Marc Marquez took control of the Japanese MotoGP warm-up session at Motegi on Sunday, moving to the fastest lap times for the first time this weekend as he aims to secure the Marc Marquez MotoGP title. After some tension about the championship on Saturday, Marquez steadied his nerves and prepared confidently for today’s 24-lap race.
Like his main competitors, Marquez transitioned from the soft to the medium rear tyre during the warm-up to ready his Ducati Lenovo bike for the race. He showed strong pace in cooler track conditions, hinting at promising performance this afternoon.
Marquez Reflects on Race Conditions and Title Opportunity
Marquez expressed optimism following his warm-up performance, linking cooler temperatures to improved lap times with the medium tyre.
“I slept well and I felt good in the warm-up,”
he said.
“It looks like a bit colder temperature helps everybody to be even faster, because with the medium tyre we were riding quite good.”
Speaking about the race ahead, Marquez acknowledged the challenge of the opening laps but emphasized focus and instinct, stating,
“But let’s see. I know that the first laps in the race will not be easy. But just try to concentrate on our main target and then of course, follow our instinct as always.”
On the possibility of clinching the title today, Marquez added,
“I know that today can be an important day. But I also know that if it’s not today, it can be next week.”
He also reflected on his history at the Japanese track:
“But let’s see, we will try to close today because I like Japan. I’ve celebrated three World Championships here already, so let’s see if we can do it.”
Other Riders’ Warm-Up Performances and Updates
The warm-up session ended with Marquez leading by 0.356 seconds over a Gresini Ducati rider; however, it was rookie Fermin Aldeguer, not Marquez’s main championship rival Alex Marquez, who occupied the second fastest time. Alex remains the only contender still capable of challenging Marc’s championship lead.
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi showed resilience after his crash in the Sprint race, where he was taken down by teammate Jorge Martin, who will miss the race due to a broken collarbone.
Alex Marquez Focuses on Defending Championship Standing
Honda riders Luca Marini and Joan Mir each put in solid performances during the warm-up, with Marini matching Mir’s Sprint result by placing fourth. Alex Marquez was next in line, finishing fifth in the session.
Addressing his current form, Alex said,
“The front feeling is not the best this weekend, but with a small step this morning on the warm-up, I’m getting better and better.”
Starting eighth on the grid, Alex’s focus remains on securing second place in the championship rather than stopping his brother’s title run.
He added,
“We’re not in a position to stop him or to avoid him winning the title. So we need to try our best for our second place in the championship. It will be important to especially to finish the race later on, to have a good feeling for Indonesia.”
Despite this resolve, Alex finished tenth in the Sprint, outside the points.
Francesco Bagnaia Looks Ahead Amid Warm-Up Struggles
Francesco Bagnaia, the Sprint race winner and pole position holder, encountered difficulties in the morning warm-up, placing sixth. He reported ongoing struggles with grip but remained determined to maintain competitiveness throughout the race.
“This morning in warm-up, I was struggling a bit more with the grip, so I was trying to be constant and competitive,”
Bagnaia explained.
“In any case, let’s see the weather because it looks like it will be cloudy, maybe some drops of rain. Let’s see if we can fight for the top five.”
Bagnaia currently stands 81 points behind Alex Marquez and 20 points ahead of Bezzecchi in the world championship rankings.
Race Start and Championship Outlook
The Japanese MotoGP race is scheduled to begin at 2 pm local time. With Marc Marquez leading the warm-up pace and displaying confidence in his strategy, he is well-positioned to claim the championship title here at Motegi. Meanwhile, his brother Alex aims to solidify second place and support Honda’s championship ambitions before the series moves to Indonesia.
