Fabio Di Giannantonio claimed back to back MotoGP poles at COTA, smashing the all time lap record with a 2:00.136. Bezzecchi starts second and Acosta third, while Marquez was left fifth after gesturing in frustration at traffic from Marini and Bezzecchi on his final run. Joan Mir caused a shock by rocketing to provisional pole at the end of the first run, heading row two ahead of Marquez and Martin.
Marc Marquez was visibly furious in Q2 at COTA after being blocked by Luca Marini and championship leader Marco Bezzecchi on his final flying lap, leaving the seven time COTA winner sixth on the grid. Bagnaia suffered a similar fate, catching Ai Ogura on his final run and dropping to eighth. Marquez starts 22 points behind Bezzecchi. He needed pole. He got traffic instead.
Fabio Di Giannantonio smashed the COTA all time lap record to claim back to back pole positions. His 2:00.136 lap put him nearly 0.2 seconds clear of Bezzecchi in second, with Acosta completing the front row. Marc Marquez was left sixth after suffering traffic in Q2, while Bagnaia starts fourth despite also being blocked on his final run. Diggia. Back to back. Record broken.
Marco Bezzecchi described Friday at COTA as much better than Brazil, finishing fourth and securing direct Q2 access after starting 20th last weekend in Goiania. He admitted the bike still does not feel completely right but praised the data available heading into Saturday. On Marquez, Bezzecchi was honest. Marc has been super strong, he said. Besides the crash, he showed he can be very quick in very little time.
Marc Marquez admitted he made a big mistake at COTA Turn 10 on Friday morning, saying the high speed impact with the wall left him with severe pain in his neck and back. The rear of his GP26 kicked over the crest before the front folded, sending him into the airfence at 190km/h. He returned with a bandaged left hand and topped afternoon practice anyway. Marquez is built different.
The FIM Harley Davidson Bagger World Cup made its historic race weekend debut at COTA on Friday. Australian Archie McDonald topped FP1 aboard his Joe Rascal Racing Harley Davidson with a lap of 2 minutes 13.705 seconds, beating teammate Cody Wyman and Oscar Gutierrez of Niti Racing. Test pacesetter Eric Granado finished fourth. Eight of the nine riders took part in the session. History is being made in Austin.
Marc Marquez topped a crash filled COTA Friday despite his own terrifying 192km/h FP1 fall. He shook off the morning scare to finish Practice 0.053 seconds clear of Ai Ogura, with Di Giannantonio third and championship leader Bezzecchi fourth. Martin, Alex Marquez, Bagnaia, Marini and Bastianini also secured direct Q2 spots. Toprak crashed and ended 18th. Quartararo led Yamaha in 15th. COTA belongs to Marquez. Still.
Aprilia unveiled the X 250TH at COTA on Friday, with Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin doing the honours ahead of this weekend’s Americas Grand Prix. Just 30 units will be built, 25 destined for the US market at $150,000 each. The track only machine produces 240 horsepower and becomes the first customer bike ever sold with full carbon carbon MotoGP spec brake discs. Only 30 exist. Good luck.
Pedro Acosta topped COTA FP1 by just 0.103 seconds from Di Giannantonio, with KTM, Ducati and Aprilia split by 0.113 seconds at the front. Marc Marquez crashed at Turn 10 within the opening ten minutes, flew through the gravel and rejoined on his second bike with a bandaged right hand to salvage fourth. Bezzecchi eighth. Bagnaia sixth. COTA is wide open.
Marc Marquez walked away from a terrifying 192km/h crash at Turn 10 in COTA FP1 today, bringing out the red flag just 10 minutes into the session. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi confirmed he escaped with only bruising to his right hand and arm, with medical director declaring nothing serious had been injured. Marquez rejoined on his second bike and finished fourth. COTA weekend is already dramatic.