Johann Zarco topped the timesheets as the opening day of free practice for the Grand Prix of The Americas came to a conclusion as Ducati presented a convincing return to form by filling three of the four positions.
With many of the best laps coming in the closing stages as the soft tires went on for a time attack, Zarco – still seeking his first MotoGP win – that would head up proceedings from Jack Miller, the Aussie quickly putting the ill-feeling from his lackluster race day in Argentina firmly behind him.
Another rider looking to redeem themselves after a troubling Sunday at Termas de Rio Hondo, defending champion Fabio Quartararo was third quickest for Yamaha, with first while series leader Enea Bastianini placing the Gresini Ducati fourth.
Scene of his maiden MotoGP victory in 2019, Alex Rins turned heads with comfortably the best race pace aboard the Suzuki GSX-RR, performance mirrored by team-mate Joan Mir in eighth with Marc Marquez – making a strong return from his eye injury woes – and Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales filling sixth and seventh between them.
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Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin made it five Ducati riders inside the top ten, the Desmo’s coping better with COTA’s bumps and rivets following a recent track surface to cure the much malignant bumps of last year’s race.
Championship leader and Argentina MotoGP winner Aleix Espargaro sits on the edge of the provisional Q2 spots in 11th, just ahead of his brother Pol Espargaro, while KTM endured a quiet start to its weekend, Brad Binder flying its flag highest in 13th.
2022 Grand Prix of the Americas | Circuit of the Americas | FP1+FP2 Results
| 2022 Grand Prix of the Americas | Circuit of the Americas | FP1+FP2 Results | Round 4 / 21 | |||||
| position | riders | nat. | MotoGP team | MotoGP bike | timing |
| 1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Racing | Ducati GP22 | 2m 02.542 |
| 2 | Jack Miller | OUT OF | Ducati Lenovo team | Ducati GP22 | 2m 02.789 |
| 3 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Energy Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-M1 | 2m 02.837 |
| 4 | Enea Bastianini | IT | Gresini Racing | Ducati GP21 | 2m 02.884 |
| 5 | Alex Rins | ESP | Team Suzuki Ecstar | Suzuki GSX RR | 2m 03.030 |
| 6 | Marc Marquez | ESP | Repsol Honda Team | Honda RC213V | 2m 03.041 |
| 7 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprila RS GP | 2m 03.085 |
| 8th | Joan Mir | ESP | Team Suzuki Ecstar | Suzuki GSX RR | 2m 03.143 |
| 9 | Francesco Bagnaia | IT | Ducati Lenovo team | Ducati GP22 | 2m 03.187 |
| 10 | Jorge Martin | ESP | Pramac Racing | Ducati GP22 | 2m 03.355 |
| 11 | Alex Espargaro | ESP | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia RS GP | 2m 03.370 |
| 12 | Pol Espargaro | ESP | Repsol Honda Team | Honda RC213V | 2m 03.438 |
| 13 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM Racing | KTM RC16 | 2m 03.538 |
| 14 | Luca Marini | IT | VR46 Racing | Ducati GP21 | 2m 03.562 |
| 15 | Andrea Dovizioso | IT | WithU RNF Racing Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-M1 | 2m 03.706 |
| 16 | Alex Marquez | ESP | LCR Honda | Honda RC213V | 2m 03.795 |
| 17 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda | Honda RC213V | 2m 04.074 |
| 18 | Fabio di Giannantonio | IT | Gresini Racing | Ducati GP21 | 2m 04.367 |
| 19 | Marco Bezzecchi | IT | VR46 Racing | Ducati GP21 | 2m 04.463 |
| 20 | Remy Gardner | OUT OF | Tech3 KTM Racing | KTM RC16 | 2m 04.535 |
| 21 | Franco Morbidelli | IT | Monster Energy Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-M1 | 2m 04.664 |
| 22 | Darryn Binder | RSA | WithU RNF Racing Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-M1 | 2m 04.679 |
| 23 | Raúl Fernández | ESP | Tech3 KTM Racing | KTM RC16 | 2m 04.720 |
| 24 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM Racing | KTM RC16 | 2m 05.342 |