Marco Bezzecchi just can’t stop breaking records. The #72 won an incredible fifth GP in a row at COTA, only the third Italian rider to do it, and has won the first three GPs of a season for the first time since Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team #93) did it in 2014. Report: BikeReview/MotoGP Press

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) suffered a fast off in FP1 at the Red Bull GP of the United States, but come the end of play on Friday, the seven-time MotoGP Champion was back on top at a venue he’s called his own more than any other rider. That said, it was a close-run day on the timesheets, with Ai Ogura (#79) – for home team Trackhouse MotoGP Team – just 0.053 off the top. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) took P3 on Friday, 0.187 off Marc Marquez at the top.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) set a new lap record of 2:00.136 to take pole position at the US GP, making it back-to-back poles for the first time in his career to follow his Brazilian GP glory.

Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) took second before being given a two-place grid penalty for Sunday’s GP, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) in third at the conclusion of a dramatic session. One notable name missing from that front row was eight-time COTA polesitter Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), as the #93 had an adventurous session and would start P6 in Texas.

Moto2

On one side of the CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team box, a lot of joy was had on the opening day of Moto2 action at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the United States after David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team #80) set a 2:05.847 to sit 0.494s clear of second-place Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18). Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing #7) ended Practice in P3, 0.606s shy of Alonso, while on the other side of the Aspar box, World Championship leader Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team #96) faced Q1 for the second weekend running.

Read our other race news here…

For the first time in Moto2, David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) launched from pole position after converting a dominant Friday into a P1 on Saturday afternoon – or at least that’s what we thought. The 2024 Moto3 World Champion set a storming 2:05.203, a new all-time lap record, to finish just under a tenth and a half ahead of second-place Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing), but a post-qualifying tyre pressure penalty meant the Colombian would begin the Moto2 race from P17. Meanwhile, World Championship pacesetter Daniel Holgado was only P15 on the starting line, having come through Q1.

Moto3

Moto3’s opening day of action concluded with Championship leader Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #28) setting a new lap record and setting himself as a favourite for honours. A 2:13.757 saw him ease to the top of the standings ahead of Guido Pini (Leopard Racing #94) and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83), although there’d be plenty of surprises across Saturday and Sunday.

A dramatic Moto3 qualifying session took us into the sunset, but it didn’t disappoint; a career-first pole was bagged by Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA #78), whilst he was joined by Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3 #73) and Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI #13).

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #89) was back on the top step. The #89 delivered a stunning performance in the Tissot Sprint in Texas, hunting down early leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63), making a decisive move on the final lap and crossing the line seven tenths clear to take his first Sprint win since 2024 and his first with Aprilia.

In a chaotic Sprint, Martin then crashed after a celebratory wheelie but was confirmed okay. The race was full of further drama throughout the field. Bagnaia took second after leading early and only losing out on the last lap. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) initially completed the Sprint podium but later fell under tyre pressure investigation, promoting Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #23) to P3.

Early drama saw Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) crash out while attempting a move on Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), collecting the Italian in the process. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) then crashed later on his own while running ahead of Martin. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) also crashed on the final lap while attacking Acosta for third.

At the start, Acosta launched well from P3 but was challenged by Marquez into Turn 1. Bagnaia judged the apex perfectly to take the lead, with Acosta second and Diggia battling Marquez for third. Bezzecchi dropped to P7 early. Marquez then crashed out while trying to pass Di Giannantonio, ending both their podium hopes and earning a Long Lap penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

 

Bagnaia controlled the front with a small gap while a group fought for second, including Acosta, Mir, Martin and Bezzecchi. By mid-race, Bagnaia began to edge away as the battle behind intensified. Martin and Bezzecchi progressed forward, both Aprilias moving ahead of Acosta, while Mir slipped to fifth and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati #73) closed in.

Bezzecchi passed Martin for second with a move at Turn 11, but crashed out at the same corner with three laps remaining, handing second back to Martin. On the final lap, Bagnaia’s lead collapsed under pressure from Martin. Martin attacked at Turn 12, making a clean but decisive move to take the lead and secure victory. Bagnaia finished second and Acosta was initially third before his penalty promoted Bastianini to P3. Alex Marquez took fourth, Mir crashed out late and Luca Marini finished fifth.

“It’s been a while, two years without racing here, and I really missed it. I took a maybe risky decision going with the medium [rear tyre], but I knew inside of myself that it was the right choice. It paid off. I had to wait until the last lap, and I’ve never won in MotoGP a race like this one,” Martin explained.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

  1. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing
  2. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+0.755s)
  3. Enea Bastianini Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+3.199s)
  4. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+3.638s)
  5. Luca Marini Honda HRC Castrol (+5.521s)

Sunday
MotoGP

The #72 won an incredible fifth Grand Prix in a row, becoming only the third Italian rider ever to achieve the feat and the first to win the opening three GPs of a season since Marc Marquez in 2014.

It was also an Aprilia 1-2 for the second consecutive time, as Jorge Martin followed up Tissot Sprint victory with a Sunday podium, while Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed the podium in third.

Acosta launched superbly from the front row to take the holeshot, with Marco Bezzecchi also making a strong start into second and Martin jumping into third. Early drama came immediately as Acosta ran deep into Turn 11, allowing Bezzecchi to cut underneath. The pair ran side-by-side on exit and made contact, with a piece of Aprilia debris flying off. Bezzecchi held the lead, Acosta recovered and Martin settled into third.

Behind them, battles intensified throughout the pack. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) fought Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) before Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) also moved through.

Bezzecchi set a new modern-era record by leading more consecutive Grand Prix laps than any rider, surpassing Jorge Lorenzo’s 103-lap record and extending it to 104 by Lap 4. Marc Marquez served his Long Lap penalty for his Sprint incident, while Mir also served a Long Lap before crashing out later in the race.

At the front, Martin attempted a move on Acosta but was initially denied before nearly losing control at Turn 1 and dropping back into the fight with Di Giannantonio and Bagnaia. At mid-race distance, Bezzecchi led Acosta by around a second, with Martin, Di Giannantonio and Bagnaia close behind. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) were also making strong progress through the field.

Ogura executed clean overtakes on Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio before targeting higher positions, while Marc Marquez climbed back into the group after his penalty. However, Ogura’s charge ended with a technical issue, forcing him to retire. The fight for fifth intensified between Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Bastianini and Alex Marquez, with multiple position changes and aggressive overtakes throughout the group.

At the front, Bezzecchi maintained control, managing a gap of around 1.7 seconds over Martin in the closing stages. He extended his record to 121 consecutive laps led and became only the third Italian ever to win five consecutive Grands Prix, alongside Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini. Martin secured second to complete another Aprilia 1-2, marking the factory’s second consecutive double podium finish, while Acosta held on for third after a strong ride. Di Giannantonio finished fourth as top Ducati, Marc Marquez took fifth, Bastianini sixth and Alex Marquez seventh.

“I’m very happy because yesterday I made a mistake, and it was important to make a good race today. The mood here in Texas was amazing. Yesterday I was very sad, and they [the whole team] gave me an extra push to try to bounce back today. Let’s try to keep like this,” Bezzecchi said.

MotoGP Race Results

  1. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing
  2. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing (+2.036s)
  3. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+4.497s)
  4. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+6.972s)
  5. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo (+8.100s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

  1. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 81
  2. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing – 77
  3. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM – 60
  4. Fabio di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 50
  5. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 45

Moto2

Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #81) had a difficult opening couple of rounds but delivered a brilliant ride to take a third career victory in Moto2. The #81 resisted a late charge from Celestino Vietti (HDR SpeedRS Team #13), with the #13 taking a first podium of the season, whilst the rostrum was completed by Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28).

The holeshot honours went to Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #21), but all eyes were behind as a collision at Turn 1 ended Championship leader Daniel Holgado’s (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Joe Roberts’ (OnlyFans American Racing Team #16) Grand Prix. A bigger incident then followed at Turn 11 on the opening lap involving Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team #12), Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – GALFER – MSI #36), David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo #95), Sergio Garcia (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #3), Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team #17) and Alberto Ferrandez (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #54), bringing out the red flag.

Ahead of the restart, multiple riders were handed Long Lap Penalties, including Holgado, Munoz and Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing). On the restart, Lopez again took the holeshot before Baltus briefly led at Turn 13, but he still had to serve his penalty. Agius quickly moved into P2, then passed Baltus for the lead on Lap 3 at Turn 12.

Behind, Vietti charged through, overtaking Izan Guevara and then Lopez. Baltus briefly retook the lead on Lap 5 but dropped after serving his LLP, rejoining in P7. Alonso climbed from 17th to the top five, showing a strong recovery drive.

At the front, Vietti took the lead down the back straight, but Agius responded immediately. With two laps to go, Agius launched a decisive move at Turn 3 and controlled the final lap. Despite heavy pressure, he held on to win ahead of Vietti, with Guevara completing the podium.

Alonso finished fourth after a superb comeback, Gonzalez took fifth, and with it, moved into the Championship lead.

Moto2 Race Results

  1. Senna Agius LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP
  2. Celestino Vietti HDR SpeedRS Team (+0.497s)
  3. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (+0.908s)
  4. David Alonso CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team (+1.843s)
  5. Manuel Gonzalez LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (+2.729s)

Moto2 Championship Points

  1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 39.5
  2. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 – 36
  3. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team – 33
  4. Celestino Vietti HDR SpeedRS Team – 32
  5. Daniel Muñoz Italtrans Racing Team – 26

Moto3

Guido Pini (Leopard Racing #94) is a Moto3 Grand Prix winner! The Italian came out on top in final-corner fisticuffs at COTA, claiming victory by just 0.056. Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) took second, with Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the podium after his final corner attack on Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) saw both head wide and lose out on a 1-2.

Carpe took the holeshot from pole ahead of Perrone, with Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse #67) losing out off the start as Quiles went full send into Turn 1 and grabbed third. The two orange machines were streaking away in the lead early doors, but Quiles got the hammer down to tag back on, with the Leopard Racing duo of Pini and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) next up the road.

After it had been a seven-rider fight early doors, Joel Esteban (LEVELUP – MTA) and Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia #9) were out of that with 10 to go as Pratama crashed out and Esteban couldn’t avoid the bike. Both riders were okay but the group was down to five before Fernandez started to fade, leaving four riders fighting for three places on the podium.

By three to go, the gloves started to come off. Pini attacked Quiles at Turn 11 and got the lead momentarily before being denied and then tried again at Turn 12 – this time hooking it up and keeping it. With that shuffle at the front, Carpe was right back in it and the four-rider fight really started to heat up.

Onto the last lap, Perrone led Pini, but Carpe slotted into second. Pini then lost out to Quiles at Turn 11, with the long back straight seeing everyone absolutely pinned. But it was Carpe who led out of 12. Then Perrone attacked at 13, Carpe repaid him through 17-18, Perrone was back through in style at Turn 19 and Carpe took it back again a corner later. But it all went down to the final corner.

Carpe went for the win and sliced up the inside, with Perrone pushed out wide and the #83 only just keeping it on track too. The door was open for the duo behind them, and neither Pini nor Quiles needed a second invitation. In their drag race to the line, Pini took it by 0.056, with Quiles second and Carpe holding on to third. Perrone, after a stunning race, was forced to settle for fourth.

Fernandez took fifth, with a huge fight behind going to the wire too.

Moto3 Race Results

  1. Guido Pini Leopard Racing
  2. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (+0.056s)
  3. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo (+0.254s)
  4. Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+0.445s)
  5. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing (+9.192s)

Moto3 Championship Points

  1. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 65
  2. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 42
  3. Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 – 38
  4. Guido Pini Leopard Racing – 36
  5. Marco Morelli CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 32

How Did the Aussies Do?

Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #43) battled through the 10-lap Sprint to finish 14th before fighting through to 16th in Sunday’s race at Circuit of the Americas. Aware there’s still plenty of work to do despite, he still extracted some positives from the weekend. Senna Agius enjoyed a superb round in Austin, which began with him qualifying sixth after securing direct Q2 entry from Friday practice.

After a red-flagged start in the main dance, he charged into contention on the restart to take the lead early before controlling the race with aplomb to the finish to oust Vietti. It marked his third Grand Prix win and moved him up to sixth in the standings. Joel Kelso (GRYD – MLav Racing #66) ensured a frustrating race at COTA, as, despite running in sixth place with six laps remaining, 4.8 seconds behind the pair ahead, his race ended following an untimely crash.

 

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