Austin, Texas – Ducati’s Marc Marquez set the pace in practice for the 2026 MotoGP Americas Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, overcoming a crash earlier in the day. Several riders experienced falls during the session, adding to the drama of the opening day of track action.
Practice for the MotoGP Americas race began early Saturday morning in Austin, Texas (Central Time/UTC-5). Marquez, despite a tumble in FP1, ultimately topped the practice times with a margin of 0.053 seconds over Ai Ogura. The session was notably chaotic, with multiple riders hitting the ground, including Jorge Martin, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, Pedro Acosta, and Ogura himself.
Marquez’s strong performance comes at a crucial time as he seeks to silence critics and secure his first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season. He has a storied history at COTA, having won seven times previously, and nearly secured another win last year before a late-race crash. The return to the standard Michelin rear tyre construction is expected to benefit Ducati, which has faced a challenging start to the year.
Practice Results: Marquez Leads a Packed Field
After a competitive session, Marquez ultimately posted a fastest lap time of 2 minutes, 0.927 seconds. The top ten riders were tightly grouped, setting the stage for a thrilling qualifying session on Saturday afternoon.
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap |
| 1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | 2’00.927s | 20/21 |
| 2 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +0.053s | 17/17 |
| 3 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +0.187s | 12/16 |
| 4 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +0.200s | 18/20 |
| 5 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | +0.286s | 18/19 |
| 6 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.323s | 15/17 |
| 7 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +0.338s | 18/19 |
| 8 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | +0.444s | 18/19 |
| 9 | Luca Marini | ITA | Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) | +0.567s | 15/19 |
| 10 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.652s | 16/17 |
| 11 | Joan Mir | SPA | Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) | +0.684s | 18/19 |
| 12 | Fermin Aldeguer | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP25) | +0.729s | 18/18 |
| 13 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +0.854s | 16/21 |
| 14 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) | +1.025s | 16/20 |
| 15 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.110s | 20/20 |
| 16 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.315s | 18/19 |
| 17 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Pro Honda LCR (RC213V)* | +1.380s | 15/19 |
| 18 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | TUR | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)* | +1.446s | 11/16 |
| 19 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.510s | 15/19 |
| 20 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) | +1.629s | 12/15 |
| 21 | Alex Rins | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +2.111s | 14/14 |
Bagnaia, Marquez’s teammate, briefly faced the prospect of entering Q1, the first qualifying session, but ultimately secured a direct entry into Q2 with the eighth-fastest time.
Crashes and Concerns
The practice session wasn’t without its incidents. Multiple riders experienced crashes, highlighting the challenging nature of the Circuit of the Americas. Notably, Maverick Viñales was forced to withdraw from the Grand Prix due to a recurring shoulder injury, a complication stemming from a crash in Germany last July. He attempted to ride but deemed the risk too great, as a screw in his shoulder had come loose.
Marquez himself suffered a high-speed crash in FP1, sliding into the wall. He voiced concerns about the runoff area at Turn 10, suggesting an expansion could improve safety. “On that corner some riders already arrive to the wall,” Marquez said. “It’s a bit on the limit… If we increase the run off area a bit there, it will be better.” He reported pain in his arms, fingers, back, and neck following the incident, but still managed to top the practice times.
Aprilia’s Dominance Continues
Aprilia, with Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, continues to demonstrate strong form, having won the last four consecutive Grands Prix. Bezzecchi currently leads the riders’ standings, while Martin is building confidence on the RS-GP machine. They will undoubtedly be contenders for the win on Sunday.
KTM, however, appears to be facing challenges, with Pedro Acosta acknowledging that the RC16 is lacking top speed, a concern for his performance at COTA.
The 2026 MotoGP Americas Grand Prix is shaping up to be a thrilling event, with Marquez looking to reclaim his dominance at a track where he has historically excelled. Qualifying will be key to setting the grid for Sunday’s race.
Next up is qualifying for the MotoGP Americas Grand Prix, scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Fans can follow live timing and updates on the official MotoGP website.
