2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship
Round 15 – COTA

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Marc Marquez – P1

“The plan was to do exactly what we did today: start well and fight into the first corner, take the first few laps a bit easy and then when the tyres start to drop a little bit – that’s when I would start to push. It’s exactly what I did and I saw the gap increasing with my lap times in the high 2m04s, very consistent and comfortable. In the last few laps I was very tired and it wasn’t easy to keep my concentration but Fabio was far behind and my instincts said he would not risk anything as he’s fighting for the championship.

“Today is a great day, I want to say thanks to the whole of HRC and the Repsol Honda Team who have worked so well all weekend. It’s been a hard season to understand everything, I was really looking for this victory because we know we had a good chance here. It was nice to win here for Nicky Hayden and also for the Viñales family, I have known them since I was eight years old and it’s a hard year for them and for the world of racing.”

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Fabio Quartararo – P2

“You can imagine how happy I am! I think that we managed to do a really great job. This morning I tried the soft rear, and honestly that was not really a race option for us all weekend, but I felt good. The first 12 laps of the race were the toughest, when I tried to make a gap between me and Jorge. And we did it. This is the best second place that I‘ve ever gotten in my life. It‘s even better than a victory, to be honest, because I‘m getting closer to my dream. It was so emotional because there are only three races left, and I have an over 50-point advantage.

“At least we made this long flight to leave here with a great result. I will now go back home and relax with my family for a few days. I will enjoy those moments with them a lot. I think that we are starting to think in a different way now, because the championship‘s end is getting closer. This is my first time really talking about it, but things are looking good.”

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Francesco Bagnaia – P3

“Today, we couldn’t do more than this. We gave our best until the end and took another important podium, so we can only be satisfied. Right from the start, it was a complicated weekend for us, given the track conditions, but we still managed to get a great result. I also have to thank Jack because he let me through when he was in trouble, and I had to make one overtake less.  For sure, we lost some points today to Quartararo, and now the Championship fight is getting tough, but I’m not too worried about it. We’re working well and improving race by race. Now we’re already thinking about the next Grand Prix where, of course, we’ll try again.”

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Alex Rins – P4

“Today was a very difficult race for me, I struggled a lot, it was so hot and physically tough for everyone. Coming out of the slow corners I was losing time – I’m not sure if it was rear grip, or something in the set-up, but I struggled to accelerate out of the corners. But on the more flowing and faster corners I felt good and I was able to hold the speed and fight better. We chose the soft rear, like everybody else, because it seemed to be the best option to enter the fight with the same weapons. In the end it’s hard to tell whether another choice may have worked better, but I’m glad I was able to get fourth – it’s not so bad and I could bring home some nice points.”

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Jorge Martín – P5

“I really didn’t expect to do a race like that, I am very happy. It’s a shame because I could have been on the podium.”

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Enea Bastianini – P6

“It was another unexpected result. Yesterday we had a difficult day, but we knew that our potential on this track was quite high. I had a good race, and in the first laps I tried to recover some positions. I didn’t know if I would arrive to the end of the race, because I went to the maximum and it’s a really tough track. On the last lap I managed to overtake Mir and Miller and it was a lot of fun. We knew we could fight for the top 10, but we didn’t expect to get this 6th. Another great result and we will try to keep it going.”

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Jack Miller – P7

“That was a hot one, and riding here in Austin in October is a different story than when we’re normally here in April, that’s for sure. Like last time in Misano I finished in one position and then a penalty lifted me a position higher – it’s a story you’ve heard before …

“I crossed the line eighth at the end but you all saw what happened with (Joan) Mir on the last lap. It was like last time in Misano all over again. I got hit, lost spots to two guys … at Misano he got pushed back a place for track limits, and here it was one place for irresponsible riding. Race direction did what they did with him, so there’s not much more to say about it really. I was struggling with my front tyre, I tried to protect the line … but you can’t protect when someone runs into the side of you, can you? I swear, every time I race with the guy he seems to run into me. It’s not just the last two races either. I think there’s better ways you can go about the situation. I was fading at the end of the race, don’t get me wrong, but that didn’t need to happen.

“Fortunately I was able to stay on the bike and I felt I controlled myself rather well afterwards. Maybe I’m getting older and more mature, that’s a nice sign you could say…

“The race itself, I was the only rider to use the hard rear tyre because I knew I needed to have something to attack with late in the race starting from way back in 10th after qualifying went badly for me. The rear tyre held up fine, but I was more surprised that the soft rear that most of the rest of the guys used held up as well as it did because it was so hot out there. In the end, I was more limited by the right side of my soft front tyre, so that made the right-handers harder for me the longer the race went. The left side was fine which was good as I could defend at the end of the back straight, but the right-handers were a battle from about halfway through.

“The first half of the race was good and I was able to get up to fourth there for a few laps, but then I was taking different lines to try to take some of the load off the front tyre and (Jorge) Martin started moving away from me in third, so I knew that the podium was pretty much gone at that point. I was struggling by that stage so it was an easy decision to let my teammate Pecco (Bagnaia) through, he has a championship to fight for and there’s nothing to be gained for him and for us in the teams’ championship by making it too hard for him when he was clearly faster at that point. He caught me, I was struggling, so it made no sense to f**k his race up any more so I waved him by. One less overtake for him to do made it easier for the teams’ championship, and Pecco was able to limit the damage to Fabio (Quartararo) in the riders’ championship as best he could.

“Saturday night after qualifying was so frustrating for me was all about calming down, considering the job I had to do for the race. I remembered what ‘Dovi’ (Andrea Dovizioso) did on the Ducati the last time we raced here in 2019, when he got knocked out in Q1 and started 13th but finished fourth and was coming on strong at the end, I was fading in front of him and just about held on for the podium. I had to first concentrate on getting away cleanly from back in 10th – never easy here but possible – and then get in with the front guys as early as I could and stay there. The start went alright but I got boxed in at the car park in the first corner, but I was able to get to fourth pretty quickly before I wasn’t able to ride 100 per cent how I wanted to after about 10-11 laps.

“For the championship, it was Mir and (Johann) Zarco I had to get ahead of, and they were both starting in front of me. So at least that happened, and I’m now up to fourth overall which is better than I’ve ever done before. Three races to go to defend that now and see if I can move forwards.

“Anyway, it was really good to be back at COTA for the first time in so long, over two and a half years. It felt like even longer, especially when you think that the last time we were here was just my second MotoGP podium! Being back in America was definitely enjoyable, and it makes me look forward to even more of a ‘normal’ calendar next year so I can get back for a home race as well.”

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Joan Mir – P8

“All race long I was trying to gain positions and make overtakes, but due to some issues with acceleration and traction I wasn’t really able to do it easily and I had to push really hard. I’m sorry for the touch with Jack (Miller) at the end of the race, I understand why he was angry, but it’s a shame I had a penalty because it was not a deliberate hit, of course. I hope in the future we can be more competitive, because I don’t want to be in these types of fights with another rider, I want everything to be clean and to be able to make passes more easily and battle with the lead group. Anyway, today I’m eighth and that’s just how it is. I’m ready to focus on Misano.”

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Brad Binder – P9

“Today, going into the race, I felt that we hadn’t done a lot of quality laps this weekend. I didn’t have the best rhythm and I was missing a bit of speed but in the end I gave my best and the team did a fantastic job to give me the best available package for the race. We are nowhere near where we need to be – and where we want to be – but it was P9 today. There was not much more I could have done. We’ll keep working and try again in Misano.”

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Pol Espargaro – P10

“We went into the race knowing it would be difficult and from the start the feeling with the front was not so good, there was a lot of pushing. With the situation we had, I couldn’t do any more. It’s strange because in previous races the rear has been where we had our problems, but today it was the front. It’s unfortunate because we started the weekend well. Now the next objective is Misano where we know we have a good setting from the test, so we get ready to go again. The year isn’t over, so we keep our head up and keep trying. Congratulations to Marc and the Repsol Honda Team.”

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Miguel Oliveira – P11

“As we expected it was a hard race and difficult to make a lot of positions. Anyway, we recovered some places. We scored points and we raced well. We are looking forward to Misano where we just need to understand how to qualify better and then fight for better positions in the race. I’m happier now that we have finished the race here and achieved something. Looking to the future this was an important step.”

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Álex Márquez – P12

“We finished P12 today, I’m not really happy because it’s not the position I wanted to be in and it’s not the performance we needed to show. But I gave 100% throughout the race, the main problem was the rear grip which did not feel good from the beginning to the end. But I was able to keep the lap times and my rhythm quite constant. I made a big mistake on lap seven when I went straight on the back straight at turn 12 and lost three or four seconds there, without that I think the top 10 was possible. It was not the race I expected, I expected a little better so we need to keep pushing. Now, we have three weeks to rest and to reflect on it.  We’ll be looking to make a step forward and be more competitive in Misano.”

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Andrea Dovizioso – P13

“I’m very disappointed with the start because I almost switched off the engine – I don’t know if I made a mistake but I lost a lot of positions, so we’re looking into that. This made it not very easy, especially as it’s very difficult for us to overtake, but in the end my pace was quite good and quite consistent. I’m disappointed because I didn’t achieve the maximum – with a good start I believe I could have been in the top ten, but the improvement since Misano is huge and we’re continuing to work hard and to adapt to the bike. We are in a strange situation that I can be happy even when we don’t get a good result because I’m learning, so it’s ok and we will continue to work in this way.”

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Luca Marini – P14

“In the race we had a bit of the same problems as in the last races and that didn’t allow me to make the difference I would have liked in terms of riding. Overall it was a positive weekend, we have to be happy with the whole team for the progress we have made since Misano. I struggled a lot physically, it was a long race and I struggled to ride the way I wanted to be faster.”

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Valentino Rossi – P15

“Considering my pace during the weekend my speed today in the race was decent. I was able to take one point, but it was really, really hard. A very long race. This track is always very demanding because we have some wild braking, a lot of change in direction and a lot of bumps, and with this temperature it was very long today. For the level of MotoGP machines now you have to be very, very fit. I used the medium rear and I felt good and was able to recover some positions, but unfortunately I was not fast enough. We expected to be stronger, but we suffered through the weekend. Finally though at the end I’m happy because it was so tough but still I took one point.”

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Iker Lecuona – P16

“It was a very difficult weekend in general. I don’t feel good with the bike in these track conditions, so I struggled a lot. In Warm Up this morning, I was alone and my pace was pretty good to fight maybe even close to the top 10. But in the race, on the first lap, some guys hit me two or three times in the first corners, so I was far back. Then I tried to recover, but I used a lot of rear tyre in the first laps, so I didn’t have any grip anymore. In the last 10 laps I tried to recover the gap to Rossi and I made up almost three seconds, but then he improved a lot as well. It was very hard and finally we didn’t get any points in P16. But we gathered experience. We learned a lot during this weekend and I think now I have two weeks to recover and be fit for Misano two.”

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Takaaki Nakagami – P17

“At the start of the race I had a good feeling on the bike and I was ready to attack as I saw Marc (Marquez) was trying to go away after the start. I was trying to overtake Joan Mir and then next Bagnaia, I was really confident on the braking so I kept pushing, but unfortunately at turn 12 I hit the bumps in the apex and lost the front. It’s a shame that I crashed because after that I rejoined the race and I tried to keep pushing to the maximum and the pace was amazing. We had really good pace in the end, so it’s a shame I lost this opportunity. I’d like to say sorry to my team. Now, we are on to the next race in Misano.”

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 Danilo Petrucci – P18

“It was really a difficult race. I tried at the beginning to stay with the others, but we faced the same issues like all weekend long. It feels like I can’t really use the tyre properly and my bike doesn’t turn like I want it to. I lose a lot of energy on braking in order to try to stick with the rest, but then also in the corners I was slower and in trying to be faster I risked crashing many times. On the last lap, I was really blocked with my back. I was riding all the race with a lot pain. It was very difficult. Anyway, we tried and we will try again in Misano.”

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Franco Morbidelli – P19

“The race was very, very tough. I wasn‘t in the condition to fully perform in the race because this track is really demanding on the body and I‘m still recovering, and 20 laps here with my physical condition were really tough. At some point I was just trying to get the bike to the end. At the beginning of the race, when I was still able to, I wanted to push a little and make some more kilometres to learn and adapt more to the bike. We got some interesting information that we can analyse, and we can do something with it for Misano. The next GP weekend is in three weeks, so I will have some more time to heal and prepare for that race. This is positive, and overall it was a positive weekend. We understand better which direction to take. Of course, the result is not what we wanted, but this is like a pre-season for us. We have to see it in this way. We are collecting interesting data for the next races.”

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Johann Zarco – DNF

“I am very disappointed, a good opportunity wasted because of a mistake. Now I will use these two weeks to train and get back to 100%.”

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Aleix Espargaro – DNF

“I am truly disappointed. Not so much for the crash, which is always a possibility in racing, but certainly not when you’re riding with such high lap times. Unfortunately, something just didn’t work this weekend and we need to take a deeper look at that. Until now, we have been competitive everywhere, with various results but consistently battling in the group of the best. I want to apologise to the team. Five crashes in three days are definitely not a good record and both they and the engineers have worked nonstop throughout the weekend. The goal was to stay calm and aim for the best possible result, which was the points zone for us today. We were doing just that before the crash, which fortunately came without any physical consequences.”

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Team Managers

Massimo Meregalli – Monster Yamaha Team Director

“Today’s second place is the result of very precise work done by the team. We improved session by session throughout the entire weekend, including in the Warm Up when we made the final rear tyre decision. We tried all tyre options this morning, including the soft rear that we hadn‘t considered earlier, and we were able to make the right decision. We also found something to make Fabio feel a bit more comfortable with the numerous bumps here, and that really paid off during this race. Fabio did a great job. It was another really mature ride from him. He had a good start and his immediate retaliation when Martin tried to overtake him was exactly what he needed to do. Then in the second half of the race he just focused on his own rhythm, which is easier said than done at this physical track, but he managed it. Moreover, he took this second place and a crucial 20 points at a track that isn‘t our strongest, and they are like gold for Fabio‘s championship campaign. Franky really suffered because he is still recovering, which wasn’t helped by today’s 20-lap long race. His result doesn‘t really do credit to the hard work he put in and the improvements he and his crew made over the weekend, but that is the way it is for now. We are sure he will be feeling much better again after the two weeks‘ rest before the Misano 2 race weekend.”

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Shinichi Sahara – Suzuki Project Leader and Team Director

“Both Alex and Joan gave 100% in today’s race. To be honest, we expected more in terms of results, but I know that they both managed the best they could in this difficult race, where the feeling with the bike and tyres wasn’t perfect. They kept fighting and it was a case of ‘damage limitation’ – just scoring as many points as possible. Overall the feeling with the bike was not bad for either rider, but this race was extremely demanding. We’re looking forward to the next races.”

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Ken Kawauchi – Suzuki Technical Manager

“It was good that both riders could finish, and not in bad positions, but we wanted more. We weren’t able to fight for the podium here today, which was a pity, especially given our past performances at COTA. Our competitors were very strong and our riders gave everything to bring home decent finishes, but it’s clear that we need to continue working. We’ll keep our heads down and push for the remaining rounds.”

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Mike Leitner – Red Bull KTM Race Manager

“We knew it would be a tough one. COTA is still a track we have not raced at that much. Brad had a strong one and suffered with a bit of vibration from the bike and tires around seven laps from the end and that cost him the chance to fight in that group going for 6th position. We are happy with the performance but we all cannot be happy with a 9th. Miguel also made an improvement…but we wanted both riders in the top ten and we have to work harder to get them in there.”

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Hervé Poncharal – Tech3 KTM Team Manager

“Another very frustrating weekend for the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team. This time, Iker didn’t get an ideal start, which is usually something he does quite well. It took him some time to gain a few positions and we were happy to see his progress. We were hoping that finally we could score a few points, which was the target. But again, as it happened quite often, I believe Iker made a mistake halfway through the race and he lost quite a lot of time and a few positions. Although he recovered and was going faster than the guys in front of him, he never managed to catch all of them. He ended up 16th, which is again the worst possible position. We would have been happy to score a point with at least one of our two guys. It’s frustrating and a Déjà-vu. Consistency is what we have to work on and this is the target for the next races.”

“Danilo had an ok start this time, better than his teammate. But soon we could see that the pace was dropping and he managed to finish the race, but there is not a lot to say. For many reasons he was just not in the place to be able to target to score a point. I know our two guys tried and pushed, but at the moment this is not enough. Let’s hope things will be a bit better next time in Italy for the second race in Misano.”

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Razlan Razali – Petronas SRT Team Principal

“First of all we are pleased and glad that nobody got seriously hurt during the Moto3 race after that nasty crash after the restart, and that all the riders are all ok. It was great to see John on the podium for the first time since Misano last year, and for Darryn to be in the top ten too, with both of them clearly having the potential for much more today. For Xavi and Jake I am pleased to see them both in the top ten, especially at this challenging track and with the extra demands of the surface and the weather. Both our MotoGP riders are also back in the points which is great, and they’re the first points for Andrea in just his second race with us. I think it’s the first time that all our riders have got into the points, which is a great team effort.”

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Piero Taramasso – Michelin Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager

“This was a very interesting weekend for us and the teams due to the grip levels of the resurfaced parts of the track being something of an unknown quantity. However, during the first dry session we realised very quickly that while the resurfaced parts offered good grip, the old asphalt was distinctly lacking in this respect. Considering the differences in grip between the various track surfaces and the well-publicised issues caused by the bumps, I was very happy with the consistent performance shown by all the options in our allocation, and the fourth Hard compound rear tyre we brought as a back-up wasn’t needed. The Hard front worked particularly well for all riders and constructors – hence it being chosen by everyone for the race – but all our rear options were race possibilities, with the vast majority taking advantage of the additional grip potential offered by the Soft.”

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Grand Prix of the Americas MotoGP Results

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MotoGP Standings

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2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar

Source: MCNews.com.au

2021 MotoGP – Round 15 – COTA

MotoGP riders were greeted to a wet track in the morning but track temperatures were still reasonable at 26-degrees while it warmed up in the afternoon session to a dry track with a temperature of 43-degrees.

Despite being resurfaced at T1, T10, T12 and in sector 4, the track remains quite bumpy and the grip levels change from section to section. At this stage it would seem most likely that in dry conditions riders will be leaning towards the Hard front while at the rear the default choice might be the Medium although some riders might take a punt on the Soft rear come race day.

Marc Marquez was eager to stake his claim at COTA, topping Free Practice 1 in the wet with a 2m15.872 before going on to dominate the afternoon session. A 2m04.164 saw Marquez edge out the likes of Miller and Quartararo who put in late flying laps but neither was able to show the overall pace Marquez had during the session. Despite his speed on the opening day, Marquez is still looking for further improvements ahead of Sunday’s race.

Marc Marquez – P1

“It was a tricky day today, the track conditions weren’t easy today. With all of the bumps it’s very hard to be consistent with your laps and to understand where you can push and where the limit is. I feel good in the wet and dry today and in the afternoon we were able to try some different options as well. We still have some areas to work on, to extract the maximum from the bike and myself here in Austin. It’s our best Friday so far this year and the goal is to of course keep this up for the rest of the weekend.”

On the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage, Pol Espargaro was raring to go as pitlane opened for Free Practice 1. With a fruitful Misano Test in his pocket, Espargaro was excited to see how he and the Honda RC213V would perform in Texas. Both Friday practices for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas showed the potential is there for Espargaro to put together a strong weekend as he took fifth in FP1 and fourth in FP2. Like his Repsol Honda Team team-mate, Espargaro continues to look for improvements between the bumps of COTA.

Pol Espargaro – P4

“I have always been comfortable in extreme situations; super cold, super windy or super bumpy and today I was able to use this to make a good lap time. But I have a lot of pain in my neck from the bumps around the track, it’s really physical with the circuit this weekend. The race will be difficult, both physically and trying to be consistent over the full distance. The bike is working well here and we have been strong in the wet and the dry so let’s see what the rest of the weekend brings.”

Takaaki Nakagami made it three Hondas inside the top five to end Friday practice as he put his LCR Honda machine in fifth.

Takaaki Nakagami – P5

“Today was a good day for us, in FP1 we had wet conditions, but in the afternoon in FP2 we had dry conditions, so we had two different sessions. We ended up P5 which is a good start, there are so many bumps on this track, but apart from that the feeling on the bike is quite good. Of course, we have room to improve, but we are quite happy with the first day here and we’ll look to keep improving.”

During the rainy morning session, Quartararo was keen to switch up his wet weather set-up, which is an area where he feels he can make further improvements. He shot up to sixth place within the first ten minutes. Improving his best time frequently, he remained in the top 10 for most of the session until the final ten minutes when dry lines started to form on track. The mixed conditions made negotiating the partially resurfaced and very bumpy COTA track even trickier. El Diablo ended the wet session with a 2m18.165s best time, set on lap 16/16, for 15th place, 2.293s from the front.

The Frenchman was quick to show strong pace in the dry FP2. More in his element in the sun, he got to work. The pressure was on to secure a spot in the top-10 as conditions remain uncertain for tomorrow’s FP3. Quartararo put in a soft rear tyre in the final stages for his time attack. Avoiding the yellow flags, he clocked a 2m04.366s on lap 15/17 that briefly put him in first place and ultimately earned him third in the FP2 and combined results, 0.202s from the benchmark set by Marquez.

Fabio Quartararo – P3

“I’m really happy. I think it was a good day. I’m happier about FP1, because we made a step in the wet. We tried something totally different, and we found more rear grip. The position was not great, but my feeling was much better, so I’m happy. FP2 showed that the track is not suitable to race on. It’s like a motocross track with asphalt. Of course, this is the same for everyone, but I think in terms of safety it’s really bad. Adapting to the track conditions was not easy. But I will do my best in the wet, the dry, or whatever the conditions are like. I can’t control the weather, but what’s always true is that I will give my 100% in any type of condition.”

Jack Miller recorded the second-fastest time in both the wet FP1 and dry FP2 sessions behind pacesetter Marquez, Miller was just 15-thousandths off Marc at the end of the day.

Jack Miller – P2

“I’m happy with this first day of free practices at the Circuit of The Americas.It was crucial to finish in the top ten this afternoon since the weather forecast calls for rain tomorrow morning. In the wet in FP1 and the dry this afternoon, I felt comfortable straight away on the bike. The track has a lot of tricky spots: there are a lot of bumps, and this afternoon there were still some wet patches after the rain that fell this morning, but overall I’m satisfied and happy with the feeling I have with my Desmosedici GP here in Austin”.

Pecco Bagnaia ended his first day at the Texan circuit with the sixth-fastest time overall. Eighth this morning in the rain, the Italian improved steadily during the dry afternoon session, finally setting the sixth fastest time overall with his Ducati Desmosedici GP during his final “time attack” attempt in FP2.

Francesco Bagnaia – P6

“It hasn’t been an easy first day: unfortunately, the track conditions are not optimal. There are a lot of bumps, the bike moves a lot, so you have to stay focused on it to avoid making mistakes. Anyway, the situation is the same for everybody, so we have to try our best to be faster and make the bike a little easier to handle in these conditions. In today’s time attack, I wasn’t able to do a perfect lap, but the time was still good, and I’m sure that tomorrow we’ll be able to make further progress”.

Pramac Ducati riders Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco were P7 and P8 while Enea Bastianini (P10) made it five Ducatis in the top ten.

Jorge Martín – P7

“Today was a positive day, I am satisfied with the work we have done. This morning in the wet condition I struggled a lot but in the afternoon session we improved a lot and I have good feelings.”

Johann Zarco – P8

“Really satisfied with this first day. This morning in the wet I went very well and my arm didn’t hurt. I struggled a little bit more in the afternoon but we finished in the top ten and I am very satisfied.”

Enea Bastianini – P10

“It was an interesting first day. The asphalt is very bumpy and it wasn’t easy. The morning was wet and I tried to start to get some confidence. FP2 was completely dry, but I had some pain in my back caused by the crash I had in the Misano test, and I didn’t feel 100%. Anyway, we had a good lap. In the fast corners I feel good, but in the slow ones I still suffer a little bit. We have all day tomorrow to work and we will try to make a step forward.”

Suzuki’s Alex Rins was P9 while the leading KTM was Brad Binder  in P11 while defending World Champion Joan Mir was P13.

Alex Rins – P9

“I really like this circuit but I found it a lot more demanding than in the past, it’s super bumpy and we’re all fighting with our bikes to stay on the right line and not get too out of shape. But overall it’s been a good day, trying both wet and dry conditions. It’s hard to know what the weather will be like tomorrow, but it looks like it will be wet in the morning so I should go directly to Q2. That’s good news, obviously, but we still need to work on a few things.”

Joan Mir – P13

“It’s a shame that I missed out on the Top 10 today, because tomorrow morning could be wet, but today was more difficult than I expected. My first priority is to get the bike how we want it. I’m searching for more stability, especially in the first sectors of the lap; the track is really tricky. It doesn’t really make a difference to me if tomorrow is wet or dry, the main thing is to improve my feeling because it’s very difficult with these bad bumps on the track, it unsettles the bike.”

Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia have a lot of work to do on Saturday and the Spaniard is working alone this weekend after team-mate Maverick Vinales decided not to race this weekend as he mourns the death of his young cousin at Jerez last weekend.

Aleix Espargaro – P19

“We started with a setting that was very close to the one we used in Misano, but it is clear that we’ll have to radically change the RS-GP. The asphalt is in poor condition, much worse than I remembered, and the times show it. After speaking with the techs, we decided to try and find stability on the bumps, without considering any of the disadvantages that might be generated by this setting. Considering the danger and how easy it is to make mistakes, it’s the only way to go.”

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MotoGP Combined Practice Times Friday

Moto2 Practice Times Friday

Moto3 Practice Times Friday

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MotoGP World Championship Standings

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Moto2

Raul Fernandez and Championship-leading teammate Remy Gardner made it another Red Bull KTM Ajo 1-2 on Friday at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, the rookie sensation two tenths clear of the Aussie veteran… and the duo with a nice buffer in hand over Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) in third. Business as usual? It may be and in the best way, with the two seeming set for another awesome showdown at COTA.

Moto2 Friday top five

1. Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 2’09.880
2. Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +0.199
3. Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – +0.654
4. Tony Arbolino – Liqui Moly Intact GP – Kalex – +0.793
5. Aron Canet – Inde Aspar Team – Boscocuro – +0.829

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Moto3

Filip Salač (CarXpert PrüstelGP) was the rider to beat on Day 1 at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, fast in a wet FP1 and a dry FP2 to end Friday top overall. Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) was second, within a tenth of the top and another fast in both conditions, with Aragon and Misano winner Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) third by the end of play, only half a tenth in further arrears.

Moto3 Friday top five

1. Filip Salač – CarXpert PrüstelGP – KTM – 2’17.280
2. Niccolo Antonelli – Avintia VR46 Academy – KTM – +0.086
3. Dennis Foggia – Leopard Racing – Honda – +0.126
4. Jaume Masia – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – +0.213
5. Xavier Artigas – Leopard Racing – Honda – +0.282

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Source: MCNews.com.au

2021 MotoGP – Round 15 – COTA
MotoGP Facts and Stats

At the San Marino GP, Francesco Bagnaia won for the second time in MotoGP, becoming the first Italian rider to take back-to-back premier class wins since Andrea Dovizioso (Valencia/2018 and Qatar/2019). Bagnaia became the seventh rider to win his first two premier class races in seven days (or less) along with Umberto Masetti (SpaFrancorchamps/Assen 1950), Gary Hocking (Hockenheim/Clermont-Ferrand 1961), Johnny Cecotto (Imatra/Brno 1977), Kenny Roberts (Salzburgring/Nogaro 1978), Kenny Roberts Jr. (Sepang/Motegi 1999) and Fabio Quartararo (Spain/Andalucia 2020).

At the Americas GP, Ducati riders will be aiming to win three successive MotoGP races for the first time since 2018 and the fifth time overall along with 2007 (twice), 2008 and 2018. Casey Stoner is the only Ducati rider who has taken three wins in a row: from Laguna Seca to Misano 2007, and from Donington Park to Sachsenring 2008.

With Bagnaia in MotoGP, Fernandez in Moto2 and Foggia in Moto3 winning in Aragon and San Marino, this is the first time there are the same winners in two successive GPs since the opening two GPs of 2017 with Maverick Viñales, Franco Morbidelli and Joan Mir. At the Americas GP, if Bagnaia, Fernandez and Foggia win, it will be the first time that there are the same winners in all three GP classes in three successive GPs since 2001 from Australia to Rio with Valentino Rossi, MotoGP Legend Daijiro Kato, and Youichi Ui.

With Francesco Bagnaia on the podium, the MotoGP race at the Aragon GP was the 150th in the premier class with at least one Ducati rider on the podium.

At the San Marino GP, Fabio Quartararo crossed the line in third place for his 19th podium in MotoGP, moving above Christian Sarron as the French rider with the most premier class podiums.

In addition, Quartararo is the only rider who has scored points in all of the MotoGP races so far this season. He is also the only one who has not passed through Q1 this season so far.

Fabio Quartararo is still leading the MotoGP classification with 48-point advantage over Francesco Bagnaia, which is the highest margin after the opening 14 MotoGP races since 2019 when Marc Marquez had a 98-point advantage over Andrea Dovizioso after the Aragon GP.

With Enea Bastianini in third place, 14 different riders have now stood on the podium since the opening race of the year, which is one less than last year. 2020 was the highest number of podium finishers in a single premier class season since 1977 when there were also 15 podium finishers (the record is 21 in 1969).

Bastianini became the eighth maiden podium finisher in the premier class since the opening race of 2020 (along with Joan Mir, Franco Morbidelli, Alex Marquez, Miguel Olivieira, Brad Binder, Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin).

This is the highest number of maiden podium finishers in two premier class seasons since 1998/1999 with Max Biaggi, Simon Crafar, Noriyuki Haga, Sete Gibernau, Kenny Roberts Jr., Tetsuya Harada, Régis Laconi and Garry McCoy.

Valentino Rossi finished 17th at the San Marino GP, his worst result across the line in his 15 visits to the track in MotoGP.

One of the three rookies in MotoGP this year has previously won a Grand Prix race at the Americas GP in any of the smaller classes: Jorge Martin in Moto3 in 2018 after qualifying on pole. He also finished second in Moto3 in 2017.

Enea Bastianini is the only other rookie in MotoGP this year who has previously stood on the podium at the Americas GP: he finished second (behind Martin) in Moto3 in 2018.

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Grand Prix Racing in Austin

MotoGP returns to the Circuit of the Americas (CotA) for an eighth year. Until 2019, the circuit held the Americas GP for seven successive years. The 2020 Americas GP was cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, FP3s in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP were cancelled due to weather conditions.

In total, there have been 32 previous Grand Prix events hosted in the USA: Laguna Seca (15), Indianapolis (8), Austin (7) and Daytona (2). A total of 75 Grand Prix races for solo motorcycles have been held in the USA since 1949: 500cc/MotoGP – 32, 250cc/Moto2 – 22, 125cc/Moto3 – 19, 50cc – 2.

Honda’s last MotoGP win at Austin: Marc Marquez in 2018 (after qualifying on pole but starting fourth). Honda is the most successful manufacturer with six wins, all of them with Marquez. Honda riders have won 15 of the last 16 MotoGP races held in the USA. The last non-Honda MotoGP winner in the country was Alex Rins in Austin in 2019. Prior to Rins, the last one was Jorge Lorenzo at Laguna Seca in 2010. Honda have also won 18 of the 24 premier class races that have taken place in the USA in the MotoGP era (since 2002).

Suzuki is the only other manufacturer to have won at Austin in MotoGP, with Alex Rins in 2019. This was Suzuki’s first win in the premier class in the US. They have had four wins in smaller classes in the US at Daytona with Hugh Anderson in 50cc (1964) and 125cc (1964/1965), and Ernst Degner in 50cc (1965).

Yamaha’s best MotoGP result at Austin is second with three different riders: Valentino Rossi (2017 and 2019), Maverick Viñales (2018) and Jorge Lorenzo (2016).

Ducati have had four MotoGP podiums at Austin with Andrea Dovizioso, third in 2014 and second in 2015 (the best Ducati’s result at Austin), Andrea Iannone, third in 2016, and Jack Miller, third in 2019 (his first podium with Ducati).

Pol Espargaro finished eighth in 2019 in Austin, which is the best result at the track for a KTM rider.

Aleix Espargaro’s 10th-place finish in 2018 equalled the best result for Aprilia at COTA, taken by Stefan Bradl in 2016.

Marc Marquez has qualified on pole for all of the seven MotoGP races that have taken place at COTA. He won six of them from 2013 to 2018 but crashed out in 2019 while leading. In addition, Marc Marquez has won on 10 of the 11 occasions he has raced in MotoGP in America: six times at Austin, three times at Indianapolis and at Laguna Seca in 2013.

Only once in 11 MotoGP appearances in America has Marquez not qualified on pole: Laguna Seca in 2013 when he qualified second behind Stefan Bradl. He qualified on pole in 2018 at Austin but started fourth after a grid penalty.

The only riders currently competing in MotoGP who have won in the class in American are Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez and now Alex Rins.

Of the 21 podium finishers in the seven previous MotoGP races held at Austin, all have been riders from either Spain or Italy, except Jack Miller, who was third in 2019.

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MotoGP World Championship Standings

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Source: MCNews.com.au

2021 MotoGP – Round 15 – COTA – Preview

For the first and only time this season, and for the first time since 2019, the Michelin Motorsport team and the rest of the MotoGP paddock is heading to the United States of America for the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at the Circuit of The Americas, set in the hills just outside downtown Austin, Texas.

A lot has changed since the last time MotoGP raced at COTA, not least of all the winner in the last two races: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who went from maiden victory to back-to-back hero in a week. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) remains the points leader, the Frenchman only just defeated at Misano, and this time as we saddle up in Austin there are only three races left thereafter. But despite the very different landscape and the drama of the last year and a half for eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), there surely remains one lone star to be expected in Texas. So can he do it?

One thing we can probably guarantee is that he’ll try. It’s not, however, going to be easy. There has been some solid progress and some good results since those first emotional laps back on a MotoGP machine though, and even earlier in the year when everything was far from going right, Marquez showed he remained the king of going left. His win at the Sachsenring was an emotional one, for him and Honda, and it also unearthed a self-confessed margin. The risk that day was worth the reward, and life for Marquez remains a little easier going anti-clockwise.

Fast forward to Aragon and another anti-clockwise hunting ground of choice, and again the number 93 was straight back at the front. This time, though, it wasn’t on the top step – but it wasn’t through lack of trying. Marquez was the only rider able to stay in Bagnaia’s postcode on Sunday and the two staged a truly spectacular duel, the existence and outcome of which make two different points.

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Marc Marquez

“I am looking forward to Austin and we’re arriving there after two good races, in Aragon and then in Misano. It’s a layout that I like and in the past we have had a lot of success but this year is a little bit different with our situation arriving there. Like always, it’s going to be important to build over the weekend and see where we line up on Sunday morning. No matter what it will be great to return because it’s a round I always enjoy a lot.”

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There’s no reason to expect a serious drop of form for Bagnaia in Texas, and that puts a little more pressure on Quartararo than the Frenchman likely expected a few races ago. Because COTA has also never been Yamaha’s favourite territory either…

The Iwata marque have, however, had some good results, and Quartararo praised some good improvements at the Red Bull Ring, which had also previously been a tougher one for Yamaha. So is it an assault on the win, an exercise in damage limitation, or simply a numbers game? 48-points of advantage at the top allows for each of those options.

Behind the Championship top two and the Marquez narrative though, there’s another for Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) too. 67-points off the top, and 75 left on the table after Austin, make it a long shot for the reigning Champion to defend his crown. But that also takes some pressure off, and it was a Suzuki on top at COTA on the single occasion Marquez faltered, then it was Mir’s team-mate Alex Rins, but he has not been enjoying the best form of late.

Texas is also now serious crunch time for the riders just behind Mir in the standings: Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team). The former arrives from arm pump surgery so is likely expecting to move back forward, but the latter also praised the two days of testing on the Riviera di Rimini, has two wins in his bag this season and is only one-point further back. Miller was also on the podium last time we saddled up in Texas.

Valentino Rossi, now at Petronas Yamaha SRT, was the lead Yamaha and only half a second off the win last time in Texas, and he’ll want to go out swinging in the States as he races there for the final time. Quartararo will take heart from that too as we return.

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Valentino Rossi

“I really like Austin and the last time we raced there, it was a great weekend for me. I was very strong in both Qualifying and the race, and I finished on the podium. We will see what happens when we get there but it is really nice that we are able to have this overseas event this season and I am really looking forward to being back there, after being unable to be there last year. We will need to get there to understand what our potential can be, but I’m feeling positive and hopefully we can improve some of the things that we need to, so that we can have a good race.”

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Andrea Dovizioso

“There are still a lot of areas that I need to work on, but it was good to have the Misano Test to help increase my time on the bike. I’m not sure what to expect from this weekend, as I will need to see what situation the track is in and I will need to find where the grip is. It is a very demanding track and last time I was there the track had a lot of bumps, however I think they have made some changes since then. The weather will of course have an impact, but it will be the same for everyone. It’s very difficult to predict what will happen but I hope to continue making progress this weekend.”

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Then came Miller, and then came Andrea Dovizioso, who is now taking it on with Yamaha – the same Petronas Yamaha that in 2019 came home behind him in the hands of Franco Morbidelli, now at Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP. With the state of play looking pretty different in 2021 as every one of that group arrives in a different seat, track records don’t tell the future but the shuffle continues to create some interesting stories as some return, some prepare to depart and others fight back.

Speaking of, Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) will want to do just that at COTA as the rookie race winner now finds himself under a little more pressure in the fight for Rookie of the Year. He’d pulled well clear despite his injury struggles earlier in the season, but a first premier class podium for Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) at Misano – with race-winning pace – means it’s now just ten-points the Italian trails the Spaniard, so it’s game on in that rookie showdown too.

After a busy and productive Misano Test, Pol Espargaro is also looking forward to being reunited with his Honda RC213V and seeing what’s possible around the Texan circuit’s 20 corners. Espargaro’s most recent visit to COTA yielded an eighth place finish back in 2019 and the #44 has only once finished outside of the top ten at the track. Like his teammate, Espargaro has been making steady progress since his pole position in Silverstone and is out to make a strong impression in the last four races of 2021.

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Pol Espargaro

“After a good test I am excited to head to Austin, it’s a fun track to ride and it will be great to see some more MotoGP fans outside of Europe. We found a few things during testing in Misano and Austin will be a good place to try them because it’s a circuit with a lot of variety. I’ve had a few top tens there in the past so hopefully we can build on that base this weekend.”

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There will also be plenty to watch out for at KTM and Aprilia, with both factories gearing up with pretty different machines as we return stateside for the first time since early 2019. Then, KTM hadn’t won a race and they’ve now won five. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is also sixth in the Championship, only 16 points off Miller, and the South African has continued his Sunday charges to varying degrees in the last few races. Where will KTM shuffle into the pack in Texas?

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Hervé Poncharal – Tech3 KTM Team Manager

“The next round for the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing Team is Texas. A place, I believe the whole paddock likes a lot and a place we haven’t been for quite a while, because I think the last time was spring 2019. This is great to be able to have a race outside of Europe. We know how difficult it is for the promoter to realise that and we are very happy and proud to have a race in USA, which means a lot for all of us. We know how important the US market is for the motorcycle manufacturers and the sponsors, so this is a great news.

“It’s very difficult to predict anything regarding our performance there, because we haven’t been at COTA for quite a while. Our machine, the KTM RC16 has improved such a lot since then. It’s going to be very interesting as it feels like arriving at a brand-new track. I believe our two riders like the layout quite a lot and following the test in Misano, that was quite fruitful, I think we can start on a good foot in Friday morning’s FP1. It will be weird and fun to be in the overseas paddock and we just can’t wait to start the race weekend there!”

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Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), meanwhile, is the rider on Binder’s heels and the Noale factory will want more than what they got at a slightly muted Misano. Maverick Viñales scored his first few points with the marque last time out though, so that narrative keeps retaining headlines. How will the all-new RS-GP fare at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas?

Bagnaia arrives on the crest of a wave, Quartararo retains his advantage in the points, and Marquez is six for seven in Texas.

Before the track action begins, there are some other events to keep an eye out for too. On Wednesday, Marc Marquez faces down against Jett Lawrence as the eight-time World Champion and 2021 MX 250 AMA Champion test their skills against each other, riding Honda NSF100’s on COTA’s karting track in a high stakes time trial challenge and only one can win.

MotoGP World Championship Standings

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Moto2

Another race weekend, another ace for Red Bull KTM Ajo. But it’s far from boring watching Championship leader Remy Gardner grapple with teammate Raul Fernandez at the top of the table, with the two embroiled in a chess match modern classic of a season. Gardner retains a sizeable 34-point lead over his rookie foil but Fernandez arrives from two wins on the bounce… just, as the veteran Aussie made a late charge at Misano. So can anyone catch them at COTA?

Since the form book has had little respect from the duo thus far, they must remain the favourites. Gardner could have a small edge from experience, too. But as easy as they’ve made it look at times, it’s far from it on track… and a likely suspect for some good speed to rival them could be Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team). The Brit took his first ever win at the track and has another podium, so there are some good memories.

Lowes though, like Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) ahead of him, will need to find some time to break the Red Bull KTM Ajo deadlock at the top. Bezzecchi was the last to do it at the Styrian GP, but then you need to rewind all the way to Jerez for the last time a non-Ajo machine was at the front in parc ferme, which is pretty staggering. So it’s an ask. For Bezzecchi it’s also likely crunch time to stay in contention, with 75 points available after Austin and his deficit to Gardner currently 81. Lowes, meanwhile, is already ruled out from the crown.

There’s a tight fight for fifth overall too, and it could still gain on Lowes for fourth, as Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) locks horns with Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team). Canet took a podium last time out as the number 37 had a tougher race, but both have been threats at times. Canet’s shown speed at COTA too, something that bodes well, and he arrives on form.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), meanwhile, isn’t far off that battle and he’s the aforementioned winner at Jerez. He’s also shown some pace in the Lone Star State, and will want to move back up as his move to MotoGP gets closer and closer. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) remains barking at the heels of the veteran too, no mean feat for a rookie, and it’ll be interesting to see what he can do in Texas.

On home turf though, there’s a lot on the line for Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) and compatriot, and rookie, Cameron Beaubier (American Racing). Roberts’ best so far this season is a fourth – denied a podium by a penalty – and he needs an upturn in form after a tougher run after summer break, but he knows the sharp end. Beaubier’s best of P8 at Mugello and another top ten in Germany are impressive too for the American, but it’s been a tougher run thereafter. With some home knowledge and the home crowd cheering them on, what can they do at COTA?

34 points is a good margin for Gardner, but it’s still only one DNF on a good day for his team-mate for a single podium to cover the difference. But on the flip side, 34-points is a big ask for a rookie to make up in four races – even if said rookie is equalling some of Marc Marquez’ records in the class.

Moto2 World Championship Standings

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Moto3

As the paddock arrives in Austin for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, there’s plenty to talk about in Moto3. The vast, fast COTA awaits and the lightweight class may once again negate the need for a preview as so much is often won and lost in few so corners, but there could be something to the tea leaves ahead of Texas. Form and feeling can play a big role and there’s only one person who’s had a near-perfect balance of both on the way in: Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing).

The last time the Championship took on a venue where points leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and former closest challenger Sergio Garcia (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team) had a little less experience, back at Silverstone, the podium was a veteran one: Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) and Foggia locked it out. Could COTA be a similar story? Getting to grips with the venue certainly adds an extra challenge for Acosta, but recent form, regardless of whether the track was a fresh challenge or familiar hunting ground, is an interesting read.

In the last three races, the average points scored by some of the key players make for a stark contrast. Foggia has averaged 22 points per Grand Prix, hence his move into second overall. Antonelli has taken 17, despite his injury struggles and Fenati, despite his crash out the lead at Misano and his dose of bad luck at MotorLand, still took an average of 9. Acosta, meanwhile, has taken just 4.67, and Garcia just 4.33. If a rate even close to that continues, its very much game on for Foggia for a title charge.

The Italian did point out after his Misano win that he hadn’t ridden the Honda at COTA before, but he must surely remain the favourite as he continues to shine a light on how to escape the melee in Moto3™. Antonelli too, and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), whose average takes a hit from his mechanical DNF at Silverstone. And then there’s Fenati.

The number 55 has two previous wins at COTA, and they were both breakaways. One purely on pace, and one holding his nerve as then-rival Aron Canet suffered a crash in their duel at the front. If not for his fall from what was genuine poetry, pace and grace in lead at Misano, surely Fenati would be the favourite? So can he reset, reload and shake off that error to get himself back into contention?

Moto3 is more than a gaggle of veteran Italians with Acosta and Garcia in their midst, however. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is coming on consistent and was on the podium on our last visit to COTA, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had some serious chops mid-2021 before a tougher weekend and big crash at Misano… Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) will want more than his recent finishes, and Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) another podium following his Aragon rostrum. Can they spoil the party?

Moto3 World Championship Standings

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Source: MCNews.com.au

Moto2 riders get a taste of MotoGP

Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 stars Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez completed their first laps on the RC16 MotoGP bike around Misano overnight.

The 2022 MotoGP recruits and current Moto2 championship pace-setters Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez to have their first taste of the KTM RC16.

Gardner suffered a slow speed tumble after running off track but still accumulated more than 50 laps while Fernandez’s best lap-time was just 2.5 seconds away from the quickest of the day after a similar amount of track mileage.

Remy Gardner – KTM GP Academy

“Incredible, honestly. I mean I expected power and strong braking but until you really try it then you don’t know. I was going through gears like there was no tomorrow. Even in the last laps it was mind-blowing how fast it was. I had a great day and a lot of fun. It was good to get a feel for the bike and to try and understand it. It was a nice little treat for us by KTM. I cannot wait to start for real and I’m looking forward to push the bike next time, trying to find those limits.”

Raul Fernandez – KTM GP Academy

“I’m really happy and thanks to KTM for giving me an opportunity. It was an amazing day and incredible to ride that bike. At the beginning there were many new things to think about, like the carbon brakes, but after a while it felt quite easy and I was enjoying it like a kid. The power was…wow. I want to start the work for next season as soon as possible even though all my focus is on Moto2 right now. In Valencia we’ll start again.”

Mike Leitner – Red Bull KTM Race Manager

“Raul and Remy took the Tech3 RC16s for some laps and it is always super-nice to see when a rider has his first experience with a MotoGP bike; their faces when they came back in said a lot! They have never had that power before. The target of the test for them was just to get that taste of MotoGP.”

Misano MotoGP Test Day Two Times

1. ESPARGARO Aleix SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 1m31.584
2. BAGNAIA Francesco ITA Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 0.080
3. MIR Joan SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 0.123
4. NAKAGAMI Takaaki JPN LCR Honda Honda 0.151
5. MILLER Jack AUS Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 0.214
6. ESPARGARO Pol SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 0.342
7. QUARTARARO Fabio FRA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 0.375
8. VINALES Maverick SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 0.418
9. OLIVEIRA Miguel POR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0.552
10. MARQUEZ Marc SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 0.567
11. MARINI Luca ITA SKY VR46 Avintia Ducati 0.572
12. BINDER Brad RSA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0.591
13. MARQUEZ Alex SPA LCR Honda Honda 0.675
14. PIRRO Michele ITA Ducati Test Team Ducati 0.747
15. RINS Alex SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 0.768
16. MARTIN Jorge SPA Pramac Racing Ducati 0.828
17. MORBIDELLI Franco ITA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 1.051
18. DOVIZIOSO Andrea ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha 1.246
19. ROSSI Valentino ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha 1.258
20. PEDROSA Dani SPA KTM Test Team KTM 1.375
21. BASTIANINI Enea ITA Avintia Esponsorama Ducati 1.391
22. FERNANDEZ Raul SPA Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing KTM 2.404
23. SAVADORI Lorenzo ITA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 2.459
24. GUINTOLI Sylvain FRA Suzuki Test Team Suzuki 2.557
25. GARDNER Remy AUS Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing KTM 3.057

Source: MCNews.com.au