The MotoGP Americas GP in Austin experienced a chaotic start due to unexpected rain, beginning with Marc Márquez leaping off his Ducati on the grid and sprinting to grab a backup bike. Just 30 minutes prior to the race, light rain prompted officials to announce a flag-to-flag race, leading to significant confusion among the riders.
As the race was about to commence, chaos erupted following the rain’s arrival and a crash involving Fabio Quartararo during the formation lap. Upon reaching the grid, riders prepared for wet conditions and anticipated that the race would officially be deemed wet and run under flag-to-flag rules. In response to last year’s rain-affected race in Japan, a new regulation was established whereby a red flag would be shown if 10 or more riders left the grid prior to the warm-up lap, triggering a quick restart procedure.
Márquez was the first to react, abandoning his wet-condition bike on the grid to switch to a dry-condition bike. Following suit, the other riders created mass confusion as many were unsure whether to leave their bikes or take them along.
Race officials subsequently displayed the red flag, instructing riders to return and retrieve their bikes, and initiated a new grid formation for a standing start.
Ultimately, all riders transitioned to their dry-condition bikes equipped with slick tires, as the rain had subsided by the time the race was about to commence. The race was officially declared a flag-to-flag event and shortened to 19 laps, one lap fewer than originally planned.
Credit: Motorsport
