Rennie Scaysbrook | April 10, 2022
2022 American MotoGP News and Results – Sunday
MotoGP
The world’s fastest racers once again converged on the home of grand prix motorcycle racing in the United States at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at the weekend, and it was MotoGP’s newest star, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) who came out on top after taking the lead from Jack Miller (Lenovo Ducati) late in the race.
Bastianini started the race from fifth on the grid, the fifth of five consecutive Ducatis with Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) on pole from Miller, Lenovo teammate Francesco Bagnaia, and Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati), and leapt to third by the end of lap one as Miller and Martin engaged at the front, the Australian Miller holding sway for the first three-quarters of the race and looking good for a first win of the 2022 season at a circuit he loves.
Bastianini had other plans, however, taking the lead with five laps to go at Turn 12 and immediately opening a half-second advantage which stretched to 0.9 seconds with two laps to go. The eventual margin of victory was 2.1 seconds.
However, it was Miller who took second but Suzuki’s Alex Rins. Starting the final lap, Bastianini had 1.6s in his pocket but Miller had just 0.3s to Rins. Suzuki’s Joan Mir was 1.3s off the podium scrap, Bagnaia was a lonely fifth with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) fighting it out for sixth.
Turn 11, Rins’ favorite corner, saw the Suzuki man get by. But Miller got his Ducati hooked up on the straight and the Aussie was back into second. Miller was defending well but Rins got a great run out of Turn 18, and at Turn 19—the penultimate corner—Rins was up the inside to seal second place from Miller, who secured a first podium of the year in third.
Fourth went to Mir from Bagnaia and Marquez, who’s race was almost over before turn one as the seven-time CoTA winner bogged heavily from ninth off the grid and dropped to dead last. The Spaniard was at his ruthless best on the comeback, ripping past the majority of the field but hitting a wall when he got engaged with Quartararo for sixth, eventually losing the contact to the top five.
Quartararo finished seventh, Martin dropped to eighth after spending the first half of the race in second behind Miller, Zarco was ninth and Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) secured his second consecutive top 10 in 10th.
Erstwhile championship leader Aleix Espargaro was 11th from Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder, Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Idemitsu Honda) 14th and Andrea Dovizioso taking the final points in 15th.
In the championship, Bastianini rockets back up to the top of the standings on 61 points from Rins on 56 and Espargaro drops to third on 50.
2022 American MotoGP Results
1 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
|
2 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 2.058 |
3 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 2.312 |
4 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 3.975 |
5 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 6.045 |
Moto2
After qualifying on pole position, hopes were high for American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier after the Californian broke the lap record with a 2:08.7510 flyer but his race was one the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion would like to forget.
After dropping to fourth off the start behind Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Kalex), Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40 Kalex) and Toni Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex), and a few mistakes over the course of the race saw him drop steadily back until he crashed out of fourth on the final lap at Turn 16.
The win would eventually go to Arbolino, who avoided all the carnage behind him including an opening lap melee with Somkiat Chantra (Idmeitsu Honda Team Asia) ramming into the rear of Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) at the end of the back straight and taking both out, while Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up), Zonta Van Den Goobergh (RW Racing GP) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) all getting caught up in it.
Celestino Vietti also crashed out of the lead on lap four, Aron Canet crashed three laps later and Arbolino inherited a lead he would not relinquish from second placed Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Jake Dixon, who scored the first podium of his grand prix career in third.
Rounding out the top five was Marcel Schrotter (Liqui Moly Intact GP Kalex) and Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40 Kalex).
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) took eighth in front of his home fans while Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing Team) ended a bruising weekend following a massive crash on Friday with 17th at the flag.
In the championship, Vietti still leads on 70 points from Ogura and Canet on 56 and 54 points, respectively.
2022 American Moto2 Results
1 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
|
2 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 3.439 |
3 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 4.787 |
4 |
Marcel Schrotter |
(Kal) |
+14.529 |
5 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Kal) |
+ 16.347 |
Moto3
Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM) took a close-fought win in the Moto3 race at Circuit of The Americas, holding off Dennis Foggia (Leopard Honda) and pole man Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Honda), after Migno made a dive bomb lunge at the penultimate corner but ran wide, allowing Masia and Foggia past.
It was Masia’s first win since the 2021 Qatar race.
In the championship, Foggia leads on 74 points from Sergio Garcia (GasGas, DNF today) on 58 and Migno on 41.
2022 American Moto3 Results
1 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
|
2 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.172 |
3 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.394 |
4 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Hus) |
+ 0.49 |
5 |
Deniz Oncu |
(Duc) |
+ 1.113 |
2022 American MotoGP News—Saturday
Espargaro considering rival offers?
On the one hand, things have never been better for Aleix Espargaro. Together they turned the RS-GP into a race-winning bike and entered round four leading the championship for the first time in their respective histories.
But it’s not all celebrations and victory champagne. Talks have already started regarding extending the Catalan’s contract for 2023 and ’24. Yet both parties are far apart in terms of salary. So much so that Espargaro is being heavily linked to signing with a rival manufacturer.
“I feel super strong, super-fast,” he said. “I want to stay. I did not have any offer yet. The first talks they have with my manager were really disappointing. I feel very sad because we are completely super far (apart). But there is still time. I hope they value my work here during these years. Obviously, I’ve proved I’m fast and I have experience developing the bikes. So the paddock will move and we will have other opportunities.”
Calls for qualifying rethink
Not for the first time in recent history, there were calls to revamp MotoGP’s qualifying system after both Saturday’s Q1 and Q2 were marked by riders touring and waiting for tows.
Aleix Espargaro crashed out in frustration after Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli attempted to follow him throughout Q1. Later he lamented, “It was embarrassing.” And Suzuki’s Alex Rins found his qualifying efforts frustrated by riders touring on the edge of track.
“It’s unacceptable,” said Rins. “We are the big boys and we need to give an example to the others. I don’t have words to describe the feeling. I was in Qualifying 1 pushing, pushing, pushing then four or five riders in front stopped. It makes no sense. It’s so dangerous.”
Beaubier on pole!
Home hero Cameron Beaubier scored his maiden pole position in grand prix racing on Saturday after an inspired Moto2 qualifying session, making him the first American to score a home pole since Ben Spies at Indianapolis in 2010.
The 29-year old has been a player toward the front of each free practice session, and believes a podium finish could be within reach. On the key to achieving a strong result, he said, “I think you just need to make sure you’re hitting your marks and stuff like that. If you’re late going into the S’s, you’re late for the next three. That gets pretty tiring, muscling the bike left to right, left to right when you’re off-line or you’re late.
“We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground and first shoot for a podium a handful of guys are really, really fast. We’re feeling really good here this weekend. Friday went really well. I was third and second in FP1 and FP2. This morning didn’t go quite as good, but feeling really good for the race. We’ll see what we have in store.”
Saturday
MotoGP
It was a Ducati washout at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, today, as the Italian marque took the first five places in qualifying for the 2022 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas.
For a while it looked as though Aussie Jack Miller would finally land his factory Ducati on pole position after coming so close so many times last year, but fate was cruel to the three-time MotoGP race winner as Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati), who had to fight through Q1 to get into Q2, put in a lap only 0.003 seconds faster to steal pole position.
Behind Martin and Miller came the second factory Ducati entry of Francesco Bagnaia, with Martin’s teammate Johann Zarco fourth and Qatar MotoGP race winner Enea Bastianini in fifth despite an early Q2 crash.
Sixth in Q2 went to the first non-Ducati of World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), nearly 0.6 seconds off Martin’s pace.
Suzuki teammates Alex Rins and Joan Mir filled P7 and P8, while seven-time CoTA MotoGP race winner Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) was ninth ahead of fellow Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami.
It was a crash down to earth, literally, for World Championship leader and Argentine MotoGP race winner Aleix Espargaro, who could only qualify 13th after crashing late in Q1.
The MotoGP race is due to start at 1:00 pm local time tomorrow.
2022 American MotoGP Results—Qualifying
1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
2:02.039 |
2 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.003 |
3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.128 |
4 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.531 |
5 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.539 |
6 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.595 |
7 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.655 |
8 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.908 |
9 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.999 |
10 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 1.015 |
Moto2
Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team Kalex) sent the home crowd into raptures by taking a career-first Moto2 pole position at CoTA today. It was the first time an America in an American team has taken pole position for an American Grand Prix.
In sensational form all weekend, the Californian laid down a stunning 2:08.751 to take pole by 0.3 seconds from Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Kalex) and Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40).
Aafter the first set of laps were thrown into the hat in Q2, it was Vietti leading the way with a 2:09.091. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crashed unhurt at Turn 17, bringing out the red flags, as Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) then went down unhurt at Turn 8.
All eyes then turned to Beaubier. Three red splits went the way of the home hero and crossing the line, Beaubier went provisional pole by 0.3s, but Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) was on a flyer. Turn 17, however, caught out the Spaniard. Canet’s front end washed away, bringing out the yellow flags, but it wasn’t quite done and dusted yet with a couple of minutes to go.
Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) and Arbolino were threatening but neither would get close to Beaubier’s time, and that was that – the American sophomore was on pole for the Grand Prix of The Americas.
Arbolino managed to recover from that early crash to claim P4 on his last lap, the Italian will start alongside Shimoko GASGAS Aspar Team pairing Albert Arenas and Jake Dixon. Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40) faces a Long Lap Penalty in Sunday’s race for crashing under yellow flags in FP3, the Spaniard starts P7, ahead of Aldeguer, Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) will start from 16th while Sean Dylan Kelly will start 28th.
2022 American Moto2 Results—Qualifying
1 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
2:08.751 |
2 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
+ 0.340 |
3 |
Aron Canet |
(Kal) |
+ 0.532 |
4 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 0.578 |
5 |
Albert Arenas |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.607 |
16 |
Joe Roberts |
Kal |
+ 1.574 |
28 |
Sean Dylan Kelly |
Kal |
+ 3.771 |
Moto3
Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Honda) survived a late challenge from Dennis Foggia (Leopard Honda) to claim the Moto3 pole position at CoTA today.
Migno’s 2:15.814 saw him edge out Foggia by 0.067 seconds with Xavier Artigas (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) third, 0.252 seconds in arrears.
Due to the new schedule, Moto3 will be the final race of the day tomorrow and will commence at 2:30 pm local time.
2022 American Moto2 Results—Qualifying
1 |
Andrea Migno |
Hon |
2:15.814 |
2 |
Dennis Foggia |
Hon |
+ 0.067 |
3 |
Xavier Artigas |
CFMoto |
+ 0.252 |
4 |
Denis Oncu |
KTM |
+ 0.516 |
5 |
Jaume Masia |
KTM |
+ 0.595 |
2022 American MotoGP News—Friday
Quartararo’s future wide open
Fabio Quartararo’s plans for 2023 remain a hot topic for discussion in the early stage of this year, as reports continue to link him to a switch to a rival manufacturer. The Frenchman has been entirely non-plussed by the lack of development to the M1, leading to a stop-start beginning to the year.
Quartararo was tight-lipped on the speculation, stating his focus is entirely fixed on achieving results and defending his crown. “Right now I feel that my priority is to fight for the championship this year, and I have not so much time to think about other things. But it’s true that at the end, we also have to look at my future, and we will have a look during this month or next month.”
But personal manager Eric Mahe revealed he and his rider have been in talks with other factories. “We are checking all parameters,” he said. “In the last years this decision would have been taken months ago but at the moment there is no rush. We are in talks and trying to understand what is the best with Fabio. We have great respect for Yamaha, but there are certain reasons that I cannot say that we have to think about.”
Circuit of the Americas much improved
There was a great deal of relief at the state of the Circuit of the Americas track surface after the layout was resurfaced from turns 2 to 10 and 12 to the entry of 16. Last October, the MotoGP riders had said they would refuse to return to the Texan venue if the notorious bumps around the track were not addressed, with several saying it wasn’t safe.
“When you think about last year, for me, 80 percent of the bumps, or even more, are better,” said reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo. “Just Turn 10, if you are not on the line, it is tricky.” Joan Mir added, “When we come here to America, there are always really bumpy tracks, and we have to live with that. Probably I don’t complain because I know how bad it was last year! So I’m saying, OK, it’s more or less fine. But it’s bumpy.”
Marquez returns… again
Marc Marquez was back on a MotoGP machine just under three weeks after the biggest crash of his career, which caused the issues with his vision to return. The eight-time world champion explained how he felt ready to race in Argentina the previous weekend, but wasn’t “motivated,” due to the issues he had adapting to the 2022 Honda RC213V.
“For Argentina, I was very close to coming, but I didn’t feel motivated,” said Marquez. I didn’t feel motivated to take that risk in Argentina and I didn’t want to. I discussed it with the doctor and we decided to stay home, and relax.
“Of course, compared to Qatar, my physical condition I feel a bit better, but it’s true that with confidence I feel much worse,” admitted Marquez. This is something that is obvious about a weekend after another injury. Especially when it affects the vision which is something that makes me scared. But yeah, Apart from that the championship is important, it’s there, but it’s not the main target now.”
Friday
MotoGP
Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) put in a late flyer to steal the fastest Friday time for the 2022 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at Austin, Texas, today.
The Frenchman clocked a 2:02.542, the fastest lap ever of the Circuit of The Americas venue (although not counted as an official lap record as he did it in practice, not the race), to head a Ducati 1-2 with Jack Miller 0.247s slower on the factory Ducati entry.
Fabio Quartararo left it until the last lap of FP2 to take third on the FP2 timesheet on the Monster Energy Yamaha, the MotoGP world champion heading 2022 Qatar race winner Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) and Suzuki’s Alex Rins.
Rins’ 2:03.030 saw him in the top five for the majority of the session and the Spaniard has good form at CoTA, having taken his first MotoGP race victory at the venue is 2019.
Behind Rins sat the Kong of CoTA, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), as he returns from his latest episode of double vision incurred after his monster crash in morning warm-up at round two in Indonesia.
Maverick Vinales continues his good run of form on the factory Aprilia with seventh fastest, as Joan Mir (Ecstar Suzuki), Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) and Jorge Martin round out the top 10, Martin’s appearance making five Ducati’s in the top 10.
2022 American MotoGP Results—Friday
1 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
2:02.542 |
2 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.247 |
3 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.295 |
4 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.342 |
5 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.488 |
6 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.499 |
7 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Apr) |
+ 0.543 |
8 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.601 |
9 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.645 |
10 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 0.813 |
Moto2
Fermin Aldeguer (Flexbox HP40) continues to impress in Moto2 this season as the young Spaniard ended Day 1 at the top of the timesheets at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas. Aldeguer set a 2:09.155 in the second Free Practice session to beat Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) by 0.046s, as Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team Kalex) begins his home GP with a P3.
As for the rest of the Americans, Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) finished the day in 11th, while it was a bruising encounter for Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing Team Kalex), who suffered a heavy fall early in FP2 and was classified 27th although he should be cleared to race on Sunday.
2022 American Moto2 Results—Friday
1 |
Fermin Alduguer |
(Bos) |
2:09.155 |
2 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 0.046 |
3 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 0.172 |
4 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 0.179 |
5 |
Aron Canet |
(Kal) |
+ 0.198 |
11 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+0.663 |
27 |
Sean Dylan Kelly |
(Kal) |
+5.08 |
Moto3
A 2:15.440 from Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) in Moto3 FP2 at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas comfortably handed the Italian Day 1 honors as he beat compatriot and FP1 pacesetter Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) by 0.384s. Reigning Moto3 Junior World Champion Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) climbed into the top three with a late lap in the afternoon session.
2022 American Moto3 Results—Friday
1 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
2:15.440 |
2 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.384 |
3 |
Daniel Holgado |
(KTM) |
+ 0.750 |
4 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
+ 0.917 |
5 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.942 |
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