Jorge Martin delivered a sensational late charge to claim victory in a chaotic and drama-filled MotoGP Sprint at the Circuit of the Americas, marking his first Sprint win since 2024—and his first with Aprilia Racing.
In a race packed with incidents, strategy twists, and last-lap drama, the reigning World Champion made a decisive move on Francesco Bagnaia in the closing stages to seal a stunning comeback victory.
Bagnaia had looked in control for most of the Sprint, leading from the front after a clean getaway. But as the laps ticked down, Martin steadily reeled him in.
On the final lap, the #89 made his move—a bold, clinical overtake at Turn 12—before pulling clear to win by seven tenths of a second.
Incredibly, the drama didn’t end there. During his celebration, Martin crashed after a wheelie on the cooldown lap—fortunately escaping unhurt in a moment that summed up an unforgettable afternoon.
Bagnaia secured second place after leading the majority of the race, while Pedro Acosta initially crossed the line in third.
However, a post-race tyre pressure penalty demoted Acosta, promoting Enea Bastianini—riding for Red Bull KTM Tech3—onto the podium in third.
The Sprint was defined by relentless drama: Marc Marquez crashed out early while attempting an overtake on Fabio Di Giannantonio, taking both riders out of contention. The incident earns Marquez a Long Lap penalty for Sunday.
Marco Bezzecchi, running near the front, crashed with just three laps remaining, ending his podium hopes.
Joan Mir also crashed on the final lap while battling for third.
The high attrition rate reshuffled the order dramatically, opening the door for Martin’s late surge. Bagnaia dominated the early phases with clean race management, and Martin emerged as the fastest rider in the closing laps.
However, Enea Bastianini capitalised late to secure a surprise podium after Pedro Acosta received an 8-second penalty due to violating tyre pressure.
🏁 Final Sprint Top Finishers
- Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing)
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) +0.755
- Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) +3.199 (after penalty)
- Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing) +3.638
- Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) +5.521
The victory propels Martin to the top of the MotoGP standings, underlining his growing confidence with Aprilia and signaling a serious title push.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
