Austin, MotoGP, Race: Márquez falls from his throne, Rins wins, Rossi second and Dovizioso leader of the championship!

After dominating the last Argentine Grand Prix head and shoulders, Marc Márquez seems to be able to make another parade in Austin. This would be his seventh success in a row in Texas. What is certain is that he now has seven poles on this Texan track in the premier category. The Spaniard thus equals the record held by Valentino Rossi at Mugello. A Rossi who promises to be his rival since second on the starting grid. If the Doctor upsets the Honda official in his quest for a second success in three Grands Prix this year, he will avoid seeing him at his side as a seven-time winner of the same Grand Prix. Vale actually dominated Mugello from 2002 to 2008… 

Before jumping into the fray, here are the available references:

MotoGP ™	2018	2019
FP1	2'05.530 Marc Márquez (See here)	2'05.311 Marc Márquez (See here)
FP2	2'04.599 Andrea Iannone (See here)	2'03.857 Maverick Viñales (See here)
FP3	2'04.608 Marc Márquez (See here)	Canceled due to storms (See here)
FP4	2'04.686 Marc Márquez (See here)	Marc Marquez (See here)
Q1	2'05.169 Pol Espargaró (See here)	2'05.855 Jorge Lorenzo (See here)
Q2	2'03.658 Marc Márquez (See here)	2'03.787 Marc Márquez (See here)
warm up	2'04.988 Marc Márquez (See here)	2'04.573 Marc Marquez
Course	Marquez, Vinales, Iannone (See here)
All time lap record	2'02.135 Marc Márquez 2015

Valentino Rossi is second on the starting grid. You have to go back to the Thai Grand Prix to see him so well placed at the end of a Saturday afternoon. In Malaysia, he also occupied second position on the grid, but the pole eman Marc Márquez had actually received a penalty. At his side, we find a Cal Crutchlow credited with the third beat. He had not been on the front line since Assen.

Jack Miller will lead the second row and serve as the first Ducati rider on the grid. Indeed, Andrea Dovizioso, forced to compete in the repechage, did no better than 13th in qualifying... The last time he appeared this far was at Jerez in 2017 with a 14th place.

It will also be noted that fabio quartararo, first rookie, completes the third row. The Niçois scored his very first podium on this same circuit exactly four years ago in Moto3. Finally, the troublemaker at the top of the peloton will be Pol Espargaro who will start fifth in this Red Bull GP of the Americas. This is the best result from a KTM representative in qualifying. A sixth place, established by himself in Valencia in 2018 and at Phillip Island in 2017, until now served as a 'record'.

19° in the air, 38° on the bumpy track with wind but sunshine, these are the conditions proposed for this third round of the season. The first line is in medium and Miller is in full soft like Petrucci but Dovi has the same choice as the first line. The rubbers must last 20 laps.

Márquez takes the lead as soon as the wild animals in front are released Red et Crutchlow. Kidneys is fifth, Casa Particular in Viñales sixth and Pol Espargaro seventh. Red is doing what he can to stay in the wake of the Honda which seems to want to remake the Argentinian scene. What if the Doctor replayed for us the Laguna Seca soap opera facing Stoner ?

Crutchlow is a second after a lap and gave himself a little breathing space against Miller. Aleix Espargaró fall at turn 14.  Dovizioso moved up to sixth. in front Casa Particular in Viñales which is 3s from Red in two laps… After three laps, Rossi is more than 1s behind the Yamaha hit by the 46 which falls under the threat of the Honda n°35. Marquez is heading towards his seventh consecutive success in Texas…

Casa Particular in Viñales et Mir are confused for an early departure. They will have to go back through the stands… Casa Particular in Viñales was eighth and Mir thirteenth. Otherwise, in front, the motorbikes are moving…

After four rounds, Morbidely pass Dovi for the gain of sixth place. We are already 6 seconds from Márquez which counts a little more than 2s on Red. Miller wants to take care of the case Crutchlow. What pushes the Englishman to attack Red. But he crashed at turn 11. Miller is on the provisional podium with the Ducati. Mir et Casa Particular in Viñales go through the pits to serve their penalty.

After 6 rounds, Marquez 3s ahead of Red who now lives under the threat of Miller. We will remind you that it is in full software. Quarterly is eighth in front Pol Espargaro et zarco 14th under threat ofOlive tree.

In front Rossi took some air in front of Miller who passed through Kidneys. Then, thunderclap: Marc Márquez fall at turn 12! We are 12 laps from the goal. He tries to leave again, but he fails in his endeavor. Dovizioso is fifth and Red leads the race.

Red would take the lead in the championship with Dovizioso at 4 points and Márquez at 11… But Kidneys goes back half a second. of the driver of 40 years and 157 days… There are 10 laps left!

 

Lorenzo abandons due to a technical problem. Honda drinks the chalice to the dregs. Its three drivers are out of the race…

9 laps from the goal, Red respects a Kidneys at four tenths who doesn't give up. Dovizioso is fourth, 6s behind the Ducati of Miller... Quarterly is seventh and zarco twelfth. Pol Espargaro is eighth.

With 6 laps to go, it is clear that Kidneys grabs on Red. He is two tenths behind... One lap later, he is in contact. Kidneys is visibly in better shape. But ahead, it's Red !

No matter, he has four rounds to go. The Doctor responds but to no avail. The duel is on.

Kidneys whip and push back Red to half a second in one lap. As a result, Dovizioso, fourth, leads the championship, ahead of Red et Kidneys. Who is able to offer Suzuki its first victory since Silverstone 2015 and Casa Particular in Viñales. Dovizioso returned to 1s8 from Miller. Team instructions?

Last round. Kidneys is in front with six tenths ahead of Red. This will be enough despite a last stand from the Doctor. Miller is third ahead Dovizioso. Pol Espargaro eighth, Quarterly seventh and zarco thirteenth.

Austin MotoGP Race: standings