MotoGP 2025 Round 3: Americas GP – Wet FP1 Sees Franco Morbidelli on Top Amid Chaos in Austin
The opening session of Round 3 of the 2025 MotoGP season—the Free Practice 1 (FP1) at the Americas GP—kicked off under dramatic circumstances as rain soaked the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin. Title contender Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) suffered his first crash of the season on the slippery track, while Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), fresh off a podium at the Argentine GP, maintained strong form to set the fastest lap of the session.
Márquez Crashes – A Turbulent Start
Marc Márquez, who is among the favorites for the title fight, suffered a highside crash at Turn 2 on his sixth lap. Though he escaped injury, his bike was damaged and had to be brought back to the pits on a flatbed truck. Showing his resilience, Márquez returned to the track with 15 minutes remaining and fought his way back to finish the session in 4th place.
Morbidelli Dominates – Leads FP1 for VR46
Franco Morbidelli displayed consistent and steady performance throughout the session. In the closing stages, he clocked the fastest lap time of FP1. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) followed closely behind, with several independent team riders making strong showings. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) returned to form in 4th, and last year’s COTA standout Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) secured 5th.
Bagnaia and Viñales Remain in the Mix
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) showed glimpses of pace, temporarily topping the timesheets before settling for 6th. Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing) followed him closely. Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), in his orange-liveried machine, delivered his best session yet with a 9th-place finish, while Augusto Fernández—substituting for Miguel Oliveira at Prima Pramac Yamaha—impressed in 10th.
Bezzecchi Struggles with Repeated Issues, Falls to 20th
It was a tough session for the Aprilia camp. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) faced three separate technical issues across both of his bikes and suffered a crash, finishing down in 20th place. Tension was evident in the team’s pit box. Teammate Raúl Fernández (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) placed 17th, and rookie Ai Ogura struggled in his first wet MotoGP session, ending up 22nd.
Americas GP FP1 Results
| Position | No. | Rider | Manufacturer | Time | Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 21 | Franco Morbidelli | DUCATI | 2’12.531 | 323.5 km/h |
| 2nd | 43 | Jack Miller | YAMAHA | 2’12.614 | 323.5 km/h |
| 3rd | 93 | Marc Márquez | DUCATI | 2’12.780 | 326.5 km/h |
| 4th | 5 | Johann Zarco | HONDA | 2’12.838 | 323.5 km/h |
| 5th | 37 | Pedro Acosta | KTM | 2’13.275 | 326.5 km/h |
| 6th | 63 | Francesco Bagnaia | DUCATI | 2’13.290 | 329.6 km/h |
| 7th | 73 | Alex Márquez | DUCATI | 2’13.314 | 324.5 km/h |
| 8th | 12 | Maverick Viñales | KTM | 2’13.483 | 327.5 km/h |
| 9th | 33 | Brad Binder | KTM | 2’13.638 | 329.6 km/h |
| 10th | 7 | Augusto Fernández | YAMAHA | 2’14.148 | 321.5 km/h |
| 11th | 36 | Joan Mir | HONDA | 2’14.257 | 319.6 km/h |
| 12th | 10 | Luca Marini | HONDA | 2’14.277 | 320.6 km/h |
| 13th | 54 | Fermín Aldeguer | DUCATI | 2’14.528 | 319.6 km/h |
| 14th | 20 | Fabio Quartararo | YAMAHA | 2’14.531 | 325.5 km/h |
| 15th | 23 | Enea Bastianini | KTM | 2’14.739 | 325.5 km/h |
| 16th | 49 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | DUCATI | 2’14.922 | 325.5 km/h |
| 17th | 25 | Raúl Fernández | APRILIA | 2’15.445 | 322.5 km/h |
| 18th | 42 | Alex Rins | YAMAHA | 2’15.480 | 320.6 km/h |
| 19th | 72 | Marco Bezzecchi | APRILIA | 2’15.682 | 325.5 km/h |
| 20th | 35 | Somkiat Chantra | HONDA | 2’15.959 | 324.5 km/h |
| 21st | 32 | Lorenzo Savadori | APRILIA | 2’19.703 | 319.6 km/h |
| 22nd | 79 | Ai Ogura | APRILIA | 2’21.433 | 325.5 km/h |