Marc Marquez’s Austin wins exceed my career total

Marco Bezzecchi has downplayed his chances of extending his MotoGP winning streak at this weekend’s US Grand Prix, pointing to Marc Marquez’s formidable track record at Austin.

Aprilia rider Bezzecchi heads to the Circuit of the Americas as the championship leader after dominating the opening two grands prix of the season at Buriram and Goiania. Combined with victories at Portimao and Valencia at the end of 2025, Bezzecchi is unbeaten in the last four Sunday races.

However, COTA has long been Marquez territory, with the Spaniard having won seven times in eight attempts with Honda between 2013 and 2021.

Aprilia has also enjoyed success in Texas, however, with Maverick Vinales notably winning the race in 2023 to prevent a Ducati clean sweep that season.

Even so, Bezzecchi suggested that Marquez still remains the favourite for victory on Sunday, despite not winning in Austin in the last four years.

“It’s difficult to say because every year is quite unique in our sport,” he said. “It’s true that Maverick did an amazing weekend two years ago, but the bike is completely different now, so I don’t really know what to expect from the bike.

“It’s also true that Marc at this track has always been amazing. I think he has more wins on this track than me in my career in MotoGP. In the end, it will not be an easy weekend, but we will try to do our best.”

Bezzecchi’s claim that Marquez has more Austin wins than his entire MotoGP career is slightly off. His victory in last weekend’s Brazilian GP marked his eighth success in the premier class, allowing him to surpass Marquez’s Austin’s tally of seven.

Although the seven-time champion admits that the circuit suits him, he insists it wouldn’t be easy for him to beat an in-form Bezzecchi.

“Of course, it’s a track that I love, but it’s a track where I didn’t win in the last four years, so I need to understand the mistakes well, and the ways to improve,” he said.

“Marco is coming with four victories in a row, showing great speed, so he’s the favourite because he’s leading the championship. We will try to stop his performance but it will be difficult because, at the moment, he’s the fastest rider out there. 

“Fabio [di Giannantonio] is also there. As he showed in Brazil, he’s super fast. I will try to concentrate on our job and try to find the 100% inside our garage.”

Potential new record?

Bezzecchi is on the verge of beating an 11-year record set by Jorge Lorenzo, when he led 103 consecutive laps aboard the factory Yamaha.

Bezzecchi has led 101 laps across the last four rounds and needs to stay in front for the opening three laps in Austin to become the new record holder.

“I didn’t even know about this record, honestly,” Bezzecchi said. “It’s super cool already to have just the possibility to be close to this record, but in the end it’s not what is really important for me and for my team.

“At the end, we try to do our job weekend by weekend, and then if we can be competitive, we are happy; if not, we will try to work and improve.”

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— The Motorsport.com Team