Francesco Bagnaia secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix at the Motegi Mobility Resort, ending a difficult run of recent results. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez made a significant stride toward clinching the 2025 MotoGP world championship after qualifying on the front row.
Bagnaia Sets New Lap Record to Top Qualifying Session
At the rebranded Motegi circuit, Bagnaia recorded an impressive lap time of 1m42.911s, establishing a new track record and edging out Honda’s Joan Mir by less than a tenth of a second. Marquez completed the top three, narrowing the gap to his rivals, especially as his brother and closest contender, Alex Marquez, started from eighth on the grid.
The qualifying session began with Marc Marquez taking early control, laying down a time of 1m43.413s on his factory Ducati. However, as Marquez returned to the pits, Bagnaia surged ahead by seventy milliseconds to claim the provisional lead.
Riders Push Limits as Qualifying Intensifies
Fabio Quartararo pushed his Yamaha into third place briefly, relegating the initial Friday pacesetter Marco Bezzecchi to fourth after his first runs. Alex Marquez, progressing from Q1, slotted into eighth early on.
As riders came back onto the track on fresher tires during the session’s latter half, lap times quickly improved. Franco Morbidelli, Marc Marquez, and Joan Mir each took turns leading the standings, highlighting the competitive atmosphere.
With just twenty seconds left, Bagnaia produced the first lap under 1m43s at Motegi, solidifying his pole position and securing his first front-row start since the Czech Grand Prix in July. Despite last-minute attempts by other riders, none matched the Italian’s pace.
Mir Nears First Pole and Marquez Eyes Championship Advantage
Joan Mir narrowly missed out on his maiden MotoGP pole by 0.092 seconds, but claiming second place marked his best qualifying position on the home track of Honda, his manufacturer. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez finished third, 0.132 seconds behind Bagnaia, positioning himself strongly for Sunday’s race as he pursues his ninth world title and seventh in MotoGP.
Alex Marquez, riding for Gresini, could only manage eighth place, a setback in the championship battle.
Notable Performances and Challenges in Midfield
KTM’s Pedro Acosta delivered a commendable performance, qualifying fourth despite a suspected issue with his ride-height device that limited him to a single lap. Joining the second row were Quartararo in fifth and MotoGP rookie Franco Morbidelli in sixth, who advanced through Q1.
Luca Marini secured seventh on his factory Honda, placing ahead of Alex Marquez, while Marco Bezzecchi achieved Aprilia’s best qualifying position in ninth. Completing the top ten was Raul Fernandez, also riding for Aprilia.
Johann Zarco and Fabio Di Giannantonio took 11th and 12th places respectively for LCR and VR46 teams.
Late Incidents Affect Other Riders’ Qualifying Efforts
Ai Ogura of Trackhouse Racing missed advancing to Q2 due to late yellow flags caused by separate crashes involving Alex Rins and Brad Binder, confining him to 13th on the grid. Pramac’s Jack Miller posted the 14th quickest time, with rookie Fermin Aldeguer close behind in 15th after a crash at Turn 15 just moments post his fastest lap.
Miguel Oliveira and Jorge Martin endured difficult sessions, managing only 16th and 17th positions respectively, while three KTMs failed to move beyond Q1—Brad Binder was 18th after a crash, with Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales completing the lower ranks in 21st and 23rd.
Q2 and Q1 Result Overview
The Q2 running order saw Bagnaia at 1m42.911s, closely followed by Joan Mir and Marc Marquez. The competitive field was tightly packed, with several riders separated by fractions of a second down to the tenth place, reflecting a closely contested qualifying session.
In Q1, riders battled to advance, with times ranging from 1m43.253s to over 1m44.7s. The session determined the final contenders for the second qualifying round and ultimately the grid positions.
Implications for the Race and Championship Outlook
Bagnaia’s pole position revitalizes his campaign and will provide a psychological and tactical advantage heading into Sunday’s race at Motegi. Marc Marquez’s front-row start, combined with his points lead and his brother Alex’s mid-grid position, places him in a favorable spot to secure more championship points and potentially clinch the 2025 title.
The fluctuating qualifying results highlight the competitive depth within the MotoGP field, suggesting an unpredictable race ahead. Riders like Mir, Quartararo, and Acosta are well positioned to challenge for podium finishes, while the mid-pack battles will be critical for championship standings and team strategies.
