Francesco Bagnaia claimed victory in a dramatic Americas Grand Prix, securing a win ahead of Álex Márquez after Marc Márquez crashed while leading the race. The incident marked the first time this season that Marc failed to finish, shaking up the championship standings.
Marc Márquez had shown strong form throughout the weekend, securing pole position in qualifying and clinching his third consecutive sprint victory. However, during the main race, he suffered a first crash on his Ducati. Despite attempting to continue, the extensive damage to his bike forced him to retire, bringing an abrupt end to his race.
Bagnaia capitalized on the opportunity, taking the checkered flag in a race that was chaotic even before it began. A brief appearance of sunlight prompted riders who had initially chosen wet tires to rush back to the pits and switch to slicks, leading to a red flag before the official start. Once the 19-lap race commenced, Marc Márquez launched off the line perfectly, establishing a lead of over a second by the end of the first lap.
Determined to break past the Márquez brothers, Bagnaia used Álex’s slipstream to move into second place on lap four. Marc appeared to be in control, even setting a new race lap record, but his fortunes turned on lap nine when he slid off the track. As Bagnaia closed the gap, Marc attempted to continue despite missing a foot peg and a screen. Less than five laps later, he ultimately retired, guiding his damaged bike back to the pits.
Álex Márquez emerged as the biggest winner in the championship standings despite finishing second. His third consecutive runner-up finish moved him to the top of the leaderboard with 87 points, just one point ahead of Marc. Fabio Di Giannantonio put in a strong performance for VR46 Racing, pushing to catch up to Álex but running out of laps. His third-place finish ensured another all-Ducati podium.
After the race, Bagnaia celebrated with exuberance, even indulging in a hotdog in the paddock. Overjoyed with the win, he expressed how much it meant to return to the top step of the podium after a challenging period.
Bagnaia ultimately crossed the finish line with a two-second advantage over Álex Márquez, marking a significant victory in his season. While Álex continued his streak of second-place finishes, his consistency paid off, allowing him to lead the championship as the MotoGP season progresses.
