Austin first welcomed the world’s best riders in 2013 and the teams, competitors, and fans are back for the 12th edition this weekend. MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas pre-event odds heavily favor Marc Marquez. The series leader has dominated this event, winning seven of the previous 11 races. Maverick Viñales returns to defend his crown but will battle against the in-form older Marquez.
After reading our analysis, check out ourpartner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place bets.
In addition to traditional sports betting on MotoGP, the Grand Prix of the Americas has Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Real Money Gaming available in a Pick’Em style on Underdog. Although “fantasy games” might seem misleading, DFS is a significant and growing category within legal sports wagering. MotoGP fans are allowed to legally make better/worse picks with real money gaming in 30 states, including California, Texas & Wisconsin, where traditional sports betting is currently illegal.
Schedule and How to Watch the Grand Prix of the Americas
A festival of MotoGP racing pulls out of the pit lane at 11:45 AM ET on Friday for FP1. Qualifying hits the track late on Saturday morning with the first session on the cards for 11:50 AM, followed directly by the second round.
Riders will line up on the grid for the customary Saturday sprint at 4 PM Eastern, before returning to the track on Sunday for a 3 PM Grand Prix start. Fox Sports, your dedicated motorsports broadcaster, is standing by from the track in Austin to bring you live coverage of all the practice, qualifying, sprint, and the main event.
Weather Forecast For Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas
Warm temperatures are forecast for the GP weekend, fluctuating between the low to high 70s. Rain is on the cards for all three days, but practice on Friday will receive the brunt of it. Windy predicts 0.083 inches of precipitation on Friday afternoon during practice, with light rain set to fall on Saturday and Sunday.
Best Bets and Picks for the 2025 MotoGP of the Americas
Top Picks and Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Marc Marquez
-400
$25.00
Alex Marquez
+400
$100.00
Francesco Bagnaia
+700
$160.00
Marc Marquez (-400):
Series leader Marc Marquez returns to a track where he has accumulated a 63.64% winning record. Seven wins at this track make the oldest Marquez brother the most winningest MotoGP rider at this venue, and he is well positioned to win an eighth here. The Cerveri has taken the checkered flag in every race in 2025, claiming the sprint and Grand Prix in Thailand and Argentina.
Alex Marquez (+400):
Alex Marquez looked calm in Argentina, leading for the majority of Sunday’s race, before yielding to his older brother. Alex settled for second, a position he has grown accustomed to this season, finishing runner-up in every GP and sprint race so far in 2025.
Francesco Bagnaia (+700):
Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia tasted success at the Austin track in 2023, when he crossed the line first in the sprint. The Italian is yet to lift a trophy in the Grand Prix at this track, despite qualifying fastest twice in his COTA history. Besides historical results here, Bagnaia starts with one GP and two sprint podiums to his name this season.
Outsider Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Franco Morbidelli
+2000
$420.00
Marco Bezzecchi
+2800
$580.00
Brad Binder
+4000
$820.00
Franco Morbidelli (+2000):
Prima Pramac rider Franco Morbidelli is a consistent character this season, finishing inside the top five in both Sunday races. He clung to fourth place in Thailand, before bettering it in Termas de Rio Hondo with a podium place. The Italian struggled in the United States last season, crossing the line 10th in the sprint and crashing out in the Grand Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi (+2800):
Marco Bezzecchi walked away from Texas last year with 13th in the sprint and an eighth-place return in the Grand Prix. His campaign started on a promising note in Thailand when he crossed the line in sixth on the Sunday, but he struggled in Argentina, crashing out on the first lap. Bezzecchi hit the brakes too late, hitting Quartararo’s rear tire.
Brad Binder (+4000):
Two-time Moto GP winner Brad Binder finds himself in 7th on the standings after finishing inside the top 10 in Thailand and Argentina. The South African crashed out of the sprint early at Termas de Rio Hondo, after Morbidelli made contact with him. Binder’s last trip to Texas yielded a ninth-place finish in the Grand Prix, and he finished outside the top 10 in the sprint.
Expert Pick for MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas
His odds are short, but Marc Marquez’s record, coupled with his current form makes him our expert pick. The veteran is in-form after back-to-back victories to open the season and he is a seven-time winner in Austin. Sportsbooks have the Championship leader at -400, paying $25 for the win.
Where to Bet on MotoGP
Visit our partner sportsbooksto access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you anticipate the upcoming GP of the Americas. If you’re a newbie in the world of MotoGP betting, our comprehensive MotoGP Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.
MotoGP is back at the Circuit of the Americas for the 12th edition of the event. Maverick Viñales begins his title defence on Friday, but a woeful start to 2025, places him among the longshots for the event. Marc Marquez holds a dominant record at this track with seven wins in 11 attempts. Can the older Marquez win again in Austin and extend his series lead?
Marc Márquez’s weekend at the United States Grand Prix at COTA was defined more by penalties, aero and injury issues than by his finishing position. A Sprint crash with Fabio Di Giannantonio earned him a mandatory long‑lap penalty — a sanction Márquez said resulted from a risky pass attempt — that cost him exactly 2.505 seconds when taken on lap 4 and dropped him to 11th early in the race. He recovered to fifth after an extended scrap with Enea Bastianini, finishing just 0.143 seconds clear of the Italian. Márquez said rivals “increase the intensity” when they race him and that Sprint mistakes and first‑lap penalties carry over to the main race.
Aerodynamics and “dirty air” compounded Márquez’s problems at COTA. He told reporters being stuck in dirty air made it “practically impossible” to ride competitively and estimated the effect at roughly a second per lap. The race also underlined wider technical gaps: Aprilia completed a one-two with Marco Bezzecchi (who won, Aprilia’s third straight factory win) and Jorge Martin, while Ducati staff acknowledged tire-wear problems at COTA and introduced short-term Aprilia-style rear aero and leg wings.
Ducati technical staff and analysts warned the team is playing catch-up after Aprilia’s winter step. Team principal Davide Tardozzi said further engineering updates are expected by Jerez as Ducati tries to close the gap. Tardozzi added Márquez was “not in good shape” following shoulder injuries sustained in Indonesia and will use the break before Jerez to work on his shoulder. Márquez said, “It’s me who’s missing, not the bike,” complained he lacked feel in the opening laps, that fresh tires made the Desmosedici feel “aggressive,” and that he needed six to ten laps to ride competitively. Despite showing strong mid-race pace — Tardozzi highlighted he could gain roughly eight tenths over 5–6 laps — Márquez sat fifth in the championship, 36 points adrift of the leader, and warned a turnaround was not guaranteed as he prepares to focus on starts and arm recovery before Jerez.
Nicolo Bulega wants a full-time MotoGP ride in 2027, but his pathway is far from certain. He is Ducati’s test and reserve rider and publicly insists he deserves a 2027 MotoGP seat, and Ducati does not share that view, creating a public disagreement about his immediate future. Bulega made his MotoGP debut at the end of 2025 as Marc Márquez’s injury replacement and scored two Sunday points in Portugal and Valencia, the only Sunday points Ducati scored while Márquez was out. His contract with Aruba expires this year, and several reports say most Desmosedici seats already appear booked as Ducati pursues different plans, which shrinks his realistic MotoGP options unless Ducati changes course or other teams open places.
Commentators have pointed to alternative routes, including a move linked to Trackhouse and interest from Aprilia. An article suggested Aprilia should target the Ducati-backed Bulega for 2027, potentially routed through Trackhouse, noting his relatively faster adaptation to Pirelli tires as a technical asset and as a way to deny Ducati a development resource. Journalist Giovanni Zamagni has suggested Trackhouse boss Davide Brivio could champion Bulega and that Bulega might line up alongside Enea Bastianini at Trackhouse. A factory Ducati seat looks closed since Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta are signed for 2027, and VR46 appears unlikely because Fermin Aldeguer is locked in and Fabio Di Giannantonio is expected to keep his seat. Bulega has been linked with Gresini, but Zamagni and others argue Gresini would probably avoid running two rookies in 2027. His manager has said offers are limited because Ducati-affiliated seats are largely occupied by VR46 and Gresini. The market is crowded, with Joan Mir, Luca Marini and several Moto2 prospects also in contention, and Ai Ogura confirmed at Yamaha for 2027.
MotoGP will undergo a major technical overhaul in 2027, with 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, a ban on ride-height devices and a switch to Pirelli tires, changes that could reshape team priorities and rider lineups. Bulega has been working on Ducati’s 850cc development while racing in WorldSBK, and his WorldSBK form this season has been strong: he opened the campaign with six wins in six races and leads the championship. One report noted he is not due to test Ducati’s new 850cc bike until at least June. Ultimately, whether Bulega moves to MotoGP in 2027 will depend on final team decisions, seat availability and how the 2027 technical changes affect team strategy.
MotoGP Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is a fresh take on racing predictions. It is a simpler but high-octane gameplay that allows you to interact directly with motorcycle races. MotoGP DFS differs from traditional fantasy sports. Traditional fantasy sports focus on season-long team drafting and management, while MotoGP DFS focuses on single-race events. In MotoGP DFS, …
Multiple reports say Pramac and Yamaha are preparing to promote Moto2 rider Izan Guevara to MotoGP for 2027. The move is described as provisional but close to being signed and is expected to be finalized before the summer break. Federico Zamagni reported Guevara’s Blu Cru contract contains a clause that could allow or compel a move to Pramac if he delivers “the right result” at the Catalan Grand Prix, a threshold Zamagni describes as securing the points needed to take the Moto2 championship lead. If activated, that scenario would likely displace Jack Miller at Pramac and leave Miller’s immediate future uncertain.
Reports give Guevara’s age as either 21, turning 22 next month, or 22. He extended his Yamaha contract through the end of 2027 and has built momentum on track: he won the 2025 Valencia Moto2 Grand Prix, and this season he has taken three podiums in the opening five rounds including a victory at Le Mans, leaving him second in the Moto2 riders’ standings. An impressive private test on a Yamaha M1, earlier Yamaha YZR-M1 testing and his involvement in Yamaha’s Moto2 project, backed by Pramac manager Gino Borsoi, are cited as factors behind the planned promotion.
Coverage of Yamaha’s intended 2027 reshuffle, reportedly overseen by managing director Paolo Pavesio, says Guevara would join Pramac alongside Toprak Razgatlioglu, with Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura in factory Yamaha seats. Some reports add that Alex Rins could leave and former factory rider Fabio Quartararo might move to Honda. That coverage also notes Jack Miller’s dip in competitiveness, no wins since 2022, currently last among full-time riders and outscored 5-0 by rookie teammate Toprak, though Miller posted one of his strongest Friday practice sessions at Catalonia and said, “I’m sick and f**king tired of being at the back.”
Best Bets: 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas Pre-Event Odds Analysis
Austin first welcomed the world’s best riders in 2013 and the teams, competitors, and fans are back for the 12th edition this weekend. MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas pre-event odds heavily favor Marc Marquez. The series leader has dominated this event, winning seven of the previous 11 races. Maverick Viñales returns to defend his crown but will battle against the in-form older Marquez.
After reading our analysis, check out our partner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place bets.
In addition to traditional sports betting on MotoGP, the Grand Prix of the Americas has Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Real Money Gaming available in a Pick’Em style on Underdog. Although “fantasy games” might seem misleading, DFS is a significant and growing category within legal sports wagering. MotoGP fans are allowed to legally make better/worse picks with real money gaming in 30 states, including California, Texas & Wisconsin, where traditional sports betting is currently illegal.
Schedule and How to Watch the Grand Prix of the Americas
A festival of MotoGP racing pulls out of the pit lane at 11:45 AM ET on Friday for FP1. Qualifying hits the track late on Saturday morning with the first session on the cards for 11:50 AM, followed directly by the second round.
Riders will line up on the grid for the customary Saturday sprint at 4 PM Eastern, before returning to the track on Sunday for a 3 PM Grand Prix start. Fox Sports, your dedicated motorsports broadcaster, is standing by from the track in Austin to bring you live coverage of all the practice, qualifying, sprint, and the main event.
Weather Forecast For Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas
Warm temperatures are forecast for the GP weekend, fluctuating between the low to high 70s. Rain is on the cards for all three days, but practice on Friday will receive the brunt of it. Windy predicts 0.083 inches of precipitation on Friday afternoon during practice, with light rain set to fall on Saturday and Sunday.
Best Bets and Picks for the 2025 MotoGP of the Americas
Top Picks and Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Marc Marquez
-400
$25.00
Alex Marquez
+400
$100.00
Francesco Bagnaia
+700
$160.00
Marc Marquez (-400):
Series leader Marc Marquez returns to a track where he has accumulated a 63.64% winning record. Seven wins at this track make the oldest Marquez brother the most winningest MotoGP rider at this venue, and he is well positioned to win an eighth here. The Cerveri has taken the checkered flag in every race in 2025, claiming the sprint and Grand Prix in Thailand and Argentina.
Alex Marquez (+400):
Alex Marquez looked calm in Argentina, leading for the majority of Sunday’s race, before yielding to his older brother. Alex settled for second, a position he has grown accustomed to this season, finishing runner-up in every GP and sprint race so far in 2025.
Francesco Bagnaia (+700):
Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia tasted success at the Austin track in 2023, when he crossed the line first in the sprint. The Italian is yet to lift a trophy in the Grand Prix at this track, despite qualifying fastest twice in his COTA history. Besides historical results here, Bagnaia starts with one GP and two sprint podiums to his name this season.
Outsider Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Franco Morbidelli
+2000
$420.00
Marco Bezzecchi
+2800
$580.00
Brad Binder
+4000
$820.00
Franco Morbidelli (+2000):
Prima Pramac rider Franco Morbidelli is a consistent character this season, finishing inside the top five in both Sunday races. He clung to fourth place in Thailand, before bettering it in Termas de Rio Hondo with a podium place. The Italian struggled in the United States last season, crossing the line 10th in the sprint and crashing out in the Grand Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi (+2800):
Marco Bezzecchi walked away from Texas last year with 13th in the sprint and an eighth-place return in the Grand Prix. His campaign started on a promising note in Thailand when he crossed the line in sixth on the Sunday, but he struggled in Argentina, crashing out on the first lap. Bezzecchi hit the brakes too late, hitting Quartararo’s rear tire.
Brad Binder (+4000):
Two-time Moto GP winner Brad Binder finds himself in 7th on the standings after finishing inside the top 10 in Thailand and Argentina. The South African crashed out of the sprint early at Termas de Rio Hondo, after Morbidelli made contact with him. Binder’s last trip to Texas yielded a ninth-place finish in the Grand Prix, and he finished outside the top 10 in the sprint.
Expert Pick for MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas
His odds are short, but Marc Marquez’s record, coupled with his current form makes him our expert pick. The veteran is in-form after back-to-back victories to open the season and he is a seven-time winner in Austin. Sportsbooks have the Championship leader at -400, paying $25 for the win.
Where to Bet on MotoGP
Visit our partner sportsbooks to access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you anticipate the upcoming GP of the Americas. If you’re a newbie in the world of MotoGP betting, our comprehensive MotoGP Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.
MotoGP is back at the Circuit of the Americas for the 12th edition of the event. Maverick Viñales begins his title defence on Friday, but a woeful start to 2025, places him among the longshots for the event. Marc Marquez holds a dominant record at this track with seven wins in 11 attempts. Can the older Marquez win again in Austin and extend his series lead?
Related Posts
Dirty air, aero gaps hamper Márquez as Aprilia posts 1-2
Marc Márquez’s weekend at the United States Grand Prix at COTA was defined more by penalties, aero and injury issues than by his finishing position. A Sprint crash with Fabio Di Giannantonio earned him a mandatory long‑lap penalty — a sanction Márquez said resulted from a risky pass attempt — that cost him exactly 2.505 seconds when taken on lap 4 and dropped him to 11th early in the race. He recovered to fifth after an extended scrap with Enea Bastianini, finishing just 0.143 seconds clear of the Italian. Márquez said rivals “increase the intensity” when they race him and that Sprint mistakes and first‑lap penalties carry over to the main race.
Aerodynamics and “dirty air” compounded Márquez’s problems at COTA. He told reporters being stuck in dirty air made it “practically impossible” to ride competitively and estimated the effect at roughly a second per lap. The race also underlined wider technical gaps: Aprilia completed a one-two with Marco Bezzecchi (who won, Aprilia’s third straight factory win) and Jorge Martin, while Ducati staff acknowledged tire-wear problems at COTA and introduced short-term Aprilia-style rear aero and leg wings.
Ducati technical staff and analysts warned the team is playing catch-up after Aprilia’s winter step. Team principal Davide Tardozzi said further engineering updates are expected by Jerez as Ducati tries to close the gap. Tardozzi added Márquez was “not in good shape” following shoulder injuries sustained in Indonesia and will use the break before Jerez to work on his shoulder. Márquez said, “It’s me who’s missing, not the bike,” complained he lacked feel in the opening laps, that fresh tires made the Desmosedici feel “aggressive,” and that he needed six to ten laps to ride competitively. Despite showing strong mid-race pace — Tardozzi highlighted he could gain roughly eight tenths over 5–6 laps — Márquez sat fifth in the championship, 36 points adrift of the leader, and warned a turnaround was not guaranteed as he prepares to focus on starts and arm recovery before Jerez.
2027 rules and Ducati line-up threaten Bulega’s MotoGP bid
Nicolo Bulega wants a full-time MotoGP ride in 2027, but his pathway is far from certain. He is Ducati’s test and reserve rider and publicly insists he deserves a 2027 MotoGP seat, and Ducati does not share that view, creating a public disagreement about his immediate future. Bulega made his MotoGP debut at the end of 2025 as Marc Márquez’s injury replacement and scored two Sunday points in Portugal and Valencia, the only Sunday points Ducati scored while Márquez was out. His contract with Aruba expires this year, and several reports say most Desmosedici seats already appear booked as Ducati pursues different plans, which shrinks his realistic MotoGP options unless Ducati changes course or other teams open places.
Commentators have pointed to alternative routes, including a move linked to Trackhouse and interest from Aprilia. An article suggested Aprilia should target the Ducati-backed Bulega for 2027, potentially routed through Trackhouse, noting his relatively faster adaptation to Pirelli tires as a technical asset and as a way to deny Ducati a development resource. Journalist Giovanni Zamagni has suggested Trackhouse boss Davide Brivio could champion Bulega and that Bulega might line up alongside Enea Bastianini at Trackhouse. A factory Ducati seat looks closed since Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta are signed for 2027, and VR46 appears unlikely because Fermin Aldeguer is locked in and Fabio Di Giannantonio is expected to keep his seat. Bulega has been linked with Gresini, but Zamagni and others argue Gresini would probably avoid running two rookies in 2027. His manager has said offers are limited because Ducati-affiliated seats are largely occupied by VR46 and Gresini. The market is crowded, with Joan Mir, Luca Marini and several Moto2 prospects also in contention, and Ai Ogura confirmed at Yamaha for 2027.
MotoGP will undergo a major technical overhaul in 2027, with 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, a ban on ride-height devices and a switch to Pirelli tires, changes that could reshape team priorities and rider lineups. Bulega has been working on Ducati’s 850cc development while racing in WorldSBK, and his WorldSBK form this season has been strong: he opened the campaign with six wins in six races and leads the championship. One report noted he is not due to test Ducati’s new 850cc bike until at least June. Ultimately, whether Bulega moves to MotoGP in 2027 will depend on final team decisions, seat availability and how the 2027 technical changes affect team strategy.
How to Play MotoGP DFS in Nebraska
MotoGP Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is a fresh take on racing predictions. It is a simpler but high-octane gameplay that allows you to interact directly with motorcycle races. MotoGP DFS differs from traditional fantasy sports. Traditional fantasy sports focus on season-long team drafting and management, while MotoGP DFS focuses on single-race events. In MotoGP DFS, …
Guevara poised to join Pramac as Yamaha maps 2027 lineup
Multiple reports say Pramac and Yamaha are preparing to promote Moto2 rider Izan Guevara to MotoGP for 2027. The move is described as provisional but close to being signed and is expected to be finalized before the summer break. Federico Zamagni reported Guevara’s Blu Cru contract contains a clause that could allow or compel a move to Pramac if he delivers “the right result” at the Catalan Grand Prix, a threshold Zamagni describes as securing the points needed to take the Moto2 championship lead. If activated, that scenario would likely displace Jack Miller at Pramac and leave Miller’s immediate future uncertain.
Reports give Guevara’s age as either 21, turning 22 next month, or 22. He extended his Yamaha contract through the end of 2027 and has built momentum on track: he won the 2025 Valencia Moto2 Grand Prix, and this season he has taken three podiums in the opening five rounds including a victory at Le Mans, leaving him second in the Moto2 riders’ standings. An impressive private test on a Yamaha M1, earlier Yamaha YZR-M1 testing and his involvement in Yamaha’s Moto2 project, backed by Pramac manager Gino Borsoi, are cited as factors behind the planned promotion.
Coverage of Yamaha’s intended 2027 reshuffle, reportedly overseen by managing director Paolo Pavesio, says Guevara would join Pramac alongside Toprak Razgatlioglu, with Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura in factory Yamaha seats. Some reports add that Alex Rins could leave and former factory rider Fabio Quartararo might move to Honda. That coverage also notes Jack Miller’s dip in competitiveness, no wins since 2022, currently last among full-time riders and outscored 5-0 by rookie teammate Toprak, though Miller posted one of his strongest Friday practice sessions at Catalonia and said, “I’m sick and f**king tired of being at the back.”