These just in: 10 points in it: Bagnaia holds off Martin as the title fight tightens up again at Motegi
The #1 stays cool under pressure and the #89 too as Acosta crashes out and Marquez vs Bastianini goes the other way on Sunday
Sunday, 06 October 2024

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) held firm at the front at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, taking the lead and keeping his nerve as key title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) applied the pressure throughout. With the #1 taking the win ahead of the impressive charge up the order from P11 for Martin, it’s now just 10 points in it at the top of the table.

Behind, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) turned the tables on Saturday duelling partner Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), taking another podium finish and keeping those two locked together in the standings too.

Bagnaia nailed the start but polesitter Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) stayed aggressive to try and take the holeshot, coming up just short and wide enough to let Bagnaia through. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) got a good launch up into third, with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) just behind, and Marc Marquez and Martin once again got great launches from further back to immediately put themselves in contention.

Fireworks started there nearly immediately as a huge shuffle kicked off, with Binder slightly wide, Bastianini going for that gap and Marquez trying to create another, the end result of which a couple of apexes later was actually Binder back ahead and Martin having picked his way through to fourth. Then Marquez went for Bastianini but Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) went for both.

Once that had been settled – for the moment – Marquez was back past Miller into fourth and Bastianini made it through not long after. Next, Marquez made a divebomb on Binder to take over in what had become third – with Martin up into second as drama had hit up ahead for Acosta.

Out the final corner, the Rookie of the Year just overcooked it and slid out from behind Bagnaia, losing the chance at his first MotoGP™ win from his first MotoGP™ pole. That put Martin into second from P11 on the grid, but new race leader Bagnaia now held a 1.5 second advantage. Lap by lap, however, that began to come down.

Meanwhile, Bastianini was on the back of Binder looking for a way through, and that proved hard to find. After a couple of attempts parried by the South African, the Italian finally managed to slice through at Turn 3 and take over in fourth – just as the white flag went out.

Yet, the rain largely stayed at bay. Enough for Bagnaia and Martin to keep the hammer absolutely down at the front, with the #1 seeming in control until the charge really started to seem ominous. It went down to one second, then eight tenths, as Martin homed in, but the #89 said a moment on the front end made him take stock. 20 points for a 10-point lead and no Sunday errors? Not priceless, but definitely a good buy.

Bastianini continued to bother Marquez in the fight for third, but the #23 just couldn’t quite get within striking distance. After the eight-time World Champion had headed wide earlier in the race, Bastianini had closed up but the gap was a concertina round the lap – from seven tenths back down to just under half a second, with no option to try a move.

Up ahead, Bagnaia kept it cool to hit back in the title fight and take his eighth win of the season, making 2024 his best year in terms of wins and bringing that gap back down to 10 points ahead of the final four race weekends of the year. But Martin’s charge from P11 on the grid was also a noteworthy one in the pendulum of ever-changing momentum, with Phillip Island now set up to see the fireworks start again.
Marquez kept it tidy in the latter laps to give Bastianini no chance at a move, completing the podium and moving back to within two points of the ‘Beast’ in the standings.

Behind, Binder just lost out on fifth as Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) charged up the order to deny the South African. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took P7 just ahead of teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio, before a gap back to top Aprilia Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) after Maverick Viñales crashed out from up ahead. Miller completed the top ten, holding off Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) after an impressive performance from the Frenchman – and a less controversial one than his Tissot Sprint.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was next up ahead of Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) as he scored points in his final Japanese GP as a full-time rider. The scorers were rounded out by Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing). An early race incident saw Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) make contact with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) and both DNF, with the #73 given a Long Lap Penalty for it to be served next time out.

There was opportunity aplenty for the key contenders to falter at Motegi, but despite a season where sometimes shock twists and turns have changed the whole picture in an instant, it was a weekend where both held firm under pressure. As a consequence it’s now closer than it has been for some time right at the top, with 10 points in it as we head for the island.Bagnaia and the Ducati Lenovo Team take Sunday win at Motegi. Fourth place at the line for Enea Bastianini


Five Ducati machines in top 5: Jorge Martín is second with the Desmosedici GP machine of Pramac Racing Team, followed by Marc Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP). Fifth place for the other rider of Pramac Racing Team, Franco Morbidelli



Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati Lenovo accrue maximum points in the Japanese Grand Prix as they took the win in the 24-lap race at the Mobility Resort Motegi, in what was the sixteenth event of the season. Enea Bastianini crossed the line in fourth place, not far from podium positions.

Bagnaia had a great start from second place on the grid and took the lead mid-corner into turn one. The reigning world champion stayed in front up to the chequered flag, showing an excellent place while managing the margin on Martín the best possible way, not allowing the latter to get in contention for the win. This is Pecco’s first win at Motegi with Ducati, the eighth of the season for him, a new personal record for the Italian.

Bastianini’s start was solid from row two, although he could not be as effective as he would have liked in the first two laps. After dropping down to seventh place at the start of second la, Enea had to battle hard to overtake first Miller and then Binder, whom he managed to edge with 15 laps to go. With clear track ahead of him, the Ducati rider #23 was finally able to find a good rhythm as he gradually bridged the gap to Marc Márquez but ultimately came up half a second short of third position at the chequered flag.

As the sixteenth Grand Prix of the season draws to a close, Bagnaia is still second in the championship standings, albeit now with a much-reduced, ten-point gap to Martín. Bastianini is third, 79 points behind the leader. The Ducati Lenovo Team still leads the teams’ standings (695 points), with Ducati already crowned the constructors’ champion.

The riders of Ducati Lenovo Team will be back in action on October 18-30 at Phillip Island for the Australian Grand Prix, the fourth-last event of the 2024 season.

Francesco Bagnaia (#1 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st
“We’re leaving Motegi with the maximum number of points available, so I’m really happy. We did a perfect job during the weekend. It wasn’t easy, because in the early stages of the race Pedro (Acosta) was very close and pushing hard, while at the end Jorge (Martín) was making up ground; when the lead dropped to less than a second, I tried to find that little extra pace-wise and it worked. The final lap was hard though, given the grip level we had left. We managed to complete plenty of laps with used tyres throughout the weekend and worked well with regards to mapping. Now we head to Phillip Island with full awareness of our abilities.”

Enea Bastianini (#23 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 4th
“The race didn’t go as I’d hoped. After the overtake by Brad (Binder) I lost a few more positions as he made me go wide at turn 10 and others took advantage. After that, I tried to do the best, but it was too late already; the two at the front had pulled away already and Marc (Márquez) managed to overtake Binder much quicker than I did. It took me a lot longer and stressed the rear tyre in the many attempts – and this impacted my performance in the second half of the race. I tried to bridge the gap to Marc, and I got really close to him, but not close enough to give it a try.”

Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“Pecco is a true champion. It’s truly hard to predict who will eventually come out victorious for the title, but it’s an incredible show. I’m very proud of the team and of all of those who are working hard for this goal. Enea had a solid race and did well in staying focused; a pity for the first laps, which took away any chance to win. This is surely something we must keep working on.”
DOUBLE PODIUM FOR MARQUEZ AT MOTEGI

Another racing weekend draws to a close, another one with a comeback performance by Marc Marquez. Also in Japan, the #93, who had a tough luck due to a delayed, lap-cancelling decision in qualifying, did a great job in bouncing back both in the sprint and in today’s full race, as he bagged another third-place finish and consolidating his chances for a top three final position.

It was a Sunday to forget for Alex Marquez, who was out of contention before the end of the opening lap following a coming together with a rival. A few scratches and, above all, a long-lap penalty to perform are the negative takeaways from the 16th event of the season.
3rd MARC MARQUEZ (4th in the championship standings with 311 points)
“I did a good start, but Martin and Miller had an even better one. Generally speaking, it was a good opening lap and a kind of… boring race. With the lack of overtakes, I had to stay focused and also made a mistake that could have cost me the podium. It went well, though, now it’s time to take a little rest and recharge for the next tripleheader.”

DNF – ALEX MARQUEZ (12th in the championship standings with 124 points)
“I made a mistake at turn 11 that sent me off line and while trying to get back to my position I had a coming together with Mir, which led to the crash. Our bikes tangled together and I apologised to him for what happened. Now we need to recover ahead of Australia. We’ll have to perform a long-lap penalty, even though I disagree with it: seven days ago, at turn 3 another rider hit me the same way and nothing happened. This shows that rules don’t apply the same way to everybody, but it is what it is. We’ll make the most of this lesson.” Gardner Concludes Wild-Card Weekend with 17th in Motegi Race


Mobility Resort Motegi (Japan), 6th October 2024



The weather at the Mobility Resort Motegi threw a curveball at the MotoGP paddock on the final day of the Grand Prix of Japan event. What started as a sunny Sunday turned into mixed conditions in the afternoon and ended in sunshine again. It made the situation uncertain for the Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team as they decided on the set-up for the MotoGP Race. Nevertheless, Remy Gardner adapted well to what was ultimately a dry 24-lap contest and held 17th place across the finish line.

Sudden rain on the Race Day of the Grand Prix of Japan added to the tension on the premier class starting grid. Rain had fallen during the Moto2 Race, making track conditions uncertain for the MotoGP Race that followed an hour later. However, the Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team's plans of testing prototype items for a full race distance proceeded. Wild-card entry Remy Gardner finished 17th in the 24-lap contest.

Starting from P23, Gardner immediately overtook Lorenzo Savadori and gained two more positions on the opening lap due to Alex Marquez and Joan Mir colliding. Further crashes by Pedro Acosta, Augusto Fernandez, and Maverick Vinales, saw the Aussie climb as high as 17th place, though it was mainly a lonely ride. Gardner used the 24 laps to focus on collecting useful data for the Iwata headquarters of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and took the chequered flag in 17th place, 59.547s from first.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team benefitted from riding a full race length in dry conditions. Yamaha engineers will carefully go over all the collected data from this weekend with the purpose to boost bike development for 2025.


KAZUTOSHI SEKI
Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team Leader:

With the knowledge gained from yesterday's Sprint, we amended our testing plan for today's Race. Though the track conditions were uncertain before the start, we decided to go ahead with our original plan, and luckily it stayed dry. The data we gathered, as well as Remy's feedback, are clear. So, all in all, this wild card was a successful and beneficial project. We take all the information on board, and we will use it as the base for future bike development.

REMY GARDNER
Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team Rider


It was a tough weekend. We tested a few new things, which was good. But I did expect a bit more from this Race. I struggled a lot with the medium rear tyre, which we only tried in the Race. We should have probably gone with the soft because I felt really good on that tyre in Warm Up. But we did finish the full Race distance, gathering good data, and that's the main thing. I want to thank Yamaha for this wild-card entry. I'm now off to Estoril, where I race next week. I look forward to being back on the superbike. Uphill race for Aprilia Racing in Motegi

ESPARGARÓ BATTLES TO FINISH NINTH, VIÑALES CRASHES OUT

Aleix Espargaró, from the fifteenth spot on the grid, had an outstanding start, managing to make up several positions already by the end of the first lap. Despite a significant lack of grip, the Spanish rider battled throughout the race in the top ten, eventually finishing ninth.

It was an unluckier race for Maverick Viñales, who was unable to exploit the third spot on the grid and the speed he had demonstrated on Friday and Saturday. Right after the start, on the first turn, a contact with another rider cost him several positions, making things difficult for him from the opening laps. In his attempt to come back, Viñales crashed out on the twelfth lap, bringing his race to a premature end.

espargaro:


It was a heated race. The ninth place was the only positive note of this weekend. The bike had no grip – the same problem we had throughout the weekend – so I struggled quite a bit with the rear tyre sliding around. We were unable to extract the full potential of the bike. We need to keep working.

vinales:


We struggled in this race. It was difficult to defend against the attacks of our rivals. I want to maintain that feeling from the qualifiers when we were able to express the full potential of the bike. I’ll try to give one hundred percent at Phillip Island. The asphalt is new and it is also a track that I like.

rivola:


Maverick gave us some great qualifiers, making us optimistic that we had rediscovered our speed. Nevertheless, the races – although conditioned by poor opening stages – told a different story. We absolutely must stay focused for this season finale, working harder than ever to figure out where we are going wrong.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Wrap Up Challenging Motegi Race in P12 & P16


Mobility Resort Motegi (Japan), 6th October 2024

GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN
RACE



Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins had to be adaptable on the Grand Prix of Japan Sunday. Rain before the MotoGP Race kept the riders on their toes until the very start. However, the 24-lap dash remained dry and actually ended with some sunshine. The dry conditions didn't help the teammates, though. They pushed to a 12th- and 16th-place finish respectively.

12th

F. QUARTARARO
+32.299 / 24 LAPS


16th

Á. RINS
+40.839 / 24 LAPS

The Grand Prix of Japan Sunday proved to be unpredictable. Spots of rain on the grid before the MotoGP Race added extra tension as the riders headed for the grid. But although the dark clouds were threatening, it remained dry. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins couldn't put this to their advantage, though. They rode to 12th and 16th place respectively.

Quartararo started from P12. Having lost a few spots in the early stages, he soon climbed up to 11th on the first lap. A battle with Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio ended with the Frenchman being relegated two positions. He was keen to join the riders ahead who were fighting for eighth place at the time after Pedro Acosta had crashed, but he was unable to catch up. The Yamaha man switched his attention to defending his position from a charging Johann Zarco for the remainder of the Race. With Maverick Vinales having crashed out on lap 12, Quartararo bolted towards the chequered flag holding 11th place. He tried to make his Yamaha as wide as possible but still lost the position to Zarco at the last instant as he ran out of fuel. He finished 12th, 32.299s from first.

Rins took off from P19, and held on to the position early in the Race. Though he had lost a place to Takaaki Nakagami, he still gradually moved up to 15th due to multiple crashes of rivals. The Spaniard, however, did not have the feeling he was looking for and was not able to push like he wanted. He was overtaken by Luca Marini on lap 16 but pushed on regardless and completed the Race in 16th position, 40.839s from the winner.

Today's results see Quartararo hold 13th place in the overall standings with 86 points. Rins remains in joint-19th position with 20 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP keep their 9th place in the team championship with 106 points, and Yamaha hold on to 4th position in the constructor's championship with 97 points.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will be back in action in two weeks' time for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, held at the Phillip Island circuit, from 18th-20th October.

MASSIMO MEREGALLI
Team Director


Up until the chequered flag, Fabio's race was going as expected considering the performance we had this weekend. However, he ran out of fuel in the last corner, and we are currently checking why this happened. As for Alex, in the end we were not able to provide him with a set-up he felt comfortable with. We will leave this race weekend behind us and use the one-week break to recharge our batteries so we can attack the next triple header with renewed energy.

FABIO QUARTARARO
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider


It was a tough weekend. I didn't have any grip. Our bike depends on the track conditions. We need to work on this. We also ran out of fuel, so clearly we need to change some things.

ÁLEX RINS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider


It was a really tough race. The first part of the Race was not bad. We started with the set-up from Austria to see if that would improve the braking and rear tyre contact, and it was more or less the case. I could feel the bike better. But when the tyre dropped, it was hard to control the wheelspin.
Marini makes the points, Mir taken out as Japanese GP concludes

An ultimately complicated weekend at Mobility Resort Motegi for the Repsol Honda Team, Luca Marini recovering to 14th while Joan Mir’s hopes were dashed on the first lap.

The pattern of the Japanese GP weekend continued in almost every aspect as the Repsol Honda Team battled ever-changing conditions and fortunes, working constantly to take the most from every situation before them. A brief shower during the Moto2 race, and even the white flag being shown during the MotoGP race, had some questioning if wet bikes would be needed but ultimately the entirety of the 24-lap race was run on slicks.

A trademark determined performance from Luca Marini saw the #10 climb his way through the field after a complicated start to his race. Initially dropping back, a steady string of laps saw Marini gain ground on the likes of Rins and Fernandez as he moved into the points. Crossing the line in 14th, Marini adds to his 2024 points haul and achieves satisfaction from a positive end to a weekend earmarked to be troublesome. More data and more progress as he and the Repsol Honda Team continue their confidence building end to the year.

Joan Mir’s race was an unfortunately short-lived affair once again. A strong start had him in 14th after just half a lap and Mir was primed to battle with the top ten until he was hit from behind by Alex Marquez and fell. Escaping injury, Mir leaves Japan disappointed after such promise early in the weekend.

After three races in a row, the Repsol Honda Team now prepare for a well-earned one week break before another run of three races. The action resumes on October 18th in Phillip Island, the majestic circuit hosting the Australian GP once again.

Luca Marini
14th

“In the back there are always great battles and I was able to enjoy it today! On the first lap I lost quite a lot of time and a lot of positions, so it was a race of recovery. We knew from the start of the weekend that it was going to be difficult, so I think with a P13 and a P14 today that we have achieved something good. I think my rear tyre choice could have been better, so maybe we could have gained something there. But anyway, we learn and will be more prepared next year. Now we have a bit of rest and recover before another big three races.”

Joan Mir
DNF

“At Turn 11 I overtook Alex Marquez after he went wide, then in Turn 12 he made contact with the rear of my bike, his bike became stuck between my seat and the wheel so I had to run on and crashed. It’s a shame because I was going really well in that first lap of the race and the pace we showed yesterday in the Sprint, something good was possible.”NO POINTS FOR RED BULL GASGAS TECH3 IN JAPAN DESPITE HIGH HOPES FROM ACOSTA'S POLE POSITION

Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 leaves Motegi with a bitter taste after both Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez crashed on Sunday’s race of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, making it a point-less weekend, a result far from our hopes and potential.

Pole Sitter for the first time in MotoGP™, the disappointment could not have been bigger after rookie Pedro Acosta made a mistake in the sprint, while he was at the lead with just four laps remaining. Today was a new day with a new opportunity to try getting that first win from the pole position for Pedro Acosta. Under an uncertain sky, lights went out at 14:00 local time for twenty-four laps. Acosta took a really good start to exit lap 1 in P2 behind Francesco Bagnaia who had also made a rocket start. Brad Binder was just behind, coming from his 5th place on the grid. As the battle for third behind went on, Acosta took some air as a small gap grew, while he tried to hold on to the world champion who was clearly on a mission to win the trophy at stake. Unfortunately, history repeated itself again today, when Pedro made a mistake in T14 on lap 3 and crashed out of second place. Heartbreak, chapter 2. With the uncertainty of the weather, the rookie chose to rejoin the race in prevention of a potential flag-to-flag race. He found himself at the back of the grid, one lap late, behind Remy Gardner. As the chances of rain narrowed down, the rookie decided to retire from the race. Disappointing end to our Japanese adventure, but we dared to dream. We will learn from our mistakes, and come back stronger in Australia.

From 18th on the grid, Augusto Fernandez took a good start today, progressing by three positions behind Raul Fernandez, and ahead of the usual Takaaki Nakagami. He started to get up to pace, but unfortunately crashed on lap 6 in T5. It is another DNF for Augusto Fernandez, who will be looking forward to a week of rest to recharge the batteries, before the Australian leg, the first round of the next tripleheader, on October 18-19-20, 2024.

Position: DNF

Championship: 6th

Points: 181

Acosta: "It is tough to explain, but it was one of the best weekends of the season, but also one of the saddest. In the race, I was closing on Bagnaia, and saw an opportunity to pass him, but I made a mistake, and I can only blame myself. However, we were more competitive all weekend, we had the best feeling of all year, and we were closer to the top guys and the Ducatis, so for this, we need to be positive, because we have made big steps, and all we can do is look forward to Phillip Island."

Position: DNF

Championship: 21st

Points: 20

"We did quite a lot of changes on the bike to try getting a better feeling and solving the vibrations. The start was not bad, we were feeling good, but unfortunately I crashed, which is a great shame, because we could not confirm if there were good changes. We’ll be looking forward to Phillip Island to continue with that set up, and hopefully finish the season stronger." --Augusto Fernandez - Motegi - 2024Binder bounces back to top six at Japanese MotoGP™
MotoGP 2024 - Round 16 of 20, Motegi, Japan – Race

Brad Binder reversed his fortunes and was able to leave the dark and cloudy confines of the Motegi circuit in Japan with 6th position for the sixteenth round of the season. The South African started from 5th and banished the memory of his bad luck in the Sprint for a spirited charge. Jack Miller made his own fightback from a qualification slot of 14th to finish 10th.

Binder brushes off his Saturday DNF with a potent mix of speed and potential that saw him take P1 on Friday and also set-off from the second row of the grid. Brad now has eight top six results this term
Miller explores more set-up options to expand his possibilities for the 24-lap Grand Prix distance and starts brilliantly to reach the top five, eventually classifying 10th
The KTM GP Academy charts Jose Antonio Rueda’s progress to 5th place in Moto3™ for Red Bull KTM Ajo’s as Celestino Vietti manages 7th position in Moto2™


MotoGP moved Motegi for a high-paced final appointment of the triple header that has taken in trips to Emilia Romagna, Indonesia and Japan in three consecutive weeks. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing were fast and lively from the opening sessions at the 4.8km course where changeable weather conditions flirted between wet and dry asphalt for the three days of the Grand Prix program.

Binder started from P5 on the grid, Miller was P14 after their respective efforts and circumstances in Q1 and Q2 on Saturday. A technical issue had interrupted Brad’s attempt for a podium on Saturday while Jack tried some big set-up changes to rise to 8th in the same Sprint.


On Sunday, motivation and determination remained high as the clouds kept dry. Binder burst into the top three but Miller’s start was amazing and he passed nine riders to reach a highpoint of 5th! Brad and Jack then established their pace as the laps counted down and tire life had to be managed. The South African rode a largely lonely race until the final stages when he dropped to 6th. The Australian battled for 10th.

Binder is up to 5th in the world championship standings while Miller is 15th. KTM are ranked 2nd in the Constructors table. A one-week reprieve from racing will then take MotoGP into more back-to-back fixtures with trips to Phillip Island, Buriram and Sepang for Australian, Thai and Malaysian Grands Prix and the final straight of the 2024 campaign.

Brad Binder, 6th: “In the beginning when I wanted to push on with the boys I kept losing the front but after a while everything felt OK for a section of the race. Then with six-seven laps to go the rear tire went and it was spinning all the way down the straight. It was really difficult to keep clean and consistent. In general everything else was quite OK. Not the race I wanted…but it was all we had today.”

Jack Miller, 10th: “We made a bit more headway with the bike and I made the best pace I could. I can generally get away good and hit my marks. I was in the right spot at the right time. It was fun to be there at the beginning. We’re struggling a bit with mid-corner and corner exit speed. The front is stable and it stayed solid all race but we still have some work to do. This hard-braking track was good for us. We’ll come back next week and give it a crack at the Island and see how it goes there.”

Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “A good start for our boys. They were both top five and especially Jack made a great effort from the back. They kept their positions. It was a tough race and a long distance. We cannot complain, top ten and close to the top five. It’s what we have from this Grand Prix and now we have to look forwards.”

Results MotoGPJapanese Grand Prix

1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 42:09.790
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +1.189
3. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati +3.822
6. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +18.502
10. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +31.184
DNF. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS
DNF. Pedro Acosta (ESP) GASGAS

World Championship standings MotoGP

1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati, 392 points
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 382
3. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati, 313
5. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 183
6. Pedro Acosta (ESP) GASGAS, 181
15. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 66
21. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS, 20Weather conditions on Sunday, at the Motegi Circuit, followed the pattern of much of the race meeting. Humid conditions with the threat of rain but, in the end, both morning Warm Up and the Japanese Grand Prix stayed dry.

The short 10-minute Warm Up session consolidated the race set-up that #25 Raul Fernandez carried over from Saturday’s Sprint while for Miguel Oliveira’s replacement, #32 Lorenzo Savadori, the session was brought to a premature end with a minor technical issue on his Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP24.

As the main race start time approached, both sides of the Trackhouse pit garage elected to set-up the two spare bikes for rain, in case the intermittent drops of rain developed. The threat reduced once the riders lined up in their grid positions – Raul in 13th place and Lorenzo in 22ndspot. Tire choice was the same for both, Michelin’s hard front slick tire and medium compound rear tire and as the lights went out for the start of the Grand Prix Raul, in particular struggled with traffic on lap 1. Crossing the stripe for the first time, the #25 was in 15th position and #32 up one to 21stbut not feeling comfortable on his bike. On lap 2 he was forced to retire and the team are working to establish the cause of the issues with the #32 RS-GP.

Raul reeled off the early laps of the race, pushing hard but sitting in a one-second gap to the bikes in front and behind until he moved up a place to 13th. He could not maintain the place though and by the time he saw the checkered flag, he was running 15th, the last point scoring position.

WEEKEND SUMMARY:

Another ‘back-to-back’ race weekend took the Trackhouse Racing Team from Indonesia to Japan and Round 16 of the MotoGP World Championship in successive weekends. Conditions at the Motegi Mobility Circuit, in the Tochigi Prefecture hills, were marked throughout the race weekend with warm, humid and at times, wet pavement conditions making the task of both #25 Raul Fernandez and #32 Lorenzo Savadori, who arrived at short-notice in Japan to deputize for regular team rider, #88 Miguel Oliveira, a tricky one.

For Lorenzo, the challenge to get re-acquainted with a track he had not ridden in 14 years and only ever on a 125cc bike made for a steep experience curve. As Aprilia’s MotoGP Factory test rider, he is intimately familiar with the RS-GP24 prototype but taking over Miguel’s bike meant adapting to a different set-up and working with the Trackhouse crew. He settled in well though and made progress in the Friday Practice sessions, ending the day in touch with his teammate Raul.

The #25 was not entirely happy with the set-up and speed of his Trackhouse Aprilia after the two Practice sessions, particularly missing out on direct entry into Saturday’s Qualifying 2 session. Although Free Practice 2, on Saturday morning did not unlock the performance potential that the team expected, Raul did get very close to the top 2 in Q1, just missing out on the chance to fight for the top ten grid spots in the second Qualifying session.

That meant the Team lined up on the grid for both the Saturday afternoon Sprint and Sunday’s main Grand Prix, with Raul in 13th and Lorenzo in 22nd positions. Both riders produced a solid performance in the 12-lap race – Raul finishing 11th and Lorenzo, 17th – with good race pace evident throughout.

That pace gave Trackhouse Racing confidence that over the 24 lap Japanese Grand Prix, there was the possibility of breaking into the top 10. However, for Lorenzo Savadori, technical gremlins in both the morning Warm-Up session and then early in the Grand Prix, ended his progression. For Raul, the Grand Prix ultimately proved frustrating with a run to 15th place and a Championship point. Not the outcome either he, or the team, hoped for in front of the 42,000 Japanese fans lining the Twin Ring.

The Trackhouse Racing Team has a one week break now until the Championship circus lands in Melbourne, Australia, ready to take on the ultra-fast Phillip Island track. It is a rider and crew favorite, with the Southern Ocean providing a spectacular backdrop and at times, spectacularly unpredictable weather conditions. America’s MotoGP team look forward to its debut down under!

Trackhouse Racing – Team World Championship Standing: 8th – 127 points
Next Round: Australian Grand Prix – Phillip Island: October 18, 19, 20

RAUL FERNANDEZ

“It was a really difficult race for us. We were lacking grip and couldn’t improve our lap times - we were all struggling quite a bit. My start was not great and I lost three or four seconds with Aleix (Espargaro) and then I was stuck all race, more or less, with this gap to him. Some riders overtook me, but I couldn’t do anything to avoid it - although we improved a lot from Friday, today in the race, our pace was not good and I don’t know why. We need to find some solutions for the future to understand why we are quite strong on the time attack and in the Sprint with the soft and as soon as we have to use the medium tire, we are not competitive enough to fight for a good place.”

LORENZO SAVADORI

“Unfortunately, I needed to retire from the race because something on the bike was not working correctly. These things can happen when you test different solutions, so we can’t do anything about it. But, I enjoyed working with the Trackhouse Racing Team and also riding again in Motegi after so many years.”