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Marc Marquez Makes History with Record-Breaking Eighth COTA Pole

Diggia and Alex Marquez Join the Front Row as Acosta Misses Out

MotoGP™ qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas delivered a mix of drama, surprises, and yet another record-breaking performance from the undisputed king of COTA, Marc Marquez. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider secured his eighth career pole position at the Texan circuit, making him the first rider in MotoGP history to achieve such dominance at a single venue.

Alongside him on the front row will be Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who had a lap controversially scrubbed before being reinstated, and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), completing a Ducati lockout at the front.

Q1: A Battle for Survival and a Late Red Flag

Before the fight for pole, the first hurdle was Q1, where several big names were vying for just two coveted spots in Q2. As expected, it was a fierce battle, but an early crash for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) at Turn 9 added an extra layer of chaos. The Spaniard ran slightly off the kerb before high-siding out of contention, prompting yellow flags that led to many riders losing their first flying laps.

Undeterred, Fernandez quickly returned to the pits, jumped onto his spare bike, and rejoined the session. However, just as the action resumed, the session was red-flagged due to an air-fence needing repair, halting proceedings with 08:36 left on the clock.

Once the track was cleared, the battle intensified. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) set the initial benchmark with a 2:02.001, and despite attempts from his rivals, his time held firm. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) managed to sneak into P2 with an impressive lap, narrowly avoiding disaster with a huge save at Turn 1. In the end, Marini and Quartararo secured their spots in Q2, leaving Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) out in P13—marking Aprilia’s first failure to advance since the 2022 Thailand Grand Prix.

Q2: A Fierce Fight for Pole Position

With the top twelve riders now set, Q2 promised fireworks. Right from the outset, Marc Marquez laid down the gauntlet with a blistering 2:01.522—the fastest lap of the weekend. But the battle was far from over.

Several riders looked poised to challenge the #93, with red sectors lighting up the timing screens. On his second flying lap, Marquez had a huge moment at Turn 11, nearly losing the front, but managed to stay upright. However, the lap was ruined, leaving the door open for others to strike.

Di Giannantonio took full advantage, jumping into second place, while reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) slotted into third. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) also impressed, saving a near-crash at Turn 19 while running inside the top five. Just ahead of him, Alex Marquez sat in fourth, setting up a thrilling conclusion to the session.

Final Minutes: A Marquez Family Showdown

As the session entered its decisive phase, the Marquez brothers took center stage. Marc led Mir around the lap, giving his former teammate a firsthand look at his COTA mastery. Further back, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) tried to latch onto their slipstream but crashed at Turn 1. He quickly remounted, but his qualifying hopes were dashed.

Meanwhile, Alex Marquez was on a flying lap. He stormed to provisional pole, momentarily dethroning his older brother. But just as the celebrations began in the Gresini garage, Marc responded with a stunning lap to reclaim the top spot.

Then came controversy—Di Giannantonio’s lap was initially deleted due to yellow flags but was later reinstated, securing him second place on the grid. That pushed Alex Marquez to third, completing a dramatic front-row shuffle.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) leads the second row in fourth, followed by Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Bagnaia in sixth.

Honda’s Best Hope and a Tight Midfield Battle

Honda’s best performance came from Marini, who will start from seventh place, leading the third row ahead of teammate Mir. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) joins them after setting an identical lap time to Mir, highlighting just how close the midfield fight is.

Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) took his first top-ten qualifying result with KTM, ahead of Quartararo and Aldeguer, who had to settle for P12 after his late crash.

What’s Next?

With qualifying done and dusted, all eyes are now on Sunday’s race. Can Marc Marquez convert his historic pole into yet another COTA victory? Or will his younger brother, Diggia, or Acosta spoil the party? One thing’s for sure—MotoGP fans are in for an unforgettable showdown in Texas.