Austin, Texas – 12 April 2015: Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Scott Redding saw an unfortunate opening lap crash deny him the chance to fight for a top six finish in today’s 21-lap MotoGP race at the Circuit of the Americas.

After the race was delayed by almost 40 minutes to clear a water spillage at turn 3, Redding made a fast getaway from his best premier class starting position of sixth on the grid.

He was dicing with Spanish duo Jorge Lorenzo and Pol Espargaro for a top six position on a frantic first lap when the 22-year-old lost the front of his Honda RC213V machine in the braking zone for the tight turn 11.

Redding remounted but a damaged left handlebar and footpeg forced him to retire from the race.

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS now move immediately to South America to the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina confident of a strong showing after Redding and his crew made significant progress with the set-up of his Honda RC213V machine this weekend.

Scott Redding: DNF
“I’m really disappointed because I have been fast all weekend in wet and dry conditions. And after claiming my best ever qualifying result in MotoGP I was confident I could have been in that second group fighting for the top six. I had a good early battle with Lorenzo in the first three corners and in turn 11 he stopped mid-corner to pull it back round and I was in a little bit too hot and I think I clipped the back of him and went down. I got going again and wanted to stay out in case it rained but the left footpeg broke off, so I had no gears and had to retire. We can take a lot of positives from the weekend but it is disappointing not to get a good result at the end of it.”

Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“It is a pity that Scott wasn’t able to capitalize on his second row start and an aggressive first few corners. He looked well placed to move into the fight for the top six, but unfortunately crashed while fighting with Lorenzo. The fact he was fighting on the first lap with a double MotoGP World Champion shows the progress we have already made since Qatar and despite the result we can take a lot of positives to the next race in Argentina.”