Martin triumphs at rain-shortened Japanese MotoGP, Marquez returns to podium

Jorge Martin of Pramac Ducati emerged victorious in a rain-shortened yet heart-pounding Japanese GP in Motegi as his championship rival Pecco Bagnaia finished on P2. Marc Marquez, fresh from his splendid performance at the inaugural MotoGP Bharat, returned to the Grand Prix podium (his 101st) in over a year at Honda’s home race.
Efforts were made to restart the race after the red flag but the worsening racing conditions meant that it was all for the weekend. The riders were awarded full points as they had completed more than half of the scheduled 24 laps.
Martin leads the charge as lights went out
As the lights went out, Martin and KYM’s Jack Miller seized the opportunity and catapulted to the front, dominating the early stages of the race as Bagnaia entered Turn 1 at P4 behind Brad Binder. However, Bagnaia was not one to stay in the shadows, swiftly making a move on Binder on the exit and then chased Miller to claim P2.
The Turn 1 also proved treacherous for Maverick Vinales and Johann Zarco as VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi, in his pursuit to advance, left no space for the Aprilia rider. Vinales tried moving wide but ran into the Pramac rider taking him wide, as he himself went into the gravel.
Back to pitlane, barring some bravehearts
On the other hand, following the opening lap, 16 riders went to the pit lane to switch to wet tyres while five brave riders, led by Ducati tester Michele Pirro and including all three Yamahas, stayed out on slicks.

Martin’s charge after a mistake at Turn 3
Martin’s race saw its share of ups and downs. On lap 3, he made a huge mistake and ran wide at Turn 3, sliding from P6 to P9. By Lap 7, the Spaniard reasserted his dominance, leading the race with Bagnaia in second and Espargaro in third.
Marc Marquez shines at Honda’s home race
As the race reached Lap 10, the podium positions seemed set in stone but Marquez had other plans. Martin maintained a one-second lead as Bagnaia and Bezzecchi pursued relentlessly on their Ducatis.
Unfazed by the spraying water on the Asphalt, eight-time World Champion Marquez made a swift move on Bezzecchi and was hot on the tail of Bagnaia before the race was red-flagged due to worsening conditions.
Bezzecchi finished fourth, ahead of Espargaro, Miller, and Augusto Fernandez. Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio guided his Ducati home at P8 ahead of Raul Fernandez as Fabio Quartararo rounded-off the top 10.
With his second win in the last three rounds, Martin has reduced his points deficit to reach within three points of leader Bagnaia. In the coming rounds, the competition will be intense between the leading Ducati riders as this is now anyone’s title to lose.