Cycle News Staff | October 1, 2023
Sunday MotoGP Race
It was a day for nerves of steel at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with the Championship on a knife edge before the race start and drops of drizzle becoming a flag-to-flag and then some serious rain. But on a day when faltering would likely have lived long in the memory, neither in the duel at the top of the standings did. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) overcame arguably his biggest test of late to put on a wet weather masterclass at the front, outpacing Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to cut the gap to just three points. The test was also a huge one for Bagnaia, on the back foot in terms of momentum and faced with the toughest conditions of the season so far, but the reigning World Champion dug in, held on, and took the necessary 20 points needed to keep that lead.
As the top two in the Championship held their nerve, so did the rider in the centre of his own storm as rumors about the future swirl: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) got back on the Grand Prix podium for the first time in 2023, and on home turf for Honda.
Martin kept everyone behind him in treacherous conditions to close right up on Bagnaia in the title fight.
On the grid the tyres were slicks and the skies were grey, with Martin getting the dream start to take the holeshot, while Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also got off the line superbly. The same can’t be said for reigning World Champion Bagnaia, who headed into Turn 1 in fourth as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), though the factory Ducati bit back on the exit of the second corner.
There was immediate disappointment for Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) who ended up in the gravel after contact with several riders going into Turn 1, while Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) went wide with him.
As the rain started to increase, pitlane was opened almost immediately for riders to swap bikes, something which the vast majority opted to do. Martin led them into pitlane, with Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Marquez and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) following closely behind. Five opted to stay out: Fabio Quartararo (Moneter Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Cal Crutchlow (Yamalube RS4GP Racing Team), Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda Castrol) and Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team) were the quintet of riders, and all of a sudden, Pirro led the Japanese Grand Prix.
From those who chose to change bikes, Martin led a large group out onto the track, with Espargaro, Miller, Bagnaia and Marquez next. At Turn 10, Espargaro challenged Martin for the lead of the group but the Pramac rider struck back. As we went to clock off another lap, Quartararo and Crutchlow then changed machines. Pirro, Bradl and Morbidelli did not.
Marquez took another podium in third, but is it too late to stop him going to Ducati?
It was an incredibly dramatic start to the race, and it showed no signs of slowing down as Martin went wide under pressure from Espargaro, dropping to P9 before Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) picked him off. A ballsy move around Turn 6 though returned the position to the title hopeful as he went up the inside of the Gresini machine.
By the end of Lap 3, the riders on wets caught Morbidelli as Marquez tried to battle past Espargaro at Turn 11, but couldn’t keep it pinned as he slipped back behind the Aprilia. A little further back, Martin was out to make amends from his earlier error and got through on Miller at Turn 3 for sixth, lining up behind title rivals Bezzecchi and Bagnaia.
Amid all that, Pirro, incredibly, still led the Grand Prix by 10 seconds, but he soon swapped bikes too, meaning we had a new race leader in the form of Aleix Espargaro, who had time to spare over Marquez in second. There were then further shifts in the pecking order, as Bagnaia and Martin both picked off Bezzecchi, before the Ducatis then flew past Marc Marquez by the end of the lap to move for the podium places.
Just five laps in, and we had enough drama to last a season… and it was far from over!
A look at the timing screens showed Aleix Espargaro out front, but his lead was cut to half a second over Bagnaia, with Martin completing the provisional podium paces. Bezzecchi picked off Marquez as the Repsol Honda began sliding the wrong way, with Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) the next to get the better of him. By this stage, the race lost Binder to a crash as he slid out at Turn 3, rider ok.
Back out front, Martin was on the march, battling past Bagnaia for second and then making light work of Espargaro for the lead, and the in form Spaniard opened up a cushion of seven tenths. 1.5 seconds behind the front two, Bezzecchi moved into third place at the expense of Aleix Espargaro, who seemed to lose all drive aboard his RS-GP with Oliveira and Marquez both coming through on him seconds later.
After nine laps, it looked like the race began to settle down after probably the most hectic start to a MotoGP™ race in recent memory. Martin’s lead was out to a second, with Bagnaia still holding his advantage over Bezzecchi. Oliveira was next in line, but the master of the wet in recent times couldn’t mount a podium challenge and then entered the pits to retire by the end of Lap 12, a lost chance.
The action was still coming thick and fast behind the leaders though, with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) and Miller staging a spectacular battle for seventh before the Aussie lost out after running it wide at Turn 11, somewhat fortunate not to crash as he rejoined the chasing pack in 10th. That suddenly put the Constructors’ crown in reach for Ducati…
They all scramble out of pit lane following the bike swap.
Conditions were worsening, with bikes spraying up water from the asphalt as the pace slowed, but that couldn’t stop Marquez from making moves as the eight-time World Champion went by Bezzecchi and onto the podium on the drive into Turn 11. He then began taking chunks out of Bagnaia’s advantage, and it looked like just a matter of time before he reeled him in…. but then the red flag waved. Riders returned to pitlane. Including Zarco who crashed moments before the red flag and wrote off his GP23, rider ok.
With 13 of 24 laps completed, a restart would happen if conditions were to improve, but that was a big if. It seemed that conditions had cleared enough for a restart, but before they could complete the warm up lap, the red flag was waved once again, and a race result was declared. As over 50% of the race had been completed, full points were awarded.
Martin’s nerves of steel in the face of a very different challenge see him confirmed the winner, with another 25 points putting him just three off Bagnaia. But to keep that lead, if he didn’t beat him and Martin won, Pecco had to follow him home. And that he did.
Bezzecchi missed the podium but collected 13 points ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Jack Miller in P5 and P6 respectively. Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) finished ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio for seventh, while Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and Quartararo completed the top 10. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) came home in 11th in his home Grand Prix, with Mir, Crutchlow, Bradl and Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) completing the point-scoring places.
2023 Japanese MotoGP Results—Sunday GP
| 1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
|
| 2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+ 1.413 |
| 3 |
Marc Marquez |
(Repsol Honda Team) |
+ 2.013 |
| 4 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+ 2.943 |
| 5 |
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) |
+ 3.181 |
|
| 6 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+ 6.837 |
| 7 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) |
+ 7.587 |
| 8 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+ 8.602 |
| 9 |
Raul Fernandez |
(CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team) |
+ 11.229 |
| 10 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) |
+ 12.244 |
Moto2 Race
The fairytale continued for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia as they secured a one-two at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) perfect under the pressure of having been the fastest rider all weekend and stealing the spotlight in the Moto2™ race. The Thai rider dominated from start to finish, establishing a lead which ultimately proved insurmountable.
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) gave it a good go before being forced to settle for second, with Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the podium as he battled through a gaggle of riders to extend his lead.
The lights were barely out before the drama started. Chantra’s rapid launch ensured the holeshot to establish his lead. Meanwhile, Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) – who was fast away from seventh on the grid – and Acosta made aggressive starts before coming together, something that proved costly for both riders as they made life difficult for themselves early on. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) took advantage, moving up to P2 briefly before going wide at Turn 5 and falling to fourth.
Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) made his way up to second from sixth, despite a double long-lap penalty looming over him for irresponsible riding last weekend in India. Two laps in, Ogura made his move on Lopez, and the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia one-two that had become so familiar at Mobility Resort Motegi this weekend was restored.
Chantra was utterly dominant in Moto2.
Lopez would eventually have to pay the price for his misdemeanors in India, doing so with 15 laps to go and dropping into 10th, just ahead of Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team).
Acosta began to advance up the field, picking off Filip Salač (QJMotor Gresini Moto2™) before overtaking Dixon to move into third, a podium position and crucially 16 points in the Championship that Acosta wouldn’t relinquish without a fight.
Meanwhile, his title rival Arbolino struggled and spent much of the race engaged in a duel with Canet for ninth place, managing to hold off the Spanish rider until lap 13, at which point the Spaniard successfully made his move.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) found himself in the gravel trap at Turn 10, plummeting out of the points, with Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) doing the same shortly afterwards. The duo rejoined, but the next two to take a tumble couldn’t: Kohta Nozane crashed out of his home Grand Prix at that same corner after a career-best Qualifying, before Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) had been progressing as well, before crashing out at Turn 14 with 12 laps to go.
On the final laps, Dixon sought to cut the gap with Acosta in the battle for third, but was unable to position himself to make a move on the #37. At the same time, Chantra’s lead, which had looked insurmountable, suddenly started to shrink. Ogura managed to make up sixth tenths of a second with eight laps to go, before Chantra pushed back to hold his lead for a spectacular finish. It was a win which also meant that Kalex claimed the Moto2™ Constructors’ World Championship.
Behind Dixon, Salač completed the top five ahead of Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team), with Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) in seventh ahead of Canet. Zonta van den Goorbergh (Fieten Olie Racing GP) took another top ten result in ninth, with Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husvarna Intact GP) completing the top ten.
2023 Japanese MotoGP Results—Moto2 Race
| 1 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) |
|
| 2 |
Ai Ogura |
(IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) |
+1.353 |
| 3 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+3.080 |
| 4 |
Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+5.065 |
|
| 5 |
Filip Salac |
(Gresini Racing Moto2™) |
+10.492 |
| 6 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) |
+12.961 |
| 7 |
Marcos Ramírez |
(American Racing) |
+14.352 |
| 8 |
Aron Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+16.360 |
| 9 |
Zonta Van Den Goorbergh |
(RW Racing GP) |
+17.692 |
| 10 |
Darryn Binder |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+19.405 |
Sunday Moto3 Race
Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) is now the Moto3™ Championship leader! The Spaniard put in another masterclass performance, this time at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, to take back-to-back wins and take over on top. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) moves up into second after taking second by pipping Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) to the line, with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crashing out and seeing his Championship challenge take a dent.
Öncü just held onto the holeshot ahead of Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) and Holgado as Masia lost out off the line, and the Turk immediately got the hammer down at the front. But he didn’t manage a breakaway as those on the chase regrouped, with most of the key players in the Championship locked together: Öncü, Sasaki, Masia and Holgado.
With seven laps to go, the fight at the front was getting decisive. The Husqvarna and two KTMs were going toe-to-toe and Masia’s gap in the lead grew by a tenth, then a few more, and by the time the big drama hit the Spaniard was over a second clear. That drama? A sudden crash for Öncü as the Turk slid off into the gravel, rider raging but ok. That left Holgado vs Sasaki in the podium fight, with both also looking over their shoulders as Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) and Nepa gained ground.
Masia’s win hoists him into the championship lead in the Moto3 class.
1.2 seconds, six laps to go… could Sasaki reel Masia in? The Japanese rider was certainly giving it a good go as that duo gained a chunk of time on those behind, and it got to under a second, then down to eight tenths… but it was just too big an ask. Masia kept it clean to the line to take victory by over a second, taking back-to-back wins and the Championship lead too.
Behind, Holgado was still with Sasaki and the Spaniard made a brutal but clean lunge to take over in second. But that wasn’t all she wrote as the number 96 then had a big wobble out the final corner and Sasaki was able to just slipstream past, taking those valuable 20 points to move into second in the Championship. Holgado, still, with less experience at Motegi and after a tougher couple of rounds, takes a valuable podium as we begin the final stretch.
The duel for fourth saw Nepa just hold off Ortola at the line, the two split by thousadnths, with a big, close group behind them led by David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports). David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), Kaito Toba (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) completed the group down to P12, with Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) and Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) completing the points.
2023 Japanese MotoGP Results—Moto3 Race
| 1 |
Jaume Masia |
(Leopard Racing) |
|
| 2 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+1.546 |
| 3 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull KTM Tech3) |
+1.602 |
| 4 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+5.200 |
| 5 |
Ivan Ortola |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+5.230 |
| 6 |
David Muñoz |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+8.900 |
| 7 |
David Alonso |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+8.959 |
| 8 |
Kaito Toba |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+9.253 |
| 9 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+9.629 |
| 10 |
Jose Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+9.734 |
2023 Japanese MotoGP News—Saturday
Rins returns… but withdraws
On Friday Alex Rins returned briefly from the serious injury to his right leg he sustained at the Italian GP in early June. The Spaniard’s last-minute decision to fly to Japan caught stand-in rider Stefan Bradl off guard, with the German not learning about Rins’ arrival until late on Thursday.
Rins tried but he’s still not up to the rigors of a MotoGP bike just yet.
“Two days ago I was in Madrid in the Hospital with the doctors, talking, comparing the X-rays,” said Rins, who fractured the tibia and fibia at Mugello. His decision to come was “one step forward on my rehabilitation. As I said, it’s very difficult to compare the feeling with the streetbike or MotoGP bike. The first time I jumped on the bike after the injury, was on a very small bike (one month ago). And the pain was terrible.”
But by Friday afternoon it was clear he couldn’t continue, when he ended Practice 3.7s off the pace. “The pain is so high in the right corners,” he said. “To ride with angle and go out of the bike, holding it with one leg; that is the most difficult right now.” He’ll attempt a return in Indonesia. Bradl stepped back in on Saturday.
Acosta asks KTM: hurry up
On the face of it, Pedro Acosta delivered one of the weirder TV interviews of the year on Friday. The Moto2 championship leader casted doubt on whether he will indeed jump up to MotoGP next year, saying the move is “all up in the air.”
The reality is the 19-year old was giving KTM the hurry up. And in not an overly subtle way. The Austrian factory informed him in June it would find a spot in its MotoGP line up for 2024, at the expense of either Augusto Fernandez or Pol Espargaro. Yet as September draws to a close, there has still been no confirmation of where he will line up.
Waiting, waiting… Acosta still isn’t sure of what’s happening next year.
“I have to wait to know where I’m going to ride, let’s see where,” said Acosta. “Now, it’s all in the air. We don’t have any news… maybe I’ll stay one more year in Moto2, I don’t know. I don’t like the idea of staying one more year in Moto2. I’m doing my job in the best way I can. At the moment, I don’t know anything. I prefer to not ask.” Asked when he will know, Acosta quipped, “Maybe in Valencia (in late November).”
Behind the scenes, figures from Tech3 GASGAS have expressed displeasure at KTM’s handling of the situation, believing it has negatively affected Fernandez and Espargaro’s performances in recent weeks.
The calendar is expanding
Japan was the first occasion to ask the MotoGP field about the 2024 calendar, after it was confirmed the series will expand to 22 rounds.
There was near widespread dissatisfaction at two extra rounds to this campaign. And every rider was keen to point out they will be competing in 44 races next year, taking into account Saturday’s Sprints.
The championship just keeps getting bigger.
“It’s not about my thoughts. It’s Dorna’s calendar. If you don’t like, if I don’t like, I can decide to stay at home or to do another job,” said Aleix Espargaro of the current riders’ predicament. “You have to race. Obviously I would prefer less races, that’s for sure. I would prefer also no sprint races, but if they put 22 you have to race 22.
“The only thing that I don’t like is that they promise us to have the break in the middle of four-five weeks. Not to go party in Ibiza, but because the weekends are super demanding now, a lot of injuries. So to be able to disconnect everything is better for the safety and three weeks is not enough, for me it’s nothing.”
Saturday MotoGP Sprint Race
If Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) wins the Grand Prix race at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) doesn’t follow him home, we’ll have a new Championship leader in MotoGP – such is the momentum carried by the number 89, who won the Tissot Sprint at Motegi in style. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was off like a shot to make a good run of it in the early stages, ultimately taking second for some more silverware, with Bagnaia completing the podium after going toe-to-toe in a spectacular duel against former teammate Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
The best start on the front row came from polesitter Martin as he shot forward for the holeshot, with Miller out-dragging Pecco for second as Binder then also managed to slot up the inside of the reigning Champion into third. As ever, the KTMs made it game on early doors.
The momentum is all with Jorge Martin after another Sprint Race win.
Binder wasn’t for sitting behind teammate Miller for long though, taking over in second after a brutal but fair move and then tagging onto the rear wheel of Martin. Almost immediately, the two were creating a small but real gap, leaving Miller between that lead duo and another comprising Bagnaia and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
By third race distance, Martin and Binder were starting to pull the pin. Miller was then left looking over his shoulder as Bagnaia homed in, with Marquez also losing ground to the duo ahead of him – making it two duels at the front followed by what was becoming an increasingly close fight for fifth headed by an eight-time World Champion.
On Lap 6, there was a first real move in that fight as Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) attacked and passed Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), the young Italian then able to lock on to Marquez almost immediately. Bezzecchi feinted a couple of moves before committing to a lunge, but ultimately overcooked it and sent both of them wide, letting a fast-starting Zarco back through and allowing Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) to split the duo too.
Up ahead, Martin was on the march by the final few laps, with Binder in a secure second and Bagnaia still wrapped up behind Miller, keenly looking for a way past. He saw one and took it on Lap 9, but the Australian wasn’t having it. And so began a poetic and epic scrap to complete the Sprint podium, with both sideways, squiggly, and absolutely on the limit until a final and decisive move on the penultimate lap saw Miller forced to cede.
The Australian then watched the Ducati just edge out of reach, forced to settle for fourth and forced to keep it pinned thereafter too as a late charge from Zarco started to reel him in.
Try as he might, Binder couldn’t close the gap to Martin. Bagnaia eventually got by Miller for third.
Just up the road, Martin managed to hold on to just over a second of breathing space ahead of Binder, with the two taking the top two steps on Saturday as Bagnaia came home third to complete the Sprint rostrum. Behind, Miller did manage to hold off Zarco’s late threat, with the Australian taking fourth by a tenth.
After his earlier ambition outweighed track limits when attacking Marquez, Bezzecchi had to get the hammer down get back past and stay ahead, with the eight-time World Champion right back on his rear wheel on the last two laps. A quality final tour ensured the Italian was just able to stay ahead, coming come P6 as Marquez took seventh.
Behind that battle but not by much, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) took his first Sprint points in P8, within a second of Marquez by the flag as his impressive Japanese GP continues. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) took the final Sprint point in P9. Teammate Aleix Espargaro, after fighting for fifth in the early stages, was forced to pull into pitlane and retire.
2023 Japanese MotoGP Sprint Race
| 1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing Ducati) |
|
|
| 2 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+1.390s |
|
| 3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+5.279s |
|
| 4 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+6.194s |
|
| 5 |
Johann Zarco |
(Prima Pramac Racing Ducati) |
+6.315s |
|
| 6 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+8.919s |
|
| 7 |
Marc Marquez |
(Repsol Honda) |
+9.298s |
|
| 8 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Gresini Racing Ducati) |
+10.189s |
|
| 9 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+12.404s |
|
| 10 |
Raul Fernandez |
(CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team) |
+15.366s |
|
Saturday Moto2
Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) has dominated Moto2™ at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan so far and Qualifying was no exception. Not content with simply claiming pole position, the Thai rider also broke the seven-year-old lap record previously set by two-time Moto2™ Champion Johann Zarco with a lap time of 1:49.898.
Pole position and a new lap record for Chantra in Moto2.
Just a shade slower, he was followed by teammate Ai Ogura (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) to complete a dream start on home soil in the intermediate class at Mobility Resort Motegi for the team. Completing the front row is Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), who bounced back from Q1 to only just miss out on second.
Two tenths of a second behind the polesitter, Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) found himself pushed to the second row, taking fourth. The Spaniard will however be relieved to sit above his closest rival, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) who will start Sunday’s race from 13th on the grid after a tougher Japanese GP so far. Filip Salač (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) join Acosta on Row 2.
2023 Japanese MotoGP Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) |
1:49.898 |
| 2 |
Ai Ogura |
(Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) |
+0.120 |
| 3 |
Jake Dixon |
(Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.160 |
| 4 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.233 |
| 5 |
Filip Salac |
(Gresini Racing Moto2™) |
+0.240 |
| 6 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Beta Tools SpeedUp) |
+0.252 |
| 7 |
Aron Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+0.294 |
| 8 |
Sam Lowes |
(ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.339 |
| 9 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Beta Tools SpeedUp) |
+0.464 |
| 10 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) |
+0.613 |
Saturday Moto3
Momentum continues to swing the way of Jaume Masia after the Leopard Racing rider secured his third consecutive pole, pulling two tenths clear in Moto3™ qualifying at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. The Spaniard will be joined on the front row by Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team).
David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) were the early pacesetters, but all eyes were on the in form Masia, and for good reason too. Receiving a tow from teammate Tatsuki Suzuki down the back straight, he moved the goalposts. Öncü, who following the Honda home, joined him in the top two. The Turk also improved on the next lap, but so did Masia and that was how P1 and P2 on the grid was decided.
Masia’s closing in with another pole in Moto3.
With two minutes remaining, Bertelle launched himself onto the front row of the grid at the expense of Muñoz, while Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) then went fourth as he took the chequered flag, equalling his best-ever qualifying result.
The Italian’s teammate Ivan Ortola joins him on the second row. Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) also qualified well as he prepares to defend that position from Masia, taking sixth.
Collin Veijer recorded the seventh best time of the session, but a three place grid penalty is coming his way, which promotes Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP teammate Sasaki and Muñoz up a place, and puts David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) onto the third row. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) also has a grid penalty, as does Q1 graduate Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP), meaning home riders Kaito Toba (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) join Veijer on the fourth row instead.
2023 Japanese MotoGP Results—Moto3 Qualifying
| 1 |
Jaume Masia |
(Leopard Racing) |
1:56.331 |
| 2 |
Deniz Öncü |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.208 |
| 3 |
Matteo Bertelle |
(Rivacold Snipers Team) |
+0.320 |
| 4 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.364 |
| 5 |
Iván Ortolá |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.428 |
| 6 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull KTM Tech3) |
+0.445 |
| 7 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.466 |
| 8 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.473 |
| 9 |
David Muñoz |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+0.561 |
| 10 |
David Alonso |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.597 |
2023 Japanese MotoGP News—Friday
KTM’s carbon fiber chassis
After sampling it for the first time at the Misano test, KTM’s factory riders had one new carbon fiber chassis apiece in Japan. The results were immediate, with Brad Binder topping Friday’s timesheets and Jack Miller finishing inside the top 10.
Binder used the new carbon-fiber chassis to smash the lap record at Motegi.
The frame, first raced by Dani Pedrosa at the San Marino GP, appears to aid rear grip, arguably the RC16’s big deficit this year. “The new chassis has given me a bit more rear grip, which is something I have been asking for so it’s great to have it available and it helps for sure; grip is lap-time,” said Binder.
“We were all surprised by how fast Dani was in Misano; he was smoking us! I feel better (with it). I feel I have a little bit more opportunity to ride the bike how I want to because I have a bit more rear grip at the moment.”
HRC reorganization
In Japan all the talk was of how Honda is planning to cull some the most senior figures from its MotoGP project. The first evidence of this came on Friday, when HRC Director Shinichi Kokubu was absent from the Repsol garage, leading HRC to confirm he has been moved on.
It’s a bit of a revolving door at Repsol Honda right now.
The Japanese figure has been a mainstay at Honda since 1986, where his roles included Project leader for the chassis of Honda’s NSR500 from 1996 to 2001, Project Leader for its RC212V 800 in 2008-’09 and Technical Director in 2010-’12.
If rumors in Motegi were to be believed fellow HRC Director Tetsuhiro Kuwata could soon follow suit, while names as varied as Suzuki’s ex-Team Manager Davide Brivio and Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola were linked with moves to the project.
Of the changes, Marc Marquez said, “It’s true…I already say in Misano that some new faces were there, some new names and new people. We will see if there are new ideas or they will bring the correct ideas.”
Crutchlow returns, and pushing Yamaha
Cal Crutchlow returned to race in MotoGP for the first time since Valencia, 2022. Making a wildcard appearance for the Yamalube RS4GP Racing Team, Yamaha’s test rider offered some typically frank views on the development direction needed for next year.
Cal Crutchlow was back and not best pleased with Yamaha’s progress.
“We don’t need more power. We need less power,” he said of Yamaha’s M1 engine. “Trust me, I know what the other manufacturers are doing. And we’re using a lot more torque on the exit of the turn and the engine is not smooth.”
He also stated he warned Yamaha not to select this engine for 2023, but they went against at the behest of Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli. “They asked for this engine. I already tested it last year and said the engine will create a problem and now we have the problem. Now they’re asking for more power again. It’s not the right direction so I have to put my case to Yamaha.”
Friday MotoGP
One of the longest-standing lap records is no more thanks to a blockbuster performance from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) on Friday at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with the South African smashing MotoGP™ Legend Jorge Lorenzo’s 2015 record by more than three tenths. It’s a statement opener to the weekend as KTM make a final stand against the Ducati onslaught in the Constructors’ Championship, but Binder did have company… and it was from Ducati. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) ended the day 0.029 off the KTM, making his own impressive statement as his final effort dug him out of a trip to Q1.
Third goes to Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) as he also just pipped Lorenzo’s 2015 best but by thousandths. Still, it was a strong opening day for the agile RS-GP at the hard-braking Motegi as the number 41 slotted in on the timesheets right ahead of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team).
In terms of the Championship top three, Bagnaia seemed on the back foot for much of the day before his sweltering lap at the end of Practice, and he said he’s solved some of his recent braking issues. Martin destroyed the opposition in FP1 but then crashed and took fourth in the afternoon, and Bezzecchi chipped away to ending Practice in fifth.
Binder was flying at Motegi to head Bagnaia, both riders under the old lap record.
There was an impressive showing from Gresini Racing MotoGP™’s Fabio Di Giannantonio. The #49 was the first rider to break into the 1:43s in Japan, and with sixth on the timesheets, the Italian secured just his second Q2 appearance of the campaign. Elsewhere, Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) will appear in Q2 for the first time this year, having put in the ninth fastest time of the day behind Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and the second RS-GP of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing).
Rounding out the top 10 for the day is Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), the 2022 winner at Motegi now taking in on in orange. The Australian had crashed earlier in the session but squeezed into Q2 courtesy of his last ditch effort.
Some late yellow flags played their part too, due to Raul Fernandez’ (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) second crash of the day, with Binder just escaping this time after the KTM rider found his Practice AND Q1 bests scrubbed off in India.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) lost one lap and then ultimately missed out as he was among the late fallers at Motegi, with the eight-time World Champion going down at Turn 1 while in pursuit of a flying lap that would place him at the business end of proceedings. Instead, he is facing down Q1, along with 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), who went down at Turn 6 earlier in the session. On home turf for Honda and Yamaha, it’s going to be quite a fight to move through.
2023 Japanese MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
1:43.489 |
| 2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.029 |
| 3 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.295 |
| 4 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.354 |
| 5 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+0.456 |
| 6 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.458 |
| 7 |
Johann Zarco |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.573 |
| 8 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.628 |
| 9 |
Pol Espargaro |
(GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) |
+0.730 |
| 10 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.772 |
Friday Moto2
Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) cemented himself as an early frontrunner the Motul Grand Prix of Japan with a comprehensive display on Friday. The Thai rider had already established his dominance at Mobility Resort Motegi, having been quickest on the grid in P1, before he doubled down to put in a 1:50.396 in the afternoon and head the combined timesheets.
Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) was close behind with a time of 1:50.433, salvaging his day with a late charge. Meanwhile, Sam Lowes also recovered well after going down in Practice 1, taking third on his Triumph-powered Elf Marc VDS Racing Team machine.
Somkiat Chantra used his vast experience of Motegi to go fastest in Moto2.
With the prospect of rain looming on the horizon for tomorrow morning’s third and final practice session, Practice 2 took on additional importance and could well prove critical for qualifying…
Current Moto2™ Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was unable to break into the top three overall after ending P1 in second, with that lap still his fastest by the end of play as he finds himself fourth and a tenth behind Lowes. His title rival Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), however, had a tougher day as he finished 18th on the combined timesheets, looking for a lot more on Saturday.
2023 Japanese Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) |
1:50.396 |
| 2 |
Aron Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+0.037 |
| 3 |
Sam Lowes |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.150 |
| 4 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.221 |
| 5 |
Ai Ogura |
(Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) |
+0.408 |
| 6 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(OnlyFans American Racing) |
+0.422 |
| 7 |
Filip Salac |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.529 |
| 8 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) |
+0.617 |
| 9 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Italtrans Racing Team) |
+0.629 |
| 10 |
Izan Guevara |
(Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.668 |
Friday Moto3
Jaume Masia’s (Leopard Racing) incredible form continues after an excellent showing on Friday at Motegi, with the Indian GP winner putting in a 1:57.068 to lead the lightweight class charge into Saturday’s action at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan.
The session took on an added importance at Motegi, with the threat of rain looming large over Saturday’s action, so it was absolutely pivotal that riders recorded a banker lap before then, something which the leading lights in the class managed to do. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) sits in P2, just 0.108s off the lead, while Championship frontrunner Ayumu Sasaki’s (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) late efforts see the home hero occupy third.
Masia is on fire right now and went fastest again on Friday.
Crucially for Daniel Holgado, who leads the title race but is now tied on points with Masia, he is among the provisional Q2 places having missed out in India amid a more checkered run of form. The Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider is P4, ahead of Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) and fellow Championship challenger Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo). All the main protagonists involved in the title race can rest easy tonight knowing they have all but secured a Q2 spot should rain arrive in the morning, with David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) sneaking into P13 late on.
Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Kaito Toba (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) all sit safely inside the top 10, while three Japanese riders, Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) join Alonso in the danger zone, should the skies remain clear on Saturday morning. Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) is one of the bigger names who will be hoping the sun shines through as the young Dutch rider missed out, with a near highside not helping his case.
2023 Japanese Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Jaume Masia |
(Leopard Racing) |
1:57.068 |
| 2 |
Ivan Ortola |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.108 |
| 3 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.123 |
| 4 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull KTM Tech3) |
+0.158 |
| 5 |
Diogo Moreira |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.192 |
| 6 |
Deniz Öncü |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.209 |
| 7 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.243 |
| 8 |
Kaito Toba |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+0.316 |
| 9 |
David Muñoz |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+0.398 |
| 10 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.405 |
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