Marc Marquez is moving steadily toward securing his first MotoGP world championship in six years during the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. The 2025 season presents six remaining chances, but with this race’s favorable conditions, it stands out as a pivotal moment for the factory Ducati rider to capture the Marc Marquez MotoGP title.
Despite its significance, Marquez faced a challenging start on Friday, finishing third in both practice sessions while struggling chiefly with his bike’s handling in the technical second sector of the track. Meanwhile, his closest championship rival, Alex Marquez, had a difficult day, risking his ability to challenge for the title as the weekend progresses.
Friday’s Difficulties Affect Marc Marquez’s Performance at Motegi
Marc Marquez described Friday’s practice as “strange,” reflecting the volatile session that saw many riders falter, including crashes and unpredictable changes in the standings. Although he ended Practice 2 in third place with a 1m43.360s lap time, much of the afternoon was marked by discomfort, especially through Motegi’s demanding Turn 5 hairpin and high-speed Turn 6 section. This difficulty is partly attributed to lingering effects of his right arm injury sustained five years prior.
The GP25 machine often felt unstable under heavy braking zones, and at one point, Marquez was well outside the top 10. A switch to softer tires late in the session was crucial to lifting him into a secure position for direct qualification into Q2, ensuring he remained in contention despite the struggles.
KTM’s Pedro Acosta, who managed to finish second despite a crash in the opening corner, highlighted Ducati’s tendency to improve from Saturday onwards. Acosta praised Ducati’s “Remote Garage” system, where engineers collaborate between the track and home base to optimize the bike setup, a process that often leads to improvements after initial setbacks on Fridays.
Marquez himself pointed to rushed changes for his Friday woes, stating,
“The feeling changed quite a lot with the bike and the track, and then everything became more difficult.”
He added,
“our problem was that we started to try different set-ups too early. And it’s better sometimes to concentrate on my riding style.”
This adaptability, a cornerstone of his 2025 campaign, suggests improvements ahead.
Analysis of long-run pace showed promise; Marquez ran 15 laps on the medium Michelin rear tire, averaging 1m45.139s over a representative five-lap segment. Only Joan Mir displayed similar durability, clocking comparable times on a soft rear tire. This stamina could be critical for race day performance.
Among Marquez’s fiercest competitors is Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi, who topped Friday’s timesheets despite suffering two crashes earlier in the day. Bezzecchi’s strong form, especially on Motegi’s stop-and-go layout, continues to put pressure on the Ducati camp. KTM’s Acosta remained close but expressed concerns over the RC16’s braking capability compared to last year, underscoring his ongoing challenge to sustain race-long performance.
Even with his difficulties, Marquez remains a central figure in this fierce championship battle, prepared to refine his approach on Saturday. While pole position might evade him once more, victories in both the sprint and the grand prix are realistic targets.
Alex Marquez Faces Setback in Bid to Halt Brother’s Title Run
In stark contrast, Alex Marquez encountered his worst Friday session of the season at Motegi, raising doubts about his ability to prolong the championship contest. The Gresini rider’s streak of direct Q2 qualifications was broken as he failed to advance beyond 15th place, narrowly missing a top-10 slot by a mere 0.050 seconds.
Despite this, Alex’s time remained neck-and-neck with riders like Ai Ogura and Jorge Martin, though a critical error at Turn 3 during his final flying lap extinguished his chances of progressing. Confidence issues with front-end grip plagued his entire session, and although the team struggled to find a solution, Alex acknowledged a positive grip difference from the soft rear tire in the closing phase.
Looking ahead to Q1, he believes the extra track time could be an advantage. However, to realistically challenge Marc Marquez for the title in Japan, Alex must significantly improve his race pace, which currently averages around 1m45.444s based on practice data.
While Alex Marquez’s current trajectory appears insufficient to halt his brother’s championship bid, the younger Marquez remains motivated to extract every possible point, partly to prepare for his transition to a factory Ducati ride next year.
Pecco Bagnaia’s Struggles Show Signs of Potential Recovery
Pecco Bagnaia’s season, already fraught with difficulties, has hit new lows in recent races, particularly from Austria through San Marino. Yet, his difficult stint may have opened doors to fresh strategies, as his recent test session after Misano allowed him to explore unconventional setups not previously considered.
Though Bagnaia has been guarded about the specifics, observations at Motegi indicated a possible return to certain GP24 components, including forks, a swingarm, and potentially the earlier ride height device, as his bike appeared slightly higher during practice starts compared to Marquez’s GP25.
Concerns in the paddock suggest that a newly introduced ride height device may have contributed significantly to Bagnaia’s loss of front-end confidence. However, he noted his ability to brake aggressively at Motegi, something he lacked in previous rounds, allowing him to experiment more with his riding style.
This translated into a solid practice run: on a medium rear tire with 11 laps of use, Bagnaia posted an average time of 1m44.950s over a three-lap stretch, marginally quicker than Marquez’s longer stint.
Despite these encouraging signs, Bagnaia remains cautious about declaring a comeback, especially given the challenges posed by the mandatory 355mm brake discs at Motegi and the looming sprint race format. Nevertheless, regaining confidence at the front end is likely the most vital step toward rejuvenating his competitiveness for the rest of the season.
The Critical Moment at Motegi and What Lies Ahead
The Japanese Grand Prix presents a crucial juncture in the 2025 championship saga. Marc Marquez’s ability to outscore Alex Marquez by at least three points on Sunday will grant him the coveted MotoGP title. With the brotherly rivalry unfolding against a backdrop of intense competition from Ducati’s rivals and the tricky Motegi circuit, every session carries immense pressure.
Marc Marquez’s resilience and adaptability have kept him firmly in contention despite initial setbacks, while Alex Marquez’s stumble adds a sense of urgency to his chase. Meanwhile, figures like Marco Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta add layers of complexity, threatening to disrupt the championship outcome.
For Pecco Bagnaia, rediscovering form could alter Ducati’s internal dynamics and impact the title race moving forward. As the weekend advances, fine-tuning setups, managing tire choices, and mental composure will be decisive in a battle where margins are razor-thin and every second counts.
The MotoGP community will watch closely as the Japanese GP could very well mark the defining moment of Marc Marquez’s return to the top and his pursuit of glory after a challenging journey back to peak form.
