- 2019-04-15
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Austin: Alex Rins Beats Valentino Rossi after Marc Marquez Crash
- Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas witnessed Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) claimed his first MotoGP victory in Austin.
Pole sitter Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) led the race, but he crashed out the Turn 12 left-hander on lap nine of 20.
Runner-up Valentino Rossi (Monster Yamaha) kept on top place un til 17 lap after Marc Marquez crashed out.
Alex Rins overtook Valentino Rossi at Turn 7 downhill left-hander to take the lead.
The 23-year-old Spaniard eventually crossed the line with just 0.462s in hand to score Suzuki's first premier class win since Maverick Vinales' 2016 triumph at Silverstone.
The 3rd place was Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) marking his first podium finish since his 2016 Dutch TT win.
Andrea Dovizioso recovered to sixth from 13th and claim the lead of the championship in this resault.
In addition to Marc Marquez, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda) crashed out.
Alex Rins said, “It's unbelievable I got my very first win here in Moto3 in 2013. The feeling is incredible.
I tried to stay calm on the last lap. I knew that Valentino has a lot of experience in this situation! I’m super happy. Suzuki deserves this victory. Together we deserve it, now we need to continue in this way.
During the weekend sincerely my feeling was not the best one. We suffered a little bit for braking with the bike on a small angle. But anyway, when we start the race I try to forget everything. I try to ride. I recovered a lot of positions in the first lap, so this is important.”
He continued, “When I was behind Valentino I was at 1.5 seconds, more or less. I was saying, 'Come on, Alex. You need to arrive. You need to do a bit of a spectacle…'
Finally was like this. I arrived to Valentino. I was studying him. In the end when he did a small mistake I overtook him. I did the last four laps in first position to the end.
But I did a small mistake on brakes on T11. I go a little bit away. I was thinking, 'now Valentino will overtake you on the straight and ciao'. But he also went a little bit wide.”
He added, “For sure, since the middle of the 2018 season we did a big step. I was excited to win. I was very close in Valencia last year. I was so close in Qatar. I was sincerely thinking on the victory. Me and all my team, we were thinking about this. Finally,we arrive.
We need to continue in this same way. For sure we need to improve the qualifying to start in a better position, but we need to continue the same work as we are doing now.
For sure we have a balanced bike. During last year we did a really good job with Suzuki staff to improve the bike. I think our setup is very nice and I think we can fight in mostly all the tracks.
For sure with big straights like in Qatar we will suffer a little bit, but I felt strong. All the team are giving me good vibrations, so this is nice.”
Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas Race Results- Alex Rins / Suzuki Ecstar / 41m 45.499s
- Valentino Rossi / Monster Yamaha / 41m 45.961s
- Jack Miller / Pramac Ducati / 41m 53.953s
- Andrea Dovizioso / Mission Winnow Ducati / 41m 54.919s
- Franco Morbidelli / Petronas Yamaha SRT / 42m 3.520s
- Danilo Petrucci / Mission Winnow Ducati / 42m 6.975s
- Fabio Quartararo / Petronas Yamaha SRT / 42m 11.610s
- Pol Espargaro / Red Bull KTM Factory / 42m 15.242s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Pramac Ducati / 42m 16.107s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / 42m 16.510s
- Maverick Viñales / Monster Yamaha / 42m 19.576s
- Andrea Iannone / Factory Aprilia Gresini / 42m 20.278s
- Johann Zarco / Red Bull KTM Factory / 42m 27.957s
- Miguel Oliveira / Red Bull KTM Tech3 / 42m 29.771s
- Tito Rabat / Reale Avintia Ducati / 42m 30.122s
- Karel Abraham / Reale Avintia Ducati / 42m 30.239s
- Joan Mir / Suzuki Ecstar / 42m 33.562s
- Hafizh Syahrin / Red Bull KTM Tech3 / 42m 53.182s
- source : MotoGP
