The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas
Marquez is quick wherever he rides but he appears to
specifically enjoy the state-of-the-art Austin track where round two of the
season is taking place and he secured his 11th premier class pole position by
0.289s from Repsol Honda teammate Pedrosa – having dominated all weekend so
far.
A solid effort from LCR Honda’s German rider Bradl put him
at the back of row one as he got to within 0.423s of the rampant Marquez –
making it an all Honda front three.
It will be an all-Yamaha second row for Sunday’s race, with
Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) placing his ‘Open’ Yamaha fourth, 0.467s
off pole. Movistar Yamaha MotoGP pair Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi were
fifth and sixth, Lorenzo registering a time just 0.003s off Espargaro’s, with
Rossi 0.001s behind his teammate.
Heading the third row is Ducati’s Cal Crutchlow (+1.007s),
in front of compatriot Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) and Italian Andrea
Iannone (Pramac Racing). Smith and Iannone were both also just over a second
behind Marquez.
On row four, meanwhile are Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team),
Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) and Alvaro Baustista (GO&FUN Honda
Gresini).
The fastest ‘Open’ Honda rider Scott Redding will start just
behind his GO&FUN Honda Gresini teammate Bautista at the head of row five,
having missed Q2 by just 0.074s.
| Pos. | Num. | Rider | Nation | Team | Bike | Km/h | Time | Gap 1st/Prev. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 93 | Marc MARQUEZ | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 332.4 | 2'02.773 | |
| 2 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 335.7 | 2'03.062 | 0.289 / 0.289 |
| 3 | 6 | Stefan BRADL | GER | LCR Honda MotoGP | Honda | 336.8 | 2'03.196 | 0.423 / 0.134 |
| 4 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | SPA | NGM Forward Racing | Forward Yamaha | 325.7 | 2'03.240 | 0.467 / 0.044 |
| 5 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | SPA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 331.5 | 2'03.243 | 0.470 / 0.003 |
| 6 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | ITA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 331.5 | 2'03.244 | 0.471 / 0.001 |
| 7 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | GBR | Ducati Team | Ducati | 330.6 | 2'03.780 | 1.007 / 0.536 |
| 8 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 330.1 | 2'03.800 | 1.027 / 0.020 |
| 9 | 29 | Andrea IANNONE | ITA | Pramac Racing | Ducati | 336.0 | 2'03.842 | 1.069 / 0.042 |
| 10 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 333.3 | 2'03.846 | 1.073 / 0.004 |
| 11 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARO | SPA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 334.4 | 2'03.913 | 1.140 / 0.067 |
| 12 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | SPA | GO&FUN Honda Gresini | Honda | 336.4 | 2'03.923 | 1.150 / 0.010 |
