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Marc Marquez Triumphs in Action-Packed Austin Sprint

The #93 Keeps His Perfect Record, But Not Without a Fight

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) once again stamped his authority on the Circuit of the Americas, clinching victory in a dramatic Tissot Sprint in Austin. Despite fierce competition from his younger brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), the six-time MotoGP titleholder held firm to maintain his 100% win record in 2025. With Bagnaia rounding out the podium, the stage is now perfectly set for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

A Spectacular Opening Lap: The Battle Begins

From the very first turn, the Sprint turned into a breathtaking display of skill and aggression. Bagnaia, starting from sixth on the grid, rocketed off the line and seized the holeshot into Turn 1. However, his lead was short-lived as Marc Marquez retaliated immediately at Turn 2. Pecco wasn’t about to back down, snatching P1 right back at Turn 3.

But the relentless Marquez had other plans. At Turn 7, he muscled his way past Bagnaia once again to reclaim the lead. Behind them, Alex Marquez was right in the mix, waiting for any opportunity to pounce.

Then came the first major scare of the race—Marc Marquez suffered a huge rear-end slide at Turn 17, nearly getting thrown off his Ducati. The near-highside cost him not one but two positions, allowing both Bagnaia and Alex Marquez to slip through. Yet, in a moment of sheer brilliance, Marc struck back in spectacular fashion at the final corner, passing both riders in one swoop to retake the lead. It was an opening lap for the history books, one worth watching on repeat.

Marquez Finds His Rhythm

After surviving the chaos of Lap 1, Marc Marquez settled into a strong rhythm. By Lap 3, he had pulled a 0.6-second gap over Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia beginning to lose touch. The reigning champion soon found himself under immense pressure from Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who was pushing hard for a podium position. However, a major wobble at Turn 15 forced the Frenchman wide, allowing Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) to capitalize.

Now, Quartararo was sandwiched between the two VR46 Ducati riders, with Fabio Di Giannantonio chasing closely behind. The battle for fourth was heating up, adding another layer of drama to the race.

At the front, Alex Marquez wasn’t letting his older brother escape without a fight. By Lap 5, he had cut the gap to just 0.4 seconds. However, Marc responded, increasing his lead back to 0.6 seconds on the next lap. Meanwhile, Bagnaia was trying to claw back time, but the gap to the front two was proving difficult to close.

The Final Push: Alex Marquez Chases Victory

With two laps to go, Marc Marquez held a comfortable 1.4-second lead over his younger brother, who in turn had a 1.1-second buffer over Bagnaia. But just when it seemed like Marc had everything under control, Alex Marquez began a late charge. As they crossed the line to start the final lap, the gap had been reduced to just 0.7 seconds.

Could Alex pull off a last-lap upset and steal his brother’s thunder?

The answer was no. Despite the late pressure, Marc Marquez kept his composure, expertly managing the final corners to secure his third consecutive Sprint victory of the season. Alex Marquez had to settle for second place once again, while Bagnaia took an important P3, finishing just under two seconds behind his teammate. While satisfied with the podium, Pecco will no doubt be aiming for more in Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Austin Sprint Results: Who Scored Points?

Behind the podium finishers, the battle for fourth was relentless. In the end, it was Di Giannantonio who emerged victorious, beating out Morbidelli and Quartararo. Despite Yamaha’s struggles, Quartararo delivered an impressive performance to finish in P6.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the leading KTM rider, finishing in seventh, while Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) put in a strong ride to claim P8—his first Sprint points with Honda. His teammate, Joan Mir, had been running inside the top nine but crashed out early, leaving Marini to fly the flag for HRC.

The final Sprint point of the day went to rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), who put in a stellar late-race effort to edge out Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

All Eyes on the Grand Prix

If this Sprint race was anything to go by, Sunday’s Grand Prix promises to be another unforgettable showdown. Can Marc Marquez convert his pole position into yet another COTA victory? Or will Alex Marquez, Bagnaia, or one of the dark horses rise to the occasion?

The 2025 MotoGP Americas Grand Prix kicks off at 14:00 local time (UTC -5). Don’t miss it!

Dixon Edges Gonzalez in Thrilling Last-Minute Pole Shootout in Texas

Dixon Edges Gonzalez in Last-Minute Texas Pole Shootout

Dixon Breaks Gonzalez’s Qualifying Streak to Secure First Pole of 2025

Moto2 Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Intact GP) had been the king of qualifying so far this season, sweeping every pole position. But in Texas, Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) flipped the script. The British rider delivered a sensational last-minute lap to snatch his first pole of the year, narrowly denying Gonzalez and setting the stage for another epic showdown.

Adding to the excitement, Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO) secured his maiden front-row start, briefly holding provisional pole before a late crash put his participation in the race under medical review.

Q1: Gonzalez Cruises Through, Roberts Misses Out

Gonzalez had an unexpected detour through Q1, but he handled it with ease, dominating the session with a staggering eight-tenths advantage. Behind him, David Alonso (CFMoto Power Electronics Aspar Team) impressed once again, continuing his steady progress in Moto2. Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) also earned their spots in Q2, completing the list of riders advancing to the final pole battle.

However, it was heartbreak for home favorite Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing), who fell just short of making the cut. The American will have to mount a comeback from outside the top 18 in Sunday’s race.

Q2: Dixon and Gonzalez Steal the Spotlight

For most of the session, Baltus looked set for a dream pole position. The Belgian rider led the way, with Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) slotting into second, raising the prospect of a surprise front row.

But as the clock ticked down, Dixon and Gonzalez unleashed their final attacks. Dixon found the perfect lap to leapfrog into pole position, with Gonzalez slotting into second, forcing Baltus down to third. Unfortunately, Baltus then suffered a crash in the closing moments, putting his participation in the race in doubt pending medical clearance.

Van den Goorbergh secured a solid fourth-place start, while Aron Canet (Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO) claimed P5. Meanwhile, Alonso continued his stellar weekend by qualifying sixth, making him the top rookie and securing a second-row start.

Top 10 Grid Positions for the Grand Prix

Behind the front two rows, Tony Arbolino (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) will line up seventh, ahead of Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) in eighth. Salač and Öncü rounded out the top ten, both riders showing strong pace in a fiercely competitive session.

With Dixon on pole, Gonzalez eager to reclaim control, and Baltus aiming to recover from his crash, the Moto2 Grand Prix in Texas is shaping up to be an unmissable battle. Who will emerge victorious on race day? Tune in to find out!

Baltus’ late crash means he didn’t make it to parc ferme

Muñoz Snatches Pole, Denies Quiles a Dream Debut

Muñoz Snatches Pole, Quiles’ Fairytale Denied in Last-Lap Drama

David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) left it late but delivered a stunning lap to claim pole position at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, denying rookie sensation Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) a dream debut pole by just 0.110 seconds. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA) also put in an impressive performance, coming through Q1 to secure the final spot on the front row.

For Muñoz, it’s a complete turnaround from his previous race in Argentina, where he was forced to start from pit lane due to a penalty. Meanwhile, Quiles—who had just one dry session in FP2 to prepare for his Moto3™ World Championship debut—almost pulled off the impossible. The 15-year-old wasn’t even eligible to race in the first two rounds due to age restrictions, making his front-row performance all the more remarkable.

Q1: Kelso Leads as Yamanaka Misses Out

Kelso showed his intent early by topping Q1, leading a group of four riders who advanced to the final session. Rookie Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) continued his solid adaptation to Moto3™ by securing second place, while Dennis Foggia (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) and Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse) also made the cut.

However, there was disappointment for Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSi), who failed to make it out of Q1 and now faces a challenging task in Sunday’s race.

Q2: Muñoz Shatters Quiles’ Pole Dreams

For much of the session, it looked like Quiles was about to pull off a fairytale pole position in just his first-ever Moto3™ qualifying attempt. But in the final moments, Muñoz lit up the timing screens with red sectors, delivering a last-gasp lap that sealed his first pole of the season.

Despite just missing out, Quiles’ performance has sent a warning to the rest of the grid. With no prior experience at COTA and limited time on the bike, the young Spaniard has already shown he has the pace to battle at the front. The more experienced names on the grid will need to take him seriously—immediately.

Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) secured fourth place, leading the second row ahead of Foggia and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse). Another rookie, Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), continued his strong start to the season by qualifying seventh.

Nepa will start eighth, with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP – MTA) rounding out the top ten. Bertelle, who had been in the fight for pole in previous rounds, saw his chances fade after two costly crashes.

With Muñoz eager to capitalize on his pole position and Quiles proving to be an immediate contender, Sunday’s race promises to be an electrifying showdown in Texas.