Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is a Grand Prix winner in 2025 after an immensely dramatic Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas unfolded on a Sunday afternoon that saw COTA King Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) crash out of the lead. With another P2 finish, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) becomes the new leader of the MotoGP title chase, while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completes the podium in this unforgettable round three.
Rain before the start saw the riders face incredibly tricky conditions heading to the grid, as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) proved. The Frenchman crashed on his sighting lap but managed to get back around to the grid, as we then saw something we very rarely see.
Just before the three-minute board was signaled, Marc Marquez dashed off the grid. This led to Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez and more following suit, with riders and team members sprinting down pit lane to grab the spare bikes that were fitted with slick tires.
Some, though, including Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), opted to gamble on slick tires from the get-go and remained on the grid, along with some other riders. However, in the chaos, the red flags were thrown.
“We called for a delay and then quick start procedure due to safety concerns,” said Race Director Mike Webb. “Given the number of riders, bikes and pit staff on the grid and in the pit lane area, it was impossible to start the Warm Up lap. A new race start was the safest way to respond to the unprecedented circumstances at the start of the Grand Prix. We will analyze the situation together with the teams and revisit the regulations.”
After a brief pause in proceedings, the updated information was a 14:10 pit lane green light and a quick start procedure, with original grid positions to be occupied by every rider. Then, it was time to try again with every rider now on slicks. But again, there was drama. Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had to be wheeled off the grid before the Grand Prix got underway.
Marc Marquez launched well and grabbed the holeshot, with Alex Marquez holding off Bagnaia into Turn 1. Pecco was trying to wriggle his way past the Gresini rider, first at Turn 11, then at Turn 12, but both attempts failed. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez built a 1.1s lead at the end of Lap 1, with the top four—Marquez, Marquez, Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio—nearly two seconds up the road from Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team), who was enjoying a good battle with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).
On Lap 4, Marc Marquez’s lead was up to 1.4s over Alex Marquez, who had Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio clinging onto his tailpipes. Then, at Turn 12, Bagnaia’s latest maneuver worked. The #63 was now in P2, so with clear air, could he reel in teammate Marquez?
A 2:02.466 from the #93 saw Marquez stretch his lead to 1.6s at the start of Lap 5, and then a 2:02.433 meant the gap was now up to the two-second mark. Meanwhile, further down the pack in the fantastic fight for P6, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed at Turn 1.
Turn 4 was the place, and it was race leader Marc Marquez who was on the floor! The front end washed away as he clipped across the curb too far, hit a wet patch, and with that, the undefeated run was over. Marquez was able to remount in P18, but without a right footpeg, plus more damage to his GP25, there was no way back into the points for the #93 with both Viñales and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) passing the six-time MotoGP Champion.
Bagnaia led Alex Marquez by 1.6s, with the latter 2.2s clear of Di Giannantonio. And on Lap 13, Marc Marquez called time on his 2025 Sunday outing at the Americas GP. The victory streak was officially over.
On Lap 15 of 19, Bagnaia grew his advantage to three seconds. A lap later, it was a 10th more as Marquez continued to hold Di Giannantonio at arm’s length—1.3s to be exact. Meanwhile, the fastest rider on track was Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and the rookie, with two laps left, bullied his way past Miller for P5. However, a fantastic ride then ended in the gravel trap at Turn 15, and at a similar time, Zarco’s impressive display ended at Turn 12.
On the last lap, Bagnaia simply had to bring it home, but 2.5s behind, Alex Marquez couldn’t relax as much. Diggia was prowling; a second split the two, so any slight error from the #73 could prove costly. In the end, it stayed as it was. Bagnaia bagged a massive 25 points to become the 10th rider in history to earn 30 MotoGP wins, as new World Championship leader. Alex Marquez crossed the line in P2 for the sixth straight outing. Di Giannantonio’s efforts weren’t enough for P2, but nevertheless, a phenomenal P3 was pocketed for the Italian in Austin.
Morbidelli came home in P4, with Miller grabbing his best Yamaha result with a very classy P5. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) came from P13 on the grid to finish P6, Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) rose to the occasion on a Sunday once more to fly the KTM flag highest in P7, as Marini, Ogura, and Quartararo completed the top 10.
Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was P11, Raul Fernandez leaves Trackhouse MotoGP Team’s home race with a P12, as Augusto Fernandez (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), Viñales and Savadori rounded out the points finishers in Texas. CN
MotoGP Sunday (Top 10)
| 1. | Francesco Bagnaia | (Duc) | 39:00.19 |
| 2. | Alex Marquez | (Duc) | +2.089 |
| 3. | Fabio Di Giannantonio | (Duc) | +3.594 |
| 4. | Franco Morbidelli | (Duc) | +10.732 |
| 5. | Jack Miller | (Yam) | +11.857 |
| 6. | Marco Bezzecchi | (Apr) | +12.238 |
| 7. | Enea Bastianini | (KTM) | +12.815 |
| 8. | Luca Marini | (Hon) | +15.6467 |
| 9. | Ai Ogura | (Apr) | +16.344 |
| 10. | Fabio Quartararo | (Yam) | +18.255 |
Sprint (Saturday)
Stateside Tissot Sprint glory went to Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), but not without a fair share of drama and fireworks along the way. The #93 ultimately defeated Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) by less than a second in Austin, maintaining his 100% victory record in 2025, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)—after leading on the first lap—secured a bronze medal to set us up beautifully for Sunday.
Without a doubt, the opening lap of the Sprint was the best lap of the season, and it will take some beating, too. Bagnaia, starting from P6, launched away to grab the holeshot up the hill into Turn 1. Marc Marquez immediately retaliated at Turn 2 to reclaim the lead from his teammate, but at Turn 3, it was Pecco making the move again. It didn’t take long before Marquez decided to counterattack, with Turn 7 as his chosen spot.
Marc Marquez led Bagnaia and Alex Marquez. However, at Turn 17, the #93’s Sprint almost came to a premature end. An enormous rear-end slide caused the six-time MotoGP Champion to be thrown out of the saddle, costing the Championship leader the positions of P1 and P2. I thought we were done? Nope. Bagnaia and the Marquez brothers were closely locked together exiting Turn 19 and into Turn 20, the final corner, where Marc Marquez passed both to retake the lead, while Alex Marquez slid into P2. That’s worth several rewatches.
That was quite an opening lap. However, after finding himself at the front again and settling into a rhythm, Marc Marquez began to pull away from Alex Marquez. The gap was 0.6 seconds by Lap 3, as Bagnaia fell behind the top two. The Italian had Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) all over his rear tire before the Frenchman experienced a huge moment entering Turn 15, which allowed Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) to slide past. Now, Quartararo found himself trapped in a VR46 sandwich, with Fabio Di Giannantonio in P6.
On Lap 5 of 10, Marc Marquez’s lead diminished from just under a second to 0.4 seconds. However, it increased back to 0.6 seconds on the next lap as Pecco found his pace. But was it too late to latch onto the rear end of Alex Marquez?
Meanwhile, a fierce battle was unfolding between the two VR46 Ducatis and Quartararo. The trio traded positions for fourth with four laps remaining as the Yamaha star pushed hard to cling to a chance of finishing P4 and what an impressive job he was doing.
With two laps remaining, Marc Marquez’s lead extended to 1.4 seconds, while Alex Marquez continued to keep Bagnaia at bay by just over a second. However, as they entered the final lap, Alex had closed the gap on Marc to 0.7 seconds across the line. Could the younger Marquez do anything to halt his brother’s early season momentum?
The answer was no. Marc Marquez confidently secured his third consecutive Tissot Sprint victory, while Alex Marquez maintained his second-place streak. Bagnaia achieved a crucial third place, finishing just under two seconds behind his teammate, but the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion will be seeking more in Sunday’s Grand Prix, despite being satisfied with the result.
After a phenomenal mid-race battle, Di Giannantonio secured fourth place, while Morbidelli successfully held off Quartararo, allowing the former teammates to finish in P5 and P6 respectively, a strong performance from the Yamaha star. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) claimed seventh place, serving as the top KTM on Saturday, while Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) earned two Sprint points with a hard-fought P8. That was an impressive ride from the Italian, who carried the HRC flag in the points after teammate Joan Mir crashed out of the top nine early on, demonstrating Honda’s continued progress and this was also Marini’s first Sprint points with Honda.
Meanwhile, the final Sprint point went the way of rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) after a great late battle with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). CN
SPRINT
| 1. | Marc Marquez | (Duc) | 20:29.50 |
| 2. | Alex Marquez | (Duc) | +0.795 |
| 3. | Francesco Bagnaia | (Duc) | +1.918 |
| 4. | Fabio Di Giannantonio | (Duc) | +8.536 |
| 5. | Franco Morbidelli | (Duc) | +9.685 |
| 6. | Fabio Quartararo | (Yam) | +10.676 |
| 7. | Pedro Acosta | (KTM) | +12.049 |
| 8. | Luca Marini | (Hon) | +13.588 |
| 9. | Ai Ogura | (Apr) | +13.752 |
| 10. | Marco Bezzzecchi | (Apr) | +14.584 |
Saturday Notes
Bagnaia persisting with GP25
Despite a slow start to the season, Pecco Bagnaia is adamant he sees the potential of Ducati’s GP25 machine and will not step back to last year’s bike on which he won 11 races.
In Argentina the triple World Champ hinted he could revert to the basis of last year’s machine as he struggled to get comfortable. Yet in Austin he stated that was miscommunication on his part. Marc Marquez’s speed in evidence of that.
“As my English is not that good, wanted to explain that I wanted to get back my feeling of the GP24 – not go back to the GP24, because it’s clear that the new bike has a better potential. Marc is showing it.”
Honda back in the mix
Thailand and Argentina hinted at it. But Austin was further confirmation Honda has reversed its fortunes and put together a much more effective RC213V for 2025. Luca Marini and Joan Mir qualified seventh and eighth respectively before Mir crashed out when chasing down the fight for fourth – results that would have been outrageous a year ago.
“In the entry phase, the bike has improved a lot, and I can turn much better compared to before, and for this, also the acceleration is a little bit better,” said Marini. His teammate also complimented the machine’s electronics. “They work pretty well,” said Mir. “Especially one thing that I feel very good is the engine brake of this bike – it’s better than the Suzuki.”
And Honda engineers have indicated the ’25 engine is also a subtle step ahead. Johann Zarco confirmed this. “In the beginning it was hard to feel because there is always the electronics but it seems that in this constancy we cannot really complain about the spinning, so it seems we have something good about the engine behaviour. Missing some pure power but the behaviour looks quite good.”
Diggia getting better
While his Sprint result didn’t show it, Fabio Di Giannantonio is approaching his very best form after a torrid off-season. The Italian was returning from major surgery on his left shoulder last October when he broke his left collarbone on the first day of preseason.
Yet just under two months on, he feels he’s now operating at “90% fitness: “Let’s say that I’m coming better and better,” he said. “I’m in a good condition. I expect to fight a little bit with the shoulder, in terms of tiredness.
“It’s the power in the deltoid that is costing me. I don’t have enough muscle to support a lot of times hard braking. But I think improving the bike a little bit, improving my rhythm, my feeling, it can help to not get that tired through the hard braking.” Asked which part of the track was proving toughest, he said, “It’s everything. MotoGP consumes you!”
FRIDAY
Qualifying
Qualifying for MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas was an exciting affair, with pole position being decided for both the Sprint and the Grand Prix on Sunday. Entering as the favorite after topping the Friday afternoon and Saturday morning sessions, COTA master Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) remains the rider to beat, pursuing his eighth pole at the circuit where he aims for an eighth Grand Prix win.
First up, though, Q1 and the dogfight to get into the shootout of Q2. On his first flying lap, yellow flags were out due to a highside on the exit of Turn 9 for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) after running marginally off the curb. He was okay, and after grabbing the nearest scooter, he rushed back to the pit lane and hopped on his spare bike. Due to the yellow flags, the initial laps were largely canceled. After that, a red flag was shown due to the air-fence needing to be redeployed. Following a brief stoppage, 08:36 remained on the clock, making for a second half of the session full of activity, including Fernandez’s return to the track. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) was the first rider to set a lap time, establishing the benchmark of 2:02.001 for everyone else to beat, but after the first runs, nobody was able to do so; Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) found time and moved up to P2 before making an impressive save at Turn 1. Despite other efforts, Marini and Quartararo sailed into Q2, leaving Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) as one of the big disappointments, rooted to P13 with Aprilia out of Q2 for the first time since Thailand in 2022.
In the first laps, Marc Marquez set the benchmark with a time of 2:01.522, the fastest of the weekend. However, on the second flying lap, many riders were on track to improve that time. At Turn 11, #93 had a big moment but managed to avoid a fall, albeit his lap was now gone. With the first half of the session completed, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) had moved into P2, ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). Meanwhile, in P5, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) narrowly saved a crash on his elbow at Turn 19, proving to be a formidable presence inside the top five. He was just behind Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini MotoGP Team), who occupied P4.
The final five minutes were the deciding moments, with Marc leading Mir and giving his ex-teammate a strong chance at a fast lap at COTA. Just behind, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) attempted to latch on but fell at Turn 1; he quickly remounted while his teammate Alex Marquez put in a stunning lap, taking provisional pole ahead of his brother, but the timing screens were filled with red sectors. Marc responded to secure pole, while behind him, Di Giannantonio, who originally had his lap canceled due to yellow flags, had it reinstated, finishing in P2. Alex Marquez rounded out the front row, while Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Franco Morbidelli, and Pecco filled the second row.
Top Honda honors were swept away by Marini, who heads up the third row ahead of teammate Mir and Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), with the latter two setting identical lap times. Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) took his first top ten with KTM, ahead of 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo and late crasher Aldeguer.
MOTOGP QUALIFYING (Top 10)
| 1. | Marc Marquez | (Duc) | 2:01.08 |
| 2. | Fabio Di Giannantonio | (Duc) | 2:01.18 |
| 3. | Alex Marquez | (Duc) | 2:01.44 |
| 4. | Pedro Acosta | (KTM) | 2:01.50 |
| 5. | Franco Morbidelli | (Duc) | 2:01.52 |
| 6. | Francesco Bagnaia | (Duc) | 2:01.61 |
| 7. | Luca Marini | (Hon) | 2:01.73 |
| 8. | Joan Mir | (Hon) | 2:02.00 |
| 9. | Jack Miller | (Yam) | 2:02.00 |
| 10. | Maverick Minales | (KTM) | 2:02.01 |
Practice
Starting wet, finishing dry, and filled with action, Friday afternoon’s MotoGP practice at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas was a real treat. With the rain easing off after a lunchtime shower, we witnessed the fastest times of the weekend thus far, as Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) recorded a 2.09:929, achieving the only time in the 2.02 bracket of the day while keeping Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli at bay.
Although the opening 20 minutes were completed on wet tires, as a drying line had yet to fully form, the slicks were soon donned, and times began tumbling. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac MotoGP Team) never shies away from being one of the first to put on slick tires, and he was the first again, followed by the two factory Ducatis and Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). All four demoted Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) from the top spot, as the 2020 World Champion enjoyed competitiveness in the opening moments of the hour-long session session.
However, with the rain abating and track conditions improving with each passing second, it was always going to be who left it latest in terms of who stood the best chance of being inside the top 10 and therefore going directly into Q2. Marc Marquez was the first to blink, slicing nearly a second from the top time and into the 2’04s, whilst at the other end of the top ten, Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) was in P10 and had a target on his back from the likes of teammate Ai Ogura, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Morbidelli.
A late crash involving Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) brought out the yellow flags, but the Frenchman was unharmed. The last 90 seconds were chaotic, filled with a flurry of late laps. Although nobody could get close to the #93, which had a 0.736s lead over the competition, it was Di Giannantonio and his teammate Morbidelli who joined him in the top three, followed by Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and his teammate Aldeguer, who advanced to Q2 for the first time.
Jack Miller’s strong performance secured him the position of top Yamaha, outpacing Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), who advanced to Q2 for the first time with KTM. Mir also advanced directly to Q2, just ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). ‘Pecco’ made it through with a tenth to spare, while Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was the first rider relegated to Q1.
The 2021 World Champion is in good company in Q1, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Bezzecchi, and Ogura all having to tough it out —there are only two spots available, so some very big names will experience significant disappointments come Q1 on Saturday morning from COTA.
Americas GP Notes
Zarco keen on factory seat
Johann Zarco has admitted his eye is on a berth in Honda’s factory team for 2026 after a promising start to the year.
The Frenchman is keen to move up from LCR to the factory squad as Luca Marini’s contract expires at the end of this term.
“A step up with the factory team could be very nice,” he said. “It would be more something prestigious as a rider and we have to evaluate these possibilities. And we only did two races. For sure, I started pretty well the season, and this pushed the people to say, ‘OK, the next step is the factory team.’ I would love it because it will be something pretty nice to keep pushing myself to trust about the podium, and also, I want to think that for 2027.”
Martin back in the paddock
Jorge Martin was back in the MotoGP paddock for the first time since the first preseason test at Sepang as he attempts to get to know his new team and revealed he is pushing to be back in action at the next race in Qatar.
Martin has missed the first three rounds as a result of breaking several bones, including the scaphoid, in his left wrist in a training crash just before the season opener. “My (recovery’s) going faster than the doctors told me,” he said on Friday. “I would like to be riding, but it’s difficult. I wanted to spend some time with the team, so that’s why I came, to at least learn how they work, so that when I come back, it’s not everything new.”
On aiming for Qatar, he added, “I won’t ride any bike until that moment because I don’t want the same to happen. Imagine if I go training next week and I break my head or my neck! So, I will wait until Qatar. For sure, I won’t be at 100 percent, but I will try.”
Yamaha recovering from “fake test”
Yamaha is still waiting for its season to get up and running. The Japanese factory’s troubled opening has been a sharp contrast to the optimism that abounded in preseason when Fabio Quartararo came close to matching Ducati in Malaysia.
“Sepang was clearly a fake test because the track was full of rubber and the grip was amazing,” said the Frenchman. “But the problem is that that the grip I felt in Malaysia is more or less what the others have in every track.”
Teammate Alex Rins agreed. “Fabio rode super-fast in Sepang. But I struggled a lot. I had more or less the same problem at the Sepang test as in Buriram test, Buriram race, Argentina race. So maybe the amount of grip on the track in a test confused us. Then the team put the target higher than what we were expecting.”
Neil Morrison
