The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) has just witnessed a bit of history. Aprilia Racing is absolutely flying at the moment, bagging their second consecutive one-two finish in the USA. It’s a massive result for the Noale factory, proving the RS-GP26 is the bike to beat this season.
If anyone had any doubts about Marco Bezzecchi, he’s officially silenced them. Despite starting fourth on the grid due to a Q2 penalty, he put in a performance for the ages. Even after a first-lap collision that scuppered his rear wing, he snatched the lead before the first lap was over and never looked back.
Bezzecchi Rewrites the Record Books
Bezzecchi isn’t just winning; he’s dominating in a way we haven’t seen in years. This victory marks his fifth consecutive win and his third of the 2026 season. He’s now the first rider in the modern MotoGP era to win five GPs in a row while leading every single lap from start to finish.
The Mind-Blowing Stats:
- Lap Leader: Bezzecchi has now led for 121 consecutive laps, smashng Jorge Lorenzo’s previous record of 103.
- The Elite Club: He’s only the third rider in the modern era—after legends Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez—to take five straight wins.
- A Decades-Long First: He’s the first rider since 2014 to win the opening three Grand Prix races of a season.
- Aprilia Legend: This is his sixth top-class victory with the team.
Jorge Martín Keeps the Pressure On
Securing the one-two was Jorge Martín, who put in a rock-solid shift to finish second. It’s been a cracking weekend for the Spaniard; he’s now picked up his second consecutive long-race podium and followed up his brilliant Sprint Race win from Saturday.
Martín admitted he pushed himself to the physical limit trying to catch Bezzecchi, eventually having to ease off in the final three laps to ensure he brought the bike home. For a rider who has historically struggled at the Austin track, a double podium weekend is a massive result.
Aprilia’s Milestone Moment
This isn’t just a win for the riders; it’s a landmark for the manufacturer. Aprilia Racing has now notched up:
- 11 top-class victories in total.
- 305 wins across all World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing categories.
- Five consecutive wins as a manufacturer.
- Three top-class one-twos, with this being the first time they’ve managed two on the bounce.
From the Pit Wall
Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing’s CEO, was understandably over the moon but remained grounded. While he hailed the “memorable Sunday” and the synergy between the Noale factory and the track team, he admitted there’s a bittersweet feeling regarding Ai Ogura. The Trackhouse MotoGP rider missed out on what could have been an all-Aprilia podium, a missed opportunity Rivola is keen to rectify in future races.
Bezzecchi summed up the mood perfectly, saying he’d been dreaming of a result like this on a track he’s always loved but never quite conquered—until now.
Do you think Bezzecchi can keep this “perfect” streak going into the next round, or will Martín finally find the extra tenth to break the run?
