This weekend we had MotoGP from Austin, Texas, for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. So what (and who) went down? Who were the winners and losers? We give you a definitive round up of it all right here…
Okay, it may not have been the greatest race in the world, but it was a vital one in terms of the championship; no matter how early on in the season we are. From the start we all knew it would’ve taken a miracle to stop Marc Marquez at a track he has consistently dominated at, and no one could match him on his day showing everyone that the Honda still has its potential. Stringing together fastest lap after fastest lap, he pissed of leaving Lorenzo chasing shadows in second – paving the way for a whole host of action going on behind where Iannone emerged to grab the last podium position.
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The two Suzuki’s of Vinales and Espargaro followed up with a solid fourth and fifth, showing great pace for the two Spaniards and a solid finish for the factory. Scott Redding finished up first of the independents and top Brit in sixth, followed by Pol Espargaro, Michele Pirro (standing in on the Octo Pramac Yakhnich Ducati) Hector Barbera and Stefan Bradl who rounded out the top ten.
COTA claimed some big names throughout the race, with none other than Valentino Rossi being among them; making an uncharacteristic mistake by losing the front at turn 2 which meant zero points for the doctor in a race for the first time since 2014. We also saw the Brits Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith abandon ship at the same time, seemingly having the same crash just seconds apart. This ended Braders run of 26 point scoring races and left Crutchlow with zero points on the board.
And then we get onto Pedrosa and Dovizioso. Could these guys get any more bad luck? Just as Pedrosa was building up some confidence for a good solid finish, he had an absolutely massive moment into turn one losing control of his Repsol Honda, ploughing into the side of the Ducati taking them both out the race. Both riders were okay, but kudos to Dani for getting straight up and checking on the stricken Ducati rider, before going round to give his apologies in the garage. Chivalry isn’t completely dead in motorsport.
Overall: 4/10 Important for the championship, but lacked sensational excitement of Argentina. Still miles better than F1.
Good day: Marquez, Lorenzo, Vinales – a win, damage limitation, best finish yet.
Bad Day: Rossi, Pedrosa, Dovizioso – crash, crash, taken out. Again.
