Maverick Vinales topped the timesheets in first free practice for the MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas, the Aprilia rider picking up where he left off in Portugal to lead the way out of the box at the Circuit of The Americas.

A continuation of the strong pace shown last time out at Portimao - where he claimed a Sprint Race victory and was on course for a podium in the full-length grand prix prior to a late crash - Vinales would set the standard as action got underway for this weekend’s Texan event.

Springing to the top of the timesheets during the final ten minutes, Vinales 2m 03.294s lap weathered a last gasp challenge from Jorge Martin, the current championship leader coming up +0.149s short of unseating his countryman.

The Prima Pramac Ducati rider - who arrives in the United States armed with a healthy 18 point advantage over his rivals at the head of the standings - held two tenths over third place man Pedro Acosta, the teenage sensation shrugging off any possible weighted expectations following his fine podium in Portugal to complete an all-Spanish top three.

Indeed, it was a positive start to the weekend for the standout riders in Portugal with Enea Bastianini - second to Martin in the full-length grand prix - once again at the sharp end in fourth on the factory Ducati, followed by stablemate Marco Bezzecchi on the Pertamina Enduro VR46 machine.

Brad Binder and Jack Miller joined Acosta in counting themselves among a trio of KTM riders cracking the top ten, the former in sixth and the latter - who enjoyed a spell at the head of the timesheets until the final stages - in ninth.

Splitting the pair was Franco Morbidelli on his Prima Pramac Ducati in seventh, with Marc Marquez - a seven-time MotoGP race winner at COTA - holding down eighth on the sister Gresini entry. Fabio di Giannantonio made it six Ducatis in the top-half as he rounded out the top ten.

Elsewhere, Trackhouse Racing Aprilia’s first MotoGP event on home soil began with Raul Fernandez in 12th and Miguel Oliveira in 17th, while Japanese duo Yamaha and Honda continued to trail their European counterparts with 2023 race winner Alex Rins and Luca Marini leading their respective challenges in 13th and 15th respectively.

Elsewhere, Alex Marquez suffered a tip-off at Turn 12, Rins was another to come down in the closing stages at Turn 2.

🇺🇸 🏁 2024 Grand Prix of The Americas MotoGP, COTA | Free Practice 1 Results

Friday | Conditions - Dry, Sunny