Written by Owen Bradley
Credit: Mirco Lazzari GP
MotoGP Returns to the iconic circuit in Japan, at Motegi. A circuit with so much rich history for MotoGP. Who could forget the classic moments of Rossi vs Lorenzo in 2010, or Marquez vs Dovizioso in 2017 and 2019.
FULL RACE RESULTS
1st Jorge Martin, Pramac Ducati
2nd Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo Team
3rd Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda
4th Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Ducati
5th Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia
6th Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM
7th Augusto Fernandez, Tech3 GASGAS KTM
8th Fabio Di Giannantonio, Gresini Ducati
9th Raul Fernandez, RNF Aprilia
10th Fabio Quartararo, Monster Yamaha
11th Takaaki Nakagami, LCR Honda
12th Joan Mir, Repsol Honda
13th Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha
14th Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda
15th Pol Espargaro, Tech3 GASGAS KTM
16th Michele Pirro, Ducati Lenovo
17th Franco Morbidelli, Monster Yamaha
18th Miguel Oliveira, RNF Aprilia
19th Maverick Vinales, Aprilia
20th Johann Zarco, Pramac Ducati
21st Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM
Grand Prix
The Race started in extremely tough conditions, as the riders were forced to make a difficult decision. a completely wet and dark track with even more rain on the way, they lined up on the grid in such treachorous conditions. At the end of Lap 1, almost every single rider came in for their wet setup bike.
Credit: CRASH.Net
Amongst all the pit lane chaos, Martin managed to hold his net position lead, battling with Aleix Espargaro. Francesco Bagnaia was overtaken by a load of riders at the exit of the pit lane, and then Marco Bezzecchi would dive down the inside into the late braking zone of Turn 11.
Lap 3 would start with Jorge Martin making a huge mistake under braking into Turn 3, running completely wide and losing several positions to Bezzecchi and Bagnaia. The riders who did decide to stay out on slicks, ended up really struggling and were being caught hand over fist by the other riders. Michele Pirro leading, but Espargaro catching by over three seconds per lap.
Martin and Bagnaia would manage to get past Bezzecchi, and the three all started to chase the leaders. Eventually Martin and Bagnaia did get past Espargaro, and the pair of them raised the pace, flying off into the distance with Bezzecchi in hot pursuit. It began raining extremely hard at the back of the circuit, conditions becoming even more difficult.
Joan Mir and Jack Miller went at it on Lap 9, with Mir getting frustrated with a semi-aggressive move from Thriller Miller. Miller would eventually make a mistake into Turn 11's braking zone, running very wide and losing several positions. Marc Marquez managed to make a move into P4, overtaking Miguel Oliveira at Turn 2, after the Aprilia man ran wide at Turn 1.
Marc Marquez really picked up the pace, overtaking Bezzecchi and having much more pace than the other riders out front.
RED FLAG
Conditions far too dangerous, with a flash of lightning as well meant that the session was red flagged, after Johann Zarco also had a major crash too.
The riders had done an out lap and then another warm-up lap, but they called for another Red Flag, which this time finished the race for good, with just half the race completed.
Full points awarded, Jorge Martin is just 3 points behind Championship Leader, Francesco Bagnaia.