Marc Marquez (93) battles for position with Hector Barbera (8) during the free practice number 3 for the Grand Prix of the Americas MotoGP motorcycle race, Saturday, April 22, 2017, in Austin, Texas. RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
With a thrilling late burst of speed, Marc Marquez overtook Maverick Vinales for the No. 1 qualifying spot in a battle of Spaniards on in the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
Marquez, the Repsol Honda rider, laid down a fast lap of 2 minutes, 2.741 seconds — the best of anyone all weekend at Circuit of the Americas.
It keeps Marquez’s streak alive of winning everything he’s tried at COTA: five pole positions and four races. The fifth comes Sunday afternoon.
Vinales, the Movistar Yamaha rider who has won the first two races this year, appeared like he was going to take the pole until Marquez overtook him at the end of qualifying. Vinales posted the second-fastest lap, a 2:02.871.
Italian legend Valentino Rossi, Vinales’ teammate, also will be in the front row after a 2:03.673.
Row 2 will consist of Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team), who made considerable progress Saturday.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Jonas Folger (Yamaha Tech 3) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) make up row 3.
Alex Rins of Suzuki Ecstar had to drop out of the race after shattering his left wrist in one of nine accidents in the Saturday morning practice session.
