MotoGP: Enea Bastianini Wins the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas
By Jack Hammersley
Enea Bastainini becomes the first rider to win two races this season and retakes the championship lead
It was hot but windy conditions for the riders, a little bit cooler than the riders have been used to. Everyone was running the hard front, and everyone but the KTM’s were using the soft rear tyre with the KTM’s going on the medium.
The lights went out and it was Jack Miller who took the holeshot ahead of Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia. Marc Marquez was down to last place after sector one due to a poor launch, Enea Bastianini was fourth and passed Pecco into turn 12. Fabio Quartararo was in fifth ahead of Johann Zarco.
Martin overtook Miller into turn 19 but Miller retook the position at turn 20 to lead the opening lap. Alex Rins was looking for a way passed Zarco with Mir behind him. Marco Bezzecchi crashed out at turn 15.
Zarco and Rins had passed Quartararo by lap three, but Quartararo retook the Suzuki at turn 12. The trio at the front were beginning to pull a small gap over Pecco with Zarco looking to pass the Factory Ducati rider, setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 3.
Zarco made his move on Bagnaia at turn one, Marc Marquez was in 13th and moving up the order. Rins moved into sixth place on lap five, overtaking Quartararo at turn 12. Mir passed Fabio at turn one, Rins then passed Pecco at turn seven and was inside the top five.
Rins continued his progress, overtaking Zarco into turn 11, but was out-dragged down the straight and immediately lost the place. Marquez had just passed his team-mate Pol Espargaro for 10th.
Rins made his move again on Zarco at turn 11, Zarco fought back at turn 12 but ran wide and Rins was into fourth place. Pecco Bagnaia was the fastest rider on track and was trying to pass Zarco. Rins then passed Bastianini at turn 11, but Bastianini passed Rins back down the straight.
Miller was beginning to pull away from Martin and Bastianini saw it and passed Martin into turn one with Rins following suit at turn seven. Pecco passed Zarco at turn 11, Zarco out-braked himself at turn 12 and let Mir through into sixth. Marquez was on the charge in ninth.
Mir made his way on Pecco at turn eight, were the Ducatis’ struggling for tyres? Quartararo was looking for a way passed Zarco has Marquez was approaching quickly; the Spaniard setting a new lap record on lap 13.
Quartararo passed Zarco at turn seven and forced the Frenchman wide and allowed Marquez through, Marc then passed Fabio down the back-straight. Mir passed Martin into turn 11 like his team-mate has the whole race with Pecco taking Martin on the straight.
Bastianini had caught Miller and managed to make his way through at turn 12 on lap 16 to take the lead. Marquez did a great block pass on Martin at turn one to move into sixth place, Martin was then passed by Quartararo at turn seven.
Bastianini started the final lap 1.5 seconds ahead of Miller who was being attacked by Rins who made a move at turn 11, but Miller was able to out-drag the Suzuki. Rins pulled out a move into turn 19 and made it stick.
Enea Bastianini crossed the line to take his second win of the season and retakes the championship lead, Alex Rins finished in second to take his best finish of the season and moves into second in the championship as well as Suzuki’s 500th podium; Jack Miller becomes the tenth podium finisher of the season.
Joan Mir finished fourth place for the second time in succession and Pecco Bagnaia finished fifth place for the second time on the bounce too. Marc Marquez recovered and held off Fabio Quartararo for sixth.
Jorge Martin finished in eighth ahead of his team-mate Johann Zarco in ninth and Maverick Vinales rounded out the top ten. Aleix Espargaro was 11th ahead of Brad Binder in 12th. The Honda’s of Pol Epargaro and Takakki Nakagami finished 13th and 14th with Andrea Dovizioso taking the last points finish in 15th.
Enea Bastianini retakes the championship lead on 61 points with Alex Rins five points behind in second, Aleix Espargaro dropped to third place 11 points back and Joan Mir is fourth, trailing by 15 points.
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