MotoGP Sprint Saturday Moto2 Moto3 Qualifying

Bagnaia capitalises as Acosta slides out and Bastianini duels Marquez at Motegi

Bagnaia Triumphs in Thrilling Tissot Sprint, Closing Championship Gap to 15 Points

The battle for the 2024 MotoGP™ World Championship has tightened, with reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) clinching a dramatic victory in the Tissot Sprint at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. Bagnaia’s flawless ride saw him fend off challenges from Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), cutting his points deficit to just 15 behind championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who missed out on a podium finish.

Acosta’s Early Dominance Ends in Heartbreak

Rookie polesitter Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) led much of the race and looked poised for a stunning victory, but a late crash ended his hopes. Bagnaia seized the lead following Acosta’s mistake and never looked back. Behind him, Bastianini and Marquez staged a thrilling battle for the podium, eventually closing in on Bagnaia for an intense sprint to the finish line.

Bastianini vs Marquez: A Showdown for the Podium

As Bagnaia held strong at the front, Bastianini and Marquez fought tooth-and-nail behind him. Marquez briefly overtook Bastianini, but the ‘Beast’ struck back, reclaiming second place with an impressive late move. The two then began to close the gap on Bagnaia, but despite their best efforts, the reigning champion managed to stay ahead, crossing the line just over a tenth of a second clear. In the end, the top three were separated by just 0.349 seconds, highlighting the fierce competition.

Championship Leader Martin Finishes Fourth

Jorge Martin, who entered the race with a healthy points lead, struggled to make an impact in the Sprint. Despite improving from a difficult qualifying session, he couldn’t break into the podium fight, finishing fourth and seeing his lead over Bagnaia shrink.

Action-Packed Midfield Battle

Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) secured fifth place, holding off a determined challenge from compatriot Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Further back, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) edged out Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in a thrilling midfield contest, while Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) grabbed the final point in the Sprint.

Home Disappointment for Nakagami

There was heartbreak for Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR), whose final home Sprint as a full-time rider ended prematurely due to contact with teammate Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR). Zarco, who was penalized with a Long Lap for the incident, also tangled with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) earlier in the race.

What’s Next?

With just 15 points separating the top two in the Championship, all eyes now turn to Sunday’s main race. Will Bagnaia continue his charge? Can Acosta bounce back from his crash to challenge for victory? And will Bastianini, Marquez, or Martin have something special in store?

Tune in at 14:00 (UTC+9) to find out who will reign supreme at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan!

RESULTS

Moto2 Dixon times it right to claim pole, Ogura to start P9 on home turf

Jake Dixon Clinches Moto2™ Pole in Tricky Conditions at the Japanese GP

Qualifying for the Moto2™ at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan was all about timing, as challenging track conditions tested the riders’ ability to nail the perfect lap. Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) rose to the occasion, setting an early benchmark of 1:52.693 that proved unbeatable. The Briton secured pole position by an incredibly narrow margin of just 0.006 seconds, edging out Q1 graduate Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP), who delivered his best Saturday performance of the season to take P2. Indonesian GP winner Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) completed the front row in P3.

Second Row Spotlight

Leading the charge from the second row is Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), who put in a strong qualifying performance to secure P4. He is joined by Dixon’s teammate, Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), who continued his solid form, and rookie Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), who rounded out the second row in P6.

Title Contenders on Row 3

Row 3 features another Q1 standout, Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP), in P7. Joining him are two key title contenders: Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) in P8 and World Championship leader Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) in P9, both looking to make strong progress in the race.

Challenging Starting Positions for Aldeguer and Garcia

Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI), both 2024 race winners, face a tougher task on Sunday. Aldeguer will start from P15, while Garcia lines up in P17, leaving them with significant ground to cover if they hope to impact the title race.

What’s Next?

With the grid set and tricky conditions adding another layer of unpredictability, all eyes are on Sunday’s race at 12:15 (UTC+9). Will Dixon convert his pole into victory? Can Ogura extend his Championship lead, or will the likes of Lopez and Canet fight back? Stay tuned for the latest twist in the Moto2™ title race!

Moto3 Ortola sets lap record to pocket pole as Alonso faces match point from P3

Ivan Ortola Shatters Lap Record to Take Moto3™ Pole at Motegi

For the second consecutive weekend, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) delivered a stunning qualifying performance, setting a new lap record at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. His blistering 1:54.781 lap was the only sub-1:55 time of the session, made even more impressive by the fact it was completed with rain in the air. Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) secured P2, 0.356 seconds behind Ortola, while Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) will start from P3 as he eyes a potential title-clinching race on Sunday.

Rookie Piqueras and Home Hero Yamanaka on Row 2

Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) continued his strong rookie campaign, qualifying in P4 for Sunday’s race. He is joined on the second row by Japan’s own Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Australia’s Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports), who will line up in P5 and P6 respectively.

Title Contender Holgado Starts from P9

Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), the closest rival to Alonso in the 2024 Moto3™ title race, will have some ground to make up on race day after qualifying in P9. He will start just behind fellow Spaniards Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), who secured P7 and P8.

The Title on the Line

With David Alonso leading the Championship, Sunday’s race could see the Colombian wrap up the 2024 Moto3™ title. Will he make history, or will the title fight continue to the next round? Tune in at 11:00 (UTC+9) to find out!

Official MotoGP Press Release