Marc Marquez put in a faultless comeback after an earlier crash to top Friday’s practice at the US MotoGP in Austin, beating a charging Ai Ogura by just 0.053 seconds.
The eight-time world champion came within a fraction of Maverick Viñales’ COTA record after clocking a lap time of 2:00.927, underlining the ferocious pace the factory Ducati rider carries in the heat of the United States Grand Prix.
The crucial session that determined direct Q2 entries was marred by nine crashes as riders scrambled to dial in their machines.
Pedro Acosta led the way in first United States MotoGP practice aboard his Red Bull KTM, the youthful Spaniard slotting in at the top of the timesheets with a clean, aggressive run that split the early skirmish between the Ducati and Aprilia camps.
However, it was Marquez’s presence that framed the session’s narrative with the Spaniard running in the early‑top‑ten before a brutal 190 km/h crash at Turn 10 brought the 45‑minute run to an abrupt halt under red flags.
Marquez crashed after losing the rear of his Ducati over the crest of the notorious left-hander, his machine stepping out and depositing him into the gravel trap with alarming force.
The defending champion limped away to finish fourth, later admitting pain in his back, neck, arms, and fingers while calling for run-off area improvements to avert worse outcomes.
Yet whether driven by stubborn pride, undiluted confidence or the sheer magnetism of a track that has delivered him seven MotoGP victories in the past, Marc Marquez returned to the fray in the afternoon.
Conditions were warmer, improving grip but amplifying risks as rubber laid down and lap times plunged into the low 2:00s, turning the timesheets into a cauldron of chaos with nine crashes that kept gravel crews busy.
Marquez emerged like a phoenix, methodically building pace through consistent flyers to ultimately thread a lap time of 2:00.927 that remained unbeaten throughout the second US MotoGP practice.
Hot on his heels, Ai Ogura recovered from Turn 18 fall to deliver a breakout performance for the American-flavored Trackhouse Aprilia squad, while Fabio Di Giannantonio held firm in third, his VR46 Ducati excelling in mid-corner grip despite an early off.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi clawed to fourth for Aprilia in a display of raw speed tempered by aggressive entries that flirted with disaster as Alex Marquez rounded out the top five on the Gresini GP26.
Pedro Acosta slipped to sixth after tumbling at Turn 18 as the KTMs struggled with aero-induced drag on the straights which also saw teammate Brad Binder suffer a late crash.
Jorge Martin recovered from his own afternoon lowside to finish seventh ahead of Pecco Bagnaia whose Ducati looked dialed but lacked the edge in final sectors.
Luca Marini impressed in ninth, while Enea Bastianini snagged the last Q2 spot in tenth, a morale boost for KTM Tech3 after his double crash, marking his first direct progression since last year’s Catalunya podium.
Franco Morbidelli spilled his VR46 Ducati at Turn 1, with Maverick Viñales being the only rider sidelined for the session due to pain from a loose screw in his left shoulder, prompting surgery.
READ MORE:
Full 2026 United States MotoGP Friday Practice Results
2026 Americas MotoGP weekend schedule: Start times, where to watch
