P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Martin “has margin” to better COTA MotoGP record-smashing practice lap
Pramac Ducati rider Martin broke Francesco Bagnaia’s pole record at Circuit of the Americas with a 2m01.397s in Friday’s second practice. Despite a late challenge from Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, Martin secured the fastest time on Friday, aiming to extend his 18-point lead in the standings in Saturday’s sprint. Despite a couple of errors on his record-breaking lap, Martin believes he still has room for improvement but foresees a tough challenge in maintaining his advantage. Reigning world champion Bagnaia clinched a spot in Q2 with the fourth-best time on Friday, his best performance of the season yet. Bagnaia noted a return to form on Friday in Austin after struggling with braking issues in Portugal, thanks to improved grip levels. Overall, both riders expressed satisfaction with their performances and readiness for the upcoming challenges on the track.
