- 2024-04-14
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Americas GP: Maverick Vinales Takes Pole Position, Wins Sprint Race in Austin
The Round 3 of MotoGP 2024, Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas took place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on April 13, 2024.
In Qualifying, Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) took a record pole position with 2'0.864s. This marks his first pole position since Valencia GP last year.
Rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was 2nd. It is his first front row start in MotoGP.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) was 3rd, securing his first front row on the Ducati.
Reigning double world champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) and his team-mate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo) were 4th and 5th, respextively.
Following factory Ducati reiders, Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) finished 6th after crashing twice.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) also crashed during the 15-minute shootout. They finished 7th and 9th each.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) was 8th and Franco Morbidelli (Pramac Ducati) was 10th.
Japanese manufacturer, Yamaha and Honda, riders failed to advance to Q1 from Q2.- In the Sprint Race, poleman Maverick Vinales took back-to-back wins, following Portuguese GP.
Marc Marquez took the 2nd place in a row, following Portuguese GP.
Jorge Martin secured the remaining podium spot in third ahead of Pedro Acosta, who finished 4th.
Aleix Espargaro was behind Pedro Acosta by 0.177s adrift in 5th.
Enea Bastianini was 6th after a late battle with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM).
While Francesco Bagnaia failed to start and faded to 10th, but recovered to 8th.
Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) and Franco Morbidelli (Pramac Ducati) rounded out the top 10. - Maverick Vinales said, “It's amazing. We are dreaming but life is like that. You have to dream. It's amazing how much we've improved in just one race because in Qatar I didn't feel good with the bike and I wasn't able to be competitive. But as soon as we changed a little bit the bike, especially the weight balance, I just felt incredible every single lap. We need to keep pushing. The moment we are in is quite special, so we must enjoy it, but we can try to win tomorrow. I feel super relaxed and a lot of relief from Portimao. It's strange because you are on the grid but not nervous. I'm convinced, I'm focussed and that's the feeling I need to be fast. Obviously we have to improve because tomorrow is a long race but physically I feel so good. I want to go push and put every time the hammer down. But first I want to enjoy this win because everyone in the team deserves it so much.”
Marc Marquez said, “It was a bit harder than what I expected. On the first lap I was quite strong, on the second lap [also]. But then I started to feel not so well and I decided to wait for my moment. I was at the front of the group, but then when Pedro [Acosta] attacked me, I said, okay, now is the time, and then I was half a second faster on the next lap and I was able to open a gap. But we need to understand for tomorrow where we can improve to be with Vinales.”
Jorge Martin said, “Today was a tough day with two crashes this morning and then I was able to make the second row. And today it was a tough race. I struggled quite a lot in the middle of the race with some issues, but finally, to finish on the podium is amazing. We are super consistent, that is the most important thing. More tomorrow and let's go for a better race.”
Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas Qualifying Results- Maverick Vinales / Aprilia Racing / 2'0.864s
- Pedro Acosta / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +0.328s
- Marc Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +0.402s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.488s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +0.575s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.647s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +0.698s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / VR46 Ducati / +0.803s
- Franco Morbidelli / Pramac Ducati / +0.873s
- Marco Bezzecchi / VR46 Ducati / +1.415s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +1.433s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / No Time
- Alex Rins / Monster Yamaha / 2'1.893s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / 2'2.089s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / 2'2.14s
- Augusto Fernandez / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / 2'2.223s
- Johann Zarco / LCR Honda / 2'2.38s
- Joan Mir / Repsol Honda / 2'2.829s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / 2'3.114s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / 2'3.249s
Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas Sprint Race Results- Maverick Vinales / Aprilia Racing / 20m 27.825s
- Marc Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +2.294s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +4.399s
- Pedro Acosta / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +6.480s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +6.657s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +8.621s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +9.237s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +9.349s
- Raul Fernandez / Trackhouse Aprilia / +9.637s
- Franco Morbidelli / Pramac Ducati / +9.894s
- Miguel Oliveira / Trackhouse Aprilia / +10.364s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +10.724s
- Marco Bezzecchi / VR46 Ducati / +11.549s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +15.468s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +15.574s
- Alex Rins / Monster Yamaha / +18.146s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / +22.989s
Photo by MotoGP - source : MotoGP
