Luca Marini fastest in FP1 at MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas, Marco Bezzecchi 13th after crash

Luca Marini topped the timing sheets in FP1 at the Grand Prix of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

The session started out in low-key fashion, with Alex Marquez posting a time of 2:04.473 – and it was good enough to keep him at the top for a considerable portion of the morning.

Fabio Quartararo stepped it up in the final 15 minutes of FP1 and moved to the top of the timing sheets with a lap of 2:04.124.

But it was Maverick Vinales’ decision to put on a set of soft tyres that sparked a flurry of activity at the top of the standings.

The Spaniard was the first man to dip under 2:04, stopping the clock at 2:03.897.

It only proved good enough for eighth, as riders found grip on the softs.

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Marini was the rider who made the biggest move, as he went from 14th to top of the standings as his Ducati found good grip to post a time of 2:03.806. He went faster again with a time of 2:03.250 and that proved good enough to top the standings.

Quartararo was consistently fast through the entire session and he put his Yamaha into second, with Johann Zarco on a Ducati taking third.

Marco Bezzecchi arrived in Texas at the top of the MotoGP standings after two races, but he could only fill 13th place – with his session not helped when he slid off at Turn 12.

A second session is scheduled for later in the day, but there is rain forecast for the Austin area and should it emerge it would work to Marini’s advantage.