- 2023-04-17
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Americas: Alex Rins Takes First Honda Win After Francesco Bagnaia Crashes Out
Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas watched Alex Rins (LCR Honda) took his first victory as Honda rider at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on April 16, 2023.
For Alex Rins, this win follows up the 2022 Australian GP and Valencian Community GP. And he brought the 100th podium to LCR.
Also, this result marks Honda's first victory in two years since the 2021 Emilia Romagna GP, and LCR's first win since the 2018 Argentina GP.
Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Ducati) competed against Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) for 2nd place, finally he took his first podium in MotoGP.
Fabio Quartararo finished 3rd as his first podium of 2023.
Reigning world champion and pole sitter Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) led the race, but crashed out on lap eight of 20.
Two Aprilia riders, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (RNF Aprilia) battled for 4th place and finished 4th and 5th, respectively.
Current championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati) was 6th.
Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) was seventh at the chequered flag, and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Yamaha), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati) and Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 GASGAS) rounded out the top 10.
Alex Rins, “I’m so happy for this victory but also for the weekend," said Rins after his dominant win. We did a really good weekend since Friday when we went straight into Q2. Qualifying in second position, finishing second in the Sprint and now getting the victory. Honestly, Pecco showed us a really strong pace and I was struggling a little bit on the third and fourth sector and sector 1 and 2 I was pushing a little bit more on the limit in the chicanes to lose the gap with him. After this crash I saw myself on the front and lost a little bit of concentration and for one lap these two guys [Marini and Quartararo] reduced the gap. But then I tried to not make any mistakes and ride by my own like I know.”
Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas Race Results- Alex Rins / LCR Honda / 41m 14.649s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +3.498s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +4.936s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +8.318s
- Miguel Oliveira / RNF Aprilia / +9.989s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +12.049s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +12.242s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / +20.399s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / +27.981s
- Augusto Fernandez / Tech3 GASGAS / +28.217s
- Michele Pirro / Ducati Lenovo / +32.370s
- Jonas Folger / Tech3 GASGAS / +68.065s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +83.012s
Photo by MotoGP- source : MotoGP
