The “moment” of the MotoGP title battle is solid with Pecco Bagnaia ahead of the round that lifts Mark Marquez into more unpleasant territory.
After Marquez, a traditional circuit lover, crashed from the lead, Bagnaia won the American Motogup in Texas.
The fourth round of the fascinating championship will take place next week in Qatar, where Qatar will move on to a more advantageous circuit for Bagnaia.
Bagnaia won Qatar Motogup last year (Marquez only won that race once in his premier class career 11 years ago).
“We’re looking at the pendulum. Before this race, the pendulum was at the corner of the mark,” Silven Gintry told TNT Sports in Texas.
“Make a mistake shows him being vulnerable. It gives Pecco a sense that it could happen – “I can beat him.”
“What happened in particular here was what happened on a very strong road with Mark.”
“Momentum” shifts from Mark Marquez
Alex Marquez took over the championship leader for another P2 finish. He is one point from his respected brother.
Bagnaia is third, 12 points away from the top, but is newly rejuvenated before Qatar MotoGP.
As Mark Marquez got over the curb, momentum changed in Texas’ difficult wet conditions.
“He was on his limits, but he didn’t have to be,” Michael Laberty said. “It was, in my opinion, a mistake on his part.
“He played the cards well. The bike-switching strategy and decision was a clever move. It caught everyone else on the grid without realizing it.
“The confusion that followed was because Mark was in control of the situation.
“No one knew what to do. Maverick Vinall let go of his bike and wanted it.
“When Mark didn’t first engage the front device, I thought he was tinkering around and rattling.
“Then he got off to the start, kept pushing, had a comfortable gap and took away his freedom.
“He took the risk, the front let go. Unfortunately for him, it was the first mistake of the season.
“He’s knocking out momentum from the sails and trying to track him down that he’s not that strong.”