Submitted by Mike Lewis on
With seven minutes remaining in the first Moto2 free practice at the Circuit of the Americas Friday, Johann Zarco claimed the top spot and didn't let go. Zarco's 2'11.788 put him one-tenth of a second clear of the tight field at the Texas track. Xavier Simeon, who spent most of FP1 lingering around the bottom of the top 10, set a final, blistering lap with no time remaining to claim the second-fastest time.
Tito Rabat, race winner in Qatar, managed third, just ahead of Dominic Aegerter (4th) and Simone Corsi (5th). Takaaki Nakagami, who led much of the early session dropped into sixth as the pace quickened at the end.
Maverick Vinales, last year's Moto3 champion, settled into seventh, a tenth ahead of Mattia Passini. Ant West, who low-sided while holding the fifth-fastest time with five minutes remaining, ended his first practice in ninth, followed by Jordo Torres.
Last year's winner, Nicolas Terol, managed only 22nd, which was six places ahead Josh Herrin (28th), the only American on the track in Texas for Moto 2.
Results:
| Pos. | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff. / Prev. |
| 1 | 5 | Johann ZARCO | Caterham Suter | 2'11.788 | |
| 2 | 19 | Xavier SIMEON | Suter | 2'11.947 | 0.159 / 0.159 |
| 3 | 53 | Esteve RABAT | Kalex | 2'11.975 | 0.187 / 0.028 |
| 4 | 77 | Dominique AEGERTER | Suter | 2'12.072 | 0.284 / 0.097 |
| 5 | 3 | Simone CORSI | Forward KLX | 2'12.117 | 0.329 / 0.045 |
| 6 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Kalex | 2'12.137 | 0.349 / 0.020 |
| 7 | 40 | Maverick VIÑALES | Kalex | 2'12.296 | 0.508 / 0.159 |
| 8 | 54 | Mattia PASINI | Forward KLX | 2'12.405 | 0.617 / 0.109 |
| 9 | 95 | Anthony WEST | Speed Up | 2'12.425 | 0.637 / 0.020 |
| 10 | 81 | Jordi TORRES | Suter | 2'12.438 | 0.650 / 0.013 |
| 11 | 94 | Jonas FOLGER | Kalex | 2'12.664 | 0.876 / 0.226 |
| 12 | 36 | Mika KALLIO | Kalex | 2'12.771 | 0.983 / 0.107 |
| 13 | 60 | Julian SIMON | Kalex | 2'12.834 | 1.046 / 0.063 |
| 14 | 15 | Alex DE ANGELIS | Suter | 2'12.852 | 1.064 / 0.018 |
| 15 | 39 | Luis SALOM | Kalex | 2'13.069 | 1.281 / 0.217 |
| 16 | 12 | Thomas LUTHI | Suter | 2'13.176 | 1.388 / 0.107 |
| 17 | 11 | Sandro CORTESE | Kalex | 2'13.241 | 1.453 / 0.065 |
| 18 | 96 | Louis ROSSI | Kalex | 2'13.334 | 1.546 / 0.093 |
| 19 | 23 | Marcel SCHROTTER | Tech 3 | 2'13.402 | 1.614 / 0.068 |
| 20 | 4 | Randy KRUMMENACHER | Suter | 2'13.654 | 1.866 / 0.252 |
| 21 | 88 | Ricard CARDUS | Tech 3 | 2'13.855 | 2.067 / 0.201 |
| 22 | 18 | Nicolas TEROL | Suter | 2'13.981 | 2.193 / 0.126 |
| 23 | 49 | Axel PONS | Kalex | 2'14.001 | 2.213 / 0.020 |
| 24 | 55 | Hafizh SYAHRIN | Kalex | 2'14.056 | 2.268 / 0.055 |
| 25 | 22 | Sam LOWES | Speed Up | 2'14.070 | 2.282 / 0.014 |
| 26 | 7 | Lorenzo BALDASSARRI | Suter | 2'14.257 | 2.469 / 0.187 |
| 27 | 8 | Gino REA | Suter | 2'14.280 | 2.492 / 0.023 |
| 28 | 2 | Josh HERRIN | Caterham Suter | 2'14.361 | 2.573 / 0.081 |
| 29 | 21 | Franco MORBIDELLI | Kalex | 2'15.159 | 3.371 / 0.798 |
| 30 | 25 | Azlan SHAH | Kalex | 2'16.325 | 4.537 / 1.166 |
| 31 | 45 | Tetsuta NAGASHIMA | TSR | 2'16.656 | 4.868 / 0.331 |
| 32 | 97 | Roman RAMOS | Speed Up | 2'16.694 | 4.906 / 0.038 |
| 33 | 70 | Robin MULHAUSER | Suter | 2'17.600 | 5.812 / 0.906 |
| 34 | 10 | Thitipong WAROKORN | Kalex | 2'18.812 | 7.024 / 1.212 |
