--- title: "MotoGP World Championship Returns to the United States This Weekend" description: "It's time to put your cowboy boots and hat on, because MotoGP will soon rock the Lone Star State." date: "2018-04-19" modified: "2018-04-19" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20220/motogp-world-championship-returns-to-the-united-states-this-weekend" categories: - "News" tags: - "Austin" - "Circuit of the Americas" - "Marc Márquez" - "MotoGP" - "motorcycle racing" - "racing" - "Racing News" - "Texas" - "Valentino Rossi" --- # MotoGP World Championship Returns to the United States This Weekend ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* The MotoGP circus makes its third stop of the 2018 racing season in the U.S. for none other than the Grand Prix of the Americas, which like in years prior, will be contested at the home of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, the [Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas]() this weekend. The action on and off the track couldn't be any hotter right now, with three different winners in just as many races so far, and two of MotoGP's biggest last names currently [involved a war of words]() and tweets that fans can't get enough of. Of course, we're talking about Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, who following their violent encounter in Argentina have caused an uproar of public opinon—some saying that Marquez should be reprimanded, and others calling for Rossi to grow a pair. ![message-editor%2F1524110398454-gettyimages-671213076.jpg]() *GETTY* ![message-editor%2F1524110405265-gettyimages-670884822.jpg]() *GETTY* [Marc Marquez]() returns to the 2018 edition of the only North American race on the calendar as the reigning champion. In fact, having won the last five races at the Circuit of the Americas and the last nine MotoGP races in the United States, five at COTA, three at Indianapolis and one at Laguna Seca in California, it'd be more appropriate to call him the Spanish emperor in the United States, rather than *just* the reigning champ. Of course, Marquez's primary rivals like Rossi, [Andrea Dovizioso](), Jorge Lorenzo and Cal Crutchlow will be ready to pounce if given the opportunity, but given the Spaniard's record in the Lone Star State and the track's notoriety for the lack of passing opportunities, that might not happen at all. ![message-editor%2F1524110431985-gettyimages-672041720.jpg]() *GETTY* ![message-editor%2F1524110437723-gettyimages-672058374.jpg]() *GETTY* ## Grand Prix of the Americas Fun Facts: - In total, there have been 30 previous Grand Prix events hosted in the United States: [15 in Laguna Seca](), eight in Indianapolis, five in Austin, and two in Daytona. - Honda riders have won the last 14 MotoGP races in the U.S. The last non-Honda winner was Jorge Lorenzo at Laguna Seca in 2010. - All 15 podium finishers in the five previous MotoGP races held at Austin have been from either Spain or Italy. - Marc Marquez has won on each of the nine occasions he’s raced in the MotoGP class in America, five times at Austin, three times at Indianapolis and once at Laguna Seca. - Only once in these nine appearances in America has Marquez not been on pole. ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()