Márquez wins the Sprint as Moreira claims his first podium

Marc Márquez made the best start and never gave up the lead. The Ducati rider won the 12-lap Motegi Sprint, but the order behind him changed after the finish: Jorge Martín and Enea Bastianini each lost one position for exceeding track limits on the final lap. Diogo Moreira, fourth across the line, was promoted to second and his first Sprint podium. Martín is classified third, Bastianini fourth.

It is a significant result for the championship. Márquez takes five points out of Martín’s lead, reducing the gap from 12 to seven: 313 points for the Aprilia rider, 306 for his closest challenger. The title fight therefore remains wide open ahead of the full-length race.

Martín still holds an advantage for Sunday: he will start from pole after setting a new record of 1:42.371, ahead of Márquez by 0.110 seconds and Pedro Acosta. Their duel will resume on the front row, but with an additional unknown: the tire choices have changed following the Sprint problems.

The MotoGP Grand Prix starts on Sunday, October 4, at 7 a.m. in Paris and 1 a.m. in Ottawa.