Argomenti trattati
The United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas closed with a remarkable result for Aprilia Racing, as Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín finished first and second to register a rare one-two for the manufacturer. Bezzecchi began the day off the front row after a grid demotion from Q2, encountered early contact that damaged the rear wing of his RS-GP26, and nevertheless assumed the lead by the end of the opening lap. From there he kept the pace high and the margin controlled, crossing the chequered flag with the lead intact and adding another chapter to an already impressive run.
That victory marked Bezzecchi’s fifth consecutive win and his sixth top-class triumph with Aprilia, while also making him the first rider in the modern era to open a season with three straight Grand Prix wins since 2014. The Italian now has 121 laps led in recent races, eclipsing Jorge Lorenzo’s previous benchmark of 103. Martín complemented the effort with a composed ride to second after winning the Saturday sprint, and Aprilia recorded its eleventh top-class victory and a manufacturer total of 305 World Grand Prix wins overall. Team leadership acknowledged the milestone but also expressed regret over the incident involving Ai Ogura, underscoring how thin margins remain.
How the race unfolded: Bezzecchi’s composed charge
From a tactical perspective, Bezzecchi turned early adversity into a demonstration of race craft. After the opening-lap contact that affected the rear wing, he rode consistently, managing tyre wear and lap times across the demanding COTA layout. Maintaining a lead from lap one through to the flag required a blend of speed and discipline; the rider resisted challenges and avoided unnecessary risks that could have compromised the result. The performance reflected both rider confidence and the RS-GP26’s current form, contributing to Aprilia’s rare achievement of consecutive one-two finishes in the premier class and highlighting team synergy between development work in Noale and track execution.
Team performances and individual outcomes
VR46 Team: near-podium and recovery
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team ran a striking special livery while delivering solid results: Fabio Di Giannantonio converted pole into a determined fourth-place finish, confirming himself as the top Ducati rider on the day and taking valuable championship points. Di Giannantonio’s pole came after a record lap, and his ability to stay with the leading group underlined race pace and resilience. Franco Morbidelli battled back from twentieth on the grid to cross the line in fourteenth, gathering data and gradually restoring confidence. Di Giannantonio now sits fourth in the standings with 50 points, while Morbidelli is thirteenth with 14 points. The squad will return to action in Europe for the Spanish GP at Jerez from April 24 to 26.
Ducati Lenovo Team: mixed recovery for Márquez and Bagnaia
The Ducati Lenovo Team experienced a weekend of contrasting fortunes as Marc Márquez produced a strong comeback to finish fifth after serving a long-lap penalty. Starting sixth and briefly dropping before the penalty, Márquez regrouped to regain ground and secure solid points, placing him fifth in the championship standings with 45 points. Francesco Bagnaia managed to stay in the early podium battle but lost rear grip in the closing stages and ultimately took tenth, leaving him ninth in the standings and 20 points adrift of his teammate. The team holds fourth in the teams’ classification with 70 points, and Ducati is second in the constructors’ table with 69 points as development continues ahead of Jerez.
Tech3, Gresini and Bastianini’s momentum
Red Bull KTM Tech3 enjoyed a confidence-boosting weekend thanks to Enea Bastianini, who climbed from twelfth on the grid to an eventual sixth-place finish after an eventful race that included a moment where the airbag deployed. Bastianini had taken P3 in the Sprint and translated improved rhythm into a solid main-race showing, closing in on the front group and demonstrating stronger braking performance. BK8 Gresini brought home points as well: Alex Márquez finished seventh while Fermin Aldeguer secured eleventh. Those results signalled progress for independent teams balancing development with rider adaptation to factory machinery.
Looking ahead: momentum, adjustments and the European swing
The Austin results reshape priorities as the paddock prepares for the European leg. Aprilia’s historic weekend brings momentum but also a pragmatic focus on further refinement, especially after concerns voiced about the incident affecting Ai Ogura. Other teams will analyze tyre behaviour, chassis setup and race management to close small gaps—areas highlighted by tyre degradation and corner-entry grip issues seen across the field. With a short break before the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain at Jerez—practice opening on April 24—teams will use the interval for targeted testing, rider recovery, and setup evolution to meet the unique demands of a busy season.
Key takeaways
Ultimately, the weekend underscored how quickly momentum can shift in MotoGP: Aprilia converted form into historic results while rivals showed flashes of recovery and resilience. The mix of sprint success, race-day strategy, and penalty management provided plenty of technical and sporting lessons to carry into Jerez, where the championship narrative will continue to unfold.