Britain has two riders in the top six, with Scott Redding in fourth and Cal Crutchlow in fifth. The top six is completed by class rookie Jonas Folger on the satellite Yamaha.

2017 MotoGP standings

1. Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) 50 points

2 . Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 36

3. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 20

4. Scott Redding (Ducati) 17

5. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 16

6. Jonas Folger (Yamaha) 16

Moto2

In Moto2 we are guaranteed a first-time winner at Austin. The winners of the last three Moto2 races at the circuit – Alex Rins, Sam Lowes and Maverick Vinales – have all graduated to MotoGP.

The only other rider to have won a Moto2 race in Austin is Nico Terol, in 2013, but he no longer competes in Moto2.

Similarly, all three podium finishers from last year – Rins, Lowes and Johann Zarco – are all competing in MotoGP this season.

Like Vinaless in the premier class, Franco Morbidelli has won the opening two races of the season in the intermediate class, a feat last achieved by Jorge Lorenzo in 2007 – when the machines were 250cc two-strokes. Morbidelli is also the first Italian rider to win consecutive races in the class the late Marco Simoncelli in 2009.

2017 Moto2 standings

1. Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) 50 points

2. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) 36

3. Miguel Oliveira (KTM) 33

4. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 21

5. Xavi Vierge (Tech 3) 18

6. Takaaki Nakagami (Kalex) 16

Moto3

With Spanish Rider Joan Mir winning both Moto3 races to date, the same rider has won the opening two races in all three classes for the first time since 1992 when the three riders were Mick Doohan in the 500cc class, Luca Cadalora in the 250cc category and Ralph Waldmann in the 125cc class.