Maverick Vinales revealed that his Aprilia motorcycle had a clutch issue before the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas, causing concern for the team. Despite this problem, Vinales managed to secure the victory, making history as the first rider in MotoGP to win with three different manufacturers, having previously won with Suzuki and Yamaha.
During the race, Vinales had a tough start and dropped to 11th place after contact in Turn 1. However, he managed to recover and move back to the front, eventually taking the lead on lap 13. With a comfortable lead over Pedro Acosta behind him, Vinales crossed the finish line with a 1.7-second advantage.
In a post-race interview with Autosport, Vinales revealed that the clutch issue also occurred during the morning warm-up session, raising concerns within the Aprilia team. Despite this, Vinales remained competitive throughout the race, consistently securing second or third place. He faced a race incident involving Pecco Bagnaia, who pushed him off the track, but Vinales kept his focus and determination to secure the victory.
Vinales expressed his joy and gratitude for the achievement, considering Aprilia’s limited success in the premier class of MotoGP and the personal challenges he has faced. He described his return to the top of the podium as a “dream,” highlighting the importance of reaching this milestone with Aprilia. Instead of joining a team that is already winning with a fantastic bike, Vinales acknowledged the hard work done by his teammate Aleix Espargaro, who had previously secured two victories for Aprilia, and the entire Aprilia team in developing a competitive motorcycle.
In general, Vinales expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to be part of the Aprilia team and contribute to its success.
