Marco Bezzecchi continues perfect start to 2026 with dominant US MotoGP display
Marco Bezzecchi makes it three grand prix wins from three to start the 2026 MotoGP season.
Marco Bezzecchi led every lap of the US MotoGP as he produced another dominant Sunday performance.
The race got underway with Pedro Acosta immediately taking the lead, however, the KTM rider ran wide at turn 11 which allowed Bezzecchi to draw alongside.
The pair then made contact as they both aimed for the racing line, which nearly led to Acosta crashing on the back straight.
Both riders remained upright as Bezzecchi came across the line to lead lap one. The Italian continued to operate from the front in the early stages which gave him the all-time record for the most consecutive laps led in MotoGP.
Bezzecchi completed his 104th consecutive lap in the lead of a MotoGP race on lap three, putting him one clear of Jorge Lorenzo’s previous record of 103.
An early long lap penalty was taken by Marc Marquez, who after a difficult opening few laps, was down to 11th place.
However, the nine-time world champion was back up into the top ten when Joan Mir crashed out on lap six. Marquez then gained 9th place when Raul Fernandez ran wide at turn 11 on lap seven.
Aprilia’s impressive day continued midway through the race as Trackhouse Racing rider Ai Ogura began his charge towards the top five. The Japanese rider picked off Alex Marquez for sixth place at turn 10 on lap nine.
That charge continued on lap 11 as he produced a sensational pass on Bagnaia at turn 11, after getting great drive out of the triple right-hander in sector three.
On lap 13, Ogura made another pass, this time on Di Giannantonio with an equally impressive move at turn 12.
Meanwhile, the battle for the podium began to heat up as Martin made it a factory Aprilia 1-2 on lap 14 when Acosta ran wide at turn one. Lap 15 also saw Marc Marquez complete a double overtake on his brother Alex and Enea Bastianini.
Further up the order, Ogura then suffered devastating bad luck as he began riding slowly out of turn 11. The Japanese rider was unable to continue the race.
After exchanging sixth place on several occasions, Marc Marquez tried to put space between himself and Bastianini by passing Bagnaia with three laps to go. However, the KTM rider immediately came through on the double MotoGP champion.
But Marquez managed to keep the Italian in check, while at the front Bezzecchi continued to lead from Martin as the pair secured an Aprilia 1-2 ahead of Acosta.
Fourth place went to Di Giannantonio ahead of Marc Marquez and Bastianini. Seventh spot went the way of Alex Marquez, with Fernandez eighth, Luca Marini ninth, and Bagnaia tenth after the Ducati rider faded badly late on.
