The Spaniard forced a mistake out of Bagnaia to take victory with Marini and Quartararo elated with podium honours
The Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas proved that anything that can happen in MotoGP™ as Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) capitalised on a crash from Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to become the first rider to win a race on a Honda in 2023 in just his third Grand Prix for the Japanese manufacturer. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) continued the podium streak for the VR46 team after fending off the Yamaha frontman Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) who picked up his first podium of 2023.
Lights out on the horsepower rodeo
The lights went out and it was the perfect start for Pecco as the Italian took the hole shot with Alex Rins in hot pursuit. Drama on lap one as the Ducati men of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), and Fabio Di Digiannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) crashed out. Martin and Marquez went down together as the Prima Pramac Racing man went down and took his Spanish compatriot with him.
The Aprilia Captain Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) also fell victim to the first lap antics going down and out of the Grand Prix.
Heartbreaking mistake denies Miller maiden KTM podium
In the meantime, Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) came flying through the field to put himself in 3rd place from 10th on the grid. Quartararo was hot on the tail of the Aussie as Marini sat just inside the top 5.
Déjà vu for the World Champion
MUST-SEE: Bagnaia blunders and crashes out of the lead!
Bagnaia was putting…