Joan Mir and Stefan Bradl are unable to finish the Grand Prix of the Americas after both crash out.
The Repsol Honda Team riders suffered raceday setbacks at the third Grand Prix of the season, held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Joan Mir and Stephan Bradl were both unable to finish the race after suffering crashes -in a contest in which only 13 of the 22 starters took the chequered flag.
Mir, who started from thirteenth, completed the first few laps with a steady pace that allowed him to situate himself in tenth. Midway through the race, on the tenth lap, the Repsol Honda team rider had a small crash. He escaped unhurt but was forced to retire.
Taking off from twenty-first, Stefan Bradl started well and was having a good race, making progress. When in eleventh, he also fell on the penultimate lap and could not claim his first points of the season.
The next round, the Spanish Grand Prix, will be held in two weeks’ time at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto.
JOAN MIR – DNF
“Overtaking on this track is always a challenge here and I crashed while trying to battle with Morbidelli. Everyone has good grip in the first laps, so it is hard to find an advantage early in the race. I was fine after the crash, it’s certainly a shame because we could have had a really good result here. The important point from this weekend is that we found something with the bike that I think can help us a lot in the future. It’s the best feeling I have had with this bike so far so we are focusing on this as we move towards Jerez.”
STEFAN BRADL – DNF
“Today we had a lot of potential, the top ten was right there. Of course I am disappointed not to be able to get this result because something like this gives you a big boost – especially when you are a rider like me stepping in for only a few races. It was a strange crash without much warning, but clearly the conditions on track were difficult with many falls. I was riding well and felt quite good on the bike, so this is very positive.”
