Jack Miller has dominated the Motul Grand Prix of Japan but fellow Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia’s MotoGP™ World Championship hopes have taken a big blow with a final-lap crash. ‘Pecco’ was locked in battle with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) over eighth position when he hit the deck, while Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) also failed to score points after a technical problem before the start at the Mobility Resort Motegi. Second on the day went to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and third to Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin, while the Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez turned his first pole position in almost three years into fourth at the chequered flag after 24 frenetic laps.
No reward for Espargaro
Aleix Espargaro finished 16th, more than six seconds away from the points, and therefore leaves Motegi emptyhanded after a trying Sunday. In a miserable afternoon for Team Suzuki Ecstar, Alex Rins also had to retire due to a technical problem – far less dramatic than Tsuda’s, mind you – while Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) and Tetsuta Nagashima (HRC Team) joined Bagnaia in crashing out.
After mayhem in Motegi, Quartararo’s World Championship lead has grown to 18 over Bagnaia, while Aleix Espargaro is another seven behind, and there are still four rounds to go in a topsy-turvy title fight! Even better, the next event, the OR Thailand Grand Prix at the Chang International Circuit, is just a few short days away on September 30-October 2.
MotoGP™ Race Top 10:
1. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team)
2. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 3.409
3. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) + 4.136
4. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) + 7.784
5. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 8.185
6. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 8.348
7. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 9.879
8. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 10.193
9. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 10.318
10. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 16.419
