Marc Marquez reminded everyone why Circuit of the Americas has long been considered his playground, finishing Friday fastest despite an early crash. The Spaniard bounced back from a heavy fall in FP1 to top the timesheets by the end of the day, underlining both his resilience and his unmatched confidence at the Texan circuit.
But it was far from a one-man show. Ai Ogura pushed him all the way, ending the session just 0.053 seconds adrift for Trackhouse MotoGP Team in their home round. Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the top three, less than two tenths off the pace, in what proved to be one of the tightest Friday sessions of the season so far.
Drama-filled sessions as crashes interrupt running
The day didn’t unfold smoothly for many riders. The morning session saw Pedro Acosta set the early benchmark, while Marquez’s crash grabbed headlines. Fortunately, the eight-time World Champion walked away unhurt, but it was a clear reminder of how unforgiving COTA can be.
Across the day, a total of nine crashes disrupted running. Among those to hit trouble were Di Giannantonio, Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini (twice), Franco Morbidelli, Ogura, Toprak Razgatlioglu, and Alex Marquez during a hectic opening half hour of Practice. Later on, Brad Binder also crashed in the closing stages, adding to the already chaotic tally.
The frequency of incidents highlighted just how tricky conditions were, with the circuit’s mix of elevation changes, heavy braking zones, and technical sections catching riders out.
Late time attack sees Marquez edge ahead
As the clock ticked down, the usual late-session dash for lap times delivered plenty of drama. Marquez found his rhythm at exactly the right moment, putting together a clean and fast lap to return to the top of the standings.
Ogura, however, was right there with him. The Japanese rider’s lap came late in the session as well, and he narrowly missed out on P1 by just over five hundredths of a second—an impressive showing that signals he could be a genuine contender heading into the rest of the weekend.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi ended the day fourth. While he didn’t quite match the outright pace of the top three, the margins were incredibly small—he was only 0.013 seconds behind Di Giannantonio, underlining just how competitive the field is.
Top ten locked in as qualifying battle takes shape
Alex Marquez secured fifth place, continuing his solid start to the weekend, while Acosta backed up his strong morning with sixth overall.
Despite his earlier crash, Martin recovered well to take seventh, finishing ahead of Francesco Bagnaia in eighth. Luca Marini and Bastianini rounded out the top ten, both securing direct passage into Q2.
For Bastianini, this result marked a small but significant milestone—it’s his first automatic Q2 appearance since the 2025 Catalan Grand Prix, a weekend where he went on to secure a podium. That could serve as a confidence boost heading into qualifying.
Big names left with work to do
Just outside the top ten, Joan Mir narrowly missed out in 11th and will need to fight through Q1 if he wants a shot at the front of the grid.
Binder’s late crash left him down in 19th, making his Saturday significantly more difficult. The South African has the pace, but track position will now be crucial if he’s to recover.
With two Q2 spots still up for grabs in Saturday morning’s qualifying session, the pressure is already building for those outside the top ten.
Key stories shaping the weekend
Friday in Austin wasn’t just about lap times—it also brought several important developments across the paddock.
Marquez admitted his FP1 crash was the result of pushing too hard too early, calling it a “big mistake,” but his response in the afternoon underlined his determination. Meanwhile, Ogura’s performance has firmly placed him among the riders to watch, especially with the added motivation of racing on home soil for his team.
Aprilia’s strength also remains evident, with both Bezzecchi and Martin comfortably inside the top ten and looking well prepared for the race.
Away from the track action, Maverick Viñales was ruled out of the Grand Prix and will return to Europe for shoulder surgery, dealing a blow to his weekend before it even fully began.
A special moment for MotoGP history
The weekend also included a tribute to one of the sport’s legends, as Kenny Roberts was honoured in Texas. The American icon received a Hall of Fame medal, celebrating his lasting impact on motorcycle racing alongside fellow greats like Freddie Spencer and Kevin Schwantz.
Moto2: Alonso sets the benchmark
In Moto2, David Alonso dominated Friday’s running, setting a blistering lap time that left him nearly half a second clear of the field. Manuel Gonzalez was the only rider able to get close, despite suffering a late crash, while Barry Baltussecured third.
Local fans had something to cheer about as Joe Roberts finished inside the top ten, earning a direct spot in Q2 for the first time this season.
Championship leader Daniel Holgado, however, faces a tougher route once again and will need to come through Q1.
Moto3: Quiles breaks records on Friday
Moto3 saw Maximo Quiles continue his strong form by setting a new lap record at COTA. The championship leader was in control throughout the day, consistently running at the front before sealing top spot.
Guido Pini and Alvaro Carpe completed the top three, while Matteo Bertelle impressed once again at a circuit where he previously stood on the podium.
A number of rookies also made their mark, with several securing Q2 places and showing the depth of emerging talent in the category.
All set for a crucial Saturday
With Friday’s action complete, the stage is set for an intense qualifying day. The margins are tight, the conditions remain challenging, and several big names still have work to do.
Marquez may have struck first, but with Ogura, Bezzecchi, and a host of others close behind, the fight for pole position—and ultimately victory—is wide open.
Austin has already delivered drama, and the weekend is only just getting started.
