It’s 12 points in the Championship and just a tenth of a second on track as Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) took a stunning lap record pole position at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. His 1:42.371 puts him 0.110 clear of Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completing the front row – just denying Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). The stage could not be more set for fireworks in Japan.
Q1: Ogura does the business
It was a big Q1 for the home fans as Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) saddled up to try and move through, just missing out on Friday. In the early stages he was leading the way ahead of 2024 and 2025 Motegi winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), before Raul Fernandez slotted into second behind teammate Ogura.
As the second runs began, Ogura was the star of the show again on his flyer, taking some time off his best lap to increase his advantage at the top. There were red sectors coming in from Fernandez too before a fast – but very stylishly recovered – crash for Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), rider ok, leaving it down to a final lap shootout. Fernandez put it together again to home in on Ogura, coming up short by jut 0.001 but heading through.
Q2: title fight heavyweights come out swinging
After the first runs, it was Marquez leading Marquez at the top as Marc headed BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP’s Alex – but by only 0.065. With the field locked and loaded to head back out, however, there was plenty to come. First to shoot for the top was Martin. Red sectors were coming in from the points leader and the #89 kept it tidy to the line, setting the new benchmark 1:42.371. The gauntlet was thrown down with a new all-time lap record.
The first attempt at beating it from Marc Marquez saw him run off at Turn 3. The second attempt, the same. In the meantime, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was putting together a fast one hovering thousandths off the top through the sectors – and he had Acosta on his tail. The duo shot round the Mobility Resort Motegi and over the line, just coming up short on the pole position time but moving up into third and fourth – the #37 leapfrogging the Aprilia in the tow.
Back to Marc Marquez. Turn 3 was drama free on his final run at it, and the lap was close. Martin got out of the way and the #93 had a clear run at it, but even so – it wasn’t quite enough. 0.110 splits Championship leader Martin, who kept that pole position, from his closest challenger Marc Marquez – with Austria winner Acosta in third and Bezzecchi P4 at the head of Row 2.
Alex Marquez takes P5 with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) closing out that second row, losing out on his final lap round in the final sector, with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) putting in his best Q2 of the season to qualify seventh.
Raul Fernandez turned Q1 graduation into P8, with Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) next up in ninth. His teammate, Johann Zarco (Castrol LCR Honda), completes the top ten after a crash, rider ok.
Ogura will be looking for a lot more when the lights go out, only able to take P11 on home turf, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) completing the Q2 runners in P12, just ahead of Bagnaia as first to miss the cut in Q1.
The stage is set. Martin leads Marc Marquez in the standings and on the grid for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with Acosta lurking third with nothing to lose in the Championship fight – and Bezzecchi hot on their heels. Join us for the Tissot Sprint at 15:00 (UTC+9) on Saturday before the Grand Prix at 14:00 on Sunday as another twist in the 2026 title fight awaits.
FULL RESULTS - MotoGP QUALIFYING AT MOTEGI