Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez says the block on Maverick Vinales that cost him pole for the Austin race happened because he was focused on keeping Andrea Iannone ahead. Vinales was on a quick lap and set to challenge Marquez's provisional pole benchmark when he came up on the Honda rider in the final sector and was forced to back out, gesticulating angrily at Marquez as he rode past. He recovered with his nest lap, finishing the pole shoot-out four tenths off Marquez in second, before a three-place penalty for the latter promoted the Yamaha man to first place on the Sunday grid. Speaking after qualifying, Marquez insisted he'd tried to move out of Vinales' way as quickly as he could...
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