MotoGP Japan: Marc Marquez Beats the Aprilias and Closes in on the Top Spot

Ducati rider Marc Marquez won the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix: after a long battle, the Spanish rider defeated Jorge Martin, claiming his sixth victory of the season and moving to within just two points of his compatriot in the overall riders’ standings.

Joining them on the podium was Marco Bezzecchi on the other Aprilia, who finished third and remains in contention for the title. Marquez and Martin pulled away from the pack right from the opening laps on the Japanese track, and the Catalan rider made the decisive pass with eleven laps to go, then set an unsustainable pace that allowed him to win the race.

Fourth place went to a surprising Enea Bastianini on a KTM, followed by Raul Fernandez, Ai Ogura, Pedro Acosta, Pecco Bagnaia’s other factory Ducati in eighth, Fermin Aldeguer, and Luca Marini. The VR46 team riders finished further back: Morbidelli came in fifteenth, and Di Giannantonio as low as eighteenth. Alex Marquez crashed out.

Japan GP Finishing Order (Top 10)
Marc Marquez
Martin
Bezzecchi
Bastianini
Raul Fernandez
Ogura
Acosta
Bagnaia
Aldeguer
Marini