Motegi, Japan – September 28, 2025: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) delivered a masterful ride to claim victory at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, but the headlines belonged to Marc Marquez, who secured his long-awaited seventh MotoGP World Championship with a hard-fought second place finish. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) added another historic twist, returning to the podium for the first time since 2021, giving Honda a memorable home celebration at Motegi.

Bagnaia set the pace early, controlling the race despite tense moments in the Ducati pitbox as smoke briefly emerged from his Desmosedici. The defending champion stayed calm and crossed the line two seconds clear of his teammate Marquez to take his first double win of the season, underlining his return to winning ways.

Behind him, all eyes were on Marquez. After four years of injuries, surgeries, and setbacks, the Spanish legend held firm under pressure to secure second place – enough to complete what many are calling the greatest comeback in sporting history. A staggering 2184 days after his last MotoGP crown, Marquez was officially crowned world champion once again, etching his name into the record books.

For Honda, Mir’s third place finish was equally significant. The 2020 World Champion overcame early setbacks to deliver a home podium, sparking wild celebrations in the HRC camp. His performance marked Honda’s best result of the season and a symbolic return to competitiveness in front of the Japanese fans.

The rest of the top six saw Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) edge Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) for fourth, while Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing) secured sixth after a tough battle.

With history made in Japan, MotoGP now shifts to Lombok, Indonesia, for the next round – but the headlines from Motegi will echo for years. Bagnaia is back, Marquez is champion once again, and Honda has its home hero on the podium.