Saturday at Circuit of the Americas delivered exactly the kind of unpredictability MotoGP fans love—late moves, costly mistakes, and multiple crashes shaping the outcome.
At the centre of it all was Jorge Martin, who returned to winning form in spectacular fashion. The Spaniard produced a late-race charge to hunt down Francesco Bagnaia before launching a decisive pass on the final lap to claim his first Sprint win since 2024—and his first in Aprilia Racing colours.
What followed only added to the drama. Moments after taking the chequered flag, Martin crashed during a celebratory wheelie. Thankfully, he walked away unhurt, but it perfectly summed up a wild and unpredictable Sprint race.
Late brilliance denies Bagnaia
Bagnaia looked in control for much of the race after making a strong start and taking the lead into Turn 1. The reigning champion managed the early laps well, building a small but important gap while chaos unfolded behind him.
However, Martin steadily closed that gap in the closing stages. With the laps ticking down, what had been a comfortable advantage for Bagnaia quickly disappeared. On the final lap, Martin made his move at Turn 12—firm but fair—forcing Bagnaia wide just enough to take control of the race.
From there, Martin kept his composure to the line, finishing with a margin of just over half a second. It was a calculated, aggressive ride that underlined his title ambitions.
Bagnaia had to settle for second, while the fight for third initially went to Pedro Acosta. However, a post-race tyre pressure penalty would later drop him down the order, promoting Enea Bastianini to the final podium spot.
Early incidents shake up the field
The race was far from straightforward, with major incidents beginning early on. One of the most significant moments came when Marc Marquez attempted an overtake on Fabio Di Giannantonio. The move didn’t stick, and Marquez lost the front, taking both riders out of contention.
The crash not only ended their race but also resulted in a Long Lap penalty for Marquez in Sunday’s Grand Prix—another setback in what was already a difficult weekend.
Meanwhile, championship leader Marco Bezzecchi endured his own disappointment. After working his way into podium contention, he crashed out with just a few laps remaining, losing valuable points in the standings.
Battles throughout the pack
Behind the leaders, the racing remained intense from start to finish. Acosta showed impressive pace early on, fighting at the front before being gradually shuffled back as the race evolved.
Joan Mir was also in the mix for a podium but crashed on the final lap while attempting to pass Acosta, adding yet another twist to an already chaotic race.
Further back, Alex Marquez and Bastianini were locked in their own battle, with the latter eventually coming out on top. Luca Marini secured a solid sixth-place finish, riding a largely uncontested race.
Rookies and satellite riders also made their mark, with Ai Ogura finishing ahead of teammate Raul Fernandez, while Johann Zarco rounded out the points-paying positions.
Sprint Race classification (Top finishers)
- Jorge Martin – Aprilia Racing
- Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team
- Enea Bastianini – Red Bull KTM Tech3
- Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
- Alex Marquez – Gresini Racing
- Luca Marini – Honda HRC Castrol
Moto2: Alonso loses pole after penalty as grid reshuffles
In Moto2, it initially appeared that David Alonso had secured a dominant maiden pole position. The Colombian set a stunning lap record, showcasing the form that made him the 2024 Moto3 World Champion.
However, a post-qualifying tyre pressure infringement dramatically altered the grid. Alonso was demoted all the way down to 17th, turning his race into a recovery mission.
This handed pole position to Barry Baltus, who will now start from the front for the first time this season. Alongside him, Alonso Lopez and rookie Angel Piqueras complete a reshuffled front row.
Notably, championship contenders like Daniel Holgado find themselves starting further down the order, adding another layer of unpredictability heading into Sunday’s race.
Carpe untouchable as he storms to dominant pole position at COTA
There was no matching Alvaro Carpe in qualifying at Circuit of the Americas, with the Spaniard delivering a standout lap to secure a commanding pole position. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider set a 2:12.107, putting over four tenths between himself and the rest of the field—an enormous margin in a class where gaps are usually razor-thin.
Behind him, Casey O’Gorman produced an impressive performance to claim second place, marking a significant milestone as he put Ireland on the front row. Just behind, Valentin Perrone secured third, missing out on P2 by a mere 0.007 seconds in an incredibly tight battle for the remaining front row spots.
Carpe in a league of his own
From the early stages of the session, it quickly became clear that Carpe had found something special. While other riders struggled to hook up a clean lap on the demanding COTA layout—known for its mix of tight corners, elevation changes, and long straights—the #83 looked comfortable and in control.
With several minutes still remaining, Carpe was already sitting at the top of the timesheets. But rather than settling, he pushed further, delivering another blistering lap that extended his advantage to more than half a second at one stage. That kind of gap is almost unheard of in Moto3, underlining just how strong his pace was.
His lap effectively ended the fight for pole before the final runs had even begun, leaving the rest of the grid battling for second place rather than first.
O’Gorman leads the chase
O’Gorman emerged as the closest challenger, and notably the only rider able to stay within seven tenths of Carpe’s benchmark. The Irish rider showed strong pace throughout the session and looked particularly competitive in the opening sector of the lap.
On his final attempt, he managed to reduce the gap slightly, bringing it down to 0.412 seconds. However, despite a clean and well-executed lap, it wasn’t enough to threaten Carpe’s dominance.
Still, second place represents a major step forward and puts O’Gorman in an excellent position heading into race day, especially on a circuit where track position can be crucial.
Perrone edges into the front row
Just behind O’Gorman, Perrone delivered a late improvement to secure third place on the grid. The Argentine rider missed out on second by the narrowest of margins, highlighting just how competitive the fight for the front row was behind Carpe.
His performance continues a run of strong qualifying form and suggests he will be firmly in contention once the race gets underway.
Strong showing from rookies and midfield contenders
Row 2 is headed by Veda Pratama, who once again impressed as the top rookie. The Honda Team Asia rider looked capable of going even quicker, but a track limits violation on his final lap denied him the chance to move further up the grid.
Alongside him, Guido Pini and Joel Esteban complete the second row, both showing solid pace in a session where consistency proved difficult.
Mixed fortunes further down the order
Adrian Fernandez will line up seventh after a steady but unspectacular session, while championship leader Maximo Quiles endured a more difficult outing. A messy session, including traffic and disrupted laps, left him down in eighth—far from ideal on a circuit where overtaking can be challenging in the early laps.
Rookie Rico Salmela impressed on his first visit to COTA by securing ninth place, showing confidence on a track that often catches out newcomers. Completing the top ten, Scott Ogden delivered a solid performance to stay in the mix.
All eyes on race day
With Carpe holding a clear pace advantage, he heads into the race as the rider to beat. However, Moto3 is rarely predictable—especially at COTA, where slipstream battles and late moves are almost guaranteed.
While Carpe may start as the favourite, the tight fight behind him suggests the race could still produce plenty of surprises once the lights go out.
A Saturday to remember in Austin
From Martin’s last-lap heroics to multiple crashes, penalties, and surprise performances across all classes, Saturday in Texas delivered nonstop action.
With grid shake-ups, unresolved rivalries, and several riders looking to bounce back, Sunday’s races are perfectly set up for another thrilling chapter at COTA.
