Marc Marquez dominated at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas to take his second win since his return from the significant shoulder injury sustained at the start of the 2020 season.
Starting from third on the grid – the first time all season he has qualified on the front row – the Spaniard got a great launch, leading Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and polesitter Pecco Bagnaia into Turn 1.
He then managed his pace and soft rear tyre over the next five laps before pulling the pin, the only rider to lap consistently in the 2:04s as he pulled away from the rest of the field.
Eventually leading Quartararo over the line by 4.5 seconds, it was a statement victory from the eight-time world champion – few fancied Marquez for victory, let alone by such a margin, because of the physicality of the circuit, the combination of a bumpy track surface, heavy braking zones, and fast changes of direction expected to place great stress on his right arm.
As such, his second win of the season – and 7th in 8 races around COTA since it was introduced onto the calendar in his rookie MotoGP season in 2013 – makes next season a tantalising prospect, Marquez showing he is returning to a fitness level that will allow him to compete for his seventh premier class title.
Behind him, Quartararo was delighted to have finished second ahead of Ducati’s Bagnaia, calling his result “better than a victory” after having struggled with the rough track surface.
By doing so, the 22-year-old extended his championship lead over the Italian to 52 points. With only three races remaining, Quartararo now only has to finish ahead of his last remaining championship rival at the next race in Misano to claim his first world title.
Despite starting on pole, Bagnaia did well to recover onto the podium, running as low as 6th in the first half of the race as he lacked pace.
The disappointment of finishing behind Quartararo was etched on his face in parc fermé, however, Bagnaia realising that any late bid for the championship he had launched after winning the last two races is now all but over.
Alex Rins, the winner of the last race at COTA in 2019, finished 4th, overtaking Jorge Martin on the final lap after the Pramac Ducati rider was forced to take a long lap penalty for cutting across track in sector 1 a few laps prior.
Rookie Enea Bastianini continued his fine form by finishing 6th, overtaking Joan Mir and Jack Miller on the final lap after Mir, just as he did in Misano, launched a late move up the inside of the Australian in the final sector, bumping Miller out of the way and compromising both of their exits.
That action earned the reigning world champion a penalty and a stern talking to from Miller, meaning he dropped behind the Australian to finish in 8th.
Brad Binder again enjoyed solid race pace to be the lead KTM in 9th, one place ahead of his teammate from last year Pol Espargaro, the Spaniard rounding out the top 10.
Further down the grid, Andrea Dovizioso scored his first points in only his second race since his return to the grid, the Italian bringing home his Petronas Yamaha in 13th.
He was two places ahead of teammate and compatriot Valentino Rossi, the nine-time world champion finishing in the final points position in his final race Stateside.
Full Race Results:
- Marc Marquez
- Fabio Quartararo
- Pecco Bagnaia
- Alex Rins
- Jorge Martin
- Enea Bastianini
- Jack Miller
- Joan Mir
- Brad Binder
- Pol Espargaro
- Miguel Oliveira
- Alex Marquez
- Andrea Dovizioso
- Luca Marini
- Valentino Rossi
- Iker Lecuona
- Takaaki Nakagami
- Danilo Petrucci
- Franco Morbidelli
DNF – Aleix Espargaro; Johann Zarco
