- 2024-04-15
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Donate to support families affected by the crisis in Ukraine ➔ MotoGP Americas GP: Maverick Vinales Makes History with Victory at COTA in Austin
Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas watched Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) made history with victory as he became the first-ever rider to win Grand Prix races with three different manufacturers, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Aprilia.
This marks his tenth MotoGP win and his first victory in three years since the 2021 Qatar GP.
Starting from pole, Maverick Vinales dropped down into 11th on the opening lap, but fought his way back and retook the lead on Lap 13.
Finally, he won the race by almost two seconds of an advantage.
Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) finished in 2nd and took back-to-back podiums following Portuguese GP.
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo) was 3rd and took the podium as with Pedro Acosta, following Portuguese GP.
Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) battled for the top with Pedro Acosta, and Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati), but was passed by Enea Bastianini on the penultimate lap, and finished in 4th. Following Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) was 5th.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) passed Pedro Acosta on lap 11 to lead for the first time on a Ducati, but suddenly tucked the front at Turn 11 and crashed out. He missed the eighth COTA win.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) was sixth ahead of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), and Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati).
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) rounded out the top 10.- Maverick Vinales said, “I feel like I am in Gotham city. I said yesterday that I am dreaming and that we must believe, we must have confidence. Obviously, closing this weekend gives a lot of drive to keep working that hard. It’s not easy and it’s been a lot of long nights thinking and overthinking what I have to do to be back winning races. Finally, I did it. I’m super happy to have never given up. But also to make everyone around me believe that I have enough talent and dedication to be fighting for this. This morning I had an issue with the clutch and the team was quite worried. They didn’t really want to touch anything. I had it in the same way in the race but I was not bad and I was second or third but then I saw Pecco enter and push me wide, very wide because Jorge was also on the inside so that was a racing incident. After that I said ‘come on, no!’. This time no. I kept concentrated and kept believing that it was possible to do. When I pushed I was recovering the gap so quickly to the guys I had in the front. I was saying ‘one at a time, one at a time, one rider at a time’. I did it. It was crazy and I was enjoying every single lap. Some riders overtook me again but I braked late enough to make them go wide. To be honest you are never looking at that but when you see that it is very special. Not many riders can do things like that. To arrive to the top with Aprilia; I don’t know, I think it’s a dream. It’s not the same like when you go to a team that is already winning and you know the bike is fantastic. We arrived at Aprilia with Aleix, helped grow the bike. Aleix achieved two victories and then we left a good bike and I’m taking this next step. It is so fantastic. I need to thank Aleix for the work he is doing and Aprilia.”
- Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas Race Results
- Maverick Vinales / Aprilia Racing / 41m 9.503s
- Pedro Acosta / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +1.728s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +2.703s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +4.690s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +7.392s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / VR46 Ducati / +9.980s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +12.208s
- Marco Bezzecchi / VR46 Ducati / +13.343s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +14.931s
- Raul Fernandez / Trackhouse Aprilia / +16.656s
- Miguel Oliveira / Trackhouse Aprilia / +18.542s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +22.899s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +24.011s
- Augusto Fernandez / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +27.652s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +32.855s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / +33.529s
Photo MotoGP - source : MotoGP
