MotoGP™ is returning to Austin, Texas this week for round 3 of the 2025 MotoGP™ World Championship for one of the paddock’s favorites, the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales will be looking forward to some American rodeo time on a track which has both seen them win in the past. Although they are still both in the process of taming their beasts to be able to perfectly dance on it, both riders are heading on familiar territory, which hopefully will both benefit their respective performances.
Grand Prix of the Americas
The adaptation to the RC16 will continue this week in Austin, as a new challenge awaits both Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales for their third race weekend on the KTM. Bastianini showed competitive pace in Termas last week despite the bad luck of the early laps, and Viñales left Argentine with a positive mindset after racing the main event with a better feeling, bringing a good base of work to further develop in Austin. While the learning continues, extra challenges will add up this week, as COTA’s bumps, its 20 corners and changes of directions make the American layout one of the most physically challenging of the season. However, both Bestia and Top Gun have had success in the past in Austin, letting us think that the adaptation with the KTM could be a bit smoother this week: Bastianini won the 2022 edition and was on the third step last season, as he shared the podium with an invincible Viñales who won both sprint race and main event from the pole position.
MotoGP™ track action will begin on Friday, with Free Practice 1 at 10:45 (UTC-5), followed by the afternoon’s practice at 15h00, with Bastianini and Viñales’ first challenge of the weekend, as only the ten fastest riders will grab their direct Q2 ticket. Super Saturday in Texas is set to be exciting with more action going on in COTA: Free Practice 2 will kick off the day at 10:10, and the qualifying sessions will follow immediately at 10:50 local time. In the afternoon, lights of the Tissot Sprint will go out at 15:00 for 10 laps, before the main event takes place on Sunday at 14:00 (UTC-5) for 20 laps. Beware of the clock though, as there will be daylight saving time changes in some regions on Sunday!
ENEA BASTIANINI: "Argentina was unlucky for us, which is a real shame because I had made a decent start and the end story could have been different. Anyway, we move on to go to Austin, one of my favorite tracks of the calendar. It will be interesting to see what will be my potential on the KTM in COTA. I have many good memories from Texas, and I love going to the USA. Austin is a great city, and there are always many fans and a good atmosphere, so I'm looking forward to it, and hopefully I can be competitive."
MAVERICK VIÑALES: "I left Argentina with a good feeling after the race, I think that we finally found a good base which suited me a bit better, so I really look forward to exploring this direction more in Austin. It is a track that I enjoy a lot, very demanding physically, where I had great success last season, but we are realistic. We will arrive with a new bike for me, which I am still trying to figure out, so we won't arrive with the same targets. On Friday, it will be important to find our base for the weekend, so we can improve from there in qualifying the next day, until Sunday's race! I am super excited for this round, let's go!"
NICOLAS GOYON, Team Manager: "We are heading to the USA, one final stop on the American continent, for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, held in Austin on one of the only left hand side circuits of the championship. As always, Austin is one of the most important for our title sponsor Red Bull, where both Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales will aim to shine. Enea was frustrated after Argentina's race, as he was pushed out by another rider after recovering 7 positions in two laps, so we know that he will aim to take his revenge this week. On Maverick's side, the feeling was really positive during the main race in Argentina, so he will be heading to COTA with a lot of motivation to keep going in that direction. We also all remember Maverick's incredible weekend in Austin last season, so we know he can be strong there. Hopefully we will have all the elements together to deliver Red Bull a strong result in Texas."
ABOUT THE TRACK
The Circuit Of The Americas is the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the U.S. near Austin, Texas, with a 5.513km track and a capacity for 120,000 fans. Construction of the impressive 1000-acre facility was completed late in 2012, with MotoGP™ lining up at the track for the first time in 2013. One of its more distinctive features is near 41m-elevation change with an impressive incline at the end of the home-straight followed by a sharp left. The circuit is one of the most varied of the calendar, with a mix of fast straights and tight hairpins. The driving direction is counterclockwise and has a total of 20 corners with 9 right turns and 11 left turns, and its fast changes of direction make it one of the most physically demanding of the year. Marc Marquez is the most successful rider in COTA, having won 7 of the 11 editions of the Grand Prix of the Americas. Alex Rins, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales belong to the very close circle of MotoGP™ riders who have also managed to win the coveted trophy in Austin.
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2024 - M. Viñales (SPA) - 2'00.864, 164.2 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2024 - M. Viñales (SPA) - 2'02.575, 161.9 km/h
Best Pole: 2024 - M. Viñales (SPA) - 2'00.864, 164.2 km/h
Top Speed: 2023 M. Viñales (SPA) - 356.4 km/h
