The MotoGP weekend in Austin delivered action from lights out to the chequered flag. In the end, it was Bezzecchi and Aprilia who dominated Sunday’s race at COTA.
Action-Packed Opening Laps
It was an exciting start to the race at COTA. Pedro Acosta got a strong launch and took the lead into Turn 1.
Through the opening lap Bezzecchi followed Acosta closely and eventually made a move at Turn 11. On the exit, the two riders went side-by-side and made light contact. It was the Aprilia rider who came out ahead despite damaging his bike in the process.
Behind them, Jorge Martín had settled into P3, following the leaders closely, waiting for his moment.
Further down the grid, there was plenty of early movement, with riders fighting for position through the opening first few laps.
Bezzecchi In Control
Once in the lead, Bezzecchi looked untouchable. The Italian led every lap of the race, controlling the pace at the front and gradually extending the gap. Even with the damage from the early contact, his pace remained consistent throughout the race.
By the midpoint, the gap had grown to over two seconds, allowing him to manage the race comfortably without coming under pressure.
While dominating the race, Aprilia rider also made history, breaking the record for the most consecutive race laps led in MotoGP. Previously, this record belonged to Jorge Lorenzo, who in 2015 led 103 straight laps. By the end of Sunday’s race, Bez had led 121 consecutive Grand Prix laps.
Battles across the grid
The fight for the win settled early, however, the battle for the remaining podium positions continued throughout the race.
Pedro Acosta held onto second place during the opening stages after his early battle with Bez. However, as the race progressed, Martín began to close the gap. Eventually it was a Acosta’s moment of Turn 1 that presented Martín with an opportunity to claim P2 came later in the race.
Once Martín made his move for P2, the Aprilia riders were firmly controlling the front. The midfield, however, was alive with plenty more action.
Fabio Di Giannantonio, who started from pole, lost positions early but settled into a strong rhythm to finish fourth. Diggia was part of the early battle for P4 with Pecco and Marc, but the VR46 rider was firmly in control the whole time.
Marc Márquez produced one of the standout recovery rides of the race. After serving a long-lap penalty in the opening laps, he dropped down the order. He then began his charge back through the field, getting involved in several battles during his climb up the standings.
Enea Bastianini and Ai Ogura were the riders on the move. Ogura hunted down Bagnaia and Diggia, moving up to P4. Meanwhile, Bastianini hunted Álex Márquez, attacking Marc and joining the battle for fifth.
Further back, there were multiple scraps for the final points-paying positions.
Incidents And Retirements
As expected at COTA, the race saw its share of incidents.
Joan Mir’s race came to an early end after crashing out in the opening stages, marking another difficult weekend for the Honda rider. Before he crashed out, Mir was handed a Long Lap Penalty for taking a shortcut during the battle for fourth.
Ai Ogura’s race was also cut short due to a technical issue, forcing him to retire on lap 15. Before he was forced to retire, Ai was well on his way to challenge for a podium after an amazing charge through the field.
There were also a few moments across the field where riders ran wide or struggled with track limits. While most were able to continue without consequences, it highlights the demanding nature of the COTA circuit.
Final Standings and Championship Momentum
By the end of the 20 laps, Bezzecchi secured his fifth consecutive MotoGP victory with a commanding performance. His teammate, Jorge Martín made it an Aprilia 1-2, whilst Pedro Acosta rounded out the podium for KTM.
With three wins from three races in 2026 and five consecutive victories, Bezzecchi has made a statement. Regardless, Martin and Acosta remain consistent challengers, putting Bez under pressure.
Beyond the top three, the final standings saw Fabio Di Giannantonio fourth, with Marc Márquez claiming fifth. Bastianini took P6, ahead of Álex Márquez, Raul Fernández, Luca Marini, and Pecco Bagnaia.
Aprilia Racing has been sending a real statement for the last three races – they are here to take Ducati’s crown. As the paddock now heads to Jerez, it’s Bezzecchi, Aprilia, and their championship ambitions that are the ones to watch.
Feature image courtesy of Aprilia Racing