APRIL 17, 2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 08:35AM 
Holy Smokes, Batman!
Austin. Enigmatic MotoGP racer Maverick Vinales decimated the field during the RedBull Grand Prix of the Americas weekend in Austin, Texas, by winning both the 10-lap sprint race on Saturday and following up with an even stronger win in Sunday’s Grand Prix. Starting from pole position in both races, he led into turn one in Saturday’s 10-lap race and never relinquished the lead in a display of near perfection. As good as the Saturday version of Vinales was, he was in even better form in Sunday’s Grand Prix, eventually dominating the late stages of what just might go down in MotoGP history as the most exciting race ever. Deciding what’s been the greatest race ever is no different than trying to decide who is the best-looking super model ever — it’s not possible, but this Grand Prix was for sure, the best COTA race ever. By far. It was tense just watching.
Long known for being an ultra-quick, race-winning rider, Vinales also has an unfortunate, but well-earned reputation for inconsistency: winning sometimes, but other times, having slow starts and simply going backwards in races he had a strong chance of winning. By definition, high-performing racers at any level are more complicated than normal, and some require a unique and secret key hidden somewhere in the universe to unlock their potential.
For a brief moment on Sunday, this paradox — Maverick’s inconsistent ability to make results equal of his potential — seemed to be playing out again. In turn one, in second place, Vinales found himself being barged into by an aggressive Pecco Bagnaia. Pushed wide, he became mired back in 11th. It would have been a surprise to no one had his race fallen apart further from there.
But this is a new Maverick, in his third year on the Aprilia RS-GP24, which has suddenly, in his hands, become HIS bike. “Aprilia has worked so hard, and we’ve made many changes. The bike feels so good, I can ride it as fast as I want… I can brake as hard as I want. I am one with the bike.”
With today’s 220mph + MotoGP machines, a rider’s “feel” is perhaps more important than horsepower and everything else. During pre-season testing, Maverick and his Aprilia were not that quick. Several changes later, things started to improve, but the big change came in Portimao, at the second GP. “We changed the setup - weight distribution, and now the bike turns.”
In Portimao, just two weeks ago, Maverick was first in the sprint, but in the GP, when he was fighting Jorge Martin for victory on the last lap, a part of the gearbox failed. It was a heartbreaking DNF, but in hindsight, Vinales’ upbeat demeanor post-race after such a stinging letdown was insight into his new-found confidence. It was almost as if the loss didn’t matter because he knew something no one else did: he thought he could win again. And again. Almost at will.
After Bagnaia’s nudge, (rubbin’ is racin’ as they say in Texas) by the end of lap one, Vinales had moved up to 9th, and from there, continued to slowly and methodically pick off those in front. Never was there a hint of desperation, and never did he look the least bit on edge. This, in an era of MotoGP when aero devices and increased front tire load (resulting in higher tire temps and pressures) make passing more difficult than at any other time in the series’ history. Significantly, COTA is the most demanding circuit on the schedule, too, making Vinales charge from 11th to first by lap 12 (of 20) all the more remarkable.
Finishing second was the rookie Pedro Acosta. The 19-year-old Spanish RedBull KTM prodigy, who was placed into Frenchman Herve Poncharal’s Tech3 GasGas branded KTM satellite team for a “low pressure learning year” has defied all expectations, and then some. After Vinales passed him for the lead on lap 12, Acosta, who “loves to win” realized he could not and showed enormous maturity and intelligence by racing to his own limit, not Vinales’. In truth, Acosta’s race was as excellent as Vinales’ — maybe even more so. He was totally in control and unruffled while leading, and fighting, much of the race, almost like he was born in the lead. Maybe he was, since the next best KTM was the highly regarded Brad Binder in ninth. And this was the second race in a row that Acosta has simply crushed the three other KTM riders. Go figure.
Much of the pre-season talk was about Marc Marquez on a Ducati (and he WILL figure strongly in the Championship, and will win “several” races), the factory Ducati teammates (Enea Bastianini vs. reining double World Champ Pecco Bagnaia) vs 2023 Championship runner up and ultra-quick Jorge Martin on the Pramac Ducati. Pedro Acosta was mentioned as one to watch, and Maverick Vinales was on point to win a few races, maybe, but figure for the Championship? No.
The RedBull GP of the Americas has perhaps turned expectations upside down. The conversations have changed. If Pedro Acosta keeps his head on, and he will because he is a racing genius (yes, it’s only been three MotoGP races, but anyone who is only half a genius can see it), he will be a strong contender for several race wins and will figure strongly in the Championship. But Maverick Vinales and the Aprilia team are just that tiny bit faster, and if they can keep the setup of the RS-GP24 in this magic, golden window, then they are the new favorites. Marc Marquez will figure because he’s Marc Marquez (which is, of course, just an older version of Acosta!)
Of all the pre-season faves, Bagnaia looks to be the one struggling the most. But there are 17 race weekends left, meaning 34 races. A lot can happen in 34 motorcycle races. And if all 34 races are even half as exciting as Austin, and there’s no real reason to think they won’t be, then this might become the best season of MotoGP ever. For real.
Paul Menard (No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang) made a strong showing at the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli race at NOLA Motorsports Park, winning the Pole Award and leading 27 of 37 laps at the NOLA SpeedTour, but Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang) was never far behind. With 10 laps remaining, the defending champion made his way around Menard, and the two battled until the checkered flag waved, with Dyson ultimately victorious, claiming the top step of the podium in GYM WEED Winners Circle for the first time in 2024. Tomy Drissi finished third in the No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro. “It’s more fun this way, I'll tell you that,” said Dyson in GYM WEED Winners Circle. “Honestly, this was just a really terrific weekend for the whole GYM WEED team. I'm so thrilled to be back here and standing on top of the podium down here at NOLA. It was a great race with Paul [Menard] the whole way through, and we knew it would be, coming in. We had big speed all weekend, and it just came down to being in the right place at the right time and having a car that could manage our tires. We were just phenomenal on the long runs, and I think this is how it's going to be for the rest of the year. You look at the battle we had in Atlanta with [Adam] Andretti and then Paul here, and Tommy [Drissi] is right up there too. It's a fight every weekend, and that's what makes these wins so meaningful and special. This weekend is especially special for me because my wife Joy is here with me, and I'm just so happy to have her support. I have to thank all the guys. This one's for you. We were down here working hard all winter, and I think we've got a great car to take everywhere. We've got nothing to do but win now because [Paul Menard is] in the lead, and we’ve got to go chase him.” (Thank you to Trans Am Media)
Editor's Note: This is our dearly departed billboard, which we had at Road America for several years. Peter gifted the phrase "America's National Park of Speed" to the track, which now uses it proudly in all of its communications. -WG
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG