The MotoGP paddock is venturing outside of Europe for the first time since the double title season opener in Qatar, largely due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that still have the world under control as the championship returns to COTA for the first time since 2019 .
Fabio Quartararo still holds a healthy points lead at the top of the MotoGP drivers’ standings despite Francesco Bagnaia’s victories in Aragon and Misano, with the Yamaha rider 48 points ahead of the Italian with four races to go.
Despite a disappointing San Marino GP last time, Joan Mir still remains mathematically in the battle for the title, 67 points behind Quartararo, in third place overall for Suzuki.
The Americas GP was previously a Marc Marquez stronghold. The Honda rider took six straight MotoGP wins at COTA before retiring from the 2019 race leader.
But with Marquez continuing his difficult arm injury this season, the Spaniard’s dominance is not guaranteed after 18 months of absence from COTA after the race was canceled last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Repsol Media
This weekend’s race will also present a new challenge for the trio of drivers who will adapt to new teams in the middle of the season; Maverick Vinales with Aprilia, Franco Morbidelli with the Yamaha works team and Andrea Dovizioso with Petronas SRT Yamaha.
The Americas GP will also be an emotional race for Vinales after the road death of his cousin Dean Berta Vinales, who was killed in an accident at the opening race of the World Supersport 300 in Jerez last weekend.
MotoGP session timings for America 2021
MotoGP will run their standard schedule over the Americas GP weekend, with two training sessions on Friday, each lasting 45 minutes. On Saturday, the third practice session will also last 45 minutes, with the top 10 of the combined FP1-2-3 time table automatically entering Q2 of qualifying. The last 30-minute FP4 session takes place on Saturday afternoon before qualifying.
In Q1 of the qualifying, all drivers who did not end up in the top 10 of the combined training times take part, with the two first-placed drivers entering Q2 alongside the top 10 who have achieved an automatic place through their training times.
Q2 is the pole position shootout that determines the order of the first four rows, with the remainder of the grid organized on Q1 times for the Americas GP on Sunday.
Moto2 and Moto3 are also in action during the Americas GP.
Friday 1st October 2021
Free practice 1:15: 55-4: 40 p.m. BST (9: 55-10: 40 a.m. local time)
Free practice 2: 20: 10-20: 55 p.m. BST (14: 10-2: 55 p.m. local)
Saturday 2nd October 2021
Free practice 3: 15: 55-16: 40 p.m. BST (9: 55-10: 40 a.m. local time)
Free practice 4: 7.30pm-8.00pm BST (1.30pm-2.00pm local time)
Qualifying: 8:10 p.m.-8: 50 p.m. BST (2:10 p.m.-2: 50 p.m. local)
Sunday 3rd October 2021
Warm up: 3: 40-4: 00 p.m. BST (9: 40-10: 00 a.m. local time)
Race: 8:00 p.m. BST (2:00 p.m. local time)
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
How can I watch the Americas MotoGP?
• Channel: BT Sport 2
• Channel numbers: Sky – 414 (BT Sport 2)
• Channel numbers: Virgin Media – 528 (BT Sport 2)
BT Sport’s live coverage of the action on Sunday begins with the warm-up sessions at 2:30 p.m. CEST, taken from the world feed, before they start at 4:15 p.m. CEST for the pre-race show be switched to a separate broadcast before the Moto3 race.
The construction of the MotoGP race starts at 7:30 p.m. or if the Moto2 race ends before the lights go out at 8:00 p.m.
Can I stream the Americas MotoGP?
UK viewers can also stream the Americas GP by purchasing a video pass from MotoGP.com. A one-time video pass for the remainder of the 2021 MotoGP season costs £ 38.67.
The video pass gives access to every live session, qualifying and race, as well as world feed content and the ability to watch previous races.
Weather forecast for the Americas MotoGP in COTA
COTA is set for warm and mixed conditions on Friday and Saturday, but calmer weather on Sunday. There is a high chance of thunderstorm showers across Austin on Friday and Saturday, but Sunday is expected to remain dry throughout. On race day, maximum temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius are forecast, five degrees warmer than at the San Marino GP.
Most MotoGP winners in America (Premier class only)
Marc Marquez: 6 wins (MotoGP – 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Alex Rins: 1 win (MotoGP – 2019)