MotoGP: Bagnaia’s Fantastic Win in Texas
The Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, was eventful, with a "fantastic" win for Francesco Bagnaia, ending Marc Marquez’s perfect start to the MotoGP season. Bagnaia, the 2022 and 2023 world champion, was thrilled with his victory, saying, "I’m super happy I have lost my voice. I screamed out loud during (the last) lap."
Start Chaos
Before the lights out, there was chaos on the grid, with riders set to start with wet tyres. But as the changeable overcast conditions dried, pole-sitter Marc Marquez ran back to the pits to swap to a bike with slicks, triggering a domino effect as his grid rivals copied his example. The delay led to a reduced race, with only 19 laps instead of the original 20.
Racing Action
The race was a thrilling one, with Marquez getting away to a flyer, leading from Alex Marquez and Bagnaia, who moved up to second after eight laps. However, the race was turned on its head when Marquez crashed on lap nine, slithering off his bike after touching a kerb. He rejoined in 18th place, eventually calling it a day, and gifting victory to his Ducati factory teammate, Bagnaia.
Championship Standings
The result means that Bagnaia supplied Ducati with their 20th consecutive grand prix success, just two shy of Honda’s historic benchmark of 22. The new championship leader, Alex Marquez, is now one point ahead of his older brother, with Fabio Di Giannantonio in third place. The top three riders, Bagnaia, Marquez, and Di Giannantonio, were all on Ducati satellite bikes.
Conclusion
The Grand Prix of the Americas was a thrilling event, with Bagnaia’s fantastic win ending Marquez’s perfect start to the season. The result has significant implications for the championship standings, with Bagnaia and Ducati now in a strong position. The next round of the MotoGP season will be in Qatar, where Marquez, Bagnaia, and Di Giannantonio will be looking to make an impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who won the Grand Prix of the Americas?
- Francesco Bagnaia
- Who was the pole-sitter in the race?
- Marc Marquez
- How many laps were originally planned in the race?
- 20 laps
- How many laps were actually completed in the race?
- 19 laps
- Who is the new championship leader?
- Alex Marquez