Summary
- Marc Márquez won the Japanese Sprint after taking the lead at the first corner.
- Diogo Moreira claimed his first MotoGP Sprint podium, finishing second after penalties.
- Jorge Martín’s championship advantage fell to seven points, with the Aprilia rider classified third.
Marc Márquez won the Japanese Grand Prix Sprint on Saturday, 3 October, overtaking polesitter Jorge Martín at the start and controlling the race throughout its 12 laps. The Ducati rider finished ahead of Diogo Moreira, who secured his first MotoGP Sprint podium following penalties that changed the order behind the winner.
Moreira crossed the line fourth, behind Martín and Enea Bastianini. However, both riders received drop-one-position penalties for exceeding track limits on the final lap, promoting the LCR Honda rookie to second, with Martín third and Bastianini fourth.
Ai Ogura completed the top five ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Johann Zarco. Raúl Fernández finished eighth, while Fabio Quartararo took ninth and the final Sprint point.
The result brought another shift in the championship battle. Martín now leads Márquez by seven points, with 313 against 306, after arriving at Motegi with a 12-point advantage.
Márquez takes the lead as an early collision removes three contenders
Martín had secured pole with a circuit record in qualifying, but Márquez made the stronger start and took the inside line into the first corner. Once ahead, the Ducati rider established control and prevented the Aprilia from challenging successfully for the lead.
Behind them, Álex Márquez, Pedro Acosta and Fabio Di Giannantonio were eliminated in an opening-lap collision. Their retirements immediately removed three riders who had started inside the top six.
Bastianini progressed into the podium fight, while Moreira gained three places from ninth on the grid to run sixth. The Brazilian then began working his way through the group ahead.
Bezzecchi chose a medium rear tyre, differing from the soft selected by most of the field. The Aprilia rider initially occupied a strong position but eventually lost ground to Moreira and Ogura.
Moreira climbs through the field before penalties settle the podium
Moreira followed Ogura closely in the early stages and gained a position when the Japanese rider made an error. He then overtook Bezzecchi to move into fourth and began chasing Bastianini.
The Tech3 rider initially held a useful margin, but Moreira reduced it during the closing laps. On the final lap, the Honda rookie was close enough to pressure Bastianini, who was also approaching Martín.
The three riders remained in that order at the chequered flag, with Martín second, Bastianini third and Moreira fourth. The subsequent track-limits penalties changed the podium, rewarding the Brazilian’s recovery with second place.
Ogura finished fifth on home soil, while Zarco’s seventh place put both LCR Hondas inside the points. Fernández and Quartararo completed the nine scoring positions.
Márquez gains five points on Martín
Márquez collected 12 points for victory, while Moreira earned nine and Martín seven. The penalty therefore increased Márquez’s championship gain from the three points he would have recovered against a second-placed Martín to five.
Bagnaia endured another difficult race, returning to the pits with a rear-tyre problem. Acosta’s early retirement also prevented the KTM rider from converting his front-row start into points.
The championship contenders will meet again in Sunday’s main race, with Martín retaining pole position and Márquez starting alongside him.
Japanese MotoGP 2026: full Sprint results
| Pos | Rider | Team | Gap / status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M MÁRQUEZ | Ducati | 12 laps | 12 |
| 2 | D MOREIRA | LCR Honda | +2.754 | 9 |
| 3 | J MARTÍN | Aprilia | +2.854* | 7 |
| 4 | E BASTIANINI | Tech3 KTM | +2.896* | 6 |
| 5 | A OGURA | Trackhouse Aprilia | +6.380 | 5 |
| 6 | M BEZZECCHI | Aprilia | +7.372 | 4 |
| 7 | J ZARCO | LCR Honda | +8.476 | 3 |
| 8 | R FERNÁNDEZ | Trackhouse Aprilia | +9.205 | 2 |
| 9 | F QUARTARARO | Yamaha | +10.974 | 1 |
| 10 | F ALDEGUER | Gresini Ducati | +11.517 | 0 |
| 11 | L MARINI | Honda | +14.020 | 0 |
| 12 | F MORBIDELLI | VR46 Ducati | +15.597 | 0 |
| 13 | A RINS | Yamaha | +20.261 | 0 |
| 14 | S CHANTRA | Honda | +20.371 | 0 |
| 15 | M VIÑALES | Tech3 KTM | +20.857 | 0 |
| 16 | J MILLER | Pramac Yamaha | +22.282 | 0 |
| 17 | T RAZGATLIOĞLU | Pramac Yamaha | +35.830 | 0 |
| 18 | B BINDER | KTM | +41.672 | 0 |
| 19 | F BAGNAIA | Ducati | +41.772 | 0 |
| DNF | P ACOSTA | KTM | Retired | 0 |
| DNF | F DI GIANNANTONIO | VR46 Ducati | Retired | 0 |
| DNF | A MÁRQUEZ | Gresini Ducati | Retired | 0 |
Martín and Bastianini each received a drop-one-position penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap.
MotoGP returns to the track on Sunday, 4 October, at 14:00 in Japan, for the Japanese Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Motegi.
MotoGP today: FAQ
Who won the Japanese MotoGP race today?
Marc Márquez won the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, finishing 1.363s ahead of Jorge Martín. Marco Bezzecchi completed the podium, while Márquez secured a weekend double after also winning Saturday’s Sprint.
Who leads the MotoGP championship after the Japanese GP?
Jorge Martín remains the MotoGP championship leader with 333 points, just 2 ahead of Marc Márquez on 331. Márquez’s two victories in Japan reduced the gap from 12 points at the start of the weekend.
When is the next MotoGP race?
The next MotoGP race is the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The weekend runs from 9–11 October.
Who won the Japanese MotoGP Sprint?
Marc Márquez won the 12-lap Sprint at Motegi after overtaking Jorge Martín at the first corner.
