Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas – A Sunday Guide for you
MotoGP
Maverick Viñales starts from pole position for the sixth time in the premier class, becoming the first non-Honda rider to start from pole in the USA since Jorge Lorenzo in Laguna Seca back in 2012. He crashed out of the race on the second lap last year at Austin.
In second place on the grid is Andrea Iannone, who starts from the front row for the first time since he was third on the grid at Valencia in 2017. This is also the best qualifying result for Suzuki in the USA since Chris Vermeulen was on pole in Laguna Seca back in 2007.
In third place is Johann Zarco, who starts from the front row for the seventh successive time since Japan last year. He is the highest-placed Independent Team rider on the grid.
After being given a penalty of three grid positions, Marc Márquez won’t start from pole position for the sixth successive year at the Grand Prix of the Americas. He is still aiming to take his sixth successive win at this track, however, which would be his 10th successive win in the MotoGP™ class in the USA. Marquez has not stood on the top step of the podium since Australia last year.
Valentino Rossi starts from the middle of the second row, his best qualifying result since he was fourth in Sepang last year, which was also the last time there were three Yamahas within the top five. He will be aiming to take his first win in the USA since Indianapolis in 2008.
As it was last year, the top Ducati rider on the grid at Austin is Jorge Lorenzo in sixth place.
Heading the third row is Cal Crutchlow who will be aiming to become the first British rider to win back-to-back races in the premier class since Barry Sheene back in 1977 (Belgium/Sweden) and the first Independent Team rider to do so since Marco Melandri in 2005.
In eighth place on the grid is Andrea Dovizioso, who has been the first Ducati rider across the line four times since the Circuit of the Americas joined the calendar five years ago, including two podium finishes in 2014 and 2015.
Injured Dani Pedrosa, who has been on the podium on three of his four visits in Austin, starts from ninth on the grid.
Álex Rins starts from 11th on the grid. He has won the Moto3™ race in 2013 and the Moto2™ race two years ago at Austin but he missed the MotoGP™ race last year due to a left wrist injury sustained in FP3.
Takaaki Nakagami will complete the fourth row as the top rookie on the grid, which is his best qualifying result in the MotoGP™ class.
The last twelve MotoGP™ races have been won by either Ducati or Honda riders. The last non-Honda or Ducati rider to win a MotoGP™ race was Valentino Rossi in Assen last year.
Moto2
Álex Márquez is on pole position for the fifth time in the Moto2™ class, equalling Mattia Pasini, Takaaki Nakagami and Andrea Iannone. He will be aiming to win his first race since Japan last year and his fourth in the class.
Sam Lowes qualified in second place on the grid, his third front row start in the Moto2™ class at Austin. On the two previous occasions, he went on to finish on the podium – he was second in 2016 and won in 2015, which was his first Grand Prix victory.
Championship leader Mattia Pasini starts from third on the grid, his first front row start since he was also in third in Valencia last year. He will be aiming to win back-to-back races for the first time since 2007 in 125cc.
Heading the second row of the grid is Francesco Bagnaia, who finished 16th last year at Austin as a rookie.
Joan Mir starts from fifth as the top rookie on the grid; also his best qualifying result on what is his third race in the Moto2™ class.
Taking the final place on the second row is Luca Marini in his best qualifying result since he was fifth in Silverstone last year. He will be aiming for a first podium finish of his Grand Prix career.
In 15th place on the grid, Romano Fenati is scheduled to make his 100th Grand Prix start at Austin. He won last two Moto3™ races at this track.
Moto3
Jorge Martín qualified on pole position for the first time this season and the 10th time in his Grand Prix career. After Losail this year, he will be aiming to win his third race and equal Arón Canet and Niccolò Antonelli’s number of victories.
Championship Leader Arón Canet, who started from pole position last year at Austin, is on the front row for the first time since he was third on the grid in Japan last year. He fought for the lead in 2017 before crashing out. Canet is the only rider across the three classes to have stood on the podium at opening two races of the season.
The highest placed KTM rider on the grid is John McPhee in third place, which is his first front row start since he was also third fastest back in Malaysia last year. For the fourth successive time, there will be at least one KTM rider on the front row.
Heading the second row is Tatsuki Suzuki, equalling his best qualifying result from Valencia last year.
In fifth place on the grid is Fabio Di Giannantonio, his best qualifying result since he was fourth in Misano last year. Alongside teammate Jorge Martín, he is the only rider on the grid who has been on the podium at Austin. He’s aiming to win his first race in what is his 40th Grand Prix.
Taking the final place on the second row is Enea Bastianini, who has finished fourth at COTA twice – in 2015 and last year.
Gabriel Rodrigo starts from 12th place on the grid, the first time he has failed to qualify on the front row since he was fifth in Malaysia last year.
