Martin Smashes Lap Record in FP2 at COTA
Kosport Magazine – 04/15/2022
The Circuit of the Americas was buzzing with excitement as Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin demolished Francesco Bagnaia’s pole record from last year with a blistering lap time of 2m01.397s in Friday’s second practice. This shattered Bagnaia’s previous record of 2m01.892s and set the tone for an intense weekend of racing.
Martin’s impressive performance was not without its challenges, as he was pushed to the limit by Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales in the final moments of the session. But the Spaniard held on to end Friday as the fastest rider, determined to extend his 18-point lead in the standings.
Despite his record-breaking lap, Martin believes there is still room for improvement. He admitted to making two small mistakes during his record-breaking lap and feels he has more to give in Saturday’s sprint. However, with the track expected to continue improving, Martin knows it will be a tough battle to maintain his advantage.
“I’m happy with my pace and feel confident,” Martin said. “Even if other riders improve tomorrow, it will be really challenging to be one of the strongest. But I feel prepared and ready for anything.”
Bagnaia, the reigning world champion, also had a strong showing on Friday, securing the fourth-best time and his best Friday performance of the season. He credited his success to rediscovering his form on the track, after struggling with braking issues in the previous race in Portugal.
“Feeling good, best Friday so far from a long time, also last year,” Bagnaia said. “This morning we started with the same set-up as Portimao and I was quite competitive. But this afternoon, we decided to go back to a set-up that was similar to last year at COTA and I started to feel much better.”
Bagnaia also noted that the high grip levels in Qatar masked the issues he faced in Portugal, but he has now found his rhythm again in Austin. His strategy of using medium tires paid off, and he is confident in his pace for the race.
Kosport Magazine – 04/15/2022
In other MotoGP news, Kosport Magazine has learned that Ducati MotoGP boss, Gigi Dall’Igna, received a “positive” response from both Marc Marquez and Bagnaia after their clash in Portugal. Marquez, who is still adjusting his riding style after his injury, has had to make more changes than usual for the challenging COTA track. And Bagnaia, who struggled with braking issues in Portugal, has found his form again and is ready to take on the competition.
Stay tuned for more updates and analysis from Kosport Magazine as the MotoGP season continues to heat up.
