Agencies
Austin (Texas)
Maverick Vinales bounced back despite a horrible start from his pole position to find his way back and to claw eventually win the Grand Prix of the Americas MotoGP on his Aprilia in Austin on Sunday.
Teen sensation and rookie Pedro Acosta took the second place with Enea Bastianini completing the podium of the third race weekend of the season.
Vinales, who had dropped back to 11th after a disastrous grid getaway, wrote his name into motorcycling history as the first rider to win a MotoGP race with three different teams - Suzuki, Yamaha, and now Aprilia.
Thanks guys! I felt that everyone was pushing for me, I felt fantastic support from all the fans and here in America it was spectacular. What can I say? History made… I’m dreaming! They gave me what I needed. I’m super happy and we have to keep working. I had a problem with the clutch, it’s a mistake and we have to be careful, but the pace was fantastic,” Vinales told the fans at the circuit in downtown Austin.
He concluded: ‘I don’t know how many overtakes I did… I can’t say anything, maybe I crashed. Thanks!
“History made, thank you America, I’m super happy. We need to keep working, the pace was amazing.”
In a race as exciting as any rodeo show in the Lone Star State there was high drama with 10 laps to go, Marc Marquez crashing to the ground seconds after taking the lead – the veteran Spaniard’s chances of an eighth win at the track and a first for his new Ducati satellite Gresini team buried in the Texan dust.
Championship leader Jorge Martin came in fourth with defending world champion Francesco Bagnaia in his slip stream.
