Photography by Gold & Goose
It started off with a tricky, patchy wet track, but the Circuit of the Americas dried during the final MotoGP practice on Friday and predictably it was Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez coming through to top the timing charts with a 2:04.835. Marquez was followed by a very strong performance by Cal Crutchlow, who came through at the very end on his CWM LCR Honda to take second with a 2:05.162. Andrea Iannone rounded out the top three in Friday’s session with a 2:05:190 aboard the factory Ducati.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo qualifying 11th.
With rain predicted for Saturday, this session took on added importance to get into the top 10 to have a better opportunity to get into QP2 on Saturday.
Riders were greeted with a very tricky circuit, which was still drying in certain sections. With about 20 minutes remaining the teams began to switch to full slicks as a good dry line developed.
As the circuit dried times tumbled rapidly with Danilo Petrucci, one of the first to go to slicks on the Pramac Ducati, getting into the 2::11s and leading the charts temporarily.
With about 14 minutes to go Hector Barbera went to the top followed by Aleix Espargaro.
With about 12 minutes remaining Marquez came out for the first time on full slicks, just about the time Yonny Hernandez and then Alexi and then his brother Pol Espargaro trading P1.
Marquez moved into second with just over five minutes to go having had to get around Suzuki’s Maverick Viñales, but then Cal Crutchlow went to P1 with a 2:05.693.
Bradley Smith had just moved into fourth when he crashed out of the session. He was up and OK. His time was just good enough to keep him inside the top 10.
With three-and-a-half minutes to go Marquez, now with a clear track, pushed his Honda to the front with a 2:05.390. He would better that time once more to consolidate his hold on P1.
Lorenzo was outside the bubble of the top-10 and only had one lap try to improve his position. He got to 10th, but was bumped out at the last second to 11th, meaning that if tomorrow’s forecast comes true, his chances of improving his time are less than likely and he’ll have to go through Q1.
Aleix Espargaro was a mild surprise on the Suzuki, turning in the fourth fastest time. Round one winner and championship leader Valentino Rossi ran sixth with a 2:05.691 on his factory Yamaha. American Nicky Hayden was 22nd out of the 25 riders on his Aspar Honda.
2015 MotoGP
Circuit of the Americas
Day One Combined Results:
1. Marc Marquez (Honda) 2:04.835
2. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 2:05.162
3. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) 2:05.190
4. Aleix Espargaro (Suzuki) 2:05.564
5. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 2:05.646
6. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2:05.691
7. Pol Espargaro (Yamaha) 2:05.840
8. Stephan Bradl (Yamaha) 2:05.990
9. Yonny Hernandez (Ducati) 2:06.092
10. Bradley Smith (Yamaha) 2:06.134
