MotoGP Grand Prix Japan Sprint LIVE – Francesco Bagnaia takes first Sprint victory of season with Marc Marquez and Acosta behind

Francesco Bagnaia took his first Sprint victory of the season at Motegi in commanding fashion, ahead of Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta.

The Italian rider had a good launch, and remained strong in the lead from lights to flag, crossing the line over 1.8s ahead of his Ducati teammate.

Marquez lost a place on the opening lap to Acosta, while both Aprilia riders, Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, crashed out after the reigning world champion lost control of his bike and hit the Italian.

Joan Mir, who qualified an impressive second, retained his position off the start, before Acosta caught up a lap later and passed him.

Marquez closed in on Mir, but the Honda rider put up a strong defence, blocking and recovering from the championship leader's lunges.

On lap eight, Marquez made a move down the inside of Mir and got past as the pair veered off the racing line. He caught Acosta two laps later and moved into second.

Elsewhere, Fabio Quartararo and Luca Marini did battle for sixth, the Frenchman coming out on top. Alex Marquez, the only other rider in mathematical contention for the title, finished in tenth.

Tomorrow, Marc Marquez can wrap up the title if he finishes the weekend with a 185-point lead over his brother - his current margin is 191 points.

It was a dominant performance from Francesco Bagnaia, who claimed victory in the Sprint having so far this year has struggled in the shorter races. Following a disappointing weekend in Misano, the Italian rider's turnaround has been impressive.

He said: "I'm back to do my favourite races - starting well and pushing, not fighting behind.

"I'm super happy. I want to say thanks to the team that, like always, have done an incredible job to set to me, finally, a fantastic bike.

"I was able to push, I was able to control, and it's super sweet, these emotions, so super happy."

Marc Marquez put up a strong battle in today's Sprint, overtaking Joan Mir and Pedro Acosta, who got past the championship leader at the start, to finish second.

"It was quite difficult because I think I had the two most difficult riders to overtake on the brake point," he said.

"They are braking super late, and then every time I tried, I went wide.

"I was losing time, and then I saw that Pecco [went] away, and I decided just to try to do my race.

"And then when I was in front, the pace was good, the feeling every time is better and better.

"Tomorrow will be a long race, but we cannot forget that our main target this weekend is another one."

Pedro Acosta finished third in today's Sprint, fighting hard with Joan Mir to move up into second, before Marc Marquez overtook him.

"For how many mistakes we made today, it was not bad at all," he said.

"I think that we have potential for more.

"I just want to thank all the guys that don't get so nervous out here, all the things that has happened today.

"Let's try to avoid these mistakes and be slightly more precise."

After a fantastic ride, leading from lights to flag, Francesco Bagnaia has taken his first Sprint victory of the season.

Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta rounded off the podium spots.

1. Francesco Bagnaia

2. Marc Marquez

3. Pedro Acosta

4. Joan Mir

5. Franco Morbidelli

6. Fabio Quartararo

7. Luca Marini

8. Raul Fernandez

9. Ai Ogura

10. Alex Marquez

11. Fermin Aldeguer

12. Brad Binder

13. Fabio Di Giannantonio

14. Takaaki Nakagami

15. Miguel Oliveira

16. Maverick Viñales

17. Somkiat Chantra

18. Alex Rins

DNF. Jack Miller

DNF. Johann Zarco

DNF. Enea Bastianini

DNF. Marco Bezzecchi

DNF. Jorge Martin

A dominant ride from Pecco, and some good battles from Marc. Bagnaia crosses the line to take the victory with Marquez in second and Acosta in third.

Jack Miller has crashed out of the race on the last tour.

Bagnaia looks strong riding out front, with over a 2.5s lead over Marc. If he crosses the line in first, this will be his first Sprint win this season.

Zarco pulls into the garage and retires.

Marc's closed down the gap to Acosta to just over a tenth. Marc makes a dive down the inside to take second spot from the young Spanish rider.

There's nearly a three-second gap to Bagnaia ahead.

Marc is now closing in on Acosta, who is 2.4s behind leader Bagnaia.

Home hero Ai Ogura has passed Alex Marquez for ninth - the closest championship contender is now in tenth.

Marc makes a dive past Mir and now makes a move stick as the pair move wide off the racing line. He's now in third.

This extends the gap between himself and his brother to 188 points - he just needs to finish 185 points ahead this weekend to take the title.

Marc is still battling with Mir for the final podium spot. This is impressive defending from Mir.

Alex Marquez is in ninth behind Raul Fernandez.

Bagnaia's lead is now over two seconds.

Enea Bastianini is out.

Bagnaia is over 1.6s ahead of Acosta now. Acosta has about a 0.5s buffer to Mir behind.

Marini is chasing Quartararo hard to reclaim sixth position.

Bagnaia has blistering pace, 0.4s faster than Acosta.

Marc is still right on Mir's tail, but the Honda rider is holding off the championship leader well.

Marc closes in as Mir goes wide, and makes a launch past - but Mir pulls the old switcheroo and reclaims the position.

Fabio Quartararo passes Luca Marini for sixth. He's got Franco Morbidelli ahead who's riding comfortably in fifth.

Bagnaia continues to extend his lead - he looks on great form.

Marc is on Joan Mir's tail, but can't seem to make a move stick yet.

Bagnaia has a 0.8s lead over Acosta and looks comfortable out front.

Acosta is now fighting with Mir for second. He makes the move past and will doubtless make Bagnaia ahead his target.

Alex Marquez has slipped to ninth, with Marc in fourth.

As we get a replay of the start, Martin loses control of the bike and hits Bezzecchi.

It's a good start from Bagnaia as Marco Bezzecchi suffers a highside and goes down along with teammate Jorge Martin.

Pedro Acosta gets a good launch, getting past Marc Marquez for third.

Joan Mir retains second position.

The riders are on the warm up lap ahead of the 12-lap Sprint in Motegi.

Just five minutes left until the start of the Sprint!

No, Marc Marquez cannot take the title in today's Sprint. He must wrap up the weekend with a 185-point lead over Alex to put his brother out of contention.