Mighty Maverick Vinales storms to famous comeback win

Maverick Vinales is the new king of COTA after a sensational comeback ride to victory, while former Texas monarch Marc Marquez crashed out.

It was another dramatic weekend of MotoGP at Austin and Vinales’ Aprilia was unbeatable, winning both the Sprint and Grand Prix.

The unexpected success from as low as 11th on the opening lap ended a long dry spell for the Spaniard, who had not won on a Grand Prix since the 2021 season opener prior to his split with Yamaha.

Now after a perfect trip to Texas Vinales is third in the championship and the first ever rider to win with three different manufacturers in the MotoGP era and fifth overall.

“There have been a lot of long nights thinking and overthinking what I have to do to be back winning races,” a relieved Vinales said.

“Finally, I did it! I’m super happy to have never given up. 

“But also to make everyone around me believe that  I have enough talent and dedication to be fighting for this.”

The pace of the #12 Aprilia was clear in qualifying as Vinales smashed the lap record to take pole position.

He was in a league of his own, being three tenths clear of the impressive rookie Pedro Acosta, who edged out Marquez with Jack Miller just outside the top 10.

The biggest drama in qualifying was championship leader Jorge Martin, who crashed twice on his way to sixth.

Vinales carried on his momentum in the Sprint, by getting the jump off the line ahead of Marquez and Acosta as Francesco Bagnaia slumped from fourth to 10th.

Any hopes of Marquez challenging for victory were dashed by the hot pace of Vinales, who shot into the distance.

This left the #93 under threat to the latest rookie sensation Acosta and the pair traded blows on lap 6.

But a mistake at turn 8 not only allowed Marquez to secure second, but also Martin to pounce on the KTM Tech3 rider to snare a podium.

Miller wrestled hard with both factory Ducatis to secure seventh ahead of Bagnaia as five riders retired with three of them Hondas.

Although Vinales cruised to Sprint success, his journey to his breakthrough Grand Prix glory was anything, but easy.

Acosta flew off the line and into lead ahead of the tight turn 1 where the slow-starting Vinales got barged all the way down to 11th by Bagnaia. 

Pedro Acosta leads the field at the start of the Americas Grand Prix. Image: Gold and Goose

Miller had a sensational first lap, soaring from 11th to third only behind Acosta and Martin, who started exchanging stints in the lead on lap 2.

It was a case of third time lucky for Martin when he finally got by the rookie on lap 4 at turn 7.

Knowing he could not afford Martin to check out, Marquez was also on the move and flew from fourth to second in just two corners, only for Acosta to immediately return serve.

By lap 8 Vinales comeback was at full steam as he returned to the top five by passing Miller, who struggled to retain race pace and and dropped to 13th.

A lap later Vinales had a mighty wrestle with Bagnaia for fourth as Martin’s gap was slashed from nine tenths to just one by Acosta.

The #31 then made a dive-bomb at the turn 11 hairpin to retake the lead, which opened the door for Marquez to follow suit at the end of the following straight.

Marquez made a statement by diving down the inside of Acosta when they next arrived at turn 1.

However, the #93 only led for another 10 corners before losing the front and crashing at the hairpin.

Marquez was “disappointed” knowing hopes of a breakthrough win disappeared due to an “unexpected brake problem”.

This put Acosta back in charge, but all eyes were on third placed Vinales who was hot on the heels of the leading pair.

Having accounted for Martin on lap 11, the Aprilia’s pace proved overwhelming for Acosta two laps later when the #12 hit the lead at the hairpin.

Soon Vinales was a second clear and he cruised to the chequered flag to secure a famous comeback win by 1.7s over Acosta.

The big fight was now for third as Bastianini snatched it from Martin on the penultimate lap.

However, Martin still holds a solid championship lead after a special Americas Grand Prix ahead of a return to the familiar Jerez Circuit on April 26-28.

2024 Americas Grand Prix result

MOTOGP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 3

1: Jorge Martin 80 points

2: Enea Bastianini 59

3: Maverick Vinales 56

4: Pedro Acosta 54

5: Francesco Bagnaia 50

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