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.
2023 British Superbike champion Tommy Bridewell makes his WorldSBK debut at Portimao this weekend with the Superbike Advocates team, having tested at the circuit on March nine and ten as one of the few riders to complete laps on the second wet day. He crashed at Turn five in FP2 but completed the session. British Superbike’s 2023 champion is now on the world stage.
Jonathan Rea makes his return to WorldSBK this weekend at Portimao, stepping in for injured factory Honda rider Jake Dixon who continues to recover from wrist injuries sustained at the Phillip Island test. The six time world champion himself sparked the comeback when he said he thought why not, describing it as a good opportunity to get behind the lights again. The Goat is back on a Superbike.
Sam Lowes topped both FP1 and FP2 at Portimao on Friday, becoming the only rider to lap in the 1 minute 39 seconds bracket in the afternoon session. Nicolo Bulega finished second in both sessions but admitted he was riding at only 90 percent, unable to find a comfortable setup. The championship leader is not at his limit yet. Lowes is already there.
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.
Marc Marquez has defended the FIM’s circuit homologation process despite the Brazil chaos, saying the system works but circuits must follow through. MotoGP’s return to Goiânia was wrecked by a sinkhole on the main straight Saturday and asphalt breaking apart at Turns 11 and 12 Sunday, cutting the race from 31 laps to 23. Final homologation was only confirmed the Thursday before the race, with the entire paddock already on site. Marquez says the process is sound. Others disagree.