FAR RIGHT: (93) Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda Team finished in 2nd place with a time of 2’05.500 in 15 laps and topping a speed of 332.4 on the track. (19) Karel Abraham tries to get position during the open practice for the Grand Prix of the Americas MotoGP motorcycle race, Friday, April 21, 2017, in Austin, Texas. RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Maverick Vinales posted the fastest lap of the weekend, but Saturday morning’s practice session for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas was captivating for all the crashes.
Nine riders tumbled onto the track at Circuit of the Americas on a chilly morning after a cold front passed through Austin and kicked up north winds. The track was not wet but might have been a bit damp from some early-morning drizzle.
Many riders on Friday said COTA was bumpier than they ever remembered it, though it was unclear if or how much that factored into the Saturday mayhem.
Marc Marquez, who has won all four MotoGP races at Circuit of the Americas, crashed twice on his Repsol Honda. Shocking, really, considering the way he has owned this track.
Vinales, who has won the first two races of 2017, didn’t appear to have problems. He hung up a 2:03.979, the best for anyone in the three practices so far.
There is a fourth practice this afternoon immediately preceding qualifying.
Dani Pedrosa, Marquez’s Repsol Honda teammate, posted the second-fastest time in practice 3 with a 2:04.296.
Cal Crutchlow of LCR Honda was third at 2:04.677, followed by Marquez and Scott Redding.
Other riders who crashed include Aleix Espargaro, who fell twice off his Red Bull KTM, Jorge Lorenzo of Ducati Team, Andrea Iannone of Suzuki Ecstar, Alex Rins of Suzuki Ecstar and Sam Lowes of Aprilia Gresini.
Rins, a 21-year-old Spaniard, reportedly has a fractured left wrist and has been ruled out for race.
Injuries to other riders did not appear to be serious, although there were several nasty falls.
For more coverage:
Staff photos of Friday’s practices
MotoGP by the numbers: a video
