Although it may prove otherwise tomorrow, the MotoGP riders practiced and qualified in dry conditions earlier today in Austin, Texas. Marc Marquez (Honda) narrowly avoided a fourth row start when the dash on his bike displayed a warning light while he was exiting the pits in Q2. Marquez (who can be seen in the photo above sprinting back to the Honda garage to board his back-up bike) was able to record a fast lap just as Q2 ended, and snatch pole position, as well as a new lap record for COTA.
Of note, Scott Redding appears to have made a big step forward on his new factory Honda, as he was fast all day. Redding and Cal Crutchlow may well be podium contenders from this point forward. Together with the speed of Ducati this year, things may get crowded at the front.
Here are the top 12 qualifiers from Q2:
| Pos. | Num. | Rider | Team | Bike | Km/h | Time |
| 1 | 93 | Marc MARQUEZ | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 342.6 | 2’02.135 |
| 2 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | Ducati Team | Ducati | 339.0 | 2’02.474 |
| 3 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 333.6 | 2’02.540 |
| 4 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 335.9 | 2’02.573 |
| 5 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | CWM LCR Honda | Honda | 337.3 | 2’02.613 |
| 6 | 45 | Scott REDDING | EG 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 334.7 | 2’02.674 |
| 7 | 29 | Andrea IANNONE | Ducati Team | Ducati | 338.0 | 2’02.792 |
| 8 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 324.9 | 2’02.869 |
| 9 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARO | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 338.0 | 2’03.161 |
| 10 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 338.3 | 2’03.440 |
| 11 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Pramac Racing | Ducati | 334.4 | 2’03.741 |
| 12 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 328.1 | 2’03.754 |
Just when I thought we were seeing Marc’s learning curve start to fall off he gives us this. Casey used to gives us those amazing last lap qualifying records but not after running a 100 meter dash and jumping on his B bike. That lap was so over the top that it should be studied for years to come. He’s already one of the greats, how much better will he get?
One for the ages, that lap.
We should bring back the old starts where riders had to run to the bike, but this time add a 10ft wall in between. Gets the blood pumping.
Dead engine push starts, that’s the ticket!
That last 3:24 of Q2 shows just how special the Marquuez/Honda combo is. Everybody else must be thinking “what the he// do we have to do to beat this kid”?
No wonder the kid is so fast .. He floats above the ground.
dang he does! Just like Galactus!
Good eye… Must be something in Texas, the cameraman behind him is floating too!
he’s MotoGP’s own personal Jesus Christ. (guy buying clandestine computer discs from Neo)
What an amazing feat by Marquez, the guy in unreal on that Honda. Achieved pole and broke the track record on his backup bike that had “the wrong front tire” Aoyama qualified 18 out of 20…I suspect that Stoner would have fared better. Looks like it might be a wet race, I wonder if the new GP15 does as well in the wet as the old bike (for a full race). Hayden’s quote from a few years ago was classic, “Ducs love water!” I know that Friday’s wet practice time had Dovi just finishing ahead of Marquez for fastest lap. I usually don’t like to see wet races but this one may be an exception.
Re: “Aoyama qualified 18 out of 20…I suspect that Stoner would have fared better.”
Should’ve saved the money and left Dani’s bike in the garage (or Spain). Stoner would’ve Q’d better on a superbike.
Amen