The Moto3™ class kicked off the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas on Friday with Daniel Holgado and Jacob Roulstone getting their first rodeo rides at the challenging Circuit of the Americas. Portuguese GP winner Daniel Holgado started his Americas Grand Prix campaign strong as he finished fourth fastest on Friday. Rookie Jacob Roulstone, who discovered the track for the first time today, claimed an impressive seventh place in Practice 1. 

After two weeks away from the circuits, Daniel Holgado headed to Austin, Texas as the last race winner to date in the lightweight class. After the number 96 took an impressive win in Portimao at the end of March, all eyes were on the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 rider. He finished fifth of the 2023 edition, and he will be hungry for more this year for sure, after he jumped on the podium on 2/2 races so far in 2024. In the morning's Free Practice, Dani was already amongst the fastest out there as he finished second fastest behind David Alonso, in 2’16.719. In the afternoon, times went down for the Moto3™ boys, including Daniel Holgado who elevated his game with a 2’15.567, which placed him fourth at the end of play today. Confident with the pace and the feeling, the number 96 will have to secure his provisional Q2 tickets when he returns on track on Saturday morning at 8:40 local time (GMT-5).

Our rookie Jacob Roulstone got his first rodeo ride at COTA on Friday, and it was a decent one! The morning session was about discovering the track, its 20 corners and changes of directions, checking out the trajectories of the others, and getting an idea of a bike set up which would suit the Australian boy. He rode his best in 2’18.885 in Free Practice, but quickly improved in the afternoon session to sign off an impressive 2’15.987, and claim P7 of P1! The rookie is provisionally qualified in Q2, and he will be eager to make it 3/3 on Saturday, as he aims to head to the final qualifying session for the third time in a row.