Marc Marquez in commanding form: the champion claimed his 22nd sprint victory

Ducati ace Marc Marquez put in a world-class performance in the MotoGP Sprint at Motegi. Starting from second on the grid, he overtook pole-sitter and world championship rival Jorge Martin (Aprilia) in the first corner. After that, MM93 and the ‘Martinator’ managed to pull slightly clear.

Marquez then rode a controlled race; he was in his element on the soft rear tyre. On lap 6, he set the fastest lap of the race, with his lead over Martin having grown to one second. When Martin closed the gap slightly afterwards, the nine-time champion picked up the pace again. With four laps to go, he set another fastest lap of the race.

A change to the bike sealed the victory

In the final stages, Martin made a small mistake. Marc Marquez then crossed the finish line first, 2.5 seconds ahead of his compatriot. “In qualifying, my aim was the front row. Starting from position 1 or 2 gave you the best starting position to ride a good sprint race,” said Marquez in his winner’s interview. His Desmosedici was perfectly prepared for the 12-lap race. “We made a small change for the sprint, and I felt much better on the bike as a result.”

Marquez secured his 22nd sprint victory in Japan. As Jorge Martin was demoted one place to third after exceeding the track limits on the final lap, the Aprilia rider’s lead in the overall standings was reduced to seven points. “I was leading and felt good. Job done, we’ll carry on tomorrow,” said a satisfied Marc Marquez.

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04.10.2026 - 01:35