Ducati’s reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia smashed the circuit lap record to take pole position for the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.
The pole was the Italian’s first of the season, and 12th of his career, after starting the previous two races in Portugal and Argentina on the front row and taking a double victory in the opening round.
The factory team rider’s best lap of two minutes 01.892 seconds, at an average speed of 162.8kph, secured pole for yesterday’s later sprint and today’s race at the Circuit of the Americas. It was the first time a rider had lapped the circuit inside two minutes and two seconds.
LCR Honda’s Alex Rins, second but 0.161 off the pole pace, and VR46 Ducati’s Luca Marini completed the front row. Gresini Ducati rider Alex Marquez, VR46 Ducati’s championship leader Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia’s Alex Espergaro filled the second row. Marquez’s brother Marc, a six-times world champion in the top category, is not racing in Texas this weekend after being injured in the opening race in Portimao.
Starting grid
1st row
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati), 2. Alex Rins (ESP/Honda-LCR), 3. Luca Marini (ITA/Ducati-VR46)
2nd row
4. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini), 5. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46), 6. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia)
3rd row
7. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha), 8. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia), 9. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac)
4th row
10. Jack Miller (AUS/KTM), 11. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM), 12. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac)
Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team (centre), Luca Marini of Italy Mooney VR46 Racing Team and Alex Rins LCR Honda Castrol (right) pose on the podium after the qualifying round for MotoGP of the Americas in Austin on Saturday. (Reuters)
