Pol Espargaro has backed Ducati star Marc Marquez to take advantage of the 2026 MotoGP United States Grand Prix at the “lucky” COTA to start his season after a difficult start to the year.
Marquez He specializes in the Circuit of the Americas, with seven Grand Prix wins to his name in Austin, Texas to date. No other rider has taken more than four victories in all world championship classes at COTA, however Marquez has taken all seven victories in MotoGP.
In the year Márquez would have had eight COTA wins last season if not for the crash leading up to the 2025 US Grand Prix. Teammate of Ducati Francesco Bagnaia won at COTA in 2025 after Marquez crashed When he wants to stretch his lead out front.
even if Marquez’s quick crash in FP1 at the 2026 United States GP On Friday, early signs are encouraging for the U.S. once again. Marquez set the pace in practice at COTA. In the timed pre-qualifying session he clocked 2:00.927, just 0.063s shy of the lap record.
Is Marc Marquez’s reaction to his FP1 crash at COTA the biggest hint yet that he may retire from MotoGP in 2026?
Pol Espargaro advises Marc Marquez to use US Grand Prix as squeeze season
Maverick Vinales set MotoGP’s all-time lap record around COTA in 2024 with a lap of 2:00.864, which many would expect Marquez to eclipse in qualifying for 2026. United States GP. Trackhouse ace Ai Ogura also recorded a 2:00.980 during practice on the Aprilia RS-GP.
Read more: How to watch the 2026 United States Grand Prix and the COTA Sprint
Espargaro In Sunday’s race, Marquez will certainly expect to fight at the front after working on the intersection. Michelin Tires during practice on Friday. A strong result this Sunday could serve as a springboard for Marquez’s year after problems in Thailand and Brazil.
Espargaro said on DAZN, via quotes Motosan: “He was one of the few riders who did a lot with the medium front and medium rear tires. Not for tomorrow’s Sprint, but for Sunday, because of the high temperature and the failure of the rear tire, which is the tire of choice.
“So Marc is working hard. Maybe we will see a very competitive Marc who will use this Grand Prix – we have said many times – riders who go through difficult times will use these lucky circuits to get back to where they were before those problems.”
Marc Marquez tops practice time at US GP – Who’s your favorite for Pole at COTA?
Marquez had to give the victory to Pedro Acosta in the Buriram Sprint After the KTM received a late-race penalty forcing the rider onto a wide lap. To make his start to the season even worse, Marquez was hurt in anger when he hit the curb at the Thai Grand Prix.
And the last time he took the first victory of 2026, as Marquez won the Goiania Sprintthe Brazilian Grand Prix didn’t finish as well as it could have. Marquez lost P3 to Fabio di Giantantonio at the Brazilian GP. Cause of VR46 track surface cracking.
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