Marc Marquez, who started the rae from sixth on the grid, made an excellent start by moving up to third by turn two.

VR46 pole-sitter Fabio Di Giannantonio was pushed out wide by Acosta at turn one and was making an excellent recovery, passing Marquez spectacularly in the first sector, but was taken out when Marquez made a huge lunge at the end of the back straight, tucked the front and took the pair of them down.

Marquez and Di Giannantonio were spotted discussing the crash in the media center after the race, though it is not clear what was said between the pair.

Reigning world champion Marc Marquez has been given a long lap penalty for the Sunday race at the Circuit of the Americas after taking out Italian rival Fabio Di Giannantonio on Lap 1 of the sprint.