Bagnaia Wins Chaotic Americas Grand Prix as Marc Marquez Crashes Out

Francesco Bagnaia won the Americas Grand Prix after Marc Marquez crashed out, while Alex Marquez took the championship lead.

Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati secured a thrilling victory at the Americas Grand Prix, capitalizing on Marc Marquez's mid-race crash. Marquez, who had dominated the weekend by claiming pole position and winning the sprint on Saturday, was unable to continue after his bike suffered extensive damage in the crash.

The chaotic nature of the race was exemplified by Marquez's misfortune. After initially crashing, he opted to retire due to the significant damage to his bike. This unexpected turn of events opened the door for Bagnaia to claim the top spot on the podium.

Despite Bagnaia's win, the biggest beneficiary of the day was Alex Marquez. The Gresini Racing rider finished second, leapfrogging his brother Marc in the riders' championship standings. Alex Marquez now holds a slim one-point lead over Marc, with a total of 87 points.

The outcome of the Americas Grand Prix has significantly impacted the championship landscape. Alex Marquez's ascension to the top of the standings adds a new layer of intrigue to the season, while Bagnaia's victory has bolstered his own title aspirations.

Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 Racing made a valiant effort to catch up to Alex Marquez but ultimately ran out of laps, finishing third and securing a clean sweep of the podium for Ducati. Francesco Bagnaia, who claimed the top spot, was ecstatic about his victory. “I'm super happy, I'm already without (my) voice, I screamed out loud,” Bagnaia exclaimed after celebrating with a hot dog in the paddock.

Bagnaia's win marked a triumphant return to the top step of the podium after a challenging period. “What a fantastic feeling, to be back on the top step of the podium after such a difficult period,” he said, savoring the moment.

The Americas Grand Prix was marked by chaos from the outset. Just as the race was about to begin, the sun emerged, and riders who had chosen wet tyres rushed back to the pits to switch to slicks on the drying track. This led to a red flag, delaying the start of the 19-lap race. When the race finally got underway, Marc Marquez made a perfect launch off the line, taking the lead ahead of his brother Alex and Bagnaia.

As the race progressed, Bagnaia was determined to improve on his previous finishes behind the Marquez brothers. He used Alex's slipstream to overtake the Gresini rider and take second place on lap four. This move marked a crucial turning point in the race, as Bagnaia went on to capitalize on Marc Marquez's misfortune and claim the top spot on the podium.

Marc Marquez's hopes of a record-extending eighth victory at the Circuit of the Americas were dashed when he suddenly slid off the track on lap nine. Despite setting a race lap record, Marquez's crash allowed Francesco Bagnaia to close the gap and eventually take the lead. Bagnaia's eyes lit up as he grabbed the opportunity to extend his lead over Alex Marquez in the championship.

It’s a Ducati 1-2 in the MotoGP warm up with Marc Marquez leading Francesco Bagnaia

In third and fourth were the French duo of Johann Zarco and Fabio Quartararo

📸Ducati #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/mfDQXEbaEK

— Everything Moto Racing (@everythingmrace) March 30, 2025

Marc Marquez attempted to ride on without a foot peg and a screen but was forced to retire less than five laps later, nursing his bike back into the pits. Bagnaia went on to win with a two-second lead over Alex Marquez, who finished second for the third straight race. Alex acknowledged the significance of his finish, saying, “Now we are leading the championship, something that is really great. We are Mr Seconds, but (being) Mr Seconds also pays off.”

Fabio Di Giannantonio secured a podium finish, his first since 2023 in Qatar, where the next round will be held. An ecstatic Di Giannantonio exclaimed, “I'm just speechless, tired... Honestly, I need like 200 beers this night to recover.” He acknowledged that Marc Marquez's crash had given him an opportunity, saying, “For sure we got a little gift from Marc. But hey, that's racing.”

The top five was completed by Franco Morbidelli and Pramac Racing's Jack Miller. Alex Marquez's second-place finish propelled him to the top of the championship standings, while Bagnaia's victory kept him in contention. The next round in Qatar promises to be an exciting showdown as the riders battle for championship points.