Grand Prix of The Americas FP Results | Zarco leads as Ducati MotoGP COTA 1-2

Johann Zarco tops the timesheets as Round 4 of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship as Circuit of The Americas kicks off with Ducati looking strong

Johann Zarco - Pramac Ducati

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 tyres 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 lacklustre 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 erstwhile 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.

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 maligned 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
PosRiderNat.MotoGP TeamMotoGP BikeTiming
1Johann ZarcoFRAPramac RacingDucati GP222m 02.542
2Jack MillerAUSDucati Lenovo TeamDucati GP222m 02.789
3Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Energy Yamaha Yamaha YZF-M12m 02.837
4Enea BastianiniITAGresini RacingDucati GP212m 02.884
5Alex RinsESPTeam Suzuki EcstarSuzuki GSX-RR2m 03.030
6Marc MarquezESPRepsol Honda TeamHonda RC213V2m 03.041
7Maverick VinalesESPAprilia Racing Team GresiniAprila RS-GP2m 03.085
8Joan MirESPTeam Suzuki EcstarSuzuki GSX-RR2m 03.143
9Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Lenovo TeamDucati GP222m 03.187
10Jorge MartinESPPramac RacingDucati GP222m 03.355
11Aleix EspargaroESPAprilia Racing Team GresiniAprilia RS-GP2m 03.370
12Pol EspargaroESPRepsol Honda TeamHonda RC213V2m 03.438
13Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM RacingKTM RC162m 03.538
14Luca MariniITAVR46 RacingDucati GP212m 03.562
15Andrea DoviziosoITAWithU RNF Racing YamahaYamaha YZF-M12m 03.706
16Alex MarquezESPLCR Honda Honda RC213V2m 03.795
17Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda Honda RC213V2m 04.074
18Fabio di GiannantonioITAGresini RacingDucati GP212m 04.367
19Marco BezzecchiITAVR46 RacingDucati GP212m 04.463
20Remy GardnerAUSTech3 KTM RacingKTM RC162m 04.535
21Franco MorbidelliITAMonster Energy Yamaha Yamaha YZF-M12m 04.664
22Darryn BinderRSAWithU RNF Racing YamahaYamaha YZF-M12m 04.679
23Raul FernandezESPTech3 KTM RacingKTM RC162m 04.720
24Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM RacingKTM RC162m 05.342