MotoGP™ was treated to a different kind of Friday than what Austin has used us to, as the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas action kicked off under the rain in wet conditions in the morning. Nevertheless, last year’s sheriff Maverick Viñales approached his new challenge with Red Bull KTM Tech3 with the same motivation with a really positive day one, scoring his first Friday top 10 in Practice with the 8th time, therefore qualifying him directly for the coveted Q2. Enea Bastianini took the 18th time of Friday’s Practice, and he will have to go through the pre-qualifying stage on Saturday morning.
Grand Prix of the Americas
He had it all in Texas in 2024 after winning both sprint and main event from the pole position, and the new challenge on the KTM RC16 was for sure a booster for Top Gun, aka Maverick Viñales, on the Circuit of the Americas, a favorite from the Spaniard belonging to the very close circle of riders, other than Marc Marquez, to have won the coveted trophy in Austin. The wet conditions seemed to fit well for Viñales who completed a solid first Free Practice 1 on Friday morning. After a long first run, the number 12 went top with a fastest in 2’15.653 after 20 minutes into the session as all riders tried to settle down under the rain. The rain’s intensity decreased progressively as the session went by, allowing riders to take down a bit their lap times. The Spaniard rounded up FP1 with a late best in 2’13.483, placing him 8th in the timesheets. Luckily, the rain stopped for the key one-hour practice, leaving riders to fight for the top 10 on a tricky drying-track. After two first runs with wet tyres, the Spaniard switched to a slick-soft strategy for the remaining half hour. Soon, he improved to a 2’11.230 getting him closer and closer to the top 10. With very little remaining time left on the clock, the Spaniard pitted-in for a quick change of setting, to give it all in the 3 remaining time-attacks. First lap was unlucky as he took the yellow flag after Johann Zarco’s crash, but he then clocked in a 2’04.556 that powered him through the top 10. Top Gun had a bit more in the final lap, to find a 2’04.261 and take the 8th time, qualifying directly for Q2 for the first time this season with the Red Bull KTM Tech3 squad.
Also a winner in Texas (2022), it was also a different challenge awaiting a hungry Enea Bastianini, arriving from an unlucky Argentinian round, where we saw him being taken down after two laps. Free Practice 1 was split into two runs, and after a total of 14 laps under the rain, Bastianini ranked 15th of the opening session with a 2’14.739, with a 2.208 second-gap to the fastest. As track conditions got a bit better for the afternoon, Bastianini opted for the slick strategy a bit earlier into the session than his teammate. Progressively, the feeling improved as we saw Bestia’s lap times going down, but still he appeared to be missing that little something to help him feel better and get closer to his contenders. Eventually he reached his best in the final lap of the session, a 2’05.335 which sees him end the day in P18. The Italian will need to go through the pre-qualifying stage on Saturday at 10:50 local time (UTC-5), just after Free Practice 2 kicking off Super Saturday in the USA! In the afternoon, Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini will line up on the grip for the 3rd Tissot Sprint of the season, at 15:00.
MAVERICK VIÑALES: "We had a better feeling after the race in Argentina, so I was really excited to jump back on the bike here at COTA, especially when I saw that we were going to have some time in the wet, because the bike has always worked pretty well in these conditions. I liked the feeling directly this morning, so it was exciting. We had mixed conditions in the afternoon, so we were careful, until we needed to go for the time attacks. I feel like the balance on the bike has become better and better, and I feel more confortable. And we know that I ride better and I am able to do quick laps when I have all this put together, so let's see how it goes tomorrow. We could see the power of the bike today out of T11 and T20, but we are also still lacking corner speed, and we really need to understand this part. Anyway, we need to be happy with today, and we will give our maximum tomorrow in qualifying."
ENEA BASTIANINI: "We are making progress, slowly, but we are. To be honest, the start in the wet conditions was not bad, the feeling was quite good. When the track dried, it became more difficult for me, in a similar scenario than the past two rounds. We need to improve for tomorrow for sure, make some adjustments on the bike to help me feel better, and I think that we can try getting more power with the electronics, because I was wheeling a lot in the straights, and I felt a lot of spinning on the rear tyre in the straights too, so hopefully we can improve these heading to Saturday."
PRACTICE SESSION RESULTS
1. Marc Marquez (SPA), Ducati Lenovo Team, 2'02.929
2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA), VR46 Racing Team, +0.736
3. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), VR46 Racing Team, +0.837
8. Maverick Viñales (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, +1.332
18. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, +2.406
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2024 - M. Viñales (SPA) - 2'00.864, 164.2 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2024 - M. Viñales (SPA) - 2'02.575, 161.9 km/h
Best Pole: 2024 - M. Viñales (SPA) - 2'00.864, 164.2 km/h
Top Speed: 2023 M. Viñales (SPA) - 356.4 km/h
