Ortola was beginning to look racey as he started to apply the pressure on the Leopard Racing bike of Masia just ahead of him. Masia responded to the pressure and with four laps to go we saw the first change of the lead as the Spaniard fought his way past Sasaki. ‘The Crazy Boy’ tried to retaliate but Masia bounced straight back and led the way with Ortola still in third, but coming under pressure from Moreira and Artigas behind.

Penultimate lap time and the pack had reshuffled seeing Ortola move into the lead ahead of Moreria and Artigas. Masia quickly reeled in the group and moved ahead of Holgado to move into P4 to put himself into podium contention. Meanwhile, Artigas had moved ahead of Moreira to put himself in P2.

Last lap time and Masia had slotted himself into P3 just before the start-finish straight, demoting Moreira to P4 and putting himself right onto the rear wheel of Ortola in P2.

It was magic from Moreira on the last lap as the Brazilian slotted his way up the inside at the slalom section and took two in one on the brakes to take the lead. Moreria then ran wide at turn 12 gifting the lead back to Ortola as they headed into the final sector.

Ortola, Moreria, Masia was the order going into the final sector until Jaume Masia divebombed Moreira at the final corner to steal P2 from the Brazilan, pushing him wide and allowing Artigas to take advantage and take the final spot on the podium. Ortola held strong to take the victory with the chaos unfolding behind him.

Moreira was disappointed to have a podium spot taken away from him with the chequered flag in his sights as he finished the race in 4th place with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) unable to get involved in the podium fight finishing in 5th place.

The long back straight came around one lap later and Sasaki took the lead back once again, but disaster struck straight after as the Husqvarna man crashed out of the race in dramatic fashion at Turn 13 with just 3 laps remaining. Masia was incredibly unlucky and got caught up in the Japanese rider’s crash, finding himself pushed down to P5 with half a second gap to the leading group.

After crashing out of the fight for second, Fabio Quartararo was left to bemoan his Yamaha M1’s lack of competitiveness in a group fight. In Saturday’s Sprint, the Frenchman was outgunned when in a battle with a Honda, Aprilia and Ducati. Yet, after crashing out at turn one, he rejoined and was posting faster pace than Pecco Bagnaia in the closing laps when alone. “I could not even try to fight with them. Alone, we can be fast, but with the others we are struggling so much.”

He also bemoaned Yamaha’s lack of development on the aerodynamics front. In recent years, the factory has barely changed its package, while Ducati, Aprilia and KTM have made giant strides. Quartararo admitted they’re a long way off in this regard. “To use this amount of aero you need to have an engine. It’s slightly better, but we cannot use this…. Like the bike, these bikes don’t even look like bikes. They look like a rocket ship, you know. They have wings on the top, bottom, middle, at the back.

“So if you want to use that, you have to have a lot of power and using it in a way where it’s bringing you downforce in acceleration, but also helping you to turn and. I think we are years back in this area.”

As is now tradition, the state of the Circuit of the Americas was the focus of the conversation on Friday. Despite some work at turn ten to smoothen out the surface, conducted last year, the track’s bumps were still problematic for the majority of the MotoGP field.Brad Binder said, “I find turn 9 and 10 is extremely sketchy. It looks like a little jump on the kerb. It’s got a little take off there and the landing is downhill.”

And due to the amount of work on the track surface that has been done in the previous years, riders have to deal with four different asphalt types, with differing grip characteristics. “We have four different kinds of asphalt,” said Bagnaia. “In dry when you brake in turn 1, where they scratch the track you feel the front is locking. So in wet, it’s even higher. We will try to speak in the Safety Commission and let them understand it. Turn 11, the asphalt is destroyed, turn 12 the asphalt is destroyed. Having four asphalts in one track is not normal.

He may not approve entirely of Honda’s working methods. But Alex Rins made the most of the Japanese factory’s hardware in Austin after finishing runner-up to Pecco Bagnaia in the Sprint.

Rins expressed his disappointment there was no direct contact with factory engineers during a race weekend. Also, he wasn’t granted use of a new chassis Joan Mir has been using. “I notice that Honda does not rely on me very much; I feel wasted,” he said. “I don’t feel like yelling at the Japanese. It’s not that they don’t listen to me very much, it’s that they don’t take advantage of me.”

Still, in many ways the Spaniard was the star of Saturday, qualifying second before finishing in the same place. How he did it while fellow Honda riders Takaaki Nakagami and Joan Mir struggled was perplexing for the Japanese rider.

“His riding style is like a Moto2 style,” said Nakagami. “Maybe he realized this track has poor grip so he carries a lot of corner speed and it looks like he doesn’t pick up the bike. And he gains somehow. Joan and I try to pick the bike up as soon as possible with full throttle but we don’t gain anything.”

It was drama from the moment the lights went out in the Tissot Sprint at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas. Francesco Baganaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) lined up on pole position for the first time in 2023, and it was game on as the chasing pack were eager to get the better of the number 1. The factory Ducati man proved his worth and brought home the Tissot Sprint victory leaving the rest of the field to battle it out for the scraps. Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) was in the mood as he brought home a very hard-fought 2nd place as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) came from 12th on the grid to fend off Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) for 3rd place.

The Tissot Sprint at the Circuit of The Americas sprung into life as the lights went out in Austin Texas. It was Alex Rins who got the perfect launch as he took the hole shot into turn 1 before running wide and allowing Bagnaia back through. It only took a few corners before Rins threw his LCR Honda up the inside of Bagnaia before the Italian bit back and used his Ducati power to blast past the Spaniard on the back straight. Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) had also made incredible starts finding themselves in 3rd and 4th respectively.

One lap down and Rins was all over the rear wheel of the factory Ducati man before the Spaniard out-braked himself at turn 12, allowing Espargaro through. Quartararo then tried to take advantage and barge his way through making contact with Rins with no space for the Frenchman to get through.

Two laps down and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) had joined the battle out the front, flying his way past Quartararo to move into P4 from 12th on the grid.

Quartararo did his best to find off the Ducati rocketships, but the Frenchman was a sitting duck on board his Yamaha YZF-M1. Trying to defend from Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on the brakes, the 2021 World Champion overshot turn 12 allowing the Gresini man through. Half a lap later and Quartararo was on the limit of his Yamaha machine before crashing out of the Sprint at turn 1 and re-joining in 21st place to finish in 19th.

Bagnaia began to stretch out the field as he put down a lightning-fast pace on the number 1 plated Ducati, and was running away with it out the front stretching his lead to just over a second with 8 laps to go. Pecco got into his groove onboard his Ducati Desmosedici, putting down a blistering pace that no one could match. The Italian went on stretch his lead to 2.545s, making it look easy as he took the flag, secured the win, and retook control of the MotoGP World Championship.

With Bagnaia checking out it left a battle for 2nd place between Espargaro and Rins. The LCR Honda rider was running all over the rear wheel of the Aprilia in front with several bike lengths in hand to the behind Ducatis of Martin and Marquez battling for 4th.

Four laps to go and Rins was determined as ever as he muscled his way past the Aprilia man. The difficult braking point at turn 12 was causing chaos all race long, and as the battle for P2 came to the end of the back straight once again, Rins barrelled into the braking zone ever so slightly over the limit of his LCR Honda. This sucked in Aleix Espargaro who followed Rins into the corner and ran wide, with Alex Marquez also caught out by the entry speed of the riders in front and crashing out of the Tissot Sprint.

The drama allowed Rins to run away and take a lonely 2nd place, leaving Martin to fend off a hungry Aleix Espargaro with a battle for the final spot on the podium underway.

Last lap time and Espargaro was riding pillion to Martin through the slalom section, desperate to find a way past. The Spaniard wanted to get through on his compatriot before the Ducati could stretch its legs on the back straight, but it wasn’t to be for the Aprilia man. The final sector arrived and Espargaro dived up the inside of Martin at the penultimate corner, only to run wide and allow the Prima Pramac Ducati back through leaving Martin to bring it home and round out the podium.

Whilst the riders out front scrapped it out, a battle for the top 5 was hotting up nicely. It was Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who led the group with Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in hot pursuit. In the end, the South African was able to fend off the Mooney VR46 Racing riders and bring home 5th place after starting from 11th on the grid.

Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) got the better of Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to bring his Aprilia home in P8, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounding out the top 10.

Qualifying quickly came around at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, and as ever the premier class did not fail to entertain. The mind games were in full swing in Q2, but the number 1 plated Ducati of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) held strong to set a new lap record and take pole with a stunning 2:01.892. Second place went to a magical lap from Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) as he flew the flag for Honda and secured the middle spot on the front row, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) lining up alongside in P3.

You could cut the tension with a knife in Q1 as several big hitters sat in their garages ready to compete for promotion to Q2. Only two could go through as perennial frontrunners Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) all got ready to race.

Bezzecchi and Oliveira took initial control of the session and put themselves 1st and 2nd, but fast laps came in from Morbidelli and Zarco, the latter of whom bumped Oliveira out of contention. The riders then returned to the pits before the final fight for Q2 glory, which Bezzecchi started strongly on his first flyer, setting the fastest first sector, before pulling out the lap half way round. The Italian didn’t therefore manage to improve on his 2:05.253, but it was no bother as his earlier flyer proved enough to secure him a Q2 spot.

Mir put in the first punch of run 2, and with just two-thousandths of a second in it, the Repsol Honda rider snatched the provisional second spot. But it still wasn’t done. Hot laps were once again coming in, and Zarco was able to snatch first from Bezzecchi, putting the Championship leader under pressure.

No once else could improve though, putting Zarco and Bezzecchi through as Mir, Morbidelli and Oliveira just missed the cut.

As the first banker laps came in, it was Bagnaia who went top, but it was nothing to shout about for the Italian as a 2:02.576 was three-tenths shy of the fastest lap from Friday. There would surely be more to come, and there was.

Just a lap later, the red sectors began to light up the timing screens, and it was Bagnaia who moved the goalposts once again – although with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) matched his lap time of a 2:02.242 just seconds after. With two-tenths to find to reach Jorge Martin’s (Prima Pramac Racing) pole record from 2022, The Martinator himself then crashed out of the session, meaning it would likely be someone else trying to beat that lap.

Then came the pitlane cat and mouse. Bagnaia went to head out on the circuit first but pulled to the side of the pitlane after seeing Alex Marquez and Marini shadowing him. Despite the trying to shake him off, Marquez latched onto the number 1 machine in hope of finding the perfect tow for a chance at pole, and the psychological warfare continued on the out lap too, with the number 73 remaining close company.

Time was ticking, however, and it was time to put the hammer down. At first though, Bagnaia set a slow couple of sectors before then making a big mistake on his first flyer, forced to regroup for his final chance with one minute left on the clock.

In the meantime, Rins had the bit between his teeth and was focused on the job at hand. The Spaniard nailed the final sector to set the new fastest lap of the session and knock Bagnaia down to P2, making a serious statement in the process and throwing down the gauntlet.

Bagnaia was back in the groove though, and the reigning World Champion made a little history on the way to stealing back that pole position with the first-ever 2:01 lap of the Circuit of the Americas. Marini shadowed the factory Ducati rider to continue his dream weekend and bag himself the final spot on the front row, with Rins forced to settle for second but splitting the two Borgo Panigale machines.

Martin went back out on the circuit hoping to sprinkle some of his one-lap magic but went down once again, losing the front at Turn 2. Alex Marquez also went down and out of the session, but luckily for the Gresini rider he had done enough to end the session fourth fastest to head the second row ahead of Bezzecchi and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing).

The third row will also be one to keep an eye on as the lights go out, as 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) is set to start from seventh, just ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Zarco.

The depth of field in MotoGP™ is as hot as ever, and with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo of Jack Miller and Brad Binder fronting the fourth row of the grid, the squad in orange cannot be underestimated. Miller will be looking to fight his way through the field, and Binder’s Argentina Tissot Sprint proves exactly why there’s still plenty on the table. With two crashes in Q2, Martin will also be looking to use his strong pace to battle through the pack from P12.

Moto2™ Q2 saw the Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) of old as the Italian stole pole position away from wonder-kid Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The Spaniard will start Sunday’s race from the middle of the front row as Filip Salac (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2) bagged himself the final front-row spot in P3.

It was oh-so-close in Moto2™ Q1 as honors went to Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) who pipped Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) to the top spot by 0.011s, with Fermin Aldeguer (BETA Tools SpeedUp) just 0.001s away from the Thai rider in P3. The Spaniard’s teammate Alonso Lopez (BETA Tools SpeedUp) took the final Q2 spot bagging P4 in Q1.

Q2 got underway and it was Salac who set the benchmark on the first run and led the way ahead of Vietti and Bendsneyder. It was an unfortunate early end to the session for Barry Baltus (Fieten Olie Racing GP) who retired from the session with a technical issue. After showing strong form all weekend, it was heartbreak in the Fieten Olie Racing GP garage as the Belgian rider watched from the sidelines and battered down the order from P7 to P12.

The riders headed out for their 2nd run and it was time to get the hammer down. Strong laps came in from Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), but it was the flying Pedro Acosta who stormed to the top of the pile and pushed Salac down to P2. Just over a minute remaining and Dixon was on a flyer but a moment from Ai Ogura (IDEMISTU Honda Team Asia) who was right infront of Brit halted his progress as he consolidated P6.

Meanwhile Vietti was on a flyer and put in the perfect final sector to push Acosta off the top spot and take pole. With Salac pushed down to P3 Bendsneyder was demoted to the front of the 2nd row and will be joined by Lopez and Dixon.

Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) took hold of the Moto3 qualifying session at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas and sat firm at the top of the timesheets putting himself in the perfect place to start Sunday’s race. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) set red sectors throughout the session but just missed out on pole by 0.101s and will line up in the middle of the front row with Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) rounding out the top 3.

As ever it was a hard-fought battle in Q1 as the Moto3™ riders battled it out for Q2 glory. Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing Pruestel GP) controlled the session nicely defending the top spot as the session went on. A flurry of fast laps at the end of the session decided the order as Syarifuddin Azman (MT Helmets – MSI), David Salvador (CIP Green Power), and Ryusei Yamanaka (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) joined the Spaniard and progressed to Q2.

The riders swarmed the Circuit of the Americas ready to get everything out of their machines for a chance at pole position. As the group took to the circuit Ayumu Sasaki remained calm in the box and waited for the field to get half a lap down before rolling out of the pitlane in clear space.

Masia set the benchmark after the first run of laps, with Ortola and Sasaki in hot pursuit. Kaito Toba (SIC58 Squadra Corse) suffered a big high side as the riders began to return to the pits before their second run. The Japanese rider recovered quickly and jumped back onboard his Honda machine.

Three minutes of the session remained, and it was looking positive for Sasaki who was setting red sectors in his quest for the pole. The final sector let the Japanese rider down as he was unable to topple Masia, slotting himself into P2 in between the two Spaniards of Masia and Ortola. The times remained unchanged as the clock ran down and the top 3 were decided.

Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) fought hard throughout the session but with a scrappy lap at the end of was unable to break into the top 3, missing out by 0.310 to take P4. The Brazilian will be joined by Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team).

Franco Morbidelli’s place in Yamaha’s MotoGP team was under scrutiny again after 2021 WorldSBK World Champion Toprak Razgatioglu was invited to a two-day MotoGP test at Jerez before the Grand Prix of the Americas.

It was believed the Turkish rider, who has recently expressed his desire to move across to MotoGP, ended the two days 0.7s off the fastest time set by Yamaha’s test rider Cal Crutchlow. Observed by Lin Jarvis, Yamaha’s Team Principle said of Razgatioglu’s performance, “it’s very different riding an R1 on Pirelli tires and riding a MotoGP M1 on Michelins. And you need more time to adapt.”

On whether he could move to Yamaha’s MotoGP team in 2024, Jarvis played the prospect down. “The ideal scenario for us is that Franky continues to show the speed he displayed in [Argentina],” he said. “Our number one choice would be to continue with Franky [in 2024]. If not we will be obliged to find another candidate and that’s also why we were interested to look at Toprak.

“I think any rider eventually has an interest to try and see how they would do in MotoGP, so it was a chance for Toprak to start to understand better the needs for MotoGP and for us to see his speed.

Friday was the first chance for the MotoGP media to meet Dorna’s new Chief Commercial Officer, Dan Rossomondo. The American, who was previously working with the National Basketball Association as Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships and Media at the NBA, expressed his excitement at his new role during a special press conference.

A career in advertising sales at Madison Square Garden and has since taken him to IMG, Time Warner Global Media, the NBA has him well equipped to deliver on his goal: to grow MotoGP and WorldSBK’s global following, especially among younger fans.

“I look at our riders and these guys are exceptional athletes,” he said. “It’s hard for me to understand how they do these things with their bikes. We need to tell the world about their exceptional nature. This sport has so many attributes that people will want to understand. How we use technology to make the bikes more efficient, and safer.”

While Marc Marquez was still absent in Austin as he recovered from the injury to his right hand, he was still creating headlines. The Spaniard’s appeal against the changing of his penalty for taking Miguel Oliveira out of the Portuguese GP was considered by the MotoGP Court of Appeal.

And the Court decided to delay the penalty from being imposed until after the full appeal has been heard to prevent Marquez from serving a penalty which might later be cancelled.

It was blink-and-you-miss-it stuff to end the first day of action at COTA as the fastest riders on the planet attacked the track in Texas to secure Q2 spots for their chance of pole position in the Tissot Sprint and main race. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) drew first blood and came scarily close to lap record pace on a day with ever-changing circuit conditions. The Spaniard snatched the top spot from the top dog Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), as Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) excelled in the Americas once again putting his Honda in 3rd spot.

Rain clouds loomed over Austin Texas on Friday at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas but luckily the track time remained dry for MotoGP running. The riders got to grips with COTA once again in Practice 1, but Practice 2 was where we saw riders able to push on, and the times begin to tumble.

As ever, the battle for Q2 honors was well and truly underway as the riders attacked the track in Texas with the clock ticking in Practice 2. Ten minutes to go and red lights were flooding the timing screens with the riders pushing hard on the bumpy Circuit of the Americas. The bikes were making all sorts of shapes as the riders were finding the limits of their machinery and putting on a spectacular show.

The pace was getting hotter and hotter in the final ten minutes, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Pecco Bagnaia leading the way, until the reigning champion took charge and placed his factory Ducati at the top of the pile as the field began to return to the pits ahead of the final run on soft rubber.

Silence fell on the circuit as the riders returned to the pitlane in the calm before the storm. Minutes later a whole gaggle of riders went out on circuit for the final bite at the cherry. With Q2 spots up for grabs, the 2022 Championship rivals Bagnaia and Quartararo let the group take to the circuit and waited behind for clear space.

Crunch time had begun in MotoGP™ Practice 2, and it was the one-lap man Jorge Martin who put down a scintillating pace, moving the goalposts by almost half a second and leaving the rest to battle for the scraps. Bagnaia put in a hot lap soon after and despite an incredibly tidy final sector from the Italian, he was 0.063s shy of Martin’s lap time. Rins quickly followed pursuit and slotted his Honda into P3 to become the only non-Ducati in the top 5.

Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) went down and out soon after which brought out the yellow flags and collected the Repsol Honda man of Joan Mir. With the yellow flags out and with just under a minute left of play, the field was left unable to improve on their lap times and the state of play remained unchanged.

Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) was looking strong all day, and after topping Practice 1 the Italian finished the day in P4 on combined times. In the early stages of Practice 2, we saw incredible heroics from Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) who saved a massive moment in Practice 2 that nearly saw the Spaniard fly over the handlebars and into the COTA gravel trap. The Spaniard quickly composed himself and finished Day 1 inside the top 5.

Despite glimpses of form in Practice 1, it was a similar story for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) who dropped down the order as the rest of the field improved their pace, with the Frenchman finishing the day 7th fastest. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took the final Q2 spots in 8th, 9th, and 10th respectively.

Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) missed the cut by 0.037s, and in 11th spot, the Argentina GP winner will have to fight his way through Q1 for a chance at pole. The Italian will have to fend off Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda CASTROL), Johann Zarco, Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) who will all have to face Saturday’s Q1 session.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) began his Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in fine fashion on Day 1 as the Spaniard set the time to beat in the final moments of the day with a 2:09.856. Despite a valiant effort, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) fell just short finishing the day in 2nd, with Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) setting the 3rd fastest time.

Acosta was the man on form in the final moments of the day. Improving his time dramatically, the Portuguese GP victor put in the only 2:09 of the day and snatched the top spot. Arbolino, Canet, and Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) also lit up the timesheets at the end of Practice 2, with the American kicking off his home GP with 4th place on Day 1.

Acosta was the man on form in the final moments of the day. Improving his time dramatically, the Portuguese GP victor put in the only 2:09 of the day and snatched the top spot. Arbolino, Canet, and Joe Roberts (American Racing) also lit up the timesheets at the end of Practice 2, with the American kicking off his home GP with 4th place on Day 1.

Other big hitters such as Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Somkiat Chantra (IDEMISTU Honda Team Asia) put themselves in provisional Q2 spots in 6th and 8th, and with an uncertain weather forecast ahead of FP3, this could be crucial for their chances of success. Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) and Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) will have work to do from 15th and 17th, and will be hoping for dry conditions in FP3 for another chance at grabbing a Q2 spot.

Day 1 at COTA was topped by Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) to kick off his weekend at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas with a 2:16.306. Joining the Japanese rider in the top 3 on combined times was the Spaniard Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) with Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) rounding out the top 3.

The dark clouds loomed over Austin Texas but the Moto3™ riders were lucky to have a full day of dry running ahead of the weekend’s competitive action. With uncertain weather conditions across the weekend, it was important for the big hitters to ensure a Q2 spot in the case of rain in Saturday’s FP3. The riders took to the track for Practice 2 and it took a while before there were any improvements on their morning efforts.

Fifteen minutes to go and the Rookie Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) suffered a big high side as he ventured onto the curbs and was thrown over the handlebars. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, the times began to tumble and the 2022 JuniorGP champion was knocked down to P12 from P9, but still remains in Q2 contention.

The final five minutes was when Sasaki put the hammer down. Ortola was the first to improve but the Japanese rider had something special in his back pocket and stamped his authority on the rest of the field moving the goalposts by almost half a second. Masia put in a brave effort to topple Sasaki, setting the fastest first sector but falling short by 0.176s.

Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) topped Practice 1 and will be one watch heading into the race as he finishes the day in P4. Equally, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) have had positive starts to their weekend finishing the day in 5th and 7th respectively.

For more MotoGP news and results, click here