MotoGP riders replicate on the weekend that was at COTA

Spherical Three – COTA

Marco Bezzecchi – P1

“Saturday I made a mistake that I ought to have prevented, however the staff was very near me. Right now it was necessary to experience a great race. I’m extraordinarily completely happy and thrilled. I’ve been dreaming about doing properly on this monitor that I’ve at all times preferred for a very long time, however I had by no means managed to complete the best way I wished to till now. Using such an excellent race was unimaginable.”

Jorge Martin – P2

“I’m actually completely happy and intensely grateful to Aprilia. I gave my all and that makes me very proud. Saturday, I achieved the aim of successful the dash race and I gave it my all on Sunday as properly. Marco was unimaginable: I attempted to make up floor behind him, however I used to be pushing too exhausting bodily and I needed to decelerate within the final three laps. I’ve at all times struggled on this monitor, so to be on the rostrum right here after my absence final yr is unbelievable.”

Pedro Acosta – P3

“Not the calmest first lap! I used to be completely happy as a result of I wanted a brand new bike after my crash in warm-up and the fellows needed to rebuild it, so they’re the heroes of the weekend. I’m completely happy, we’re on the rostrum once more and we preserve this high 5 consistency.”

Fabio Di Giannantonio – P4

“Total, it was a constructive weekend, I’m very completely happy. We arrived right here in Austin and I wasn’t at 100% of my bodily situation, so I’ve to thank Christian, the physiotherapist, and the entire staff for the work they did to assist me recuperate with my shoulder. We’ll must endure some assessments to know what’s occurring, as a result of I struggled a bit bodily. Apart from that, we’re in nice form, we’re placing stress on the entrance riders though there’s nonetheless a niche for the time being. We have to work each with the staff and Ducati to shut that hole. We all know the place we have to enhance and we’re already doing it. We’re nonetheless lacking one thing within the race. It’s not the end result we wished, as a result of whenever you’re competing at a excessive stage you at all times intention for the rostrum, however immediately I gave my greatest and fourth was the utmost we might obtain. There are nonetheless many positives to take residence: I bought pole place and set many quick laps. I’m actually completely happy.”

Marc Márquez – P5

“Sadly we paid the value for yesterday’s mistake. An long-lap penalty in MotoGP, particularly early on within the race, drops you down into the center of the sphere. I wasn’t feeling snug within the first laps and I used to be shut to creating the identical mistake once more, however then because the grip light I began to experience properly and have enjoyable, battling with a number of riders. We should needless to say this was solely the third Grand Prix of a really lengthy season, however we additionally must admit that Bezzecchi, proper now, is absolutely quick. We’ve to maintain inching nearer to the entrance and deal with the small particulars, as we’re not lacking a lot and I do know I can do higher than this.”

Enea Bastianini – P6

“I’m very pleased with this end result as a result of it was not a simple race. At the beginning, I misplaced the rear in Flip 3 after which, after some contact, the airbag deployed, which made issues tough for some time. After that, I attempted to search out my tempo lap by lap and shut the hole to the riders in entrance. On the finish, I caught Marc, and it was a tough combat as a result of he was pushing rather a lot within the ultimate laps. I attempted to get nearer out of Flip 11 to have an opportunity into Flip 12, however we had been lacking a little bit of acceleration. Nonetheless, we had been aggressive below braking and that could be a constructive. We could be glad with this weekend. I made a mistake in Qualifying, which made the race harder, however it’s good to be again preventing near the entrance once more. Now we should preserve working and proceed like this in Europe.”

Alex Marquez – P7

“Right now I made a number of overtakes, so I’m a bit extra glad in comparison with yesterday. It was the end result I anticipated immediately; we didn’t have the tempo to be among the many greatest, and ranging from the third row I couldn’t ask for extra. We nonetheless scored factors and introduced residence the very best end result attainable. Proper now we have to preserve working and proceed enhancing to achieve the extent of the entrance runners. With the manufacturing unit bike it at all times takes a bit extra time to get the whole lot completely arrange.”

Raul Fernandez – P8

“It didn’t go like we anticipated however when you find yourself thirteenth on the grid it’s fairly tough to overhaul. We knew that and tried our most. The nice factor is, the sensation with the bike is again like in Thailand and I felt fairly snug. However, when we’ve got a protracted straight, we have to discover one thing further making an attempt to combat with others. Principally, I feel in all areas I really feel snug, nevertheless it’s not fairly sufficient to be with the highest group, so we have to discover this little further. Throughout the race I attempted to handle the state of affairs, saving the tires for the final a part of the race. It was good by way of race tempo, coming from the thirteenth place. I’m not completely happy, however to take factors in these sorts of races is necessary. Total, we did a great weekend however the unhealthy factor was the Qualifying and in Jerez we’ve got to work a bit more durable within the Apply to attempt to be in Q2 immediately.”

Luca Marini – P9

“Right now was fairly straight ahead, the whole lot got here from the beginning. I used to be already minus two positions, and I made a very unhealthy begin, which could be very unusual as a result of the begins have been one in all our strongest factors on the Honda. It’s one thing we have to examine as a result of I misplaced some positions. The constructive is I had some very nice battles additional again because it was fairly a chaotic race within the opening laps – it was enjoyable, however once I arrived to Fernandez, the tempo of everybody was very shut. Right now the wind modified path, so it modified our braking factors, I targeted on hitting my marks and within the final lap I noticed Bagnaia was not having a simple time. This race exhibits that the extent of everybody has improved rather a lot and we nonetheless have work to do to interrupt into that high eight.”

Francesco Bagnaia – P10

“Already from the nice and cozy up, I didn’t have the identical feeling, as I used to be struggling to hold the identical velocity into the corners as in earlier days. I wasn’t totally snug firstly of the race: there was much less rear grip, however I attempted to handle it. I noticed that Diggia was making an attempt to bridge the hole to the leaders and I attempted to stick with him, however then the grip bought clearly worse. With 4 laps to go, I attempted to push a bit more durable with a purpose to defend myself from Marc (Márquez) and Enea (Bastianini), however the ultimate two laps had been a nightmare: I had a close to crash each time I leaned into the right-hand corners. Sadly, we are able to’t make the bike cease and switch the best way we’d like, so we have to proceed working in these areas.”

Fermin Aldequer – P11

“It was an advanced weekend and bodily powerful. Within the dash I already felt the dearth of tempo on a MotoGP bike, however we scored factors and managed to race and end all of the races with out crashing. Right now was powerful, a really lengthy race, however we’ve got to be glad. Final yr, after three races, we didn’t have this many factors.”

Brad Binder – P12

“A very lengthy race and I simply couldn’t discover any tempo all weekend. I had chatter at first and have become increasingly, particularly on full lean. I wasn’t anticipating that. Two twelfth locations is nowhere close to adequate. We’ve some critical homework to do to be higher for Jerez.”

Diogo Moreira – P13

“After not with the ability to perceive my feeling within the Dash because of the early retirement, immediately’s race was demanding, however I managed to complete, combat, and rating factors once more. The previous two weeks have been each pleasurable and difficult at instances, however we’re doing a great job and repeatedly enhancing. Due to everybody!”

Franco Morbidelli – P14

“It was a troublesome weekend. We struggled daily, though much less and fewer every day. Right now within the race we managed to attain two factors: it’s not what we wish, nevertheless it was necessary to complete the race to assemble info and knowledge. The sensation with the bike wasn’t nice this weekend, we didn’t have rear grip. However, we began from additional again and improved increasingly as the times went on. That’s a constructive facet. Now we’ve got a number of weeks off, we’ll preserve coaching and dealing with the staff to do higher and return to our greatest.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu – P15

“Right now was a really powerful race for everybody, however I used to be pushing greater than 100% as a result of I actually wished to attain my first level. In the long run, I achieved it, and I‘m very completely happy. One other constructive is that I‘m beginning to get pleasure from using the bike extra in the course of the race, and I‘m studying rather a lot. I adopted Fabio for a number of laps and was capable of perceive extra about his using type and the monitor, which is essential for me at this stage. Race by race, weekend by weekend, we’re enhancing, and that makes me completely happy. In fact, that is just the start — now the aim is to continue to learn and begin preventing for higher outcomes. We now have a number of weeks earlier than the subsequent race, so I’ll proceed coaching and are available again able to preserve working, ranging from Spain.”

Jack Miller – P16

“Total, we made some steps ahead over the weekend, and I‘m fairly pleased with the overall set-up of the bike. There are nonetheless some areas, particularly within the DNA of the bike, that we have to preserve engaged on and refining, however for now we‘re doing the very best we are able to with what we’ve got. The necessary factor is that we‘re beginning to perceive the bike higher and construct a clearer path for the long run. We all know there‘s nonetheless work to do, however we‘re staying targeted and persevering with to push the undertaking ahead. Now I‘m trying ahead to getting again to Europe — having races nearer collectively ought to assist us preserve the momentum, deliver some updates, and proceed growing in the fitting path.”

Fabio Quartararo – P17

“I didn’t count on the tyres to drop like that on the finish. I used to be managing the tyres, however they nonetheless dropped within the final 5 laps. Yamaha is aware of what we want and what we have to do. Toprak impressed me all weekend, although. The way in which he rides is absolutely clean and really a lot his type, like we’ve seen in WorldSBK – it’s good.”

Alex Rins – P18

“We had an digital situation in immediately’s race that was affecting the bike. At first I used to be feeling good. I used to be in entrance of Miller, and I used to be going to catch Toprak. However on lap 8, I began to come across a difficulty, and that’s it. It was fairly powerful to handle.”

Ai Ogura – DNF

“For certain me and my staff are usually not completely happy about what occurred in immediately’s race. I don’t know what to say. I’m simply so sorry for the Trackhouse Workforce, everyone works so exhausting however, ultimately, we couldn’t get what we deserve. My staff remains to be checking what went fallacious, this isn’t my half. On the finish of sector one I began to see a warning and after that the bike wasn’t actually going anymore. For certain, there’s additionally quite a lot of positives to take from this weekend. It was good that we had been actually, actually aggressive, particularly in the primary race.”

Johann Zarco – DNF

“One other rider went to the within of a rival in Flip 8, and this one needed to go extensive. I used to be feeling properly and doing a great job, however as a result of that state of affairs, I needed to go in realizing we wanted to alter path. He tried to return again, and for the time being of contact my bike fell in Flip 9. It was a racing incident, I don’t complain, these items occur. It was a consequence of what occurred at that second. In any case, I used to be feeling good and we might have taken a stable end result. I made a decision to proceed to assemble info, and I used to be capable of be quick though we had been far behind, so it was helpful to know many issues.”

Joan Mir – DNF

“A disappointing technique to end a weekend that had quite a lot of promise. I used to be ready yesterday and immediately to assault, recuperate rather a lot on entry and see what was attainable. When I’m alone I can experience properly and quick, within the slipstream with these bikes it’s important to threat twice as a lot to make up time. Lastly the entrance went, we have to enhance the rear to realize one thing extra on nook exit as a result of this could occur when you find yourself using the entrance so exhausting. I like realizing I’ve an opportunity, that is good and we’ve got improved rather a lot in comparison with once I first began with Honda and I do know that we are able to preserve working collectively to enhance increasingly.”

Massimo Rivola – Aprilia Racing CEO

“It was a memorable Sunday for Aprilia Racing, with two actually excellent riders and an especially aggressive bike. I’m very happy with the demonstration of the synergy between the work carried out in Noale and on monitor. Clearly, all of this doesn’t cut back our drive — quite the opposite, it offers us much more motivation to proceed growing the bike. What occurred immediately is one thing historic, destined to go down within the document books. Nevertheless, we nonetheless must preserve enhancing, as a result of what occurred to Ai Ogura is tough to just accept. I’m very sorry for him, for Justin Marks and Davide Brivio of the Trackhouse MotoGP Workforce. Right now there was the possibility to see three Aprilias on the rostrum and, when these alternatives come up, it’s important to take them.”

Davide Brivio – Trackhouse Aprilia Workforce Principal

“To be sincere, we’re fairly dissatisfied immediately and attempt to transfer on. Ai Ogura was doing a unbelievable race! He did the quickest lap of the race, was recovering from P10 firstly and I feel we might have gotten onto the rostrum. It was there however then, sadly, there was an issue on the engine and the bike stopped. Ai needed to retire and we’re so dissatisfied. I wish to apologize to him, he deserved to have an excellent day immediately in Austin, the Trackhouse residence race. Every part was going to be excellent, nevertheless it didn’t finish properly. The race was unbelievable, Ai was very quick and I really feel the nice days are coming. Raul additionally had a great restoration, from P13 ending P8. Even when it was not excellent and he’s not fully glad, it’s constructive this yr thus far and on a tough day we nonetheless end within the high 10. I hope that is the pattern for the long run and after we work properly, we are able to get some actually high outcomes. We’ve a robust bike, a robust staff, robust riders and searching ahead, after a break, to go to the subsequent race and transfer on from this disappointment.”

Nicolas Goyon – Crimson Bull KTM Tech3 Workforce Supervisor

“We’re very pleased with our weekend in Austin. The staff leaves with smiles on our faces, which is an actual aid after two difficult races. I want to congratulate Enea on the job he has executed all weekend. It was nice to see him having fun with the bike, constructing confidence, and delivering a robust race. He improved his tempo and labored his method into the combat with Pecco [Bagnaia] and Marc Márquez, which was nice to look at. P3 within the Dash and P6 in the primary race are constructive outcomes for us as we depart Austin. We now have a break, which is able to give Maverick time to recuperate from his shoulder surgical procedure, and we hope to be again in nice form in Jerez.”

Pablo Nieto – Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Workforce Supervisor

“Total, Austin was a great weekend for Diggia and we ought to be completely happy. We had been lacking one thing, as a result of we had been preventing for the win with him, and it’s a pity we didn’t make it on the rostrum. However he took pole place and attaining this type of result’s actually nice, I imagine we’re working very properly. Proper now, our rivals have made a major step ahead, however we’re very shut. Franco struggled rather a lot throughout this weekend in the USA, however he improved vastly in the course of the race. If he continues like this, we’ll see him again within the high positions.”

Aki Ajo – Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing Workforce Supervisor

“Actually good progress for us this weekend at COTA with two riders within the high six, one on the rostrum in fact with Pedro’s high-quality efficiency all weekend, and all three within the high twelve. It’s been a stable day of outcomes. This GP appeared a bit extra ‘again to regular’ in comparison with Brazil final week and we advanced areas of the bike and likewise in our work. We wish to give all our riders extra constructive instruments going forwards and it was encouraging to see Enea actually on fireplace right here. In Europe we’ll see extra about our stage and our potential on this class. We additionally hope to see Maverick again with us.”

Gino Borsoi – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Workforce Director

“Total, it was a constructive day. In fact, our ambitions are increased than this, however all of us wanted a little bit of a morale increase and we‘re very completely happy for Toprak to have scored the primary of what we hope might be many MotoGP factors in his profession. Jack additionally delivered a stable efficiency, and from the midway level of the race each riders confirmed they’d the tempo to remain near the highest ten. That‘s an necessary indication for us. That is our place to begin, and it‘s from right here that we have to proceed constructing. We all know it received‘t be straightforward, however we‘ve already diminished the hole considerably in comparison with the primary races. Now we’ve got to maintain our heads down, proceed working, and produce the staff and our riders nearer to the place they belong.”

Massimo Meregalli – Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP Workforce Director

“All in all, it’s been a troublesome race weekend. I don’t wish to say that ‘it’s a GP to overlook’ as a result of we have to be taught from the difficulties we confronted. We knew earlier than coming right here that COTA is likely one of the tracks that spotlight our areas of enchancment. Following the Dash and the Race, we now have knowledge with the brand new bike that we are able to analyse. Whereas these are usually not ‘enjoyable’ races for the riders or our staff, they’re essential for future bike improvement. We’ll use the three weeks main as much as the Spanish GP to regroup and put together, so we may give it our all once more in Jerez.”

Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Motorsport Supervisor

“This weekend in Austin is a wonderful demonstration of the relevance of our new 2026 allocation philosophy. We intentionally simplified our provide with two tyre selections on the entrance and rear, and the outcomes affirm that this method permits groups and riders to work extra effectively whereas attaining a really excessive stage of efficiency. From Friday, we noticed that each entrance tyre choices labored properly, and that the Gentle and Medium rear tyres supplied complementary options relying on riders’ wants. Circumstances diversified vastly all through the weekend, with cool temperatures and wind on Saturday morning, adopted by a gradual improve in temperature resulting in hotter circumstances on Sunday. On this context, the tyres’ skill to ship consistency and stability was decisive. The widespread selection of the Medium tyre for the race clearly exhibits that groups discovered a dependable answer able to guaranteeing a excessive stage of efficiency over distance. Lastly, the recorded performances communicate for themselves: a brand new qualifying document, a considerably sooner Tissot Dash, and a Grand Prix improved by practically twenty seconds in comparison with 2024. This represents a mean acquire of about one second per lap, which is appreciable at this stage of competitors. It confirms not solely the potential of the bikes, but additionally the important thing position of tyres on this development. We’re very glad with the work achieved and the info collected, which might be priceless for the remainder of the season.”

COTA MotoGP Race Outcomes

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Hole
1	M. Bezzecchi	Apr	40m50.653
2	J. Martin	Apr	+2.036
3	P. Acosta	Ktm	+4.497
4	F. Di Giannantonio	Duc	+6.972
5	M. Marquez	Duc	+8.100
6	E. Bastianini	Ktm	+8.243
7	A. Marquez	Duc	+11.253
8	R. Fernandez	Apr	+13.129
9	L. Marini	Hon	+14.471
10	F. Bagnaia	Duc	+14.544
11	F. Aldeguer	Duc	+21.063
12	B. Binder	Ktm	+22.062
13	D. Moreira	Hon	+22.201
14	F. Morbidelli	Duc	+24.371
15	T. Razgatlioglu	Yam	+25.549
16	J. Miller	Yam	+26.309
17	F. Quartararo	Yam	+27.136
18	A. Rins	Yam	+38.701
NC	J. Zarco	Hon	2 Laps
NC	A. Ogura	Apr	5 Laps
NC	J. Mir	Hon	15 Laps

COTA MotoGP High Speeds

Pos	Rider	Bike	Common	High
1	M. Marquez	Duc	345.8	348.1
2	E. Bastianini	Ktm	344.9	346.9
3	A. Ogura	Apr	344.7	346.9
4	B. Binder	Ktm	342.6	345.8
5	L. Marini	Hon	342.2	344.7
6	F. Bagnaia	Duc	343.7	344.7
7	A. Marquez	Duc	343.2	344.7
8	A. Rins	Yam	339.8	342.4
9	F. Di Giannantonio	Duc	339.9	341.3
10	F. Aldeguer	Duc	338.7	341.3
11	J. Martin	Apr	340.5	341.3
12	F. Morbidelli	Duc	338.6	340.2
13	J. Miller	Yam	338.7	340.2
14	M. Bezzecchi	Apr	340.2	340.2
15	D. Moreira	Hon	337.6	339.1
16	R. Fernandez	Apr	338.2	339.1
17	J. Mir	Hon	336.7	339.1
18	P. Acosta	Ktm	337.6	339.1
19	J. Zarco	Hon	337.3	338.0
20	T. Razgatlioglu	Yam	336.5	338.0
21	F. Quartararo	Yam	334.6	335.9

2026 MotoGP Championship Standings

Pos	Rider	Factors
1	M. Bezzecchi	81
2	J. Martin	77
3	P. Acosta	60
4	F. Di Giannantonio	50
5	M. Marquez	45
6	R. Fernandez	40
7	A. Ogura	37
8	A. Marquez	28
9	F. Bagnaia	25
10	L. Marini	23
11	E. Bastianini	22
12	B. Binder	17
13	F. Morbidelli	14
14	F. Aldeguer	13
15	J. Zarco	13
16	D. Moreira	9
17	F. Quartararo	6
18	A. Rins	3
19	J. Mir	3
20	T. Razgatlioglu	1
21	J. Miller	0
22	M. Viñales	0
23	M. Pirro	0