MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 3 / APRIL 20-22, 2018
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS / AUSTIN, TEXAS
P58
"The most important," he
continued, "is my feeling with
the bike. It is sweet. Now it is
important to see if we can have
the same feeling in the European
races."
If his superiority was humbling
for his rivals, his podium compan-
ions still had plenty to celebrate.
Second-placed for Maverick
Vinales was an affirmation. "We
are coming," he said. Changes
to electronics handing more
control back to the rider meant,
"we improved good things from
Argentina." After a difficult 2017
season this was his first podium
in five races, and he felt back on
track.
However, it had been a long
race. He explained his usual
preference was to follow other
riders, then attack at the end.
"But after Argentina, my strategy
was clear. We worked all week-
end for this kind of race. I didn't
have the confidence to battle, so
I pushed to get away."
Confidence? After showing
massive superiority through
practice? What he meant was
slightly different—that if Rossi (or
anybody) was going to com-
plain that his tactics made them
"scared" to be nearby, well, he'd
make damn sure they weren't
going to get close enough to get
that feeling.
Marquez had his
hands initially full
with a revitalized
Andrea Iannone
(29), who put the
Suzuki on the box
in third.
