Points for Marini and Moreira in America
Circuit Of The AmericasLuca Marini produced a metronomic performance, attacking until the end for a last-minute ninth place at the Circuit of the Americas, while Diogo Moreira was 13th
Another unpredictable Sunday was waiting for the MotoGP World Championship as the riders rolled onto the grid, the sun shinning but a wind whipping up around them. All eyes were on the critical first corner as lights went out.
Starting in 11th place, Luca Marini had extra work to do and found himself sandwiched between a KTM and a Gresini machine into the tight first corner of COTA after struggling off the line compared to Saturday. From here the race was a series of intense battles and passes until the #10 arrived on the edge of the top ten, settling in behind Raul Fernandez as the pace of the grid leveled out. Seeing a fast-fading Bagnaia just ahead of him, Marini kept his rhythm until the very end to steal ninth place.
Pro Honda LCR's Diogo Moreira made an excellent start from 14th on the grid and quickly moved into contention for the top 10. With tyre management crucial to the demanding 20-lap race, the Brazilian gained valuable experience and crossed the line in 13th place, securing points for the third consecutive time in just his third MotoGP race.
Joan Mir’s Sunday followed a similar script to Saturday, the #36 starting well and locking horns with almost every Ducati on the grid. A well-saved moment early in the race sent him wide through the opening sector and earned him a Long Lap Penalty as a result. He would crash from the top ten before serving the penalty, fortunately avoiding any injury.
Starting from 15th on the grid and determined to fight for points, Zarco had a strong launch but on lap 2 suffered a Turn 9 crash due to another rider's mistake. Despite this, the CASTROL Honda LCR rider was able to rejoin the race, gathering valuable data before ultimately retiring at the end of the race.
The MotoGP championship will now move to Europe with the Spanish GP taking place on 24-26 April.
Today was pretty straight forward, everything came from the start. I was already minus two positions, and I made a really bad start, which is very strange because the starts have been one of our strongest points on the Honda. It’s something we need to check because I lost some positions. The positive is I had some really nice battles further back as it was quite a chaotic race in the opening laps – it was fun, but when I arrived to Fernandez, the pace of everyone was very close. Today the wind changed direction, so it changed our braking points, I focused on hitting my marks and in the last lap I saw Bagnaia was not having an easy time. This race shows that the level of everyone has improved a lot and we still have work to do to break into that top eight.
Today was pretty straight forward, everything came from the start. I was already minus two positions, and I made a really bad start, which is very strange because the starts have been one of our strongest points on the Honda. It’s something we need to check because I lost some positions. The positive is I had some really nice battles further back as it was quite a chaotic race in the opening laps – it was fun, but when I arrived to Fernandez, the pace of everyone was very close. Today the wind changed direction, so it changed our braking points, I focused on hitting my marks and in the last lap I saw Bagnaia was not having an easy time. This race shows that the level of everyone has improved a lot and we still have work to do to break into that top eight.
After not being able to understand my feeling in the Sprint due to the early retirement, today’s race was demanding, but I managed to finish, fight, and score points again. The past two weeks have been both enjoyable and challenging at times, but we are doing a good job and continuously improving. Thanks to everyone!
After not being able to understand my feeling in the Sprint due to the early retirement, today’s race was demanding, but I managed to finish, fight, and score points again. The past two weeks have been both enjoyable and challenging at times, but we are doing a good job and continuously improving. Thanks to everyone!
A disappointing way to finish a weekend that had a lot of promise. I was in a position yesterday and today to attack, recover a lot on entry and see what was possible. When I am alone I can ride well and fast, in the slipstream with these bikes you have to risk twice as much to make up time. Finally the front went, we need to improve the rear to gain something more on corner exit because this can happen when you are riding the front so hard. I like knowing I have a chance, this is good and we have improved a lot compared to when I first started with Honda and I know that we can keep working together to improve more and more.
A disappointing way to finish a weekend that had a lot of promise. I was in a position yesterday and today to attack, recover a lot on entry and see what was possible. When I am alone I can ride well and fast, in the slipstream with these bikes you have to risk twice as much to make up time. Finally the front went, we need to improve the rear to gain something more on corner exit because this can happen when you are riding the front so hard. I like knowing I have a chance, this is good and we have improved a lot compared to when I first started with Honda and I know that we can keep working together to improve more and more.
Another rider went to the inside of a rival in Turn 8, and this one had to go wide. I was feeling well and doing a good job, but due to that situation, I had to go in knowing we needed to change direction. He tried to come back, and at the moment of contact my bike fell in Turn 9. It was a racing incident, I don’t complain, these things happen. It was a consequence of what happened at that moment. In any case, I was feeling good and we could have taken a solid result. I decided to continue to gather information, and I was able to be fast even though we were far behind, so it was useful to understand many things.
Another rider went to the inside of a rival in Turn 8, and this one had to go wide. I was feeling well and doing a good job, but due to that situation, I had to go in knowing we needed to change direction. He tried to come back, and at the moment of contact my bike fell in Turn 9. It was a racing incident, I don’t complain, these things happen. It was a consequence of what happened at that moment. In any case, I was feeling good and we could have taken a solid result. I decided to continue to gather information, and I was able to be fast even though we were far behind, so it was useful to understand many things.
