A winner in 2019 and looking to repeat it in the Sprint,🦩 Alex Rins made a brilliant start as he challenged Bagnaia for the lead into turn one.

But as Rins dived down the inside, the LCR Honda rider instead ran wide which gifted the lead back 🎃to the w🉐orld champion.

• As it happened: Francesco Bagnaia win꧙s the MotoGP🔴 Sprint at COTA 
• MotoGP ꩲof the Americas, Austin - Sprint Race Result💮s

Rins regained the lead a few corners later before Bagnaia used the incredible straight line speed of his Ducati to blast past Rins on 💙the approach to turn 12. 

In desperate need of points after a slow ℱstart to the season, Fabio Quartararo was a rider on the charge as he moved up from seventh to fourth.

However, the same could n♔ot be said for Maverick Vinales and Luca Marini, as both riders lost huge amounts of positions.

Vinales dropped from eighth to 19th on the opening lap, while Marini was also ಌoutside the top ten despite starting third. 

As Rins attempted to stay close on the back-str𝕴aight, a mistake under braking soon followed which allﷺowed Espargaro to gain second before contact was made a corner later with Quartararo. 

Slowly stretch𒆙ing his lead out front, Bagnaia managed to extend h𝓀is lead to a full second at the end of lap four as Rins closed back in on Espargaro.

Behind the podium trio, Quartararo wasꩵ heading backwards as Martin and Marquez both got through on the Yamaha rider.

Things then went from bad to worse as Quartararo made a big mistake at turn one and crashed out of the Sprint💖. 

As the Sprint hit mid-race distance, the most enthralling battle was the  one taking place for second as Rins was swarming all over Espargaro. After an attempt at turn 11, Rins mad🍌e the move 💃stick on lap six at turn seven. 

Pushing on to try and pass Martin for fourth, Marquez inste♐ad became the latest turn 12 victim as🍎 he lost the front-end. 

Out front, Bagnaia was as consist🌳ent as ever as he controlled the race and won by 2.5 second from Rins.

There was a late attack from Espargaro on Martin for third, but the factory Aprilia rider ran wide🀅 w🦩ith his only overtake at turn 19.