Marc Marquez back in front after big scare
Marc Marquez definitely leaves behind the bad crash in FP1 (in which he suffered severe abrasions but no major physical consequences) and signs the best time on Friday at COTA in Austin, finishing ahead of everyone in the pre-qualifying for the 2026 United States Grand Prix (third round of the MotoGP World Championship season).
The star rider from Cervera put himself in evidence both on the race pace with used tires and in the time attack, making the most of the official Ducati GP26. His 2’00″927 brought him within a whisker of the Texan track record (set by Maverick Viñales in 2024 in 2’00″864), confirming him once again as the absolute benchmark in Austin.
Behind him, just 53 thousandths off, shines Japanese rider Ai Ogura on the Trackhouse team Aprilia. Also staying within three tenths are Italians Fabio Di Giannantonio (third at 0.187 on the Ducati VR46) and Marco Bezzecchi (fourth at 0.200 on the factory Aprilia), followed by Alex Marquez (fifth at 0.286 on the Ducati Gresini GP26).
Completing the top ten (and gaining direct access to Q2) are Pedro Acosta on a KTM, a solid Jorge Martin on an Aprilia and Italians Francesco Bagnaia (eighth at 0.444, competitive on pace but less incisive on the dry lap), Luca Marini (ninth at 0.567 on a Honda) and Enea Bastianini (tenth at 0.652, finally on the rise with the KTM Tech3). Further back Franco Morbidelli, only 20th at more than a second and a half from the top, forced to go through Q1.
These are all the times:
1 Marc MARQUEZ Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 2:00.927
2 Ai OGURA Trackhouse MotoGP Team Aprilia +0.053
3 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati +0.187
4 Marco BEZZECCHI Aprilia Racing Aprilia +0.200
5 Alex MARQUEZ BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati +0.286
6 Pedro ACOSTA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM +0.323
7 Jorge MARTIN Aprilia Racing Aprilia +0.338
8 Francesco BAGNAIA Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati +0.444
9 Luca MARINI Honda HRC Castrol Honda +0.567
10 Enea BASTIANINI Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.652
11 Joan MIR Honda HRC Castrol Honda +0.684
12 Fermin ALDEGUER BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati +0.729
13 Raul FERNANDEZ Trackhouse MotoGP Team Aprilia +0.854
14 Johann ZARCO LCR Honda Honda +1.025
15 Fabio QUARTARARO Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP +1.110
16 Jack MILLER Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha +1.315
17 Diogo MOREIRA LCR Honda Honda +1.380
18 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha +1.446
19 Brad BINDER Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +1.510
20 Franco MORBIDELLI Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati +1.629
21 Alex RINS Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha +2.111
