MotoGP moved to COTA, near the city of Austin, for the American home of the series since 2013 and the third round of the 2026 campaign. Across the long, breezy and sun-kissed Texas tarmac Red Bull KTM Factory Racing emerged with more podium distinction after 20 laps.
Highlights and key moments from race day at the Circuit of the Americas:
- Another podium appearance and Prosecco shower for Pedro Acosta and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing as the team hold P2 in the Teams’ standings
- Enea Bastianini thunders through to the top six for his highest result of 2026 and his best finish since the summer of 2025
- A first Moto3™ trophy for Alvaro Carpe thanks to 3rd place on the KTM RC4, and Jose Antonio Rueda grabs his first points in the Moto2™ class
The weather pivoted again at the Circuit of the Americas from a cool and cloudy Saturday – where Red Bull KTM Tech3 and Enea Bastianini celebrated a podium classification in the Sprint – to sunshine and higher temperatures for Grand Prix race day. MotoGP lunged into the 13th event at the sprawling and technically demanding course southeast of Austin with three Red Bull KTM riders in action; Maverick Viñales had been forced to withdraw on Friday due to a problem with his left shoulder, requiring minor surgery this week.
The race started with Pedro Acosta on the front row, and the Spaniard aced the holeshot to lead on the first lap of his 100th GP appearance (made in all classes and since his first in 2021). He survived close contact onto the back straight then formed part of a three-rider posse going for the podium order. Pedro maintained his pace in P3 and crossed the line less than 4.5 seconds from the winner. The silverware represents his second of the year and his 12th in the premier class and keeps the 21-year-old 3rd in the championship standings.
Enea Bastianini moved up from 12th on the grid to enter the top ten after four laps. He then embarked on a sensational battle for the top five and manage to log 6th place for his best result since the 2025 Catalan GP last summer. Brad Binder had to make progress from a qualifying slot of P18. The South African quickly got into the points and finished 12th.
Round four of MotoGP will take place in Jerez for the Spanish Grand Prix in three weeks: the first European date on the schedule.
Pedro Acosta, 3rd and 3rd in the championship: “Not the calmest first lap! I was happy because I needed a new bike after my crash in warm-up and the guys had to rebuild it, so they are the heroes of the weekend. I’m happy, we’re on the podium again and we keep this top five consistency.”
Enea Bastianini, 6th and 11th in the championship: “Very happy. It was a tough start to the race. I lost the rear in Turn 3 and then some positions. After I had contact with another rider my airbag went off. It was hard to ride for one lap but then after that I tried to ride my pace and catch every rider that was in front of me. We missed a bit of acceleration but for the rest we were competitive, especially in braking, and we can be satisfied with the weekend. Back to fight at the top is good.”
Brad Binder, 12th and 12th in the championship: “A really long race and I just couldn’t find any pace all weekend. I had chatter at the beginning and became more and more, especially on full lean. I wasn’t expecting that. Two 12th places is nowhere near good enough. We have some serious homework to do to be better for Jerez.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Really good progress for us this weekend at COTA with two riders in the top six, one on the podium of course with Pedro’s fine performance all weekend, and all three in the top twelve. It’s been a solid day of results. This GP seemed a bit more ‘back to normal’ compared to Brazil last week and we evolved areas of the bike and also in our work. We want to give all our riders more positive tools going forwards and it was encouraging to see Enea really on fire here. In Europe we’ll see more about our level and our potential in this category. We also hope to see Maverick back with us.”
Results MotoGP Grand Prix of the United States
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia 40:50.653
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia +2.036
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +4.497
6. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +8.243
12. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +22.062
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia +2.036
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +4.497
6. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +8.243
12. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +22.062
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia, 81 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia, 77
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 60
11. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 22
12. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 17
22. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 0
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia, 77
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 60
11. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 22
12. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 17
22. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 0
KTM GP Academy
Moto3 spun around COTA for 14 intense laps. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Alvaro Carpe started from Pole Position for the second time in his career and in his second GP season. The young Spaniard was joined by Red Bull KTM Tech3 Valentin Perrone in a breakaway group of four riders going for podium places. Rookies Brian Uriarte and Rico Salmela were in the second pack vying for top ten honors. Perrone and Carpe both led the dispute on the final circulation but in the push to the flag from the last corner it was Alvaro who snared a trophy in 3rd (his first of 2026) as the quartet were split by just 0.4 seconds. Valentin was 4th. Rico and Brian made it home in 6th and 7th respectively on their KTM RC4s.
Carpe and Perrone are now P2 and P3 in the world championship standings.
Alvaro Carpe: “A bit upset from the last corner. I dropped two positions but also sorry to Valentin because I was going wide, so sorry for that. The race was difficult and I was able to come back a little [to the leaders]…I caught them with two laps to go and started to overtake and arrived to the podium. A great race and thanks to the team and all my family. Thanks to the fans also!”
The intermediate class saw Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Collin Veijer throttling into the 16-lap affair from the third row of the grid but the race had to be red-flagged after multi-rider collision. A new 10-lap restart meant another frantic dash for Moto2 and Veijer was an early faller. Rookie Jose Antonio Rueda reached the finish line in 15th position to bag his first Moto2 point.
Results Moto3 Grand Prix of the United States
1. Gino Pini (ITA), Honda 31:20.489
2. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +0.056
3. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.254
4. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.445
6. Rico Salmela (FIN), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +15.075
7. Brian Uriarte (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +15.105
12. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team +17.274
2. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +0.056
3. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.254
4. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.445
6. Rico Salmela (FIN), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +15.075
7. Brian Uriarte (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +15.105
12. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team +17.274
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 65 points
2. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo, 42
3. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 38
5. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 32
9. Brian Uriarte (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo, 23
10. Rico Salmela (FIN), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 20
2. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo, 42
3. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 38
5. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 32
9. Brian Uriarte (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo, 23
10. Rico Salmela (FIN), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 20
Results Moto2 Grand Prix of the United States
1. Senna Agius (AUS) 21:10.744
2. Celestino Vietti (ITA) +0.497
3. Izan Guevarra (ESP) +0.908
4. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team +1.843
15. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +20.119
16. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +21.206
2. Celestino Vietti (ITA) +0.497
3. Izan Guevarra (ESP) +0.908
4. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team +1.843
15. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +20.119
16. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +21.206
DNF. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP), 39.5 points
2. Izan Guevara (ESP), 36
3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 33
7. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 24
12. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 13.5
21. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 1
2. Izan Guevara (ESP), 36
3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 33
7. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 24
12. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 13.5
21. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 1
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