Repsol Honda star Marc Márquez stayed top of the FP1 standings for a long time on his comeback in Austin. In the end, Suzuki factory rider Alex Rins was on top, but just 0.008s ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia).
In bright sunshine, but only 16 degrees air and 25 degrees asphalt temperature, the first free practice session of the MotoGP class began on the “Circuit of The Americas” at 9.55 a.m. local time (4.55 p.m. CEST) – with Marc Márquez getting back on his RC213V 19 days after the Mandalika warm-up crash while showing off his specially designed “Captain America” helmet.
After just five minutes, his Repsol Honda teammate Pol Espargaró crashed at turn 18. Tenth in the World Championship brought his bike back to the pits himself on the service road.
Marc Márquez quickly regained momentum and took the lead after 14 minutes with a time of 2:04.469. After the first quarter of an hour he was 0.494 seconds ahead of Alex Rins, whom he had followed on the way to the intermediate best time. Incidentally, the Suzuki works rider is the only MotoGP rider besides Márquez who has already won in Austin: he was there in 2019 when the Honda star fell while in the lead.
World Champion Fabio Quartararo, who finished second to give Yamaha a podium finish at the most recent Texas GP, and factory Aprilia rider Maverick Viñales then slotted in between Marquez and Rins. However, shortly after halftime of the 45-minute session, Rins had to park his Suzuki GSX-RR at the side of the track with a technical problem.
Marc Márquez was one of the drivers who had to endure a moment at Turn 11, where earlier his teammate Pol Espargaró shook his head after a violent wobble.
World Championship leader Aleix Espargaró improved to fourth place with a quarter of an hour to go in 2:04.956 min – and his Aprilia team-mate Viñales replaced Márquez in first place with a 2:04.373 min when twelve minutes were left on the clock.
For comparison: The pole time of Ducati factory rider Pecco Bagnaia in October of the previous year was – before the new asphalt between turns 2 and 10 and 12 and 16 – a 2:02.781 min. All official records around the 5.513 km long COTA belong but the seven-time Austin winner Marc Márquez. The Repsol Honda star’s all-time lap record since 2015 is 2:02.135 min. His lap record from the 2014 race is 2:03.575 min.
All riders put their faith in the soft front tire and medium rear tire until the very end. Rins drove one new best time after the other in the finish: In 2:04.007 min the Austin winner of FP1 finished 1st in 2019.
«We were forced to change our plan because we had a small problem with a motorcycle. Overall, I’m pretty happy with the things we tried on the second bike,” Rins reported straight away. “In terms of bumps, it’s a lot better than last year. You did a good job. It’s still a bit wavy at the hard braking points, but the track is much safer than last year.”
Although Jack Miller lost time in the third sector, the Ducati factory rider still finished third behind Viñales. The Aprilia newcomer also improved again in the last attempt, he was just 0.008 seconds short of the best time in practice.
On his comeback, Marc Márquez stayed in fifth place behind defending champion Quartararo. Five different makes were found in the first five places. The best KTM rider was Brad Binder in twelfth (+ 0.976 sec).
Pol Espargaró (6th) got stuck with his Honda in turn 10 at the end, while the Miller-Taxi came to the rescue of Pramac Ducati driver Johann Zarco (10th).
MotoGP result, Austin, FP1 (April 8):
1. Rins, Suzuki, 2:04,007 min
2. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0,008 sec
3. Miller, Ducati, + 0,430
4. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0.443
5. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0.462
6. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +0.574
7. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.587
8. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.679
9. Nakagami, Honda, + 0,737
10. Zarco, Ducati, + 0.886
11. Mir, Suzuki, +0.893
12. Brad Binder, KTM, + 0.976
13. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.996
14. Martin, Ducati, + 1,043
15. Alex Marquez, Honda, +1,139
16. Marini, Ducati, + 1,170
17. Morbidelli, Yamaha, + 1,280
18. Dovizioso, Yamaha, + 1,317
19. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 1,319
20. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 1,379
21. Gardner, KTM, + 1,665
22. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 2,191
23. Oliveira, KTM, + 2,438
24. By Giannantonio, Ducati, + 2,490