Márquez wins again: only two points now separate him from Martín

Marc Márquez leaves Motegi with a perfect weekend. After winning the Sprint, the Ducati rider also takes the Grand Prix and cuts his deficit to Jorge Martín from 12 points before the weekend to just two: 333 points for Martín, 331 for Márquez. Six rounds remain.

Martín had launched the race perfectly from pole and kept the lead at the start. Márquez waited until lap 11 of 24 to attack at Turn 9, then gradually built a gap. He finishes 1.363 seconds ahead of Martín, with Marco Bezzecchi completing the podium for Aprilia.

Michelin’s decision after the Sprint also changed the conditions of the race: every rider ultimately used the hard rear tyre. The tyre issue therefore did not decide the duel as it had on Saturday; this time Márquez beat Martín directly on pace. After Motegi, the championship has effectively been reset.