2022 Austin MotoGP, COTA - Free Practice (1) Results

* Rookie

Official COTA MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 2m 2.135s (2015)
Fastest race lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 2m 3.575s (2014)

Alex Rins puts a technical issue behind him to be fastest in opening practice for the Americas MotoGP in Austin, Texas, but was just 0.008s clear of Aprilia's Maverick Vinales.

Ducati's Jack Miller, Yamaha's reigning champion Fabio Quartararo and Honda's returning eight-time champion Marc Marquez made it five manufacturers in the top five.

"It was not so bad," said Rins. "We were forced to change our plans because we had a small problem with one bike, but overall I'm quite happy with the things that we tried on the second bike so we'll keep working for the race.

"The situation with the bumps is much better than last year. They did a good job. Still in the hard braking areas it's a bit bumpy but I think it's normal with the cars and everything. But the track is much safer."

Marquez is back in action after missing the Mandalika race and following Argentine weekend due to a new episode of double vision caused by his huge warm-up accident in Indonesia.

The seven-time COTA winner soon looked at home around one of his most successful circuits, topping the session after 15 of the 45 minutes when Rins, the only other MotoGP rider to have won in Austin, was just behind him on the timesheets.

Quartararo, runner-up to Marquez last October, and Aprilia's Maverick Vinales then climbed to second and third, while Rins was forced to abandon his Suzuki at the side of the track due to a technical problem.

Vinales, who told Crash.net yesterday it was 'only a matter of time' before he is fighting at the front on the now race winning RS-GP, then took over from Marquez as the final ten minutes began.

"I think it's just a matter of confidence and knowing the bike. That's all," Vinales said, when asked what he needs to take the next step and fight for the podium. "Because [in Argentina] we could see there were only two corners where I could be faster. So it's a matter of time. Working, working and working. It will arrive.

"My mentality is to go full gas [in Austin]. I don’t care if there are still bumps or not," he added.

But Rins put his earlier troubles behind him and fought back to regain the advantage from Vinales in the closing minutes. Vinales then closed to within 0.008s of his fellow Spaniard on the final lap.

Marquez's team-mate Pol Espargaro, who crashed from fourth last Sunday in Argentina, fell from his RCV in the opening minutes of FP1 and finished the session with a technical problem on his way to sixth.

Qatar winner Enea Bastianini made an encouraging start to the weekend with seventh, followed by Aleix Espargaro, who now leads the world championship for Aprilia after his historic victory last Sunday.

Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) completed a top ten covered by 0.886s.

Subsurface soil movement means large bumps have been a persistent issue at COTA, resulting in the latest partial resurfacing for the 2022 event, covering Turns 2-10 and 12-16.

Track schedule in UK time - 2022 Austin MotoGP

Friday
3pm-3.40pm: Moto2 Free Practice 1
3.55pm-4.40pm: MotoGP Free Practice 1
4.55pm-5.35pm: Moto3 Free Practice 3

7.15pm-7.55pm: Moto2 Free Practice 2
8.10pm-8.55pm: MotoGP Free Practice 2
9.10pm-9.50pm: Moto3 Free Practice 2

Saturday
3pm-3.40pm: Moto2 Free Practice 3
3.55pm-4.40pm: MotoGP Free Practice 3
4.55pm-5.35pm: Moto3 Free Practice 3

6.35pm-6.50pm: Moto2 Qualifying 1
7pm-7.15pm: Moto2 Qualifying 2
7.30pm-8pm: MotoGP Free Practice 4
8.10pm-8.25pm: MotoGP Qualifying 1
8.35pm-8.50pm: MotoGP Qualifying 2
9.10pm-9.25pm: Moto3 Qualifying 1
9.35pm-9.50pm: Moto3 Qualifying 2

Sunday
3.20pm-3.30pm: Moto2 warm-up
3.40pm-4pm: MotoGP warm-up
4.10-4.20pm: Moto3 warm-up

5.20pm: Moto2 race
7pm: MotoGP race
8.30pm: Moto3 race