A Sprint Race Packed with Drama
Marc Marquez once again proved his dominance in the 2025 MotoGP season, clinching a spectacular victory in the Americas GP Tissot Sprint at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). The Spanish rider showcased his sheer skill and resilience, fending off his younger brother Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia in an electrifying battle.
Intense Opening Lap Battle
The race kicked off with fireworks, as Bagnaia launched himself from P6 to snatch the holeshot into Turn 1. However, Marc Marquez quickly retaliated, reclaiming the lead at Turn 2 before Bagnaia fought back at Turn 3. The relentless exchanges saw Marquez make another decisive move at Turn 7, cementing his position at the front.
As the action-packed lap unfolded, Marquez nearly lost control at Turn 17 with a dramatic rear-end slide, dropping him momentarily to third. But in true Marquez fashion, he stormed back, overtaking both Bagnaia and his brother Alex Marquez at the final corner to reclaim the lead.
Marquez Builds a Lead
Once back in front, Marc Marquez found his rhythm, gradually extending his advantage over Alex Marquez. Meanwhile, Bagnaia, unable to match the pace of the leading duo, found himself in a battle with Fabio Quartararo and the VR46 Ducatis. Quartararo momentarily threatened but had a huge moment at Turn 15, allowing Franco Morbidelli to capitalize and slide ahead.
At the halfway mark, Marc Marquez’s lead fluctuated, with Alex Marquez closing in momentarily before the #93 rider responded, reestablishing a comfortable 1.4-second cushion heading into the final laps. Despite a valiant effort from his younger brother, Marc held firm to claim his third consecutive Sprint victory of the season.
Notable Performances
Alex Marquez secured a strong P2 finish, maintaining his impressive form, while Bagnaia settled for third, just under two seconds behind his teammate. The battle for fourth saw Fabio Di Giannantonio edge out Morbidelli and Quartararo in a thrilling contest.
Pedro Acosta emerged as the top KTM finisher in P7, with Luca Marini earning his first Sprint points with Honda in P8. Rookie Ai Ogura impressed with a P9 finish, beating Marco Bezzecchi and Brad Binder in a tight battle.
The Sprint race saw notable retirements, including Joan Mir, who crashed out after running inside the top nine, and Maverick Viñales, who retired due to a technical issue.
MotoGP 2025 Americas GP (COTA) Sprint Results:
- Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) : 20m 29.509s
- Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati) : +0.795s
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) : +1.918s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) : +8.536s
- Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) : +9.685s
- Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) : +10.676s
- Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM) : +12.049s
- Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) : +13.588s
- Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) : +13.752s
- Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) : +14.584s
- Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Ducati) : +14.754s
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) : +14.908s
- Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) : +16.009s
- Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha) : +16.182s
- Alex Rins (Monster Yamaha) : +18.181s
- Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) : +18.625s
- Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) : +21.666s
- Augusto Fernandez (Pramac Yamaha) : +29.061s
- Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR) : +33.622s
- Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Factory) : +37.989s
- Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) : DNF
- Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) : DNF
Eyes on Sunday’s Grand Prix
With his Sprint victory secured, Marc Marquez now sets his sights on securing his eighth COTA Grand Prix win. Meanwhile, injured reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin made an appearance at the event, fueling speculation about his potential return with Aprilia in Qatar.
With Ducati’s last Grand Prix defeat dating back to 2024, all eyes will be on whether Marquez can continue his flawless 2025 campaign in Sunday’s highly anticipated main event.
