Bezzecchi Dominates at COTA, Extends MotoGP Championship Lead
AUSTIN, TX – Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia Racing continued his remarkable run of form, securing a commanding victory at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on Sunday. The 27-year-classic Italian now boasts five consecutive MotoGP wins, a feat only previously achieved by a select few, and reclaims the championship lead after a thrilling race in Texas. The victory also marks a historic achievement for Aprilia, with Bezzecchi delivering their fifth straight win since the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2025.
Bezzecchi, who started from fourth on the grid, navigated a challenging start, including a brief but impactful contact with Pedro Acosta, to take the lead and ultimately control the race. The win solidifies his position as a force to be reckoned with in the 2026 MotoGP season.
Early Drama and a Brilliant Start
Despite a qualifying penalty for impeding Marc Marquez, Bezzecchi launched strongly from fourth, immediately challenging for the lead. Acosta, starting from second, grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1, but Bezzecchi quickly closed the gap. The two riders went wheel-to-wheel, with Bezzecchi aggressively pursuing the lead.
The pivotal moment came at Turn 11, where Bezzecchi attempted a pass on Acosta. Contact between the two riders resulted in damage to Bezzecchi’s Aprilia, specifically a rear winglet breaking off, but remarkably didn’t hinder his pace. “I touched Acosta at the exit of the corner,” Bezzecchi said, according to reports. “Both riders managed to remain upright.”
Bezzecchi Sets a New Record
Once in the lead, Bezzecchi began to build a comfortable advantage, consistently setting fast lap times. By Lap 3, he had eclipsed Jorge Lorenzo’s previous record of 103 consecutive laps led in a Grand Prix, establishing a new benchmark of 104 laps. He continued to extend his lead throughout the race, demonstrating a clear advantage in pace and control.
Aprilia’s One-Two Finish
Adding to Aprilia’s success, Jorge Martin secured second place, completing a dominant one-two finish for the team. Martin, who also won the Sprint Race on Saturday, consistently pressured Acosta throughout the race, eventually overtaking the KTM rider on Lap 14. This result underscores Aprilia’s growing competitiveness and their ability to challenge for race wins consistently.
Acosta rounded out the podium in third, delivering a solid performance for KTM despite facing intense pressure from Martin. A technical issue for Ai Ogura, who was poised to complete an all-Aprilia podium, ultimately prevented a historic sweep.
Marquez Battles Through the Field
Marc Marquez faced a challenging race, starting from pole position but hampered by a long-lap penalty incurred during the Sprint Race for an incident with Fabio di Giannantonio. The penalty dropped him down the order, forcing him to fight his way back through the field. He ultimately finished fifth, a respectable result considering the circumstances.
Di Giannantonio, despite losing the lead at the start, recovered to finish fourth, securing the best result for a Ducati rider. Francesco Bagnaia, meanwhile, struggled to discover his rhythm, finishing down in tenth place.
Razgatlioglu Scores First MotoGP Points
In a positive development for Yamaha, Toprak Razgatlioglu secured his first MotoGP points, finishing in fifteenth position. This marks a significant milestone for the rookie rider as he continues to adapt to the demands of the premier class.
Race Results – MotoGP Americas GP 2026
- Marco Bezzecchi
- Jorge Martin
- Pedro Acosta
- Fabio Di Giannantonio
- Marc Marquez
- Enea Bastianini
- Alex Marquez
- Raul Fernandez
- Luca Marini
- Francesco Bagnaia
- Fermin Aldeguer
- Brad Binder
- Diogo Moreira
- Franco Morbidelli
- Toprak Razgatlioglu
- Jack Miller
- Fabio Quartararo
- Alex Rins
Did Not Finish (DNF)
- Johann Zarco
- Ai Ogura
- Joan Mir
MotoGP Championship Standings – 2026 (After Round 3)
- Marco Bezzecchi: 81 points
- Jorge Martin: 77 points
- Pedro Acosta: 60 points
- Fabio Di Giannantonio: 50 points
- Marc Marquez: 45 points
- Raul Fernandez: 40 points
- Ai Ogura: 37 points
- Alex Marquez: 28 points
- Francesco Bagnaia: 25 points
- Luca Marini: 23 points
- Enea Bastianini: 22 points
- Brad Binder: 17 points
- Franco Morbidelli: 14 points
- Fermin Aldeguer: 13 points
- Johann Zarco: 13 points
- Diogo Moreira: 9 points
- Fabio Quartararo: 6 points
- Alex Rins: 3 points
- Joan Mir: 3 points
- Toprak Razgatlioglu: 1 point
- Jack Miller: 0 points
- Maverick Vinales: 0 points
- Michele Pirro: 0 points
Bezzecchi’s dominant performance at COTA has firmly established him as the championship favorite. The next round of the MotoGP season will be held at [Next Race Location – Not Provided in Sources], and fans will be eager to see if he can continue his winning streak. The championship battle is shaping up to be a thrilling contest, with Martin closely trailing Bezzecchi and Acosta demonstrating the potential to challenge for victories.
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