Americas Grand Prix: Francesco Bagnaia Wins at COTA

Sports

Apr 4

Written By FP Team

Francesco Bagnaia takes victory in Austin,Texas last sunday afternoon–While Marc Marquez crashes out of COTA lead, leaving his brother Alex Marquez as the new MotoGP title chase leader.

Sports

Words by FP Team | 2 Minute Read

MOTOGP

In an exhilarating conclusion to Round 3 of the MotoGP season, Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati Lenovo Team emerged victorious at the 2025 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, a race filled with unexpected twists and untamed excitement. The race, held at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), saw pre-race conditions marred by rain, setting the stage for an unforgettable afternoon of motorcycle racing.

As the riders prepared to take to the grid, the atmosphere was electrifying and tense, particularly after a rain shower forced teams to make quick decisions. Notably, Fabio Quartararo of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP encountered early calamity, crashing during his sighting lap but managing to return just in time for the start. In an almost unprecedented scene, Marc Marquez—racing for the Ducati Lenovo Team—took off ahead of the scheduled start, prompting a rush among teams and riders to prepare spare bikes equipped with slick tires.

Others, including Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), chose to brave the wet track on slicks from the outset, a gamble that would soon be overshadowed by chaos. With safety paramount, Race Director Mike Webb opted for a delay.

We called for a delay and then quick start procedure due to safety concerns. Given the number of riders, bikes and pit staff on the grid and in the pit lane area, it was impossible to start the warm-up lap. A new race start was the safest way to respond to the unprecedented circumstances at the start of the Grand Prix. We will analyze the situation together with the teams and revisit the regulations.
— Mike Webb. Race Director. MotoGP

DUCATI MEDIA HOUSE

DUCATI MEDIA HOUSE

After a brief interruption, the race was set to resume under clearer skies, resulting in a second attempt to start the Grand Prix. With all riders on slick tires this time, the race finally got underway—though not without further drama, as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had to be wheeled off the grid before the green flag waved.

As the race commenced, Marc Marquez secured an immediate lead, but Bagnaia and his teammate Alex Marquez were quick on his heels. The early laps saw Marc build a comfortable margin, leading by as much as 1.4 seconds by Lap 4. However, the race took a surprising turn on Lap 5, as Bagnaia successfully maneuvered past Alex Marquez, opening the door to reel in Marc. Yet, in a stunning development on Lap 7, Marc Marquez’s flawless run came to an abrupt end when he crashed at Turn 4 after overstepping on a wet patch. Although he managed to remount and continue racing, the damage was done; his podium hopes had evaporated.

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With Marc out of contention, Bagnaia moved into the lead, followed closely by Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). By Lap 15, Bagnaia extended his lead to a solid three seconds, solidifying his position ahead of the pack.

As the race neared its conclusion, Bagnaia only needed to maintain his momentum to cross the finish line first. Behind him, Alex Marquez clung to P2 but faced significant pressure from Di Giannantonio, who was poised to take advantage of any error. Ultimately, however, Bagnaia secured the win, marking his 30th career victory in MotoGP, a significant milestone that places him among the sport's greats.

MOTOGP

Crossing the line in second place was Alex Marquez, who also became the new championship leader after yet another strong performance, while Di Giannantonio rounded out the podium in a commendable third.

As the dust settles on an exhilarating race day in Austin, the MotoGP landscape has shifted dramatically. With Bagnaia’s win and Marquez’s unexpected downturn, the competition is set to heat up as we look ahead to future rounds. The drama of COTA will surely linger in the memories of racers and fans alike for weeks to come.