The Circuit of Americas (COTA) hosted one of the best MotoGP races ever. Even if Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales had the best weekend ever, Top Gun’s incredible comeback on race day showed just how far the series has come. Because of his unwavering mental will, Maverick Vinales was the star of the Austin show. We look at the riders who did well and poorly at the Americas Grand Prix of MotoGP in 2024.
2024 MotoGP Americas: Totally dominated by BatMav
Over the previous two seasons, Maverick Vinales has had difficulty. He went from being the next great thing in MotoGP to being on the point of quitting the sport when his relationship with Yamaha abruptly terminated. For whatever reason, it is uplifting to have Maverick competing for the crown. We also have to commend Team Aprilia for having faith in the Spaniard and sticking by him through thick and thin. It is now evident that it is producing favorable outcomes.
Top spot was earned by the masked hero BatMav, who had a spectacular finish, a Sprint triumph, and pole position. Maverick was the rider to defeat because of his unstoppable speed and intelligence, but the Aprilia showed iron nerves that would live on in legend. Moreover, he created MotoGP history by being the first rider to win the races for three separate manufacturers.
Pedro Acosta of GasGas Tech deserves more recognition for his achievements in the last two races. After finishing second in qualifying behind Vinales, the rookie placed second on race day ahead of Ducati’s Enea Bastianini. He also finished fourth in Sprint. Acosta has placed second twice in three races, handily exceeding everyone’s expectations. Acosta is firmly anchored, even though the youthful Spaniard is still getting adjusted to the fast-paced lifestyle of MotoGP.
The Tech3 racer claims that his main focus is on the here and now, with the hope that the team will contend for the championship. The 19-year-old achieved a first for himself by finishing on the podium in back-to-back MotoGP races. Acosta is fourth in the standings for the championship right now.
Enea Bastianini’s natural speed propelled him to success in MotoGP, but his season in 2017 was forgettable, as he finished a dismal 15th in the rider’s championship. The Italian rider made it plain before the 2024 season began that he was here to compete and challenge for the championship title. He was fifth in the opening race of the season in the Qatar Grand Prix, which was won by his teammate Francesco Bagnaia; nonetheless, he went on to defeat the reigning champion. Bastianini has put his injury-plagued 2023 season behind him as he finished second in the championship standings with back-to-back podiums in Portugal and Austin.
Marc Marquez, the COTA sheriff, was about to win the race in Austin for the ninth time when he was forced to retire due to a brake issue. Ironically, the six-time MotoGP world champion was leading the race when he lost control at Turn 11. A positive observation from the event is that the Spaniard finished second in the Sprint, qualified third fastest, and with sufficient speed to almost win the race. Aside from the racing day, there were a lot of positive things to observe because it was Marquez’s third race with Gresini and the Ducati vehicle. Ducati CEO Gigi Dall’Igna even showered the former Honda racer with praise for his read the race.
Had Honda fallen to such a low as to finish last in every session and get no points? It is safe to say, yes. Honda humiliatingly took the final four spots in the first qualifying session, held by Takaaki Nakagami, Luca Marini, Joan Mir, and Johan Zarco. According to Honda manager Alberto Puig, the team is perplexed by the multiple changes made to the motorcycle that haven’t enhanced performance.
Also Read: https://sportxplus.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1346&action=edit
