The Sprint at the Circuit of the Americas delivered late drama and a major shift in momentum heading into Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Francesco Bagnaia looked in complete control for most of the race, building a gap of nearly two seconds at the front and managing things with authority. But the story flipped in the closing laps. On soft tyres, Jorge Martín came alive when it mattered most, reeling Bagnaia in before making a decisive last-lap move to snatch victory as the Ducati rider ran out of tyre.
Behind them, the race was anything but straightforward. Marc Márquez made an electric start, charging up to fourth by Turn 1 on the opening lap. However, a move from Fabio Di Giannantonio forced Márquez onto the back foot, and in the fight to recover, both riders ended up crashing out, bringing a premature end to what had looked like a strong Sprint for both.
Consistency paid off for Pedro Acosta, who kept it clean and composed to secure a podium finish, capitalising on the chaos ahead. There was more misfortune for Marco Bezzecchi, who crashed out from second place, continuing a frustrating run in Sprint races and costing himself valuable points.
Joan Mir was another rider showing serious pace, battling at the front before a crash ended his charge, underlining just how unforgiving COTA can be.
The takeaway? Martín’s late charge not only secured the Sprint win but sees him lead the championship heading into Sunday. With Bagnaia’s strong form at COTA, Márquez and Bezzecchi both hungry for redemption, and the field this closely matched, all signs point to a Grand Prix that could deliver even more drama.
