MotoGP Americas 2026: Practice, Qualifying and Sprint Race Schedule Revealed

KTM's Pedro Acosta tops opening practice, while reigning champion Marc Marquez recovers from dramatic crash at COTA.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:48am

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The 2026 MotoGP US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) kicked off with an eventful first practice session. KTM's Pedro Acosta set the fastest time, while Marc Marquez experienced a high-speed crash but recovered to finish fourth. The weekend schedule includes Free Practice II, qualifying sessions, and a 10-lap sprint race on Sunday morning.

Why it matters

The MotoGP Americas race at COTA is a key event on the calendar, with Marquez's past dominance at the circuit and Aprilia's recent momentum adding to the anticipation. The new sprint race format will also provide an additional opportunity for riders to showcase their skills and strategies.

The details

In the opening practice, Pedro Acosta of KTM topped the timesheets with a 2m01.715s lap, leading Fabio Di Giannantonio and Jorge Martin. Reigning champion Marc Marquez had a dramatic crash at Turn 10, reaching 192 km/h, but impressively rejoined the session and finished fourth, just 0.157s behind Acosta. The action continues on Saturday with Free Practice II, followed by qualifying sessions to determine the grid for Sunday's races. The sprint race, a 10-lap event, is scheduled for early Sunday morning, where Marquez will aim to capitalize on his COTA experience and secure a victory.

  • Saturday, March 28th 22:10 WIB Free Practice II
  • Saturday, March 28th 22:50 WIB Q1
  • Saturday, March 28th 23:15 WIB Q2
  • Sunday, March 29th 03:00 WIB Sprint Race (10 laps)

The players

Pedro Acosta

A KTM rider who topped the opening practice session at the 2026 MotoGP Americas.

Marc Marquez

The reigning MotoGP world champion, who experienced a high-speed crash in practice but recovered to finish fourth.

Fabio Di Giannantonio

A rider who finished second in the opening practice session at the 2026 MotoGP Americas.

Jorge Martin

A rider who finished third in the opening practice session at the 2026 MotoGP Americas.

Marco Bezzecchi

An Aprilia rider who has won the previous two MotoGP races in Thailand and Brazil.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The 2026 MotoGP Americas race at COTA promises to be an exciting event, with Marquez's past dominance at the circuit, Aprilia's recent momentum, and the new sprint race format adding to the anticipation. Fans will be eager to see how the weekend unfolds and which riders emerge victorious.