2' min
Francesco Bagnaia claimed an undisputed victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, leading from start to finish and narrowing the gap to Jorge Martin in the race for the MotoGP world title. With Martin finishing second, the difference between the two riders has shrunk to just 10 points, with four races left in the season. In two weeks, the next round will take place at Phillip Island, Australia, where the title battle will continue in full force.
Bagnaia’s win marks his eighth victory of the season, putting him in line with legendary riders like Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, and Marc Marquez, all of whom have achieved at least eight wins in a single season. The Piedmontese rider has also secured 14 overall victories in 2024, including sprint races, adding another 11 points over Martin during the Japanese weekend. However, Martin’s consistent performance allows the Spanish rider to hold onto his lead, at least for now.
Marc Marquez claimed the third spot on the Motegi podium, successfully fending off a late charge from Enea Bastianini. Ducati once again demonstrated their dominance, with the top five positions all occupied by their riders, including a strong showing from Franco Morbidelli.
The race started perfectly for Bagnaia, who, just like in Saturday’s sprint race, took the lead despite an early challenge from Pedro Acosta. Behind them was Brad Binder on the KTM. Martin, who began from 11th on the grid, showed his determination by recovering seven positions by the end of the first lap. Bastianini, on the other hand, faced some early struggles.
By the fourth lap, Acosta, desperately trying to keep up with Bagnaia’s pace, crashed into the gravel, leaving Martin and Marquez to chase down the Italian. At the halfway mark, Bagnaia had already built a one-second lead over Martin, controlling the race with ease. Despite the looming threat of rain, with wet tires ready in the pits, the race continued on a dry track.
Behind the leading duo, Marquez maintained a solid gap, while Bastianini tried to close in but was unable to catch the Catalan rider. Ducati’s dominance was clear, with seven of their bikes (including Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio) finishing in the top eight. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargarò managed only a 10th place finish. The next showdown will be at Phillip Island, where the world championship battle will reach an even more intense stage.
