MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas: Maverick Vinales takes classy Sprint victory ahead of Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin

Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) was in a class of his own and stormed to an undisputed victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas Sprint race.

Starting from pole, the Aprilia rider took the holeshot at lights out and never surrendered the position. He made the difference on Lap 3, opening a gap that his opponents were never able to reel back in.

"I'm dreaming," an elated Vinales said post-race. "I want to keep going, the level was amazing, so I just want to go again. We deserve it, so let's go."

Pole sitter Vinales held on to the position at lights out with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) moving up into second. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) followed in third.

Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) had a horrendous launch and dropped all the way down into 10th at the end of the opening lap.

The top three swiftly broke away from the field with championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) moving into the role of first chaser in fourth, courtesy of a beautiful overtake on Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team).

Vinales made the difference early and checked out on Lap 3 with what would prove to be the fastest lap of the race, putting more than a second between himself and Marquez.

While the Aprilia rider was escaping, Martin was reeling in Acosta and Marquez and there was nothing separating the trio at the halfway point of the Sprint. Finally, Acosta was first to attempt an overtake on Lap 6 but could not make it stick. Instead, Martin was in place to capitalise on Acosta's resulting loss of momentum and snuck through into third.

Marquez responded to the trouble brewing right behind him and put some space between himself and Martin who in turn managed to break from Acosta.

There was no catching Vinales though who had disappeared in the distance and took the chequered flag for a comfortable victory, 2.3 seconds ahead of Marquez who had to settle for second.

"It was a bit harder than what I expected," Marquez admitted. "On the first lap I was quite strong, on the second lap [also]. But then I started to feel not so well and I decided to wait for my moment.

"I was at the front of the group, but then when Pedro [Acosta] attacked me, I said, okay, now is the time, and then I was half a second faster on the next lap and I was able to open a gap. But we need to understand for tomorrow where we can improve to be with Vinales."

Martin secured the remaining podium spot in third and extended his championship lead to 24 points over Bastianini. "Today was a tough day with two crashes this morning and then I was able to make the second row," he recalled. "And today it was a tough race. I struggled quite a lot in the middle of the race with some issues, but finally, to finish on the podium is amazing.

"We are super consistent, that is the most important thing. More tomorrow and let's go for a better race."

Acosta completed another impressive display in fourth with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) rounding out a great Sprint overall for Aprilia in fifth. Bastianini came out top of a multi-rider battle for sixth, beating Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Having lacked pace all race, Bagnaia regained some form in the late stages to finish eighth ahead of Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) who bagged the last remaining point at his team's home race.

Vinales was the fastest rider on track by a distance, but the big winner of the day was Martin who now holds almost a race victory-worth of points in the championship standings.

It has not been the easiest Saturday for Martin with crashes in the morning and a start from the second row. However, he came through when it mattered the most and punished let-downs from his main title rivals Bagnaia and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who did not even reach the points.

It is way too early in the season for preliminaries in the championship, but the momentum now is firmly with Martin.

1/10: VINALES TAKES HOLESHOT - Pole sitter Vinales holds on to the position into Turn 1 with M Marquez moving up into second. Acosta follows in third. Meanhwhile, Bagnaia has a horrendous start and falls into 10th.

4/10: VINALES CHECKS OUT - Fastets lap from Vinales and it's a big one. He makes up seven tenths on M Marquez on the Lap 3 times, taking his advantage to over a second.

6/10: ACOSTA ATTACKS, MARTIN PROFITS - Acosta attacks M Marquez for second but can't make it stick. The resulting loss of momentum is enough for Martin to capitalise and sneak past Acosta.

7/10: MARQUEZ RESPONDS - Something must have clicked in M Marquez who is now gaining some space over Martin.

10/10: VINALES WINS IN TEXAS - Vinales has been in a different universe and takes the chequered flag to win the Americas GP Sprint. M Marquez bags second with Martin completing the podium.

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