MotoGP Preview: Japanese Grand Prix
MotoGP returns after the Austrian Grand Prix, where Jorge Martín reclaimed the championship lead from Marc Márquez, but with only 12 points between them, the lead is still up for grabs this time at Motegi. Marco Bezzecchi is 42 points behind, and Pedro Acosta joins the battle, taking fourth from Fabio Di Giannantonio.
The Asian double-header is on its way, and here’s everything you need to know before this week’s Japanese Grand Prix.
This week’s track: Mobility Resort Motegi
Honda’s home ground, Mobility Resort Motegi, is in Tochigi, Japan, and features a unique layout with both a road track and an oval. It spans 4.801 km (2.983 mi) and has 14 corners built for exciting overtakes and, just like in Austria, the weather might add to the spectacle.
First opened in 1997 under the name Twin Ring, the track was the home of many racing series over the years, including IndyCar, with the Japan 300 debuting at the venue in 1998. MotoGP first visited this venue in 1999, and in 2004, Makoto Tamada took an emotional victory on home turf.
With long straights and multiple heavy braking zones, there are lots of places where we can expect to witness drama: Riders forcing each other wide at Turns 9 & 10, high-speed action coming into Turn 1, and the aggressive block passes at the famous hairpin of Turn 11.
Past results
Last season, Marc Márquez made history once again, securing his seventh world title at Motegi after finishing second in the race. He managed a comeback that few would’ve thought possible after multiple injuries that could’ve ended his career.
However, it was teammate Francesco Bagnaia winning the race. The Italian often struggled in 2025, but his race at Motegi was one of his best that season despite facing technical issues.
Álex Márquez, the only rider who could’ve stopped his brother from claiming the title at Motegi, finished down in sixth.
The Aprilia duo had a weekend to forget at last year's Japanese Grand Prix, a performance that they will surely hope to turn around this season. Martín made a mistake on the opening lap, which caused both him and Bezzecchi to crash out of the sprint on Saturday.
Martín suffered a broken right clavicle and was unable to compete in the Grand Prix. His teammate took the start, but was kept away from the podium by Joan Mir.
Past battles at Motegi include Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo’s aggressive duel for third place back in 2010 and Marc Márquez and Andrea Dovizioso’s battle in the rain in 2017.
Key talking points
Acosta claimed his first premier-class win at KTM’s home race in Austria, making an amazing recovery after having crashed from the lead of the sprint race on Saturday. His maiden victory takes him two places up in the standings in fourth.
When asked about him, Marc Márquez admitted that he thinks of Acosta as a strong championship contender this season. However, Acosta does not seem to agree, stating after the race: “I’m the only one who has nothing to lose. I’m not fighting for the Championship. Everything I do with the KTM is good.”
The reigning world champion struggled in Austria at a circuit where he only managed one career win in 2025. Marc Márquez expected to have a tough weekend and focused on minimising damage.
He explained after the race: “And I feel like today we were very lucky, because at one point of the race, I saw that, okay, I cannot continue. But then, the brakes, from one lap to the other, started to work. And then I started to be faster again and gain some positions, but obviously, it was too late.”
Bezzecchi finished third in both races in Austria, and although he recovered a few points against Marc Márquez, the Italian now finds himself 42 points away from first place. Will he soon have to worry about a potential comeback from Acosta?
Martín confirmed that his arm pump issues were manageable in Austria, and he might not have to undergo surgery before the end of the season. He explained: “I’m not at my 100%. But I’m feeling much better than I felt at Misano. So, we are in the right direction. I will not go into surgery tomorrow. I will try to continue like this.”
Ai Ogura made his return in Austria after he was out for the past two races due to an injury to his left thumb. The Japanese rider managed an incredible performance throughout the whole weekend to finish P4 in both races.
The local hero will surely look to give his fans another memorable performance this week, at Motegi, especially considering that he did not get to race at this track last season.
The Japanese fans will also be happy to hear of Takaaki Nakagami’s presence on track as a wildcard rider. Maverick Viñales will also make his return to the KTM Tech3 garage this weekend after missing the past four Grand Prix.
Mir will be missing from this week’s race as well as the upcoming Indonesian Grand Prix, replaced by Somkiat Chantra for the Japanese weekend.
What does MotoGP's upcoming weekend have in store? Tune in to the Japanese Grand Prix on 4th October at 14:00 local time (06:00 BST) to find out!
Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
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