Toprak Razgatlioglu appeared to suffer a technical failure during the COTA Sprint, ending any hope of points for the Pramac Yamaha rider. Three rounds in and the three time WorldSBK champion has yet to score a single MotoGP point. Sunday’s Grand Prix grid changes significantly with Bezzecchi and Marini both handed two place penalties for riding slowly on the racing line in qualifying.
Pedro Acosta crossed the line third in the COTA Sprint but immediately faced a tyre pressure investigation from race direction after the chequered flag. The KTM rider had been one of the most consistent performers across the entire weekend, but a potential tyre pressure infringement could strip him of his Sprint podium result. The investigation outcome will determine the final Sprint classification before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Marc Marquez and pole sitter Fabio Di Giannantonio collided at COTA during the Sprint, taking both riders out. The incident will be reviewed after the race. Marquez had made a brilliant start from sixth, moving to third before the crash. Di Giannantonio had led the opening laps from pole. Two of the weekend’s biggest names gone in a single moment.
Marco Bezzecchi crashed out of the COTA Sprint under pressure from Martin, his second Sprint DNF of the 2026 season. The championship leader dropped from second to seventh before going down, handing Martin a free run to the front. Two Sprint crashes from three rounds. Marini and Bezzecchi both received two place grid penalties for Sunday’s Grand Prix for riding slowly on the racing line in qualifying. A painful afternoon for the title leader.
Jorge Martin ended a 511 day wait for a Sprint victory at COTA, holding off a fierce late charge from Marc Marquez to take the win. Bagnaia completed the podium in third while championship leader Bezzecchi crashed under pressure from Martin, his second Sprint DNF of the season. Martin. Marquez. Bagnaia. The Martinator is back where he belongs.
Fabio Di Giannantonio claimed back to back MotoGP poles at COTA, smashing the all time lap record with a 2:00.136. Bezzecchi starts second and Acosta third, while Marquez was left fifth after gesturing in frustration at traffic from Marini and Bezzecchi on his final run. Joan Mir caused a shock by rocketing to provisional pole at the end of the first run, heading row two ahead of Marquez and Martin.
Marc Marquez was visibly furious in Q2 at COTA after being blocked by Luca Marini and championship leader Marco Bezzecchi on his final flying lap, leaving the seven time COTA winner sixth on the grid. Bagnaia suffered a similar fate, catching Ai Ogura on his final run and dropping to eighth. Marquez starts 22 points behind Bezzecchi. He needed pole. He got traffic instead.
Fabio Di Giannantonio smashed the COTA all time lap record to claim back to back pole positions. His 2:00.136 lap put him nearly 0.2 seconds clear of Bezzecchi in second, with Acosta completing the front row. Marc Marquez was left sixth after suffering traffic in Q2, while Bagnaia starts fourth despite also being blocked on his final run. Diggia. Back to back. Record broken.
Marco Bezzecchi described Friday at COTA as much better than Brazil, finishing fourth and securing direct Q2 access after starting 20th last weekend in Goiania. He admitted the bike still does not feel completely right but praised the data available heading into Saturday. On Marquez, Bezzecchi was honest. Marc has been super strong, he said. Besides the crash, he showed he can be very quick in very little time.
Marc Marquez admitted he made a big mistake at COTA Turn 10 on Friday morning, saying the high speed impact with the wall left him with severe pain in his neck and back. The rear of his GP26 kicked over the crest before the front folded, sending him into the airfence at 190km/h. He returned with a bandaged left hand and topped afternoon practice anyway. Marquez is built different.