Pedro Acosta leads red-flagged US MotoGP FP1 after scary Marc Marquez crash
Pedro Acosta led an FP1 overshadowed by a scary crash for Marc Marquez in COTA FP1
KTM’s Pedro Acosta led opening practice at the 2026 MotoGP US Grand Prix, as Marc Marquez walked away from a 192km/h crash in the early stages to finish fourth.
All eyes were on reigning world champion Marc Marquez coming into this COTA weekend, as he returns to a circuit at which he has won seven times during his career.
After a tough start to the 2026 campaign on the GP26 Ducati, the US Grand Prix is being seen as an opportunity for Marquez to get his title defence off the ground properly.
But his start to the US Grand Prix was marred by a terrifying 192km/h crash at Turn 10 around 10 minutes into the session.
Marquez lost the bike going through the fast downhill letf-hander and slid all the way to the barrier in a sickeningly quick crash.
However, he walked away with only bruising to his right hand and arm, and rejoined the session with just over 10 minutes to go.
He went on to finish fourth fastest, 0.157s off the pace set by KTM’s Pedro Acosta.
Acosta led the way after the first 10 minutes of running with a 2m02.595s, prior to the red flag that briefly paused the session after Marquez’s crash.
Pecco Bagnaia took over top spot on the sister factory team Ducati with 17 minutes remaining with a 2m02.546s.
A fresh set of medium tyres helped Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez to top spot a few moments later, though his 2m02.409s would be bested by VR46 Ducati’s Fabio Di Giannantonio soon after.
Also on a new medium rear, Di Giannantonio managed a 2m01.909s, before improving to a 2m01.818s.
A fresh medium rear then allowed Acotsa to produce a 2m01.715s, which would be enough to keep him top of the pile at the chequered flag.
Di Giannantonio held onto second, while Aprilia’s Jorge Martin was third having elected against fresh medium rubber.
Marc Marquez was only 0.157s off the pace after his late run, with Fernandez rounding out the top five.
Alex Marquez, who didn’t switch to new tyres was sixth on the Gresini Ducati, while Luca Marini followed the same strategy and was seventh for Honda.
Ai Ogura, also staying on the same tyres he started with, was eighth for Trackhouse ahead of championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) and VR46 Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli.
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