After putting Francesco Bagnaia under pressure, Alex Rins took advantage of the Italian’s fall to claim victory in the Grand Prix of the Americas. Fabio Quartararo takes his first podium this season with third place behind Luca Marini. Johann Zarco finishes seventh.
Alex Rins gave a great lesson! After bringing Suzuki its last victory in MotoGP, the Spaniard ended a little less than seven years of drought for the LCR team in the premier category. Already a winner on the Circuit of the Americas in 2019, the native of Barcelona was able to do what was necessary to get his sixth victory in MotoGP. Incisive from the start, Alex Rins was unable to take the advantage over Francesco Bagnaia, author of a good impulse.
Behind the leading duo, Jack Miller created a surprise by gaining seven positions to settle in third place ahead of… Fabio Quartararo. Like this Saturday during the sprint, “El Diablo” managed a very good start to settle in the leading group. The Yamaha rider was even able to defend his place against Luca Marini thanks to a successful late braking. A first lap that saw Jorge Martin lose grip at the front and violently mow down Alex Marquez, who had to go through the circuit’s medical center for check-ups. Aleix Espargaro, meanwhile, ended his weekend on the ground at the end of the back straight.
Bagnaia again at fault
After his success this Saturday in the sprint, Francesco Bagnaia tried to take off but he faced strong resistance from Alex Rins, who clung like hell to the reigning world champion. Behind this leading pair, Jack Miller couldn’t keep up the pace and ended up going down on the seventh lap, giving Fabio Quartararo a place on the podium despite pressure from the two VR46 team riders, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi. But if the winner of the last Argentine Grand Prix has dropped off, Valentino Rossi’s half-brother has given everything to stay close to the Frenchman, hoping to grab a first podium in MotoGP.
A Grand Prix of the Americas that changed in dimension at the second corner of the eighth lap. That’s when Francesco Bagnaia made a guilty mistake, widening his line enough to lose front tire grip. As at Termas de Rio Hondo two weeks ago, the title holder crashed and saw his hopes of victory vanish. From then on, Alex Rins was able to manage a lead of more than two seconds over his closest pursuer who was then Fabio Quartararo!
Rins untouchable, Quartararo returns to the podium
After maintaining the gap around two seconds and resisting the Ducati, the 2021 world champion ended up giving in on the opposite straight on the 13th lap. Despite the limits of his Yamaha, “El Diablo” tried to stay in contact but it proved in vain and a small mistake in the 18th lap convinced the Habs to settle for third place. After 20 perfectly mastered laps, Alex Rins proves that the Honda is comfortable on the Circuit of the Americas and wins with almost three and a half seconds ahead of Luca Marini, who is on the podium for the first time. of his career in MotoGP.
Fabio Quartararo, just under five seconds behind, performed well and took a good third place. After a missed start and a good comeback, Maverick Viñales finished fourth ahead of Miguel Oliveira and Marco Bezzecchi, who retained the championship lead. Never in the right tempo, Johann Zarco seemed to suffer the events and could not do better than seventh place. Only rookie this season, Augusto Fernandez offers a first Top 10 with the tenth place.
