Marc Marquez returns to happy hunting grounds in Texas as Jorge Lorenzo prepares to turn his bad luck around.

Introduced in to the MotoGP World Championship calendar in 2013, the Circuit of the Americas offers an interesting mix of tight and technical turns in the first sector and the two high-speed straights split by the tight turn 11. This mix results in a bike setup unique to the American track.

Since the Argentina GP, Marc Marquez has enjoyed time in Brazil with Estrella Galicia 0,0 as well extra time in the US.  After the most dominant dry weather win of his premier class career, Marquez arrives in Austin, Texas with winning on his mind. Having qualified on pole and won all six MotoGP races at the Circuit of the Americas, Marquez’s riding style and the strengths of the Honda RC213V have always excelled at the Americas GP.

Given Marquez and Honda’s record on American soil, Jorge Lorenzo is excited to see how he will perform on his new machine. While he was again hit with bad luck come Sunday’s race, Saturday’s sessions and Warm Up in Argentina proved he and the RC213V can challenge at the front when conditions are right and with a deeper understanding of the bike, their challenge will only grow.

The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas begins with Free Practice 1 on Friday, April 12 at 09:55 local time.

Marc Marquez 

“We only had a short time to relax between races but I am ready to go again! COTA is one of my favourite tracks; these counter-clockwise circuits always seem to suit my style the best. Although we have achieved a lot of success here in the past, we will work as we always do from Free Practice 1 and remain focused. Every year when you go to a track there are new things to understand and adapt to.”

Jorge Lorenzo 

“After the disappointment in Argentina I am ready to get back out on track and ride again. The result didn’t show it, but we made good progress last time and we are understanding the bike more and more. When the conditions offer grip, I feel very strong on the Honda – the team and I just need more time riding to understand how to have this strong feeling when the grip is less.”

Rider Standings 

Pos.RiderNumNationPointsTeamConstructor
1MARQUEZ Marc93SPA45Repsol Honda TeamHonda
2DOVIZIOSO Andrea4ITA41Mission Winnow DucatiDucati
3ROSSI Valentino46ITA31Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPYamaha
4RINS Alex42SPA24Team Suzuki EcstarSuzuki
5PETRUCCI Danilo9ITA20Mission Winnow DucatiDucati
6CRUTCHLOW Cal35GBR19LCR HondaHonda
7NAKAGAMI Takaaki30JPN16LCR HondaHonda
8MILLER Jack43AUS13Pramac RacingDucati
9ESPARGARO Aleix41SPA13Aprilia Racing Team GresiniAprilia
10ESPARGARO Pol44SPA10Red Bull KTM Factory RacingKTM
11VINALES Maverick12SPA9Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPYamaha
12QUARTARARO Fabio20FRA8Petronas Yamaha SRTYamaha
13MIR Joan36SPA8Team Suzuki EcstarSuzuki
14LORENZO Jorge99SPA7Repsol Honda TeamHonda
15OLIVEIRA Miguel88POR5Red Bull KTM Tech 3KTM
16MORBIDELLI Franco21ITA5Petronas Yamaha SRTYamaha
17BAGNAIA Francesco63ITA2Pramac RacingDucati
18ZARCO Johann5FRA2Red Bull KTM Factory RacingKTM
19IANNONE Andrea29ITA2Aprilia Racing Team GresiniAprilia

Words and Photos: Honda Racing Corporation