Márquez Completes Perfect Motegi Double

Marc Márquez has blown the 2026 MotoGP title fight wide open after winning the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, reducing Jorge Martin’s championship lead to only two points.

Martin converted his record-breaking pole into the early race lead, but Márquez stayed close before attacking at Turn 9 on Lap 11.

Once ahead, the Ducati rider gradually created enough breathing room to control the race, eventually beating Martin by 1.363 seconds.

Marco Bezzecchi completed the podium for Aprilia, finishing 2.252 seconds behind Márquez.

The victory completed a perfect weekend for Márquez after his Saturday Sprint success and marked his sixth Grand Prix victory of 2026 and 79th premier-class win.

Sprint win. Grand Prix win. 37 points.

Márquez leaves Japan just two points from the championship lead.

Martin Holds On — Just

Martin arrived at Motegi 12 points ahead of Márquez and leaves Japan with almost his entire advantage erased.

His second-place finish on Sunday was nevertheless crucial.

The Aprilia rider collected 20 points and remains championship leader with 333 points, while Márquez is now directly behind on 331.

Bezzecchi remains third but has slipped to 49 points behind Martin, making the championship increasingly look like a direct Martin-versus-Márquez showdown.

For Martin, Motegi was a weekend of contrasting results: record-breaking qualifying speed and pole position, but Márquez ultimately took the bigger championship prize.

333 vs 331.

Six rounds remain.

Bezzecchi Podiums as Ogura Battles at Home

Behind the title contenders, Bezzecchi secured an important third place despite coming under heavy late pressure from Enea Bastianini.

Bastianini produced a rapid closing sequence but couldn't deny the Aprilia rider the final podium position.

Further back, Raul Fernandez won a close fight for fifth involving home favourite Ai Ogura and Pedro Acosta. Ogura finished sixth, with Acosta seventh and Francesco Bagnaia eighth.

Maverick Viñales also completed his comeback weekend, bringing the Tech3 KTM home in 14th after his injury absence.

For Ogura, the Japanese weekend added another strong home performance to a breakthrough season that has already established him as one of Japan’s biggest current MotoGP names.

 Next Stop: Márquez vs Martin at Mandalika

For Winbox Racing, Motegi has transformed the championship picture.

Márquez entered Japan chasing a 12-point deficit.

He leaves just two points behind.

Martin still controls the championship on paper, but the momentum is firmly with Márquez after a maximum-score weekend in Japan.

The next battle comes at Mandalika in Indonesia, a circuit where Aprilia has traditionally shown strong potential — potentially giving Martin an opportunity to respond.

But after Motegi, there is almost nothing separating MotoGP’s two title favourites.

Martin: 333 points.
Márquez: 331 points.

Two riders. Two points. Six rounds remaining.

The 2026 MotoGP World Championship is now effectively starting again.

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