Motegi, Sep 28 (News On Japan) - Francesco Bagnaia delivered a flawless weekend at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, taking pole position, winning Saturday’s Sprint, and dominating the main race at Motegi to secure maximum points.
The Ducati rider, who set a new lap record in qualifying, controlled Sunday’s race from the front, leaving his rivals little chance to challenge.
The bigger story, however, was Marc Márquez’s second-place finish, which was enough to seal his seventh premier-class world championship and ninth overall. Márquez, who joined Ducati this season, secured the title with five rounds remaining, marking a historic achievement in his career and reaffirming his comeback at the highest level of the sport.
Honda fans also had reason to celebrate as Joan Mir crossed the line in third, giving the Japanese manufacturer a home podium at Motegi. Rising star Pedro Acosta showed promise in the Sprint with a third-place finish but slipped back in Sunday’s race after struggling with grip. Defending champion Jorge Martín endured a difficult weekend, crashing and fracturing his collarbone in Saturday’s action, which ruled him out of the Grand Prix and further underlined the shift in momentum toward Márquez and Bagnaia.
The Motegi round reinforced Ducati’s dominance, with Bagnaia back in top form and Márquez securing the title early, leaving the remaining races to play out as a battle for pride, podiums, and future momentum.
Source: SPOTV ASIA
