MotoGP Arrives at Marc Márquez's Ranch

Marc Márquez's winning streak in 2025 is unlikely to be halted at the Circuit of the Americas (CotA). The Texan track has always been a favourite for the current MotoGP leader. It was here that he secured his first victory in the premier class in 2013, at just 20 years and 63 days old, setting a record for the youngest winner that still stands.

He went on to win five more times consecutively until his streak was broken in 2019 when he crashed while leading the race. Reflecting on that fall during a press conference on Thursday, Márquez, the clear favourite, stated, "It's a circuit that has historically been very good for me, but I always prefer to remember the bad, and the only mistake I made in 2019 was at this circuit. So, I need to stay focused, with a lot of self-control, and not be overconfident," analysed the championship's dominant figure.

Despite being one of his talismanic grands prix, Márquez hasn't won at this track since 2021, the last time he stood on the podium in Texas. The 2020 race was cancelled due to the pandemic, a mechanical issue with his Honda in 2022 prevented him from competing for the win, and he missed the 2023 race due to injury. Last year, many expected him to claim his first victory with Ducati, but he crashed again while leading. In total, Márquez has claimed seven victories in ten appearances at his Texan ranch, where many consider him the sheriff of the Americas.

Beyond that symbolic title, Márquez is an authoritative leader in this early part of the season. In the two grands prix held in Thailand and Argentina, the rider from Lleida secured pole position, sprint, race, and fastest lap, leading his closest rival, his brother Álex, by 16 points. Álex, the other standout performer of the year, aims to continue challenging Marc, though he acknowledges the difficulty: "We all know he has an extra potential here, an advantage, but we have to focus on ourselves, not on how others perform."

The third contender in this season's early stages is Pecco Bagnaia, who has been unable to challenge the Márquez brothers and is now 31 points behind the leader. Paradoxically, the Italian has had his best start to a championship in terms of points, but he admits his feelings aren't the best: "I want to feel like last year, but I'm not comfortable with the bike. I want to see it positively, that I'm giving my best, and so far, my best has been to finish third."

The Grand Prix of the Americas was the last where a Ducati did not triumph. Maverick Viñales won here last year, securing a double with his Aprilia. That victory by the Spanish rider prevented Ducati from achieving a clean sweep in 2024, as they have since amassed 19 consecutive wins. This weekend, they could match the second-best streak of all time in the premier class, set by Italian manufacturer MV Agusta in the late '60s, and have a chance to surpass Honda's record of 22 between 1997 and 1998.

It seems unlikely that the last winner at this track, Viñales, can repeat his 2024 feat, as his adaptation to KTM is progressing slower than expected, "although Austin could be one of the circuits to change that dynamic," commented the Roses rider, who was realistic about his new reality in MotoGP: "We are far from the Ducatis, that's true, but not so much from the rest, so I'll try to add more of my riding to compensate for what we lack."

Another rider marked to prevent Ducati from completing their victorious circle is Pedro Acosta, who last year stood on the podium as a rookie and led a MotoGP race for the first time at this track. However, the Murcian, a teammate of Viñales, was also cautious about his chances: "We have to consider how much other brands, like Honda and Aprilia, have improved, as I think they are now closer to Ducati."

Aprilia will once again miss their leader, Jorge Martín, who will sit out his third consecutive grand prix. The good news is that he will be present this weekend in Austin to support the team. His return to competition is drawing nearer, but the Madrid native prefers not to rush and has yet to set a comeback date. It could be the next race in Qatar... or he might wait for the Jerez event, the first on European soil, scheduled for the last weekend of April.