MotoGP Grand Prix Japan LIVE – Marc Marquez claims seventh MotoGP world title as Pecco Bagnaia does the double at Motegi

MotoGP | Grand Prix Japan

Mobility Resort Motegi | 28.09.2025

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08:22

SEVENTH HEAVEN FOR MARQUEZ AS SPANISH STAR CROWNED WORLD CHAMPION AT MOTEGI

Marc Marquez captured his seventh MotoGP world championship in Motegi as he finished second at Grand Prix Japan to seal an incredible career comeback, six years after his last title.

Marquez had endured career-threatening injuries, and a premature comeback attempt, as he struggled to regain the form that made him one of the sport's all-time greats. But, after swapping Honda for Ducati, Marquez found his mojo again and, after one season with the Gresini satellite team, he joined the factory Ducati outfit for 2025.

It proved to be a marriage made in heaven, as Marquez dominated the season from the opening round in Thailand to this weekend's race in Japan.

Eleven Grand Prix race wins and 15 Sprint wins took him into a commanding lead heading into this weekend's round at Motegi, and a pair of second places – one in the Sprint and another in the Grand Prix – ensured that the title would be his once again as he returned to the sport's summit for the first time since 2019.

Marquez's success will hog the headlines, but it was only part of the story on a huge day for Ducati. The race itself was won by Marquez's teammate, former world champ Pecco Bagnaia, who put a nightmare season behind him with double success in Japan, having won the Sprint on Saturday.

It meant there was a double celebration in the Ducati garage, with the return to form for Bagnaia and the championship win for Marquez capping a landmark weekend for the Italian team.

8:19

DALL'IGNA: MARQUEZ 'SOLVED A LOT OF PROBLEMS' WITH DUCATI

While his on-track rivals spoke of Marquez's incredible career comeback, CEO of the factory Ducati team Gigi Dall'Igna praised another aspect of Marquez's championship year as he revealed the Spanish ace's feedback helped transform a competitive Ducati bike into a dominant force on track this season.

"It's unbelievable to work with him," Dall'Igna told TNT Sports.

"Honestly speaking, it's easy to work with Marc, because he's quite clear on the comment, he's really fast on the track, and he solved a lot of problems with the bike.

"So I'm really happy to work with him, and I think that all the people involved in the project are really happy to work with him."

8:15

ALEX MARQUEZ 'A REALLY PROUD BROTHER' AFTER MARC'S WORLD TITLE WIN

"I'm super, super happy for him. He deserved it," Alex told TNT Sports' Natalie Quirk after the race.

"He was the best one here ... no doubt that he was better than everyone, everyone else. And he was more consistent. He was the best one on track.

"Really happy for him ... to see he's completely come back. You know, people just see 10 percent of the comeback.

"I'm really proud. Not for this title, for all his life, for all his career, you know? I'm always a really proud brother. I know that I have the best brother in the world."

8:13

MIR HAILS MARQUEZ'S 'INCREDIBLE JOURNEY' BACK TO THE TOP

Honda's Joan Mir was celebrating a podium finish after crossing the line in third at Grand Prix Japan. And, after paying tribute to his team for his own success on the day, he had some words for the seven-time world champion.

"Well, what can I say? It was an incredible journey," he told TNT Sports.

"He's won, achieved the title, sacrificing a lot is something that gives an extra value to one title.

"I'm just super, super happy for him, for his team, family, and I hope that they celebrate in the best way."

8:11

BAGNAIA PAYS TRIBUTE TO TEAMMATE MARQUEZ

Pecco Bagnaia was the race winner today as he completed a superb double in Motegi, but he seemed happy to concede the spotlight to his teammate, who captured the world championship, six years after his last success.

"He went through many difficult moments, and it's not easy to imagine after what happened from 2019 (for him) to be back. So what he did is amazing," he told TNT Sports.

"To just admire what he did, and for me, (it) was just a lesson this season."

And while Bagnaia said he was happy for his teammate, he said he wants to be able to take the fight directly to Marquez on track now he seems to have turned the corner with his own bike.

"I want to fight with him, because I think that if (I'm at) my best, my best self, (I) can fight with him," he said.

"So we just need to find a way to have this kind of fight."

7:59

MARQUEZ REFLECTS ON HIS FIGHT BACK TO THE TOP

Marquez chatted with TNT Sports' Natalie Quirk after his championship victory, and admitted that recapturing the world title was a huge test of his character, and his spirit.

"It was the most difficult challenge of my career," he admitted.

"I arrived in MotoGP, and straight away I was winning, and I was riding well, and I was enjoying (myself). But then (it was) without the injuries, but without the deep (low) moments.

"Then, from the glory, I go into the deepest moment of my career with a lot of injuries – three years that, in two years, I just raced half of the races. But I never gave up, and I took very difficult decisions in the past just looking at myself, because this was advice of the people around me, just try to focus or to answer my question marks, and yeah, I decided my way.

"I followed my instinct and being again a world champion was the best way to finish that circle."

'I'm at peace with myself' - Marquez reflects on comeback triumph at Grand Prix Japan

Video credit: TNT Sports

07:18

MARQUEZ MAKES IT OFFICIAL

Marquez adds his plague to the MotoGP trophy to join the previous six plaques bearing his name as his world championship is officially confirmed at Motegi.

'Champion once more' - Marquez makes his championship official at Grand Prix Japan

Video credit: TNT Sports

7:14

CHOKED-UP MARQUEZ REACTS TO COMEBACK TITLE

"It's impossible to even speak," said a choked-up Marquez in parc fermé after his championship-winning second place in Motegi.

"That was difficult. It was super difficult. But now I'm at peace (with) myself.

"I did a big mistake for my career to come back too early. And then, you know, I fight, fight, fight, and I won again. So I'm at peace."

07:08

'FROM THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR...' MARQUEZ'S CROWNING MOMENT IN MOTEGI

'From the depths of despair' - Marquez wins world championship at Grand Prix Japan

Video credit: TNT Sports

7:06

LAVERTY: 'THE BEST COMEBACK SINCE JESUS'

TNT Sports pundit Michael Laverty paid tribute to Marquez after the Spanish ace claimed his seventh MotoGP world title.

"Marc has been through such a rollercoaster to get back to his best at the moment, and what a feeling that must be for him today," he said.

"The raw emotion, to do it with his family here, with his brother on the grid, sharing the one-two for the family in the Moto GP title race this year. It is exceptional. What a story."

Laverty also reflected on how Marquez battled back from his career-threatening arm injuries to eventually make it back to the top of the sport.

"As Gavin (Emmett, TNT Sports MotoGP commentator) said, it's been one of the worst things to happen in his life, but also one of the best," he said.

"It's made him appreciate everything he has at his disposal, what he can do now, what he can deliver at 32 years of age, this crowning moment, the fact that he can really, really appreciate it.

"He's had to earn it. He's had to go through those tough days, the life changing operations, the mindset-altering depths of despair that he was in, to then come back, change manufacturer and now deliver another world title six years on."

And after Suzi Perry said that the stars aligned for Marquez, but he'd adjusted those stars to get back to the top, Michael Laverty dropped the quote of the race meeting.

"The best comeback since Jesus! He's adjusting stars and everything, Suzi" laughed Laverty.

"He's certainly delivered today. He's exceptional. He can do wonders on a motorcycle, but yeah, to do what he's done this season, it beggars belief."

6:55

TARDOZZI HAILS 'PERFECT DAY'

Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi was overjoyed not just with Marquez's championship win, but also with Pecco Bagnaia's return to form after he completed the double at Motegi.

"Yeah, it's the perfect day in Japan," said a very happy Tardozzi.

"Pecco is back where he deserved. Marc is world champion. I think that nothing can be better than that.

"We are so happy. Marc is a great champion, but we wanted Pecco back, and we have Pecco back."

6:55

THE EMOTION HITS

Marc Marquez is stood trackside, in front of a huge screen, as a montage plays showing his comeback from injury and his journey to the 2025 MotoGP world title.

As the video comes to an end, Marquez bursts into tears. An amazing moment for a great champion.

'More than a heart that never gives up' - Champion Marquez overwhelmed by video tribute

Video credit: TNT Sports

06:48

COMEBACK COMPLETE!

06:47

BAGNAIA WINS, MARQUEZ IS WORLD CHAMPION!

It's a win double for Ducati, as Pecco Bagnaia bounces back from a torrid campaign to claim his first Grand Prix race win of the season.

And in second place, there are tears inside the crash helmet of Marc Marquez, who captures his seventh MotoGP world championship, and his ninth Grand Prix world championship overall.

It's an incredible comeback after the injuries that threatened to end his career five years ago. His move to Ducati rekindled his career, and his love for racing again, and now, six years on from his last world title, Marquez is back on top of the world.

24/24

LAST LAP!

Bagnaia is two seconds clear in his smoking Ducati. Marquez is second and seemingly easing off to take second and secure his title. And in third, Joan Mir is all set to give Honda a podium at their home race.

21/24

CAN BAGNAIA'S BIKE MAKE IT TO THE END?

The smoke is still coming out of Bagnaia's Ducati, and while the Italian appears to be managing the pace out front, his chances of winning will depend on whether or not his bike's engine can stay intact for the remaining three laps.

Marquez is closing in and has got the gap down to two seconds, but with smoke coming out of his teammate's bike, how close does he want to get?

19/24

DISASTER FOR ACOSTA

Pedro Acosta's race has gone from bad to worse.

After dropping from second to sixth, he was caught by Alex Marquez and, while trying to fend off the Ducati, he missed his braking point and went off into the gravel.

Acosta managed to keep the bike upright and back onto the track, but he's now running dead last.

Meanwhile, the smoke from Bagnaia's bike is getting worse. Could he be leaking oil onto the track? If he is, that could spell disaster for his title-chasing teammate in second...

17/24

MORBIDELLI MOVES UP

Acosta has been mugged by Bezzecchi for fourth, and now Morbidelli has made his move to take fifth and push Pedro down to sixth.

The KTM racer was sitting nicely in second after the first few laps. Now he's down in sixth, and going backwards.

15/24

DUCATI DRAMA?

They're shaking their heads in the Ducati pit, because more smoke is coming out of the exhaust of race leader Bagnaia.

The Italian has been outstanding so far, but the stress levels are rising in the Ducati garage. Could Pecco be denied a much-needed race win due to an engine problem?

15/24

MIR MAKES HIS MOVE

Just after we updated you about the pressure that's coming at Acosta, the man leading that charge dives past as Mir moves up to third. Bezzecchi is right on the KTM's tail now, too.