Marc Marquez Rates American MotoGP Racetracks

Which track does the five-time world champ count as his personal favorite, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca or Circuit of The Americas?

Not even a mid-session crash could stop Marquez from dominating Free Practice sessions at Circuit of the Americas in 2016.Photo: Repsol Honda

Three-time and defending MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez has never been beaten in Grand Prix racing's top class in America. On Sunday at Circuit of The Americas, round three of the championship, the Spaniard could win his 11th race on US soil.

After Thursday’s pre-event press conference, I asked the 24-year-old Repsol Honda rider to rank the three American tracks—COTA, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway—where he has raced beginning in 2008 in order of personal preference. Just one, COTA, remains on the schedule.

"Austin is the one that is more like a real MotoGP track," Marquez began. "Then, the second one is Laguna. It's a really nice place. It was incredible to race there—only one year, in 2013, but it was incredible."

Marquez was the only rider to break the 1'32 barrier during Q2 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015.Photo: Repsol Honda
Marquez on the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca podium in 2013.Photo: Repsol Hoinda

Marquez earned three premier-class victories in consecutive years—2013, 2014, and 2015—at IMS. “Indy was maybe the most strange track,” he said. “Everything is flat. Of course, the flagman, Kevin Clark, always was there.”

Saving the best for last, Marquez concluded, “Between these three tracks, this one—COTA—is the one I enjoy most. It’s really long, has many different types of corners, and the first part of the circuit is really difficult. I enjoy it a lot.”

COTA 2017: Marc Marquez posted the second-quickest time in opening practice on Friday morning at Circuit of the Americas. All 10 of Marquez’s premier-class victories on American soil have come on factory Honda machinery.Photo: Repsol Honda