Marc Marquez edged his brother Alex and Ducati teammate Bagnaia to secure victory in the 2025 MotoGP America Sprint race.
The race, held at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas on Saturday showcased a masterclass of skill and resilience from the six-time MotoGP World Champion who has now maintained a perfect record across all sprints and grand prix races this season.
Marc Marquez’s MotoGP America Sprint race victory was far from straightforward as he faced fierce competition from his brother Alex Marquez and teammate Francesco Bagnaia in what was arguably the most electrifying sprint race of the year.
The drama began right from the start, with Bagnaia delivering an exceptional performance off the line. Starting from sixth on the grid, Bagnaia surged ahead to claim the lead into Turn 1 setting the tone for an action-packed opening lap.
Marquez quickly retaliated at Turn 2, reclaiming the lead only for Bagnaia to strike back at Turn 3 with a daring move. The back-and-forth battle between the factory Ducati duo was intense with Alex joining the fray to create a three-way showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The opening lap featured multiple overtakes and near-misses, including a heart-stopping moment for the older Marquez at Turn 17 when a massive rear-end slide almost cost him his position.
Despite the scare, the Spaniard managed to recover and retake the lead by Turn 20, completing an unforgettable first lap.
From lap two onward, Marc demonstrated his trademark composure and control. Once he established himself at the front of the pack, he steadily built a gap over his rivals.
Alex, riding for BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati delivered one of his finest performances to date by securing second place. His consistency and ability to keep pace with his elder brother marked a significant improvement compared to previous seasons.
Meanwhile, Bagnaia rounded out the podium in third place after an impressive effort during the opening laps. Although he couldn’t maintain the pace needed to challenge the Marquez brothers for victory, Bagnaia’s performance was a significant confidence booster.
The Italian rider admitted that battling Marc and Alex throughout the MotoGP America Sprint race was a morale-boosting experience and highlighted how much better he felt compared to earlier races this season.
Bagnaia’s aggressive start and ability to momentarily lead the older Marquez were key moments that showcased his potential for future races.
The top five spots were dominated by Ducati riders, with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli taking fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Fabio Quartararo crossed the line in sixth place on his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1, marking a solid performance but unable to match the pace of Ducati’s contingent.
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Meanwhile, Joan Mir struggled with Honda’s ongoing top-speed deficiencies and finished seventh after crashing during qualifying earlier in the weekend. Mir expressed frustration over Honda’s limitations but admitted that he needed to recalibrate his approach to risk-taking during races.
Other notable performances included KTM riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller finishing eighth and ninth respectively, while Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro managed tenth place despite challenges throughout the weekend.
The MotoGP America Sprint race also saw notable retirements, including Maverick Vinales on the Red Bull KTM Tech3 and Joan Mir on the Honda HRC Castrol. Both riders faced technical issues and crashes, respectively, which prevented them from scoring points.
Marc Marquez’s victory extended his championship lead to 86 points, putting him 19 points ahead of Alex Marquez in second place. Francesco Bagnaia remains third in the standings with 50 points but is now 36 points adrift of Marc Marquez.
