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Marc Marquez wins Grand Prix Japan and completes weekend double to reduce Jorge Martin's championship lead, with Marco Bezzecchi finishing third

Marc Marquez wins Grand Prix Japan and completes weekend double to reduce Jorge Martin's championship lead. Martin finishes runner-up to gain important overall points, as Marco Bezzecchi completes podium in third

By Alexander Netherton | Updated 04/10/2026 at 11:58 GMT+1

Highlights - Marquez completes weekend double at Grand Prix Japan to cut Martin's lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

Timeline

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11:56

THANK YOU FOR READING

That is it for today.

It's shaping up to be an excellent end to the season, so we can, I hope, expect more entertainment next week.

We'll be back on Friday with coverage of Practice and Free Practice, and for the rest of the weekend.

11:35

THE TIGHTEST RACE IN 20 YEARS

We've not had a title race since 2006 when the gap was so small after 16 rounds.

11:15

'A JOB ON HIS HANDS' - HODSGON ON MARQUEZ

Neil Hodgson believes that Marc Marquez has it all to do next weekend.

While Marquez has dominated here, he will be up against it if all goes as expected in Indonesia.

Last time out, he was clattered by Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi, ending his season, but this time around, he will hope to avoid the business end of two in-form riders as they challenge him for the title.

Read about the reaction to the race here.

Grand Prix Japan

Hodgson explains Marquez 'power-saving mode' celebrations

04/10/2026 at 17:12

10:55

MARQUEZ LEAVES JAPAN WITH TWO WINS

MotoGP sums up the feeling for Ducati after they dominated the weekend.

Next weekend, of course, will be tougher, and they will need to be at their very best to challenge.

10:20

HIGLIGHTS - MARQUEZ'S WIN

Relive - or catch up with - the action here.

Highlights - Marquez completes weekend double at Grand Prix Japan to cut Martin's lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

9:55

MARTIN EXPECTS MORE SUCCESS

After a satisfactory weekend for Martin, the Spaniard thinks that the next few rounds will give him the edge.

That is the consensus, and so far it has largely proved correct that there is a real striation between which rounds favour different bikes.

9:36

100 UP FOR GIGI

Luigi Dall'Igna, Ducati's General Manager, has now overseen 100 MotoGP wins with the team, something that Marc Marquez and his colleagues were keen to celebrate after the race.

9:19

TWO POINTS THE DIFFERENCE

Marquez now trails Martin by just two points.

Going into next weekend, you would expect the Aprilias to dominate, but this has been a fraught campaign so far.

For Bezzecchi, it could be a chance to inch closer to Marquez and become the main rival to his team-mate.

9:01

BASTIANINI RELIEF

Team-mate Pedro Acosta has started for KTM Tech3 this season, so much so that he will be Marc Marquez's partner at Ducati Lenovo next season.

For Enea Bastianini, there is evident relief that he was able to prove his own abilities this weekend, narrowly missing out on podium on both races.

'It's been so difficult' - Bastianini thrilled with impressive Grand Prix Japan performance

Video credit: TNT Sports

8:37

TARDOZZI - BEZZECCHI WAS FASTER THAN US LAST YEAR

Ducati chief Davide Tardozzi knows that Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi was the pacesetter at Grand Prix Indonesia last year, even though Raul Fernandez was the winner.

Speaking to TNT Sports after Grand Prix Japan, he noted that Aprilia's fleet will pose a serious threat going into next weekend.

'It's obvious they have four fast guys' - Ducati's Tardozzi on Aprilia's Indonesia threat

Video credit: TNT Sports

8:20

BEZZECCHI PLEASED WITH PODIUM SPOT

Marco Bezzecchi was happy to have held off Enea Bastianini's pressure in the late stages of Sunday's race.

Bezzecchi probably needs at least a full-length race win in Indonesia to retain an outside chance of winning this season's title.

'I gave my all' - Bezzecchi holds off Bastianini charge for third place

Video credit: TNT Sports

8:09

MARTIN EXPLAINS SECOND PLACE

Aprilia rider Jorge Martin explained why he could not hold on as Marc Marquez challenged him in the first half of the race today.

'With Marc you cannot make any mistakes' - Martin explains Marquez overtake

Video credit: TNT Sports

10:03 AM

MARQUEZ COMPLETES WEEKEND DOUBLE AT GRAND PRIX JAPAN

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) produced his second dominant ride of the Grand Prix Japan weekend to win the full-length race in style, and the Spaniard reduced Jorge Martin's championship lead to two points.

The defending world champion had led from the opening lap to win the previous day’s Sprint race.

However, he was pushed much closer on Sunday and had to overcome series leader Martin before pulling clear for victory.

Coming into the race, competitors had a tyre choice to make after the soft tyre was shredded during the previous day's Sprint race on a recently laid Motegi course. Eventually, all riders opted for the hard rear tyre to avoid a repeat.

Nothing could stop Marquez, who had the best pace around the Japanese course, and he passed Martin by the mid-way point and pulled out a winning margin of over a second.

Behind, Martin was joined on the podium by Aprilia Racing team-mate Marco Bezzecchi, who saw off the late charge of Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3).

The weekend results saw Marquez draw to within two points of overall leader Martin with six rounds remaining.

However, Aprilia were happy with their points tally from Motegi as riders head to Indonesia next weekend.

The Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit has previously caused Marquez a host of problems, while Aprilia Racing have dominated.

'Ask me on the first day' - Marquez unsure of chances at Grand Prix Indonesia

Video credit: TNT Sports

07:23

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Here are the championship standings heading into the Grand Prix Indonesia next weekend

1 Jorge Martin - Aprilia Racing 333 points
2 Marc Marquez - Ducati Lenovo Team 331 pts
3 Marco Bezzecchi - Aprilia Racing 284 pts
4 Pedro Acosta - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 243 pts
5 Ai Ogura - Trackhouse MotoGP Team 237 pts
6 Fabio Di Giannantonio - Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team 230 pts
7 Raul Fernandez - Trackhouse MotoGP Team 216 pts
8 Francesco Bagnaia - Ducati Lenovo Team 164 pts
9 Alex Marquez – BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP 158 pts
10 Fermin Aldeguer - BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP 122 pts

07:17

RACE RESULT

Here is the top 10 result from the Grand Prix Japan:

1 Marc Marquez - Ducati Lenovo Team
2 Jorge Martin - Aprilia Racing
3 Marco Bezzecchi - Aprilia Racing
4 Enea Bastianini - Red Bull KTM Tech3
5 Raul Fernandez - Trackhouse MotoGP Team
6 Ai Ogura - Trackhouse MotoGP Team
7 Pedro Acosta - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
8 Francesco Bagnaia - Ducati Lenovo Team
9 Fermin Aldeguer - BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP
10 Luca Marini - Honda HRC Castrol

07:11

MARQUEZ SAID WEEKEND DOUBLE WAS ‘IMPORTANT’

Marc Marquez said that he knew that winning both races at Motegi was important for his title challenge.

He said: ”It was very important to try to be close to 37 points.

”At least we achieved it, so very happy. The race was tough, especially when I was behind Jorge (Martin), but I knew that if I was able to lead the race, the pace was good.

”Jorge (Martin) tried to attack, but then I just increased a bit more. The pace was enough to do the last two laps, more relaxed.”

MARTIN: ‘I KNOW I COULDN’T WIN’

Overall leader Jorge Martin knew that he was unable to match the race pace of Marc Marquez has he settled for second at Motegi.

He said: ”I'm very happy about the feeling we found.

”It’s not the result I really wanted, I wanted to win.

”I think today was really difficult to beat Marc (Marquez). It was one of the days that I rode almost perfectly.

”I was really smooth and really confident. I couldn't win, so I just have to congratulate Marc for his victory.

”From my side, really happy, because we have a good package to fight for the rest of the season.

”I'm really happy to be on the podium here in Japan. I love the trophy.”

06:57

BEZZECCHI: ‘I WANTED PODIUM SO MUCH’

Bezzecchi said that a person loss made a podium finish at the MotoGP Grand Prix Japan a special one.

He said: ”It was a tough weekend overall.

”Also today, Bastianini was on fire. I wanted this podium so bad.

”It wasn't an easy week for me. I lost a very important person, just when I arrived here in Japan.

”I wanted this podium so much, and I worked hard to achieve this, so I'm happy.”

06:53

HODGSON: MARQUEZ HAS ‘JOB ON HIS HANDS’

TNT pundit Neil Hodgson believes that Marquez knows he has a tough task next weekend in Indonesia after somewhat muted celebration in Motegi.

Hodgson said: ”He knows he's got a job on his hands. Not much celebration. You just feel like he's already thinking about next weekend.

”You might think I'm exaggerating - 'That's that done. I can't get excited because I want to win the championship. I'm not bothered about the odd race win here and there. I know what I’ve got coming up.’

”Power-saving mode, that's what it feels like. I think a lot of it is, we talk about it like a tennis match - he’s held serve, that’s all.

”He expected to win. He's done the job, nothing to be excited about. I know it sounds bizarre, but next week he can break serve. Then you'll see some celebrations.”

Image credit: Getty Images

24/24

MARQUEZ WINS

Marc Marquez has completed a perfect weekend. Martin will be satisfied with his second placed finish on a notoriously tough track for Aprilia Racing.

Meanwhile, Bezzecchi fended off a late Bastianini to finish third.

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