Having smashed the lap record in Friday practice, Pramac’s Martin was expected to challenge for pole at the Circuit of the Americas on Saturday.
But two crashes left him sixth on the grid, with the latter a fast rear-end off going through Turn 18 on his second flying lap after his first fall.
Explaining his qualifying crashes after the sprint, in which he was third, Martin admitted he was “lucky” to walk away from his Turn 18 spill.
“I was coming really hot in the first lap, improving already the lap from yesterday by three tenths in the first sector,” he said. “It was going to be a good lap, but then I was losing [time] during all the weekend in Turn 11.
“I tried a bit too much in a place where I was already over the limit. Then I picked up the bike and I thought, ‘Ok, the bike is ok, let’s try for another try’.
“I was coming good, improving also the lap time from yesterday – not that much, but it was a good lap, to be maybe in the top three.
“But I was too aggressive to the throttle in that corner. I was lucky because if I highsided in that moment I wouldn’t be here today talking to you.
Source: Autosport