Marco Bezzecchi Secures Dominant Victory at United States Grand Prix in Austin

Marco Bezzecchi won the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on Sunday, leading all 20 laps to claim his third consecutive victory of the 2026 MotoGP season and his fifth straight dating back to the final two races of 2025. The Italian Aprilia rider crossed the finish line 2.036 seconds ahead of teammate Jorge Martin, delivering a one-two finish for the Noale factory. Pedro Acosta on KTM completed the podium in third place. Bezzecchi reclaimed the top of the riders' championship standings with 81 points, four clear of Martin, who had won Saturday's sprint race. The win also produced a new MotoGP record: Bezzecchi extended his tally of consecutive laps led to 121 (laps) — consecutive laps led, a new MotoGP record, surpassing the previous mark of 103 set by Jorge Lorenzo in 2015, according to BBC Sport.

Bezzecchi took the lead before the first lap was done Bezzecchi started from fourth position on the grid, having been demoted two places for impeding Marc Marquez during qualifying. Despite that penalty, he moved into the lead within the opening corners and was never challenged at the front. Martin, who started seventh after winning the sprint, worked his way through the field and passed Acosta for second place on lap 14, setting up the Aprilia one-two. Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 Racing, who had started from pole position, finished fourth. Marc Marquez of the Ducati Lenovo factory squad was fifth after serving a long lap penalty for a collision with Di Giannantonio in Saturday's sprint race. Defending Austin champion Francesco Bagnaia, also on a factory Ducati, finished 10th after losing pace in the final laps. Ai Ogura, riding for the Trackhouse Aprilia team and running as high as fourth, retired from the race due to a mechanical failure.

„I'm happy. I'm very happy. Yesterday I made a mistake so it was very important to make a good race today.” — Marco Bezzecchi via BBC

„It was impressive. The bike was perfect, but Marco today was unbeatable. Thank you all and thank you Texas. It was an incredible weekend.” — Jorge Martin via ANSA

Aprilia leads constructors' standings by a wide margin The result extended Aprilia's dominance in the constructors' championship, where the team now holds 158 (points) — Aprilia's constructors' championship lead after three rounds, well clear of the chasing pack. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and the Trackhouse MotoGP Team are tied in second place in the constructors' standings. The gap between Aprilia and its nearest rivals underlines how comprehensively the RS-GP has outperformed the field through the opening three rounds of the season. Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola expressed disappointment at Ogura's retirement despite the team's overall success on the day.

„Sincerely, it may seem strange, but I am disappointed for Ai Ogura. It should not happen. I am very sorry for Trackhouse.” — Massimo Rivola via SAPO

Aprilia Racing: 158, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: 77, Trackhouse MotoGP Team: 77, Ducati Lenovo Team: 70, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: 64, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP: 41

Next round set for Jerez in late April The Circuit of the Americas has been a fixture on the MotoGP calendar since 2013. Jorge Lorenzo set the previous record for consecutive laps led in MotoGP grands prix at 103, achieved in 2015. Jorge Martin won the 2024 MotoGP World Championship with Prima Pramac Racing, becoming the first independent team rider to claim the premier class title in the MotoGP era, according to his Wikipedia entry. Martin's 2025 season was disrupted by injuries and ended without a single race victory, making his sprint win in Austin his 17th in that format and a record in the discipline, according to Ouest France. The MotoGP season now moves to Europe, with the Spanish Grand Prix scheduled for April 24-26 at the Jerez circuit. Bezzecchi will arrive in Spain as the clear championship leader, having won every grand prix he has finished so far in 2026. Martin, despite his runner-up result in Austin, remains the closest challenger and demonstrated renewed competitive pace throughout the Austin weekend. Acosta's consistent podium finishes have established the 21-year-old Spaniard as a genuine title contender alongside the two Aprilia riders. The Ducati factory effort, by contrast, faces questions after Bagnaia's 10th-place finish and Marquez's penalty-hampered fifth, leaving the Italian manufacturer trailing significantly in the constructors' standings.

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