Some fantastic pace in the final handful of laps saw Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) end MotoGP™ FP1 at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas as the fastest rider on track, but only 0.008s split the Spaniard from compatriot Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). Rins’ 2:04.007 benchmark was over four tenths clear of third place Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) returns with a very solid P5.
The 2019 COTA King tops FP1! ????@Rins42 hits the ground in America! ????#AmericasGP ???????? | #GP500 pic.twitter.com/aGZtSosAmb
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 8, 2022
Reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) began his weekend with a P4, the Frenchman was 0.443 behind Rins in the opening 45-minute stint.
Rins had encountered an issue with his GSX-RR with about 20 minutes to go and then had to pit for fuel on his second bike, but that didn’t stop the 2019 Americas GP winner from taking FP1 honours. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) crashed unhurt at Turn 18 in the early exchanges of the session, and then he too had some sort of issue at the end of the session.
They don't call this place the Horsepower Rodeo for nothing! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 8, 2022
The King of COTA sits atop the times early in FP1 ????#AmericasGP ???????? | #GP500 pic.twitter.com/cXBPbgYQWZ
Make sure you tune into MotoGP™ FP2 at 14:10 local time (GMT-5).
Top 10:
1. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – 2:04.007
2. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 0.008
3. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.430
4. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) + 0.443
5. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.462
6. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.574
7. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.587
8. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) + 0679
9. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) + 0.737
10. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 0.886