Francesco Bagnaia delivered a commanding performance to win the Japanese Grand Prix sprint at Motegi, marking a strong return after recent difficulties, while Marc Marquez made significant strides in his Marc Marquez title pursuit by securing a crucial podium finish. The event took place on Saturday, setting the stage for a dramatic final race day.
Bagnaia Leads From Start to Finish at Motegi
Starting from pole position, factory Ducati rider Bagnaia maintained control throughout the 12-lap sprint, never allowing his challengers to come close. His flawless execution earned him his first sprint victory since the 2024 Barcelona finale, underscoring his return to form after a challenging stretch earlier in the season.
Bagnaia quickly pulled away from the pack at the start, with Joan Mir’s factory Honda initially holding second place. Pedro Acosta launched aggressively from fourth on the grid, overtaking Marc Marquez into Turn 5 to claim third.
Behind the leaders, the race experienced an early setback when reigning champion Jorge Martin lost control of his Aprilia at Turn 1 under heavy braking, triggering a crash that also took out teammate Marco Bezzecchi. Luckily, the yellow flags were cleared swiftly, allowing the competition to resume without delay.
Acosta and Mir Battle for Position While Bagnaia Extends Lead
On lap 2, Acosta overtook Mir, moving into second place and putting pressure on Bagnaia. However, the Ducati rider steadily increased his gap, leading by 1.5 seconds after five laps. Despite expectations that Acosta might pose a more serious threat, Bagnaia remained composed, extending his advantage to nearly 1.85 seconds by the finish.
Marquez Advances to Second Amidst Competitive Moves
Marc Marquez initially struggled with pace, falling behind in the early stages. Nevertheless, he fought back, passing Mir and Acosta near the race’s conclusion to seize second place. The eventual overtake on Mir required several attempts, including running wide multiple times, before executing a clean block pass on lap 8. Moving past Acosta was more straightforward as the KTM rider faded in the race’s final laps.
Championship Implications and Other Notable Results
With Alex Marquez finishing a distant 10th after a difficult sprint, Marc Marquez heads into Sunday’s grand prix tantalizingly close to clinching the title. The Ducati star could secure the championship if he limits the points gap to his brother by six or fewer.
Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta held onto third place, a respectable finish on a circuit where he previously secured his first pole. Joan Mir’s fourth-place finish represented a strong points gain for Honda, boosted by factory teammate Luca Marini‘s seventh-place result, ensuring a solid team performance on home ground.
Other points scorers included Franco Morbidelli in fifth on the VR46 Ducati and Fabio Quartararo finishing sixth for factory Yamaha. The final points positions were completed by Trackhouse teammates Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura in eighth and ninth, respectively.
Race Difficulties Dampened Alex Marquez’s Sprint
Alex Marquez, who advanced from Q1 to qualify eighth, faced a disappointing race. Dropping to ninth by the opening lap and subsequently falling to 10th, he endured one of his least competitive performances in recent memory, diminishing his chances in the championship battle.
