If we were indeed expecting an Aprilia as a spoilsport in this Saturday Sprint race in Austin, it was certainly not the one marked with the 41 belonging to Aleix Espargaró that we had predicted. We imagined the RS-GP of Maverick Viñales, determined to shine since he arrived in Texas, a site that his teammate swears to hate at least as much, even identifying it as his “kryptonite”, as the Sprint race format. . And yet, under the hot Texan sun on Saturday of the Grand Prix of the Americas, he showed himself to his advantage on the circuit rejected during the hated competition...
So you don't have to swear about anything this season in MotoGP... Aleix Espargaró achieved a first feat during his qualifications by putting his Aprilia in sixth place, which identified him as the best driver of the brand. Then there was the Sprint, finished in fourth place after having been on the podium throughout the competition where he took the second performance against the clock. For someone who doesn't like both the track and the race format, it's still not so bad...
« I am very happy and I have to thank the team » smiles the Spaniard as he takes stock of this second day of the Grand Prix of the Americas: “ Normally we don't make big changes to the settings, but this time they did everything they could to help me. We changed several things on the bike to make it a little more agile and I immediately felt better, already managing to be fast in qualifying ».
« Too bad for third place in the Sprint, I made a few small mistakes who did not allow me to stay in front of Rins » he adds before concluding: “ but to be so fast in a race like this, characterized by a crazy pace despite the temperatures and a very slippery track, it's very positive and it makes me happy. Since the start of the weekend we have progressed in each session, on Sunday we will try to take a few more steps forward to get even closer to the leaders! »
Maverick Viñales will want to take his revenge on Aleix Espargaró this Sunday in Austin
The kind of speech you expect more from your teammate Maverick Vinales, but the latter experienced a completely different scenario. For the Top Gun, everything was decided at the start, a failed takeoff which dropped him to 18th place at the first turn... He still managed to return to tenth place, synonymous with the first driver not to score a point. He will try again this Sunday from his eighth place on the starting grid… “ I didn't handle the disengagement well at first, losing time in the first acceleration phase, and I found myself practically at the back of the pack Says Maverick Vinales.
« In these conditions, we know, it becomes difficult to express one's potential. I had the pace to stay with the leaders, I'm sure. Despite the traffic, I recovered several positions in a few laps. The speed is there and I felt good in the saddle, that's undoubtedly a positive note, but the important thing now is to improve the start: It's my responsibility, I made a mistake and I am determined as much as possible to make sure it doesn't happen again. We will analyze the data to improve this aspect, because we are there for the rest » finishes the Spaniard.
A sluggish start cost Maverick the chance of good points in the #TissotSprint! 🛑
He dropped like a stone on lap 1 😮#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/dFaqsTsCEC
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 15, 2023
MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas SPRINT results at Circuit of the Americas in Austin:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
