Jorge Martin Triumphs in Austin Sprint Race to Take MotoGP Championship Lead

Jorge Martin, riding for Aprilia Racing, won the MotoGP Sprint Race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on Saturday, overtaking Francesco Bagnaia under braking at turn 12 on the final lap to claim his first victory in 511 days. Martin, the 2024 MotoGP World Champion, started from seventh on the grid but worked his way through the field to take the lead of the Riders' Championship with 57 points, one ahead of his Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi. The margin of victory over Bagnaia was 0.755 seconds, with Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing finishing third, though Acosta's machine was placed under investigation for suspected irregular tire pressure after the race. The result marked Martin's first sprint win with Aprilia and his 17th sprint victory overall.

Jorge Martin won the 2024 MotoGP World Championship riding for Prima Pramac Racing, becoming the first independent team rider to claim the premier class title in the MotoGP era. He moved to Aprilia Racing for the 2025 season but endured a campaign heavily disrupted by injuries. His previous victory before Austin came at the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix, 511 days prior to this sprint race.

Tire gamble proves decisive on final lap The outcome of the sprint hinged on a tire strategy call made before the race. Martin chose a medium rear tire for his Aprilia, while Bagnaia fitted a soft rear on his Ducati. Bagnaia's soft compound gave him an early advantage, and the Italian led the race with a gap of more than one second heading into the final two laps. Martin's medium tire, however, held its performance longer, allowing him to close the deficit rapidly and execute the decisive overtake at turn 12. „I took a risk by fitting a medium tire, but deep down, I knew I was right. Aprilia is an incredible team and they are helping me find my level.” — Jorge Martin via RTP The victory was also notable for arriving after a 2025 season that Martin described as difficult due to injuries.

511 (days) — Martin's victory drought before Austin sprint win

Marquez crash eliminates pole-sitter Di Giannantonio on lap one The sprint race was shaped by a series of high-profile incidents, beginning on the opening lap when Marc Marquez, starting sixth, attempted an overtake on Fabio Di Giannantonio and crashed, bringing the Italian down with him. Di Giannantonio, who had secured pole position with a new Circuit of the Americas lap record of 2 minutes 0.136 seconds — his second consecutive pole after Brazil the previous weekend — was forced to retire without scoring points. Marquez resumed the race but finished 17th, outside the points-paying positions. Further drama unfolded three laps from the end when Bezzecchi, running second and on course for a podium, crashed without outside involvement in a left-hand corner, handing third place to Acosta and removing the championship leader from contention. The crash by Bezzecchi proved particularly costly in championship terms, as he had entered the Austin round leading the standings.

Jorge Martin: 57, Marco Bezzecchi: 56, Pedro Acosta: 49, Fabio Di Giannantonio: 37, Ai Ogura: 36, Marc Marquez: 34

Post-race wheelie ends in a fall on Austin asphalt The afternoon concluded with an unexpected postscript when Martin, celebrating his victory, performed a wheelie on his Aprilia after crossing the finish line, only to lose control when the front wheel returned to the asphalt and slide along the track. Martin was not injured in the incident, though video of the fall spread rapidly online. Qualifying earlier in the day had also been marked by controversy, with stewards investigating an incident in which Bezzecchi was alleged to have cut across Marquez during a flying lap, and both Bezzecchi and Luca Marini receiving grid penalties as a result. The full Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, the third of 22 rounds in the 2026 MotoGP season, was scheduled for Sunday, with Di Giannantonio retaining his pole position for the main race despite his sprint retirement.