Winners and Losers: MotoGP 2026 Japanese Grand Prix
Motegi always delivers plenty of action. In 2025, Marc Márquez had already wrapped up the championship, but it’s a different story in 2026, with the title fight still wide open. Here are the winners and losers from the Japanese Grand Prix.
Winner: Marc Márquez
Márquez had an almost perfect weekend, taking both the Sprint and race wins. With Jorge Martín starting from pole, it took just 11 laps for the reigning world champion to take the lead in Japan and hold on for victory. However, the results at Motegi were not enough for Márquez to retake the championship lead.
The reigning champion still remains second in the standings, albeit just two points shy of Martín’s tally. The good news is that the title fight is still open, with six more rounds to go.
Winner: Enea Bastianini
Despite a poor Sprint finish on Saturday after losing his podium spot for exceeding track limits, Bastianini put on a show in the race, finishing fourth and nearly claiming Marco Bezzecchi’s podium spot.
With Pedro Acosta also losing places, Bastianini finished the weekend as the highest-placed KTM rider.
Winner: Aprilia Factory
The Aprilias added plenty to the entertainment over the race. The Factory team secured a double podium, giving Aprilia a boost in the constructors’ standings. Bezzecchi almost lost his podium spot but managed to push through to the finish line and hold on.
Martín also retains the championship lead, with just six rounds remaining in the season. Further down the field, Trackhouse put on a strong showing, with both riders involved in the fight for fifth alongside Acosta.
Honourable mention: Somkiat Chantra
A small bonus mention for Somkiat Chantra, who stepped in for Joan Mir as he continues to recover. Chantra did not continue as a full-time MotoGP rider after his first and only season in 2025, but he made the most of his return at Motegi.
Chantra came home to finish 13th, scoring points and recording his best-ever MotoGP result in a short-lived career so far.
Loser: Honda LCR
The factory team made it through, but it was a difficult ending for both Honda LCR riders, making it far from an ideal weekend in front of their home crowd.
Diego Moreira was the first to go down on Lap 9 at Turn 9, highlighting the highs and lows of a race weekend after he had secured second place in the Sprint just a day earlier. Later, with just four laps remaining, Johann Zarco also crashed at Turn 10 but managed to rejoin the race.
Loser: Pramac Yamaha
The Pramac bikes were once again at the back of the grid, with Jack Miller also crashing and rejoining the race before eventually finishing 19th.
While the finishing positions of both riders may look disappointing, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu showed signs of improved race pace compared to where he started. He came home to finish two spots ahead, in 17th.
However, starting from the back of the grid made it difficult for him to make much progress by the end of the race.
Loser: Àlex Màrquez
Álex Márquez had a rough weekend after crashing on the opening lap of Saturday’s Sprint. While trying to gain positions at Turn 3, a lack of space saw him take out Fabio Di Giannantonio and Pedro Acosta in the process.
As a result, he was handed a double Long Lap penalty to serve on Sunday. While working his way back through the field, Márquez crashed again on Lap 20, ending his race.
With plenty of intrigue in an intense championship battle, catch the next weekend of MotoGP at the Indonesian Grand Prix on 11 October at 07:30 BST.
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