Enjoying the first rodeo at COTA in 2026, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) led the way in FP1. The Spaniard set a lap time of 2’01:715 to have a tenth in his pocket over the field. Elsewhere, the session was red-flagged due to a crash for Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) at Turn 10. Slow to get to his feet but ultimately getting back out to the track later on, the reigning World Champion’s start to the weekend was far from ideal.
Fast laps came in right at the end of the session with the track rubbered in and in good condition. With just over two minutes left on the clock, Acosta went into P1 by a tenth of a second, back on the pace he showed at Buriram. A podium finisher in 2025 at COTA, Di Giannantonio was up in second place and started his US GP weekend strongly. Making it three different manufacturers inside the top three, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) was top Aprilia in the opening session in the USA as his strong form from Brazil continues. The first major headline of the session occurred at Turn 10, when the #93 crashed, bringing out the red flag. Able to walk away, he did eventually get back out on track in the final ten minutes of the session, completing it in P4 whilst Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) clinched P5.
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was able to come away with sixth place in the opening session of the weekend whilst making it seven different teams in the top seven, Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol). Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) continued his top ten form with eighth place in FP1 whilst Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was the slowest of the Aprilias in P9 but set more laps than anyone else in the top ten – which was completed by Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was 11th, one place ahead of top Yamaha Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP).
Full results from MotoGP FP1 at COTA!