Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) won the Japanese Sprint race around Motegi after a heartbreaking crash saw Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) lose out on his maiden victory in the premier class. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) finished in second place as the fastest rider on track, securing a one-two finish for the Ducati Lenovo Team. Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) earned his eighth sprint podium of the year, climbing from ninth to third in another excellent performance in Japan.
Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) settled for fourth place as he struggled to make up time on the top three running on the soft tyres. Rookie sensation Acosta was running in first but pushed too far over the limit and crashed out in the final three laps, gifting Bagnaia those crucial points in the title fight. The race got off to a rocky start with Acosta losing his pole position off the line to Bagnaia who launched his Ducati ahead of the rookie rider.
https://x.com/motogpontnt/status/1842451912798437862 Both Marc Marquez and Martin also got off to great starts alongside Bagnaia, climbing to sixth and fifth place respectively on the opening lap. Bagnaia led the pack around the Mobility Resort Motegi, until Lap 3 when the rookie rider made a bold move on Bagnaia around a lethal corner to retake the lead.
The championship leader fell victim to one of Marquez's classic overtakes, as the eight-time world champion dove down the inside of Martin to snatch fifth pla.
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