Vinales makes history at Texas MotoGP

The 2024 Grand Prix of the Americas will be remembered for so many reasons. Not only was it full of twists, turns, crashes and passes from the start of the opening lap to the end of the 20th, but Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) made history by becoming the first rider in the modern era of MotoGP to win a premier-class race with three different manufacturers.

It didn’t come easy for the 29-year-old Spaniard, despite being on another level during the weekend which saw him set pole position and run away with the Sprint victory. A clutch issue at the start left him vulnerable to a Turn 1 melee and he was pushed down to 11th before the race was even two corners old.

All eyes were up front on rookie Pedro Acosta (Tech3 GasGas) who, from the middle of the front row, took the holeshot from Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM), the Aussie getting an incredible start from as far back as 11th on the grid, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) in fourth. Reigning world champ Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) took advantage of some early scuffles between Martin and Acosta, and Miller and Marquez, and pushed his way into third place by the end of lap two. It was difficult to know where to look.

Two laps later, the state of play was far more familiar; championship leader Jorge Martin was in charge at the front, ahead of Marquez and Bagnaia, while rookie Acosta was back in fourth. Importantly though, Acosta was the only rider in the top six who opted for the medium compound rear tyre. Vinales did too, who began using his speed and confidence to make his way forward through the pack.

Whether it was the missing aero bodywork from contact with Miller earlier in the race, or some over exuberance at the thought of celebrating his first win in 903 days, a lunge from a long way back on Martin for the lead left Marquez in all sorts of shapes out of the final corner on lap five, his mistake relegating him back to fourth.

Two laps later, Acosta was back in second place ahead of Marquez, Bagnaia’s early aggression had begun to fade, while conversely and uncharacteristically Vinales had managed to pass six riders in the first seven laps to find himself behind the Italian in fifth.

By half-race distance Acosta was back leading just his third ever full-length MotoGP race from Marquez who was desperate to turn his fortunes around at a circuit he’s had so much success at. It looked feasible, too, especially when he found a way past Acosta on the 11th circuit and began to put a few bike lengths between himself and the GasGas rider. But it all turned sour at Turn 11 when the front of his Gresini Ducati washed out from underneath him.

Acosta was back in the lead, Vinales slipped under Martin at the final corner to take second place from his countryman making it an all-Spanish top three. Vinales started lap 12 0.6sec behind Acosta but had made his first attempt at the lead just 12 corners later. Acosta was riding far more defensively than his experience should have allowed and it took Vinales another lap before he eventually made his race-winning move at Turn 11.

With six laps to go, just two seconds separated the top five riders. Martin was still in third ahead of the factory Ducati pairing of Enea Bastianini and Bagnaia, the former passing his teammate for fourth into the first turn. And while Martin has made it clear in recent weeks that he wants Bastianini’s seat in the factory team in 2025, the Italian set out to prove to his bosses that he deserves to stay.

Acosta closed the gap to Vinales to eight-tenths of a second with three laps to go, but just as it looked as if we might be treated to a last-lap stoush for the win, Vinales responded and crossed the line 1.7sec clear of the rookie, becoming the third different winner in the opening three GPs.

It took him six laps and various attempts to do so, but Bastianini succeeded in relegating Martin to fourth place on the penultimate lap, crossing the line in third a full second behind Acosta, to make it three different manufacturers on the podium.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) finished sixth ahead of Aleix Espargaro (Team Aprilia), Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), while Raul Fernandez gave his Trackhouse Racing Aprilia squad a top-10 finish for its first-ever home grand prix. Despite his early top-five running, Aussie Jack Miller faded to 13th by the line, 24 seconds behind Vinales, citing “confusing” grip issues as the reason.

Luca Marini (Repsol Honda) was the only Honda rider to finish, albeit in last place, with Alex Rins (Monster Yamaha) and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Ducati) also non finishers.

The result sees Martin’s 24-point advantage reduced to 21 from Bastianini, 80 points to 59, while Vinales’ (56pts) perfect weekend moves him up to third overall, ahead of Acosta (54) and Bagnaia (50). Miller sits in 10th on 22 points.

The series now heads to Spain’s Jerez circuit for Round 4, which kicks off on Friday 26 April.