• 3rd on the grid for Andrea Iannone. 
• Good pace from Alex Rins despite difficulties. 
• Weather now set fair after mixed Day 2. 

The second day of action at the Circuit of the Americas proved tricky as the predicted rain arrived and caused mixed conditions. However, Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins were still able to find useful settings and adjustments, and work with dry setups and tyres. 

The morning FP3 session started dry, giving the opportunity for riders to improve on their Friday times and aim for direct passage into Q2. Team SUZUKI ECSTAR’s riders were able to maintain the strong pace they showed during FP1 and FP2, and this ensured they would fight it out in the final qualifying session. 

Despite rain following FP3, Iannone and Rins could start the useful FP4 session with slicks and continue to try different dry tyre combinations. 

Both riders were confident coming into the high pressure 15 minute Q2 session. Andrea Iannone was able to string together several fast laps, benefitting from his domination of the 4th sector, and he set a 2:04.209 - the 3rd fastest time - with 10 minutes to go. As the chequered flag came out the Italian, who was just half a second from the pole, was able to celebrate a crucial front row start for tomorrow’s 20 lap race. Meanwhile, Alex Rins’ precision riding earned him several good laps but the Spaniard lost his final ‘flying lap’ whilst setting a personal best in the first two splits, he completed the session 11th with a 2:05.260.