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10 points in it: Bagnaia holds off Martin as the title fight tightens up again at Motegi

Bagnaia Holds Steady, Martin Charges as Acosta Crashes Out: A Thrilling Japanese GP

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) kept his cool under immense pressure at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, maintaining the lead and holding off a determined Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). With Martin charging from 11th on the grid to finish second, the gap between them in the championship is now just 10 points, making the title race even more intense.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also had a solid Sunday, turning the tables on Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) after their Saturday duel. Marquez secured the final spot on the podium, keeping him and Bastianini neck-and-neck in the standings.

The Race Begins: Bagnaia Leads, Acosta Stays Aggressive

Bagnaia made a flawless start, but polesitter Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) wasn’t going to give up easily. Acosta tried to grab the holeshot but ran wide, allowing Bagnaia to slip through and take the lead. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had a strong launch to move into third, followed closely by Bastianini. Meanwhile, both Marquez and Martin got excellent starts from further back, immediately putting themselves into contention.

A fierce battle ensued right from the start. Binder ran wide, giving Bastianini and Marquez opportunities to challenge. In a chaotic shuffle, Binder reclaimed his spot while Martin surged to fourth. Marquez quickly passed Bastianini and set his sights on Binder, diving into third just as Acosta faced disaster.

Acosta’s Misstep: Crash Out of Contention

The Rookie of the Year, Acosta, had been hot on Bagnaia’s heels but overcooked it at the final corner, sliding out and losing his chance for a maiden MotoGP™ win. This opened the door for Martin, who moved into second, while Bagnaia held a 1.5-second lead.

However, Martin wasn’t done yet. Lap by lap, he closed the gap on Bagnaia, bringing it down to just one second. With eight-tenths between them, Martin looked poised to challenge for the win, but a slight wobble forced him to take stock. He opted for caution, happy to take the 20 points and keep the title race close.

Marquez vs. Bastianini: The Battle for Third

As Martin chased Bagnaia, Marquez found himself under pressure from Bastianini for the final podium spot. Despite a small mistake earlier in the race, Marquez stayed composed, keeping Bastianini at bay. The gap fluctuated from seven-tenths to half a second, but Bastianini never got close enough to attempt a move.

In the end, Marquez secured third, moving back to within two points of Bastianini in the overall standings.

Binder, Morbidelli, and Bezzecchi: The Fight for the Top 10

Behind the podium finishers, Brad Binder battled hard but ultimately lost out on fifth place to Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), who made an impressive climb through the field. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) finished seventh, just ahead of teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio. A gap followed to Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), who finished ninth after Maverick Viñales crashed out earlier in the race. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rounded out the top ten, holding off Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), who delivered a strong performance after a less eventful sprint race.

Further Down the Order

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) crossed the line in 12th, just ahead of Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR), who scored points in his final home race as a full-time MotoGP™ rider. Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) completed the points scorers.

The race also saw an early incident between Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team), with both riders crashing out. Marquez was given a Long Lap Penalty to be served in the next race.

Title Battle Intensifies

With no major missteps from the title contenders at Motegi, the championship race remains incredibly close. Bagnaia’s eighth win of the season brings his total victories in 2024 to a career-high, and he’s now just 10 points behind Martin with four races remaining.

The stage is set for a thrilling showdown at Phillip Island. Both Bagnaia and Martin have shown they can handle the pressure, and the championship battle is closer than it has been in weeks. As MotoGP™ heads Down Under, the fireworks are sure to continue in this high-stakes title race.

RESULTS

We’ll see you in Australia — it’s a race you won’t want to miss!

Official MotoGP Press Release