KTM Factory Racing
The epic Circuit of the Americas has been the home for MotoGP in the country since 2013 and the layout with the longest straight on the Grand Prix calendar as well as the highest number of corners. The conditions were complicated by the shift in the spring weather: from hot and sunny on Friday – and where Pedro Acosta achieved direct Q2 entry – to overcast and cooler on Saturday.
Acosta surged through Q2 to earn a front row berth for the 10-lap Sprint and the 20-lap full Grand Prix distance on Sunday. The Spaniard made an electric start from the grid and leapt into 2nd position through the first corners of the Sprint. He then tussled with several riders and guided the KTM RC16 to 3rd less than 2.5 seconds from the winner. Unfortunately, a tire pressure sanction meant a penalty of 8 seconds and he was demoted to P8.
Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini rode well on Friday to snare the final slot into Q2 and made the cut for the first time this season. Enea then notched P12 in the session – recovering from a small tip-off to grab his second bike – and prepped for the Sprint. Bastianini made a charge in the second half of the distance to make considerable ground. He arrived all the way to 4th (later awarded 3rd) for his best Saturday score since the 2025 Czech GP. The Italian was alone in the pitbox as Maverick Viñales attempted Free Practice but then had to pull out of the remainder of the weekend. The Spaniard will have reparative surgery on his left shoulder on Tuesday from the injury he suffered last year.
Brad Binder qualified in 18th and missed a chance at Q2 by just half a second. The South African then tried to set his best pace and made the finish line in 12th.
The Grand Prix will run for 20 laps tomorrow and will begin at 22.00 CET.
Pedro Acosta, 3rd in qualification, 8th in the Sprint: “Not bad but we suffered in the race. We know our limitations and we are trying to play our cards in the best way. I think 3rd was our position on the track today and we have to be happy in that we are making the most of the package at the moment. Tomorrow we have to start well and then do our best to save the tire.”
Enea Bastianini, 12th in qualification, 3rd in the Sprint: “I’m so happy about the Sprint but not so much about FP2 and the qualifying. I missed some stability in the wind. Anyway, it was less windy in the Sprint and I was able to push from the start which was critical. Fighting for the podium – and it arrived in the end – I’m happy. I know we saw some crashes and we got a bit lucky but my speed was good, and that is important. Tomorrow will be a different type of race but I know my potential, especially for the end of the race. I’m comfortable on the bike.”
Brad Binder, 18th in qualification, 12th in the Sprint: “I definitely would have liked a better day than today but I’m missing a bit of pace all weekend. I tried my best to pass guys early on and go forward but I didn’t have the speed. Not enough. I have some homework to do and figure out how we can be better and I’m sure we’ll do it for tomorrow.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “After a difficult weekend in Brazil we have to be happy with our basic performance here in Austin. Our package is working quite well at this track and the results of Pedro and the guys were quite promising, and we can be satisfied with the Sprint for both Pedro and Enea. Unfortunately, we have tight and clear rules and, of course, as a team we are sorry for Pedro. Tomorrow, we have another day and another race to keep our targets high.”
Ducati Lenovo
The Ducati Lenovo Team took second place in the U.S. Sprint with Francesco Bagnaia, who put together an excellent performance at the Circuit of The Americas. Marc Márquez was seventeenth at the flag following a crash in the early stages of the encounter.
Bagnaia got the perfect start from fourth place on the grid to take the lead. Pecco led the Sprint up to the final lap, when a drop in grip prevented him from successfully defending first position. After a good start from the second row, Márquez went down at turn 12. Marc managed to rejoin the race aboard his Desmosedici GP machine and finish seventeenth.
The Ducati Lenovo Team will return to action tomorrow morning at 10:40 local time (GMT -5) for the warm up, followed by the 19-lap Grand Prix of the United States, which gets underway at 15:00. Bagnaia will line up on the front row in third position.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 2nd
“I’m happy with the podium, even though it hurts a bit that I missed out on the win. I gave it all, maybe a bit too much in the early laps, but I think we wouldn’t have been able to secure a better result anyway, given the lack of grip we experienced at the end. I pushed as hard as I could in the first half of the final lap in order to defend the position, but I wasn’t expecting an overtake at turn 12. We’ve worked very well so far: we made a step forward in the time attack, which until now had been an issue, and the good qualifying allowed us to stay at the front and push hard the way we know we can.”
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 17th
“It was a mistake that had consequences, as we involved Fabio (Diggia) in the crash, and that makes us even more sorry. I didn’t take into account the three-bike slipstream and, under braking, there was a point where I couldn’t get the bike stopped; I tried to go down the inside and then run wide, but when I hit a bump, the front tucked. It’s a shame, especially for Diggia, who had no blame. Now we need to see what the situation will be like tomorrow and give our best.”
Honda HRC Castrol
Both Honda HRC Castrol riders featured heavily on the most exciting Saturday of 2026 yet, converting top ten Qualifying pace to a podium challenge in the Sprint. Luca Marini walking away with sixth place while the podium slipped through Joan Mir’s fingers as he lost the front.
Having earned his Q2 spot already on Friday, Luca Marin’s attentions were focused on maximising his profits from the second 15-minute session. A best lap of 02’00.891 earned him ninth on the grid, making up crucial early ground compared to Thailand and Brazil. Starting well, Marini kept his nerve through the hustle and bustle of Turn 1 to tag onto the group fighting for the podium. Chasing down the likes of Bastianini and Alex Marquez until the very end, Marini would take sixth place at the flag. A post race penalty for Acosta promoted Marini to fifth, confirming the US Sprint as his second best Sprint performance with the factory Honda HRC team.
Joan Mir was a standout of the morning, progressing through Q1 with the second fastest time before going on to smash the lap record at the Circuit of the Americas, eventually qualifying in fifth with a best time of 02’00.591, one-and-half a seconds faster than his Q2 time from the 2025 US Grand Prix. A lightning start and chaos up ahead saw the #36 thrust into podium contention, battling hard with both Aprilia riders. With third place up for grabs on the final lap, Mir began to line up Acosta just ahead but would fall at Turn One. Unharmed, the 2020 MotoGP World Champion remains steadfastly focused on the positives and will once again approach Sunday with full commitment.
A penalty for slow riding on the racing line during Q2 will demote Marini to 11th for Sunday’s US Grand Prix. If the 10-lap Sprint was anything to go by, the feature-length US Grand Prix will be an unmissable race as riders seek glory, redemption and data before heading into a three week break ahead of the Spanish GP in Jerez.
Luca Marini 10
“On paper, sixth position, we should be happy. But I wanted to be better, I wanted to be there fighting for the podium but since this morning I was not feeling as comfortable as yesterday. Everything today was just a little bit more complicated than yesterday which limited our potential. Even like this, we have been able to improve the bike since the last two races, and this is a crucial point. Still to reach the top five, we need to really having everything perfect so there is of course more work to do to help us close the gap. Another step in the right direction and hopefully in tomorrow’s race we can do a little more and see what happens.”
Joan Mir 36
“Staying positive like always, no regrets. I had the opportunity to fight for the podium and that’s exactly what I did. If I didn’t try, I can’t sleep wondering if I could have given more. Ok, I need to find a bit more patience in the future, but I am certain that if we continue working in this way we can be there, not once or twice but every race. The more we improve, the more margin we have. I am sorry to the team because this time it was my fault, now we see what the possibility is for tomorrow. If there is again the opportunity to fight for the podium then we will go for it with everything that we have, like always.”
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team
Luck did not favor the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team in the Sprint of the United States GP: after taking pole position in qualifying, Fabio Di Giannantonio was forced to retire following a crash in the early stages of the race while he was in third place. It was a comeback Sprint for Franco Morbidelli, who climbed up to thirteenth place at the finish line.
A bittersweet Saturday for Di Giannantonio, who secured his second consecutive pole position (after Brazil) by setting a new lap record of 2’00”136. Starting from pole, Fabio was immediately involved in the fight for the podium, but he crashed due to a contact with another rider in the early laps of the Sprint. The rider from Rome showed great determination by rejoining the track and trying to continue, but was eventually forced to return to the pits. Di Giannantonio remains fourth in the World Standing with 37 points.
The Austin weekend continues to be complicated for Morbidelli, who qualified twentieth after a difficult Qualifying. Despite a challenging start in the Sprint, Franco showed determination, gaining positions lap after lap. The Italian-Brazilian rider crossed the finish line in thirteenth place after a strong recovery. Morbidelli is thirteenth in the World Standing with 12 points.
The United States GP will conclude tomorrow with the main race, starting at 3:00 pm (local time, +7 CET due to the time change), where the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will race with a special livery designed by Aldo Drudi and unveiled on Tuesday in New York City.
Fabio Di Giannantonio – 49
“Today we had the potential and the opportunity to win the Sprint, but it wasn’t possible. Still, I don’t want to focus too much on what happened in the Sprint. There are many positives for me and for the team: this is the fourth different track where we haven’t needed to change much on the bike. We’re only focusing on small details, and when it’s like this, it means you have a great package. We’re strong, the results speak for themselves. We did a fantastic job and secured an incredible pole position. We just need to keep pushing, and tomorrow we’ll have another opportunity. The goal for the race will be to start well and be in front at the first corner, then set our pace. Our rivals will want to do the same, so we’ll try to give our best.”
Franco Morbidelli – 21
“Just like yesterday, I’m unable to extract the maximum potential from the bike, especially with new tyres. Step by step, I’m able to improve, even if there’s nothing particularly outstanding. Of course, we’re working very hard and trying many things. We also did that today in the Sprint to prepare for tomorrow’s race. If we solve this issue, we can make a strong recovery in the race.”
Prima Pramac Yamaha
Although the final results fell short of expectations, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP showed tangible signs of progress during the Sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu was running solidly inside the top ten, closely battling and just hundredths of a second away from Fermín Aldeguer, before a technical issue forced him to retire prematurely. His performance throughout the race confirmed a step forward in both pace and confidence, particularly in direct comparison with the riders around him.
Jack Miller, on the other hand, battled through the 10-lap race to finish in 14th position. The Australian managed the race with determination, continuing to work on improving the overall feeling with the bike despite still facing some limitations.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the 19-lap race is expected to present an even greater challenge, with significantly higher temperatures forecast. The team will now focus on analysing the data collected today in order to identify the best possible set-up and maximise performance for the main race.
Track action resumes tomorrow at 3:00 PM local time.
GINO BORSOI
Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP
I have to say that, overall, even though Toprak wasn’t able to finish the race, his performance up to that point was very strong. He continues to make positive and consistent steps forward, fighting among the Yamaha riders and close to Fermín Aldeguer. Being that close to the top ten is a clear sign that the progress is real and ongoing.
It’s a pity about the issue — we are still investigating the cause, it seems to be something electronic, but it’s not yet fully defined. We still have tomorrow, and we’re hopeful we can resolve it.
As for Jack, he followed the plan we had: to finish the race and get as close as possible to the other Yamaha riders. He achieved that, although it’s a shame about the final part of the race, where he had a small issue with Morbidelli, as he might have gained one more position.
It’s not the result we are aiming for, but we’ve taken another step forward — we completed the race, gathered important data, and that puts us in a better position moving ahead.
JACK MILLER
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider
It was a decent day — not perfect, but we know this is a work in progress. It’s a fast-moving project and we’re trying to go through as much as possible, but of course everyone else is already operating at their maximum level, so it can be frustrating at times. That said, we’re keeping our heads down and continuing to work.
I had a bit of a battle with Morbidelli. I made a small mistake in the stadium section, which allowed him to get close, and towards the end I was struggling a bit with the front tyre pressure, which went slightly too high and didn’t help my feeling. Later on he also made a mistake and I was able to close the gap again, but when I had the opportunity to attack there was a yellow flag, so I couldn’t make a move.
All in all, we’re still learning and gathering information, and we’ll try to take another step tomorrow.
TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider
The first part of the race was quite good and I was actually surprised by how comfortable I felt on the bike. The only difficult moment was the first lap, where I struggled a bit to understand some of the bike’s reactions, but from Turn 11 onwards I started to find a better rhythm and everything improved.
Up until the technical issue, I was feeling positive and trying to catch the rider in front, but we are still losing quite a lot on the straights. I tried to follow Aldeguer, because he is very strong, especially through the long corners, and it’s clear that we are losing time in the last sector.
So it’s a mix of emotions — I had some good laps and a good feeling on the bike, but the technical problem stopped us. At the same time, it’s clear where we are still missing compared to the others.
Tomorrow will be a long and demanding race for everyone. I will do my best again.
Monster Energy Yamaha
Today Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo benefited from the misfortunes of others in the 10-lap Grand Prix of the United States Sprint, finishing in 11th place. Álex Rins suffered a small crash near the end of the race in Turn 1, but he still took 16th position at the chequered flag.
Quartararo launched from P16. The Frenchman had a decent start but struggled to make up ground. However, he still moved up the order due to various rivals hitting the deck. El Diablo rode a clean race and finished in 11th place, 13.757s from first.
Rins commenced the Sprint from P21 and managed to negotiate the busy opening laps and climb up to P17. He was riding in P15 and battling in the mid-pack when he suffered a small crash in Turn 1 with two laps to go. Quickly back on his way, he crossed the finish line in P16, 51.120s from the winner.
Today’s Sprint results put Quartaro in 16th place in the championship standings with 6 points. Rins is in 18th with 3 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are in 10th position in the team classifications, with 9 points, and Yamaha is fifth in the contructor rankings with 8 points.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will be back in action on Sunday for Warm Up, held from 10:40-10:50 (GMT-5), and the 19-lap Race, which starts at 15:00.
Image gallery
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director
“It was an overcast Saturday, but despite the cooler conditions we witnessed many crashes in today’s Sprint, underlining how difficult the riding conditions were. COTA is always a tricky circuit for us, and this weekend has been challenging, as we expected. Our riders are further down the grid than we would like, and our pace is not fast enough. Nevertheless, Fabio, Álex, and the entire team are pushing hard to make the most of a difficult situation. We will analyse today’s data carefully to prepare for tomorrow’s 19-lap Race, which will be demanding for the riders due to the unique characteristics of this track. We’ll keep working to extract every bit of performance we can.”
FABIO QUARTARARO
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider
“I was expecting a worse pace, if I’m honest – especially after Moto2. But I also think everyone was faster than I expected. It’s tough this weekend. I also had a bit of a weird crash earlier today, but I’m okay.”
ÁLEX RINS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider
“It’s a tough weekend so far. It’s difficult to manage the bike and the grip. I gave it my 100% but still qualified in last position, that was not nice. In the Sprint race we improved the turning slightly. I was riding behind Jack [Miller] when I lost the front.”
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