Sunday
MotoGP
Jack ‘The Thriller’ Miller (Ducati Lenovo) lived up to his moniker as the MotoGP field descended on Japan for the first time in three years. In the kind of performance we perhaps expected 18 months ago after he won back-to-back races in Spain and France, Miller qualified seventh behind surprise pole man Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), was off the line and up to fifth, and then charged relentlessly forward to take the lead of Jorge Martin (Alma Pramac Ducati) on lap three.
From there onwards, the Aussie set fastest lap after fastest lap, eventually stretching his advantage to 3.4 seconds over Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), who had got the better of Martin at turn one on the final lap after a near race-long battle to make a surprise podium in which none of the main title protagonists featured.
The race was a disaster for two of the four riders going for the 2022 gold. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro had a mechanical problem on the warm-up lap which forced him to ride through the pits, jump on his spare bike and start from pit lane on a bike with the wrong compound rear tire. He would eventually finish 16th, and with no points.
The same no-points fate befell Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo). In a daring last lap lunge, the Italian went for the inside of title rival Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) for eighth place, only to lose the front and crash out. It was a crucial error for the Italian, who lost another eight points to Quartararo in the title chase.
The fourth rider in earshot of a title chance, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) could only muster ninth place in Japan, meaning despite all the carnage and the fact he finished down in eighth, Fabio Quartararo extends his lead in the championship from 10 to 18 points over Bagnaia, with Espargaro dropping to 25 points in arrears and Bastianini now 49 points behind.
Marc Marquez was hoping for a dream return to Japan after his ultra-popular pole position in the wet but the eight-time World Champion could ‘only’ come home in fourth in his second ride back from arm surgery.
Marquez bested Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira, who made it two KTM’s in the top five, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Ducati), Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing), Quartararo, Bastianini and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati) rounding out the top 10.
2022 Japanese MotoGP Results
| 1 | Jack Miller | (Duc) | |
| 2 | Brad Binder | (KTM) | + 3.409 |
| 3 | Jorge Martin | (Duc) | + 4.136 |
| 4 | Marc Marquez | (Hon) | + 7.784 |
| 5 | Miguel Oliveira | (KTM) | + 8.185 |
| 6 | Luca Marini | (Duc) | + 8.348 |
| 7 | Maverick Viñales | (Apr) | + 9.879 |
| 8 | Fabio Quartararo | (Yam) | + 10.193 |
| 9 | Enea Bastianini | (Duc) | + 10.318 |
| 10 | Marco Bezzecchi | (Duc) | + 16.419 |
Moto2
Ai Ogura closed the gap to two points at the top of the Moto2 World Championship after becoming the first Japanese rider to win a Grand Prix on home soil since Hiroshi Aoyama in 2006. The Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rider headed championship leader Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by just over a second after 22 laps around the Mobility Resort Motegi with Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools Speed Up) third.
It was heartbreak for Aron Canet as the Spaniard, on course for his first Moto2 race win, crashed while leading on lap four after having built up a two-second gap. Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) also saw his slim title hopes finished when he too had a crash at the first corner.
For the American contingent, Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team) got the better of Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) for 11th with Roberts 12th. Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing Team) took 19th.
In the points, Fernandez leads Ogura but only just, 234 points to Ogura’s 232. Canet drops back in third on 177.
2022 Japanese Moto2 Results
| 1 | Ai Ogura | (Kal) | |
| 2 | Augusto Fernandez | (Kal) | + 1.192 |
| 3 | Alonso Lopez | (Kal) | + 7.168 |
| 4 | Jake Dixon | (Kal) | + 7.597 |
| 5 | Somkiat Chantra | (Kal) | + 12.255 |
| 11 | Cameron Beaubier | (Kal) | + 23.604 |
| 12 | Joe Roberts | (Kal) | + 23.733 |
| 19 | Sean Dylan Kelly | (Kal) | + 49.126 |
Moto3
Izan Guevara tightened his grip on the Moto3 points standings taking the win in Japan. The Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team rider qualified ninth but he still came out on top of a podium battle with Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Japanese rider Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) in third. With teammate Sergio Garcia finishing fourth, Garcia’s championship lead is now 45 points over Garcia with four races remaining in 2022. Foggia is third, 63 points adrift.
2022 Japanese Moto3 Results
| 1 | Izan Guevara | (GASGAS) | |
| 2 | Dennis Foggia | (Hon) | + 0.593 |
| 3 | Ayumu Sasaki | (Hus) | + 1.741 |
| 4 | Sergio Garcia | (GASGAS) | + 9.338 |
| 5 | David Muñoz | (KTM) | + 9.414 |
2022 Japanese MotoGP News—Saturday
Suzuki debuts ‘bunny ears’ aero
In technical terms, Friday was notable for Suzuki rolling out a new aerodynamic feature. Alex Rins’ GSX-RR was fitted with two wings on the seat unit of his bike, similar to what Ducati introduced for certain riders at Silverstone.
But while Ducati’s effort features two aerodynamic fins either side of the seat unit, Suzuki’s attempt resembled two rabbit ears flopping outward. And the Spaniard could feel them have a positive effect. “Looks like, comparing the first to the second run, I was able to brake a little bit harder and go in the corner,” he said.
“It looks like there is more stability. At least there is less shaking. So I’m quite impressed because especially Suzuki they didn’t [usually] make this kind of thing so fast. So they did quite fast and was very funny because yesterday I knew [about it] at the end of the day, they want to make (Takuya) Tsuda (Suzuki test rider, racing this weekend) try it first and I went running to the Japanese guys and I said ‘hey guys, come on, let’s give it to me to try, please!’ They didn’t want to so I said, ‘OK, let’s make a deal, if I’m competitive in the first minutes, let’s try it first!’ They say ‘OK, OK’.”
Marquez: why is everyone so nice?
Thursday’s press conference was another event when the three title contenders – Fabio Quartararo, Pecco Bagnaia and Aleix Espargaro – smiled for the cameras, and joked together. This year’s title fight is still surprisingly friendly, with little to no aggro between the trio.
Why? Bagnaia explained it’s simply because they all have too much respect for one another. “It’s due to the fact that we are intelligent riders, and I do not want to say that those who in the past acted differently were not. We are not friends, we are rivals, but with a lot of respect. If we have to talk, we talk. And if we have to make a joke, we do it.”
But Marc Marquez countered. Wait until there is a last lap fight for victory between them, he said, and then see how the contenders react. “It reminds me a bit of my fight with Andrea Dovizioso,” he said. “We got along well, with smiles, but the tension was noticeable. The good feeling that exists now is because we have not yet experienced a real melee, last lap. When I am in that situation I play the cards differently.”
2019 v 2022 – night and day
As the series returned to Motegi for the first time in three years, there was ample opportunity to compare how MotoGP machines have evolved in that time. The advanced aerodynamics and ride-height devices on every bike (in 2019 only Jack Miller was using it) made the track a different proposition to before. “The track has become narrower and shorter,” surmised Marc Marquez, who is using the device five times on this layout.
The biggest difference over three years has come down at Aprilia. Aleix Espargaro was amazed at the changes he has made to attack the Japanese venue. “(Look at) The measurements,” he said. “We put on top the 22 bike. it’s like a motocross bike and MotoGP. The ’19 bike was super high, the engine position was super high. Now it’s another bike, longer, with aerodynamics. It’s another bike.
“The power delivery is a lot higher. But you’re able to use it. The torque is different, the aerodynamics. This track was the 3rd on the calendar where the wheelie was a problem. now we’re not even half of this. And with more power. It’s crazy. I changed 5 corners, the gear. I did in three places in first gear and I will go second. In one place I did second and I will go third. We changed the gearbox close to 20k’s per hour.”
Saturday
MotoGP
The heavens opened over the Mobility Resort Motegi and a pole position drought was also broken as Marc Marquez qualified fastest for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. After a 90-minute delay to the schedule, the Repsol Honda Team rider set a 1:55.214 in a wet MotoGP™ Q2 session to score a first pole since the 2019 Japanese GP. Second went to Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), while Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) made the front row for the first time in the premier class. Although there was joy for eight-time World Champion Marquez, none of this year’s three title contenders qualified any higher than sixth. That was Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), with neither Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) nor Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) making the first two rows.
2022 Japanese MotoGP Results—Saturday
| 1 | Marc Marquez | (Hon) | 1:55.214 |
| 2 | Johann Zarco | (Duc) | + 0.208 |
| 3 | Brad Binder | (KTM) | + 0.323 |
| 4 | Maverick Viñales | (Apr) | + 0.406 |
| 5 | Jorge Martin | (Duc) | + 0.472 |
| 6 | Aleix Espargaro | (Apr) | + 0.557 |
| 7 | Jack Miller | (Duc) | + 0.570 |
| 8 | Miguel Oliveira | (KTM) | + 0.681 |
| 9 | Fabio Quartararo | (Yam) | + 1.112 |
| 10 | Luca Marini | (Duc) | + 1.140 |
Moto2
Good things come to those who wait, and Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) had to wait a very long time to claim pole position for the Moto2™ race at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. Heavy rain hammered the Mobility Resort Motegi minutes into Q2 for the intermediate class, leading to a delay of more than 90 minutes before the field was let loose again. Despite having to reacclimatize to the conditions all over again, Canet charged to a 2:04.939 to secure top spot on the grid by a margin of 0.333 seconds, with Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools Speed Up) and Jake Dixon (Shimoku GASGAS Aspar team) joining him on the front row. The top two in the World Championship, however, are much further back.
2022 Japanese Moto2 Results—Saturday
| 1 | Aron Canet | (Kal) | 2:04.939 |
| 2 | Fermín Aldeguer | (Bos) | + 0.333 |
| 3 | Jake Dixon | (Kal) | + 0.730 |
| 4 | Tony Arbolino | (Kal) | + 0.952 |
| 5 | Somkiat Chantra | (Kal) | + 1.172 |
| 8 | Cameron Beaubier | (Kal) | + 1.741 |
| 14 | Joe Roberts | (Kal) | + 2.825 |
| 25 | Sean Dylan Kelly | (Kal) | +2.524 (Q1) |
Moto3
Leopard Racing’s Tatsuki Suzuki has secured a cherished home Moto3™ pole position at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. Riding his Honda at the Japanese marque’s own test track, Suzuki went as fast as a 2:11.246 in a rainy Q2 at the Mobility Resort Motegi. Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) and title contender Sergio Garcia (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) both came from Q1 to get onto the front row, although the latter might yet lose third position after it looked as though he held up World Championship-leading teammate Izan Guevara and Suzuki following a crash. Guevara qualified ninth on his own Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team entry.
2022 Japanese Moto3 Results—Saturday
| 1 | Tatsuki Suzuki | (Hon) | 2:11.246 |
| 2 | Scott Ogden | (KTM) | + 0.322 |
| 3 | Sergio Garcia | (GAS) | + 0.542 |
| 4 | Ayumu Sasaki | (Hus) | + 0.696 |
| 5 | Dennis Foggia | (Hon) | + 0.769 |
2022 Japanese MotoGP News—Friday
No Ducati team orders—for now
The expressions on Ducati bosses soon after Enea Bastianini won the Aragon MotoGP thanks to a last lap pass on principle challenger Pecco Bagnaia, conveyed their disappointment at who had won.
Further video evidence showed Ducati Team Manager Davide Tardozzi coming to the Gresini garage later, offering the race winner a simple hug – nothing more – before saying, “You’ll get your knuckles rapped later,” half-jokingly.
Clearly, they felt ‘The Beast’ should have avoided any such risk. And both Italians were justifiably questioned whether factory orders will come into play this weekend. Surprisingly, both said they hadn’t.
“Also in Misano, I haven’t had any team orders from Ducati at the moment, and this is good because I also have a small chance at the Championship,” said Bastianini. “In the last part of the Championship, we will see if I have some team orders or not. I’m not stressed now!”
Bagnaia then went on to say he didn’t need team orders to win this year’s title, a comment that could very well make him look a fool come November.
“Sincerely, I don’t think that I need some help to be in front,” he said. “I prefer to win on track and not because of someone letting me pass. But in any case, I’m not inside of this decision and for sure I said my desire [to Ducati] which is to let me do what I want to do.”
Fire disaster averted
A full-blown disaster was narrowly avoided on Thursday evening when the Marc VDS garage went up in smoke as teams were filing out of the track and back to their hotels. During a heavy rain shower, water seeped through the roof and onto a starter motor, which then short-circuited, causing the start of an electric fire.
Aprilia, whose garage was stationed next door, sounded the alarm. Track security and the local fire service soon put out the blaze and salvaged the equipment inside, including the bikes and spare parts. Suzuki’s MotoGP team, also positioned next door, then helped the clean up and rebuild.
Marc VDS Moto2 rider Sam Lowes said, “We have to say thanks to Suzuki. Without them, stopping the fire early would’ve been difficult. In the end there wasn’t big damage. Both bikes were OK. Another team came and helped us and after they helped with the cleaning. This is what makes you proud of MotoGP. You don’t even know some of the other people and they did a big job to help us when they didn’t need to.”
It begs the question: what would have happened if the fire broke out late at night, when all other teams had gone home?
Quartararo’s zipper fail explained
Aside from clattering into the back of Marc Marquez and suffering his second DNF of the year, Fabio Quartararo’s Aragon GP was notable for another reason. The Frenchman’s leathers came undone in the fall, opened and left him sliding across asphalt on the outside of the track with his chest exposed.
The 23-year old had multiple abrasions on his abdomen, thankfully none of them deep or serious. After further investigation, leather manufacturer Alpinestars found Quartararo’s airbag had deployed correctly. Yet as he fell back first onto the asphalt, his chest was struck with some force by the front wheel of his bike. As the leathers were already stretched by the contact with the asphalt, the zipper was stressed to levels the Italian company had never previously seen.
Quartararo said the injuries weren’t affecting him on the bike on day one at Motegi. “It was a little bit strange in the beginning because it burns a little bit, but after the first few laps you adapt and is nothing. So it don’t affect my riding,” he said.
Friday
MotoGP
Jack Miller has set the pace in a Ducati Lenovo Team one-two in an extended opening practice session for the MotoGP field at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. The Australian set a 1:44.509 during his late time attack run at Mobility Resort Motegi to finish FP1 0.028 seconds ahead of teammate Francesco Bagnaia, the form rider in the World Championship. However, the man who still leads the title race, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) took third and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), a close third in the points, earnt fourth on the opening day in Japan. Aragon GP winner Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP), on the other hand, was just 14th-fastest after a late crash.
2022 Japanese MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 | Jack Miller | (Duc) | 1:44.509 |
| 2 | Francesco Bagnaia | (Duc) | + 0.028 |
| 3 | Fabio Quartararo | (Yam) | + 0.049 |
| 4 | Aleix Espargaro | (Apr) | + 0.068 |
| 5 | Luca Marini | (Duc) | + 0.136 |
| 6 | Marc Marquez | (Hon) | + 0.147 |
| 7 | Pol Espargaro | (Hon) | + 0.169 |
| 8 | Brad Binder | (KTM) | + 0.226 |
| 9 | Miguel Oliveira | (KTM) | + 0.234 |
| 10 | Maverick Viñales | (Apr) | + 0.288 |
Moto2
Moto2 World Championship leader Augusto Fernandez has got his Motul Grand Prix of Japan weekend off to the right start with the fastest lap in FP1. Amid light showers at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Fernandez set a 1:50.493 to finish 0.084 seconds ahead of Somkiat Chantra. Just as first and second was Red Bull KTM Ajo and Idemitsu Honda team Asia respectively, so was third and fourth in the form of Pedro Acosta and Ai Ogura, the latter of whom is a close second in the title race as he starts his home event.
2022 Japanese Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 | Augusto Fernandez | (Kal) | 1:50.493 |
| 2 | Somkiat Chantra | (Kal) | + 0.084 |
| 3 | Pedro Acosta | (Kal) | + 0.290 |
| 4 | Ai Ogura | (Kal) | + 0.392 |
| 5 | Filip Salac | (Kal) | + 0.474 |
| 15 | Joe Roberts | (Kal) | + 1.062 |
| 20 | Cameron Beaubier | (Kal) | + 1.983 |
| 30 | Sean Dylan Kelly | (Kal) | + 4.692 |
Moto3
MT Helmets – MSI’s Diogo Moreira has set the pace in FP1 for Round 16 of the Moto3 World Championship, the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. Moreira went as quick as a 1:57.252 in the first, 40-minute session around the Mobility Resort Motegi, finishing ahead of Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia and one of the Japanese riders in the field, Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max’s Ayumu Sasaki. World Championship leader Izan Guevara sits inside the top 14 cut-off for Q2 as it stands, but fellow Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team rider – and title rival – Sergio Garcia went 17th-quickest in FP1 and will be hoping for dry conditions on Saturday morning.
2022 Japanese Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 | Diogo Moreira | (KTM) | 1:57.252 |
| 2 | Dennis Foggia | (Hon) | + 0.195 |
| 3 | Ayumu Sasaki | (Hus) | + 0.241 |
| 4 | David Muñoz | (KTM) | + 0.313 |
| 5 | John McPhee | (Hus) | + 0.333 |
For more MotoGP news and results, click here
