Motegi, Japan – September 27, 2025: Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) reminded the MotoGP™ paddock why he’s a double World Champion, storming to victory in the Tissot Sprint at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. The Italian snatched the holeshot from pole and never looked back, finishing 1.8s clear of teammate Marc Marquez, who in turn made a giant step toward securing the 2025 MotoGP World Championship.

While Bagnaia collected his first Sprint gold medal of the season, Marquez’s second place came with huge championship implications as rival Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing) could only manage P10, scoring no points. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) delivered a gritty ride to secure third after a dramatic day for the Austrian manufacturer.

Turn 1 Chaos: Aprilia Pair Crash Out, Martin Injured

The Sprint exploded into drama at the very first corner. Bagnaia led cleanly off the line, but behind him, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) lost control under braking and collided with the pack, taking down teammate Marco Bezzecchi in the process. Both riders crashed out immediately, with Martin sustaining a broken collarbone that rules him out of Sunday’s Japanese GP – a crushing blow to his season.

Meanwhile, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) initially held P2, only to be overtaken by a charging Acosta at Turn 5. As the laps ticked by, Bagnaia extended his advantage with back-to-back fastest laps, while Marquez stalked Mir for third.

Marquez Turns Up the Heat, Acosta Holds On

On Lap 10, Marquez finally found a way past Mir with a robust block pass at Turn 10, before repeating the same move three laps later to snatch P2 from Acosta. The Spaniard’s aggressive yet decisive overtakes underlined his championship intent, while Bagnaia continued to dominate up front, stretching his lead to 2.4s on the final lap.

At the flag, Bagnaia claimed a commanding win – his first Sprint victory of 2025 – ahead of Marquez in P2, with Acosta fending off Mir by just 0.6s to secure the final podium spot.

Top 10 Results – Tissot Sprint, Japanese GP 2025

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
2. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team)
3. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
4. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol)
5. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
6. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)
7. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol)
8. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team)
9. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team)
10. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP)

Title Picture: Marc Marquez on the Brink

The Sprint result means Marc Marquez now stands just one race away from clinching his seventh MotoGP World Championship. With Alex Marquez out of the points in Motegi, the championship equation is simple: if Marc finishes P2 or higher in Sunday’s Grand Prix, the title is his.

As for Bagnaia, the reigning double World Champion may no longer be in the title fight, but his Motegi masterclass proves he’s back in business at the sharp end.