Maverick Viñales of Team Suzuki Ecstar riding in a free practice at the 2016 Moto GP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas at the Circuit of the Americas. JAY JANNER / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Marc Marquez owns Circuit of the Americas, but the Spanish rider wasn’t the fastest in the first free practice Friday morning for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
Maverick Vinales, who has won both races in 2017 for the Movistar Yamaha team, posted a 2:04.923 time for a fast lap in the early session, a half second faster than Marquez, who has won all four MotoGP events at COTA.
Marquez, who rides for Honda, had a 2:05.500 best lap.
Vinales’ speed topped out at 205.736 mph.
Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati was third quickest, followed by Johann Zarco of Monster Yamaha Tech 3 and Alvaro Bautista of Pull&Bear Aspar Aprilia.
Bautista posted the top speed over any portion of the track, flying at 209.309 mph.
