Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) took off running at the front in the Tissot Sprint at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, and championship leader Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) kept chase in the first half before looking like he was forced to settle for second. Some late drama, however, saw the #89 fade into the clutches of a three-way battle for third – and then both he and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) got hit with a drop one position penalty for track limits on the final lap. Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) therefore takes his first Sprint podium and becomes the first Brazilian to take a Saturday rostrum in second, with Martin relegated to P3.
LIGHTS OUT IN JAPAN
Marc Marquez just about grabbed the holeshot as Martin tried to keep it in there round the outside, but the #89 was forced to cede. Drama then hit early at Turn 3 just behind, with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) making contact with both Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Fabio Di Gianannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), and all three tumbling out. Riders ok, and Alex Marquez given a double Long Lap penalty for Sunday for his part in the incident.
That left Marquez leading from Martin, the two locked together, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) trying to hold off Bastianini for third. The #93 had the hammer down in the lead, however, and the gap started to eke out between the duo at the head of the field as the battle began behind.
ELBOWS OUT IN THE PODIUM FIGHT
Bastianini wrestled past Bez on Lap 3, then more cavalry arrived in home hero Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Moreira. The three got their elbows out in close quarters but it was the Brazilian rider who made the most of it to get a 2-for-1 and move up into fourth, leaving Ogura to then attack Bezzecchi and take over in fourth.
At the front by half distance it was as you were – but the gap wasn’t growing. Hovering around a second, Marquez had it under control ahead of Martin, and Bastianini was carving out some breathing space in third. Lap by lap though, the #93 was making a break for it.
LATE DRAMA HITS IN THE ROSTRUM SHUFFLE
In the final stages it looked like the podium was set, but there was plenty of drama to come. The gap up from Bastianini to Martin was suddenly down to near zero as Martin started to struggle with rear grip, and Moreira was on the #23’s tail too. On track it stayed close to the line but no move was up for the making, but after the flag the drama continued – with track limits infractions on that final lap coming up for Martin AND Bastianini.
With that, a position each penalty was given – promoting Moreira up to a first ever Sprint podium for him and Brazil. Marquez takes the win, Moreira second and Martin holds into a place on the box in third – with Bastianini steaming at the lost silverware.
He takes fourth ahead of Ogura and Bezzecchi, with Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) staying ahead of Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) in P7 and P8. Fabio Quartararo scored the final point in P9 on home turf for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team, holding off Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP).
That’s a wrap on a dramatic day at the office in Japan, with more to come on Sunday – and a few familiar faces up for some revenge. Can Marc Marquez do the double or do his rivals have more in the locker on Sunday? Tune in to find out.
