After “two virtually good weekends”, Marc Marquez is the runaway favorite to increase his unbeaten 2025 run and declare an eighth MotoGP victory at COTA.
The Spaniard made historical past because the youngest-ever premier-class race winner on the inaugural Austin occasion in 2013.
Twelve years later, he returns with an opportunity to strengthen his bid to turn out to be the oldest champion of the MotoGP period.
Marquez’s 2013 win was the primary of a six-race streak for Repsol Honda, a run that resulted in 2019 when he crashed from the lead on account of a technical concern.
The 2020 spherical was cancelled because of the Covid pandemic and in 2021 Marquez fought again from his arm accidents to safe what can be the penultimate win of his Honda profession at Austin.
A startline glitch hindered Marquez in 2022, however he nonetheless managed to cost by means of the sphere to sixth.
Lacking the 2023 race on account of accidents sustained in a collision with Miguel Oliveira, he returned in 2024, ending runner-up within the Dash for Gresini Ducati.
Marquez then briefly took the lead of final 12 months’s grand prix solely to crash out with a brake concern.
He returns because the overwhelming favorite after a flawless begin to his manufacturing unit Ducati profession in Thailand and Argentina.
“We arrive in Austin after two virtually good weekends, particularly the primary in Thailand,” Marquez mentioned.
“COTA is a observe the place I’ve all the time managed to be quick, even final 12 months once I was right here for the primary time on the Ducati.
“A bodily demanding observe and when it comes to using too the place I’ve gained lots.
“We should keep targeted, not make errors, deal with the main points and work arduous with the entire Staff to be aggressive.”
Marquez begins this weekend with a 16-point lead over youthful brother Alex, his nearest rival in each race to date.
In the meantime, Marc’s team-mate Francesco Bagnaia has hinted at altering again to the ‘customary’ GP24 bundle after lacking out on the GP podium final time in Argentina.
The Italian is a Moto2 winner at Austin however has taken solely a Dash victory to date within the premier class, having fallen from the lead in 2023.
“The ambiance in Austin is all the time particular. A really lengthy observe, one of the demanding on the calendar each bodily and when it comes to using, with 20 corners,” he mentioned.
“In 2023 I scored a pleasant win within the Dash, whereas final 12 months I’ve struggled extra.
“In Argentina we scored two stable placings, however we weren’t as good and aggressive as we wish. We have to proceed working with the group to seek out good using emotions once more.”
