Austin, Texas – All eyes turn to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend for the MotoGP Americas Grand Prix, and the pressure is squarely on reigning champion Marc Marquez. The Texas track, historically a stronghold for the Spanish rider, has seen him fall from contention in both the 2024 and 2025 races while leading, and now he finds himself chasing Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia in the 2026 championship standings.
The stakes are high for Marquez as Bezzecchi and Aprilia currently enjoy a 22-point lead at the top of the table. A victory on Sunday is almost essential for Marquez to regain momentum in his title defense. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sport MotoGP, with races on Sunday shown on a delayed basis on TV8. Importantly, all Saturday sessions, from MotoGP Qualifying to the Sprint race, will be broadcast live and in clear on TV8. Fans can also find live text coverage of all sessions, excluding the warm-up, on FormulaPassion.it.
GP Americas 2026: Session Schedule and TV Program
Friday, March 27
15:00-15:35 Moto3 Free Practice 1
15:50-16:30 Moto2 Free Practice 1
16:45-17:30 MotoGP Free Practice 1 (live text on FormulaPassion.it)
19:15-19:50 Moto3 Practice 1
20:05-20:45 Moto2 Practice 1
21:00-22:00 MotoGP Practice (live text on FormulaPassion.it)
Saturday, March 28
14:40-15:10 Moto3 Practice 2
15:25-15:55 Moto2 Practice 2
16:10-16:40 MotoGP Free Practice 2 (live on TV8 and live text on FormulaPassion.it)
16:50-17:05 MotoGP Q1 (live on TV8 and live text on FormulaPassion.it)
17:15-17:30 MotoGP Q2 (live on TV8 and live text on FormulaPassion.it)
18:50-19:05 Moto3 Q1 (live on TV8)
19:15-19:30 Moto3 Q2 (live on TV8)
19:45-20:00 Moto2 Q1 (live on TV8)
20:10-20:25 Moto2 Q2 (live on TV8)
21:00 MotoGP Sprint – 10 laps (live on TV8 and live text on FormulaPassion.it)
Sunday, March 29
17:40-17:50 MotoGP Warm-Up
19:00 Moto3 Race (delayed on TV8, time to be confirmed)
20:15 Moto2 Race (delayed on TV8, time to be confirmed)
22:00 MotoGP Race (delayed on TV8, time to be confirmed and live text on FormulaPassion.it)
The Circuit of the Americas: A Challenging Layout
The Circuit of the Americas, a modern 5.5-kilometer (3.4-mile) track, presents a unique challenge for MotoGP riders. It features 20 turns – 11 left-handers and 9 right-handers – and a 1.2-kilometer (0.75-mile) straight, demanding a balanced setup for both high-speed stability and nimble cornering. The track’s elevation changes and wide runoff areas add to its complexity, making it a favorite among many riders, but also unforgiving of mistakes.
Marquez’s past success at COTA – boasting eight pole positions and a strong win record – makes his recent misfortunes there all the more perplexing. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider will be eager to break the cycle and reclaim his dominance at a track he once considered his own. But, he’ll face stiff competition not only from championship leader Bezzecchi, but also from a resurgent Aprilia team, as evidenced by their strong performance in Brazil. The qualifying session on Saturday will be crucial in setting the grid for both the Sprint and Grand Prix races, and fans can expect a thrilling battle for pole position.
The MotoGP Americas Grand Prix promises a weekend of high-octane action, with the championship battle intensifying at a venue steeped in history and drama. The next checkpoint for the MotoGP season is the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Misano, Italy, scheduled for June. Keep checking Archysport for the latest updates, analysis, and race results.
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