David Alonso holds the overnight advantage after the first day of Practice action for Round 3 of the 2024 Moto3 World Championship at Circuit of The Americas.

The Colombian, a winner already this season at the Qatar Moto3 season opener, enjoyed a comfortable margin over closest rivals Jose Antonio Rueda and Angel Piqueras come the end of Practice 1.

Posting a lap time of 2,m 15.173secs, the CFMoto Aspar Team rider was two tenths faster than Red Bull KTM Ajo's Rueda, the Spaniard in contention from the off in Austin as he continues his search for a maiden Moto3 win this weekend.

Despite an off in FP1, rookie Angel Piqueras impressed en route to the third fastest time, the Leopard Racing rider just three tenths off the top spot and ahead of more experienced competition, including championship leader and Portuguese Moto3 winner Daniel Holgado - who made gains late on to escape a provisional Q1 spot - and 2023 Grand Prix of The Americas Moto3 winner Ivan Ortola in fourth and fifth respectively.

Joel Kelso and David Muñoz survived a brush with one another to hold down sixth and eighth, the BOE Motorsport pair sandwiching another head-turning rookie in Jacob Roulstone aboard the second of the Red Bull GasGas Tech3 entries

Taiyo Furusato on the Honda Team Asia bike and MTA's Stefano Nepa completed the top ten, with the remainder of the overnight Q2 slots held by Matteo Bertelle, Ryusei Yamanaka - despite colliding with MT Helmets - MSI team-mate Ortola early on in the P1 session - top British rider Scott Ogden and the returning David Almansa.

Josh Whatley, meanwhile, has work to do ahead of the morning Practice 2 session down in 24th place on the MLav Racing Honda.

2024 Grand Prix of The Americas Moto3, COTA | Practice 1 Results

Friday | Conditions - Dry, Sunny