Bagnaia Wins MotoGP Japan, Martin And Marquez In Second And Third Positions

Ducati Lenovo team racer Francesco Bagnaia while driving his motorbike during a training session at the Mandalika Circuit, Friday (27/9/2024). (ANTARA PHOTO/Ahmad Subaidi/YU)

JAKARTA - Ducati Lenovo's Francesco Bagnaia completed his weekend at the Motegi Circuit by winning Japan's MotoGP race on Sunday.

This is their second win this weekend, after one day earlier claiming victory in the sprint short race.

The 25 points he won made him narrow the gap from the leader of the standings this season, namely Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), with a difference of only 10 points.

Not only that, Bagnaia's victory today also marks the 900th victory for all Italian racers who have raced in all motorcycle racing classes.

Furthermore, this marks the eighth victory of Bagnaia this season. He joined Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, and Jorge Lorenzo, the ranks of riders who have won eight MotoGP races or more in one season.

The last rider to win eight races or more in a MotoGP season was Marc Marquez with 12 wins in 2019.

Bagnaia also in the main race of the Japanese GP this time won 1.189 seconds from Martin who took second place. The sodium is also equipped with Marquez with a margin of 3.822 seconds from the race leader.

The race has been intense since the start. Polesitter PedroACKa (GAS Tech3) had to leave the competition after falling on lap 4. It also provides an advantage for Bagnaia who is in the front row to maintain his position from an early age.

It didn't take long for Martin and Marquez, who each started from 11th and 9th positions to immediately compete with the Italian rider on the front grid.

This situation continues until the last four laps, where Martin looks closer to Bagnaia.

However, Bagnaia's strategy to attack at this critical moment made him unbeaten until the plaid flag was flown.

Complementing the list of the top 10 on the Japanese GP this time are Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo), Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM).