MotoGP, Sportrik Media - The 2026 United States MotoGP at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), Austin, takes place from March 27–29, with Marco Bezzecchi arriving as championship leader under pressure from Marc Marquez and leading Ducati contenders.
Bezzecchi heads into the weekend on the back of consecutive victories with Aprilia Racing, establishing early control of the standings. He is supported by team-mate Jorge Martin, who has moved into second place following a strong run of results.
However, the competitive threat from Ducati remains significant, particularly through Marquez, whose historical performance at COTA is among the strongest on the calendar. In addition, Fabio Di Giannantonio continues to emerge as a key factor following recent qualifying and race pace.
Last season, Ducati dominated the COTA weekend with a top-four sweep in the grand prix, despite Marquez crashing from the lead. This underlines the importance of execution, tyre management, and adaptability on a circuit known for evolving grip and surface conditions.
Below is the full schedule for the 2026 United States MotoGP in US local time (Austin, Texas):
Friday, March 27
10:45 AM – MotoGP FP1
3:00 PM – MotoGP Practice
Saturday, March 28
10:10 AM – MotoGP FP2
10:50 AM – MotoGP Qualifying
3:00 PM – MotoGP Sprint
Sunday, March 29
10:40 AM – MotoGP Warm-up
3:00 PM – MotoGP Grand Prix
All sessions are broadcast live via MotoGP’s official VideoPass service, which provides full weekend coverage including live timing options. Regional broadcasters also carry coverage depending on territory, ensuring global access to all sessions across MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 categories.
With COTA’s technical demands, including elevation changes and surface bumps, teams will need to balance performance with consistency. The outcome of this round is expected to play a critical role in shaping the early trajectory of the 2026 championship before the paddock transitions to the European leg of the season.
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