- At Mobility Resort Motegi, the 17th round of the season and the first match point for the Riders’ Title
- Marc Márquez will be crowned World Champion if he finishes the weekend with at least three points over his closest rival
The long journey between Asia and Australia begins for the Ducati Lenovo Team. The first stop is in Japan at the Mobility Resort Motegi, where the MotoGP circus has been raced regularly since 2004. In the Land of the Rising Sun, at the track in Ibaraki Prefecture, Marc Márquez has his first match point for the Riders’ Title. Motegi is a track that has seen the Desmosedici GP triumph for eight times: from Capirossi’s historic three wins in a row (2005, 2006, 2007), through Stoner’s victories in 2010 and Dovizioso’s in 2017, to the triumphs of Miller, Martin, and Bagnaia in the last three editions (2022, 2023, and 2024).
Marc, who has already set a new record for points scored in a single season (512 so far), arrives in Japan with the math on his side. It’s impossible to seal the victory during the SPRINT, but he will be crowned World Champion if, at the checkered flag, he has gained at least three points over his brother Alex, the only other title contender. A three-time winner on this track, including last year’s podium, Marc is chasing his 12th victory in 2025, which would be his 100th in the World Championship.
Pecco also feels positive as he arrives at Motegi, one of his favorite tracks, to confirm the progress made during the Misano test of the last Monday. P1 in 2024, he aims to consolidate his third-place overall finish and return to the podium in this final part of the season.
For both riders, appointment on Friday, September 26th, at 10:45 a.m. local time, for the first free practice session.
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st (512 points)
“We’re coming here after another great race at Misano and an overall positive test. It’s going to be a special week; the atmosphere in Japan is always unique, and I really like the track. We’ll approach the two races as we’ve done so far, in the same way as always. Step by step, working from Friday to be competitive in the SPRINT and then the GP”.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd (237 points)
“At the Misano test, we tried a lot of stuff and found some solutions that we’ll replicate here to see if they can help us gain more confidence in our riding. The Japanese track is tough, but very beautiful. The atmosphere and the welcome from the fans are special. We’re working to have a solid weekend and get closer to the top group”.
Circuit Information
Country: Japan
Name: Mobility Resort Motegi
Fastest lap: Martin (Ducati), 01:44.461 – 2024
Circuit record: Acosta (KTM), 01:43.018 – 2024
Maximum speed: Acosta (KTM), 319.5 km/h – 2024
Track length: 4,8 km
Sprint race distance: 12 laps (57.6 km)
Race distance: 24 laps (115.22 km)
Turns: 14 (8 right, 6 left)
2024 Results
GP Podium: 1° Bagnaia (Ducati); 2° Martin (Ducati), 3° M. Márquez (Ducati)
Pole Position: Acosta (KTM), 01:43.018
Fastest Lap: Martin (Ducati), 01:44.461
Racing Statistics
Francesco Bagnaia
Bike: Ducati DesmosediciGP
Race Number: 63
GPs Started: 228 (123 x MotoGP, 36 x Moto2, 69 x Moto3)
First GP: Qatar 2019 (MotoGP), Qatar 2017 (Moto2), Qatar 2013 (Moto3)
Wins: 40 (30 MotoGP + 8 Moto2 + 2 Moto3)
Podiums: 81 (58 MotoGP + 16 Moto2 + 7 Moto3)
First GP Wins: Aragón 2021 (MotoGP), Qatar 2018 (Moto2), Netherlands 2016 (Moto3)
Pole positions: 32 (25 MotoGP + 6 Moto2 + 1 Moto3)
First pole position: Qatar 2021 (MotoGP), France 2018 (Moto2), Great Britain 2016 (Moto3)
World Titles: 3 (MotoGP 2023, MotoGP 2022, Moto2 2018)
Marc Márquez
Bike: Ducati DesmosediciGP
Race Number: 93
GPs Started: 283 (205 x MotoGP, 32 x Moto2, 46 x 125cc)
First GP: Qatar 2013 (MotoGP), Qatar 2011 (Moto2), Spagna 2008 (125cc)
Wins: 99 (73 MotoGP + 16 Moto2 + 10 125cc)
Podiums: 164 (125 MotoGP + 25 Moto2 + 14 125cc)
First GP Wins: Americas 2013 (MotoGP), France 2011 (Moto2), Italy 2010 (125cc)
Pole positions: 102 (74 MotoGP + 14 Moto2 + 14 125cc)
First pole position: Americas 2013 (MotoGP), Great Britain 2011 (Moto2), France 2009 (125cc)
World Titles: 8 (MotoGP 2019, MotoGP 2018, MotoGP 2017, MotoGP 2016, MotoGP 2014, MotoGP 2013, Moto2 2012, 125cc 2010)
Championship Information
Rider Standings
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st (512 points)
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd (237 points)
Constructors Standings
Ducati – 1st (575 points)
Team Standings
Ducati Lenovo Team – 1st (749 points)
Posted on September 25, 2025 by Michael Le Pard
