COTA, the true arbiter of the MotoGP Grand Prix: "The first sector is very physical"

After the Brazilian samba, the drivers of MotoGP will face off in Texas. Renowned as one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar, the Circuit of the Americas promises to test the competitors.

With his profile " stop and go Alternating between fast straights and hard braking zones, COTA offers no respite. Drivers will also have to be careful not to be caught out by the traditionally bumpy surface of the Texas circuit and the 41-meter elevation change.

Despite its difficulty, the Americas circuit remains one of the favorites on the calendar. The track is great, slips Fabio Di Giannantonio at a press conference in Austin.  I'm always impressed to fly here. »

Besides the physical aspect, the twenty turns of the COTA require " a lot of concentration "From the pilots." This is the circuit with the most turns. " indeed recalls number 49, who had achieved a podium finish there last year.

The first sector, with its left-hand hairpin and sequence of six turns, is particularly worrying for the drivers. The first sector is incredible, very different from all the other routes on the calendar " insists the Italian from VR46.

Towards a first victory for Bezzecchi at COTA?

An observation shared by the championship leader, Marco Bezzecchi. “ It's a very long track, with twenty turns. The first sector is very physical, he confirms. But the rest of the circuit is just as challenging, with heavy braking zones. We don't get a moment's respite except on the long straights. Even these sections remain difficult because the bike is constantly shifting and going very fast. »

Despite his current dominance, the Rimini native has never finished higher than sixth on the Texas track (in 2023 and 2025). To extend his lead in the standings, he will therefore have to master a circuit that has not yet been kind to him, while keeping a close eye on the local champion: Marc Márquez.

But even Márquez, who holds the absolute record for victories on this track (7), confirms its technical nature. The fact that there are twenty turns forces us to adopt three different driving styles on each lap. analysis by the nine-time world champion. The most difficult part is the first sector because each lap is different; even trying to be precise is impossible. »

Still hampered by the after-effects of his injury sustained in Indonesia last year, the nine-time world champion will have to dig deep to endure the pain inflicted on his left arm by the eleven left-hand corners of the COTA circuit. If he manages to overcome his physical limitations, Márquez could make history by securing his 100th Grand Prix victory across all categories.

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