Marc Marquez won the MotoGP Tissot Sprint race Saturday afternoon at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Riding his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26 on Michelin control tires, the seven-time MotoGP World Champion won the 12-lap race by 2.754 seconds.

Diogo Moreira was the runner-up on his Pro Honda LCR RC213V.

Polesitter, Jorge Martin finished third on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26.

Enea Bastianini crossed the finish line fourth on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16.

Home hero Ai Ogura got fifth on his SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26.

Jorge Martin leads the championship with 313 points, 7 ahead of Marc Marquez who has 306 points. Marco Bezzecchi is third with 268 points.

More, from a press release issued by MotoGP:

Marc Marquez wins dramatic Motegi Sprint as Moreira shines for first Saturday podium. Martin crosses the line second before a penalty dropping him to third, Bastianini just loses the podium and a Lap 1 incident hits for some key names in Japan.

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) took off running at the front in the Tissot Sprint at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, and championship leader Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) kept chase in the first half before looking like he was forced to settle for second. Some late drama, however, saw the #89 fade into the clutches of a three-way battle for third – and then both he and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) got hit with a drop one position penalty for track limits on the final lap. Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) therefore takes his first Sprint podium and becomes the first Brazilian to take a Saturday rostrum.

Marc Marquez just about grabbed the holeshot as Martin tried to keep it in there round the outside, but the #89 was forced to cede. Drama then hit early at Turn 3 just behind, with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) making contact with both Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Fabio Di Gianannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), and all three tumbling out. Riders ok, and Alex Marquez given a double Long Lap penalty for Sunday for his part in the incident.

That left Marquez leading from Martin, the two locked together, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) trying to hold off Bastianini for third. The #93 had the hammer down in the lead, however, and the gap started to eke out between the duo at the head of the field as the battle began behind.

Bastianini wrestled past Bez on Lap 3, then more cavalry arrived in home hero Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Moreira. The three got their elbows out in close quarters but it was the Brazilian rider who made the most of it to get a 2-for-1 and move up into fourth, leaving Ogura to then attack Bezzecchi and take over in fourth.

At the front by half distance it was as you were – but the gap wasn’t growing. Hovering around a second, Marquez had it under control ahead of Martin, and Bastianini was carving out some breathing space in third. Lap by lap though, the #93 was making a break for it.

In the final stages it looked like the podium was set, but there was plenty of drama to come. The gap up from Bastianini to Martin was suddenly down to near zero as Martin started to struggle with rear grip, and Moreira was on the #23’s tail too. On track it stayed close to the line but no move was up for the making, but after the flag the drama continued – with track limits infractions on that final lap coming up for Martin AND Bastianini.

With that, a position each penalty was given – promoting Moreira up to a first ever Sprint podium for him and Brazil. Marquez takes the win, Moreira second and Martin holds into a place on the box in third – with Bastianini steaming at the lost silverware.

He takes fourth ahead of Ogura and Bezzecchi, with Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) staying ahead of Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) in P7 and P8. Fabio Quartararo scored the final point in P9 on home turf for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team, holding off Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP).

That’s a wrap on a dramatic day at the office in Japan, with more to come on Sunday – and a few familiar faces up for some revenge. Can Marc Marquez do the double or do his rivals have more in the locker on Sunday? Tune in to find out.

FULL RESULTS – MOTOGP SPRINT AT MOTEGI

David Almansa earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM on Pirelli control tires, Almansa turned a lap time of 1:54.572. Not only was that good enough to lead the 26-rider field, it was also good enough to eclipse his own’s 2026 All-Time Lap Record of 1:54.745 he set this morning in FP2.

Brian Uriarte was the best of the rest with a 1:54.617 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine, and his teammate Alvaro Carpe claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:54.647. 

Row-two qualifiers included Aspar Team’s Maximo Quiles (1:54.854), LEVEL UP MTA’s Matteo Bertelle (1:54.918) and Almansa’s teammate David Muñoz (1:55.147).

More, from a press release issued by MotoGP:

Seventh heaven for Almansa in the Land of the Rising Sun. The Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP rider takes a season seventh pole ahead of Red Bull KTM Ajo duo Uriarte and Carpe.

David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) continued his Moto3 qualifying dominance at Motegi, storming to a seventh pole position of the season with a new all-time lap record. The Spaniard’s 1:54.572 was enough to hold off Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by just 0.045s, with teammate Alvaro Carpe completing the front row.

Uriarte had been the early benchmark, putting himself provisional fastest with a 1:54.617 on his third lap. Almansa responded soon after, though, delivering the lap that would ultimately decide the Japanese GP polesitter on his fourth tour as the clock ticked into the final six minutes.

The closing stages were anything but straightforward. Uriarte had a crash with around three minutes remaining while pushing on a fast lap, but the Spaniard was quickly back to his feet, picked up his KTM from the gravel and got straight back to it. Despite all that, the #51 came within 0.072s of his own best on his final lap, but Almansa’s pole lap time remained out of reach.

There was late drama elsewhere too. Carpe took the scenic route through the gravel before regrouping for one final attack, and the Championship contender delivered when it mattered with a 1:54.647 on his last lap to jump into third. It secured the #83 a second consecutive front-row start, while giving Red Bull KTM Ajo two riders alongside Almansa on row one.

Yellow flags also played their part in a frantic finale. Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) went down at Turn 5 before getting back on his bike, while teammate Adrian Fernandez later tucked the front at Turn 9. Earlier in the session, Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) suffered a nasty highside but thankfully got back to his feet; the Indonesian was unable to set another lap and finished 18th.

Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) entered the final moments with one last opportunity to threaten the front row, but the Championship leader was unable to improve on his 1:54.854 and will head up row 2. Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA) claimed fifth, while David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) made a late move into sixth with a 1:55.147.

Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3) leads row three in seventh, ahead of teammate Valentin Perrone and Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with home hero Ryusei Yamanaka (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) completing the top ten.

For Almansa, it’s pole number seven in 2026 and another statement Saturday as the title fight enters its final stretch. With seven Grands Prix remaining, Quiles has his first opportunity to wrap up the crown in Japan, although Almansa, Uriarte and Carpe, from row 1, can all ensure the fight rolls on.

Jorge Martin earned pole position during MotoGP qualifying 2 Saturday at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 on the 2.98-mile (4.8 km) track, Martin turned a 1:42.371. Not only was that good enough to top the 22-rider field and claim pole position, it was also good enough to eclipse Alex Marquez’s 2026 All-Time Lap Record of 1:42.811 he set yesterday during the practice session.

Marc Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:42.481 on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26, and Pedro Acosta claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:42.493 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.

Row-two qualifiers included Aprilia Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi (1:42.530), Gresini Racing’s Alex Marquez (1:42.546) and VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio (1:42.628).

More, from a press release issued by MotoGP:

Martin smashes lap record to deny Marc Marquez at Motegi. The #89 leads the #93 in the standings and on the grid as Acosta and Bezzecchi lurk in third and fourth.

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

Marco Bezzecchi led MotoGP World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Saturday morning at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 on spec Michelin tires, the Italian rider turned a lap time of 1:43.321 to lead the 22-rider field.

His teammate, Jorge Martin, was the best of the rest with a 1:43.401.

Pedro Acosta was third at 1:43.501 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.

Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez finished the session fourth with a 1:43.564 on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.

Fabio Di Giannantonio finished the session fifth on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26 with a time of 1:43.590.