Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini delivered one of the best battles of the Austin GP. Starting 12th, Bastianini fought through the field and locked horns with Marquez in a fierce fight from lap 14 onwards, trading passes until the final lap. Bastianini said when Marquez overtook him it motivated him to push even harder. Marquez held on to finish fifth. Bastianini crossed the line in sixth.

Fabio Quartararo issued his most damning assessment yet of Yamaha’s struggles, claiming the team has no idea how to fix all the problems they have with the V4 bike. At COTA, all four Yamaha riders locked out the last four positions on the timesheets. Quartararo sits 17th in the championship on just six points after three rounds.

Marc Marquez admitted both his body and his bike are causing problems in 2026. In a new episode of Ducati’s Inside video series, Marquez told his mechanics the GP26 is critical, but added that so is his own physical condition , still carrying the effects of his Indonesian crash. Former rival Andrea Dovizioso warned his situation is more serious than it appears.

Ducati had no Sunday podium for the second time in three rounds at COTA, with reigning champion Marc Marquez finishing fifth after a long lap penalty. Ducati Corse general manager Gigi Dall’Igna called the Austin weekend a wake up call, admitting the team struggled more than it should have and must work hard to improve as the competition grows stronger.

Joan Mir says he keeps crashing because he has to push beyond the Honda’s limits just to stay competitive. The 2020 world champion has just three points from the opening three rounds, with his double DNF at Austin entirely his own making. Mir says the crashes are “the consequence of being at the limit of the bike” and has zero regrets.

Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola has made a bold claim after three races. The CEO said after back to back 1-2 finishes: “We currently have the best motorcycle.” Bezzecchi has won all three grands prix this season. But Rivola still warned: “He will come, Ducati will come,” showing respect for Marc Marquez despite Aprilia leading both the riders and constructors championships.

Andrea Dovizioso says Marc Marquez is in serious trouble in 2026. The former Ducati rider believes Marquez’s shoulder injury is hurting him more than people realise. Dovizioso told Moto.it: “Austin was the definitive confirmation. In a place where he could have made the difference, he could not.” Marquez sits fifth in the championship, 36 points behind leader Marco Bezzecchi after three rounds.

Raw Ducati footage captured Marc Marquez in a blunt debrief with team manager Davide Tardozzi after COTA. Marquez told him directly: “The bike is critical, but so am I. I’m struggling. The bike is definitely one point, but I’m another. If I get the first three laps right, we’re in for the win.” The reigning champion sits fifth, 36 points behind Bezzecchi.