Marc Márquez Leads in Austin Despite Early Crash | MotoGP Practice Results & Updates

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Marc Márquez demonstrated his resilience and speed at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday, overcoming a frightening crash in the opening practice session to finish the day as the fastest rider in MotoGP. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider’s performance underscored his continued mastery of the Austin circuit, despite recent challenges and a painful spill.

The day began dramatically for the eight-time world champion. Just minutes into FP1, Márquez lost the front end of his Ducati at Turn 10, sending him sliding through the gravel and impacting the air fence. While the incident appeared serious, medical checks cleared him of any injuries, allowing him to return to the track and ultimately post the fourth-fastest time in that session. The crash, however, left Márquez feeling pain “everywhere,” a concern he voiced could impact his entire weekend.

“Today was completely my mistake,” Márquez explained to reporters. He elaborated on the incident, noting that new bumps on the circuit contributed to the loss of control. “That turn 10 is one of the corners that I like more… but Notice a lot of bumps there. Luckily for this afternoon, I changed the line a bit, but I was too optimistic on that first lap.”

The afternoon practice session proved to be a different story. Despite the lingering discomfort, Márquez found the pace to top the timesheets, finishing just under a tenth of a second off the all-time lap record at the Circuit of the Americas. This performance secures his direct entry into Q2 on Saturday, bypassing the potentially treacherous Q1 qualifying session.

Márquez’s strong showing is particularly noteworthy given his recent struggles and the dominance of Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia in the previous two races. He’s aiming to break that trend at a track where he has historically excelled, though he acknowledged it’s been four years since his last victory here. The circuit holds a special place in his career, but he’s aware of the evolving challenges it presents.

Behind Márquez, Ai Ogura of Aprilia Racing Team finished second, a mere 0.053 seconds behind. Fabio Di Giannantonio continued his strong form, securing third place and establishing himself as a consistent performer for Ducati. Championship leader Bezzecchi managed a solid fourth-place finish, while Álex Márquez and Pedro Acosta rounded out the top six.

The day wasn’t without its setbacks for other riders. Maverick Viñales was forced to withdraw from the Grand Prix after experiencing renewed pain in his left shoulder, an injury dating back to last year. A scan revealed a loosening screw in his shoulder, necessitating surgery and sidelining him for at least the Austin race. He is expected to undergo surgery on Tuesday with the goal of returning for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez within a month.

Several riders experienced crashes during the afternoon session, including Jorge Martín, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, Pedro Acosta, Ai Ogura, and Álex Márquez, largely attributed to high track temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius and the resulting tire overheating. These incidents led to numerous yellow flag situations and disrupted track time for those involved.

Luca Marini was the lone Honda rider to directly qualify for Q2, securing tenth position. Joan Mir narrowly missed out, finishing just 0.032 seconds outside the top ten and will have to compete in Q1. All four Yamaha riders will also participate in Q1, with Fabio Quartararo leading the charge in 15th position.

In the support classes, Máximo Quiles dominated Moto3 qualifying, followed by Guido Pini and Álvaro Carpe. David Alonso led the way in Moto2, with Manu González and Barry Baltus completing the podium.

The MotoGP grid will return to the track on Saturday for final practice and qualifying sessions, culminating in the race on Sunday. Márquez will be looking to translate his practice pace into a strong qualifying performance and challenge for victory, despite the pain and the competitive field. The question remains whether he can maintain his speed and consistency throughout the race weekend, and if his physical condition will allow him to fully capitalize on his potential at a track he clearly favors.

What’s Next: Qualifying for the Red Bull United States Grand Prix begins Saturday at 10:00 AM CT (15:00 UTC). The race is scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 PM CT (21:00 UTC).