Marc Marquez won the 2026 Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Mobility Resort Motegi on Sunday, completing a sprint-and-race double that slashed Jorge Martin's championship lead to just two points.
The Ducati Lenovo rider collected all 37 available points across the weekend, adding Sunday's grand prix victory to Saturday's sprint win. Polesitter Martin finished second for Aprilia Racing — his sixth runner-up finish of the season.
Two points in it
With the result, Martin leads the riders' standings with 333 points to Marquez's 331, setting up a six-round fight to the finish. The championship heads next to Indonesia, at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit on Lombok.
The decisive moment came on lap 11 of 24, when Marquez lunged up the inside of Martin at Turn 9, seized the lead and controlled the race to the flag. Martin had led the first eight laps from pole.
Marco Bezzecchi finished third for Aprilia, holding off Enea Bastianini in the closing laps to complete an Aprilia double podium. Bezzecchi sits third in the standings, 49 points behind Marquez.
A happy hunting ground
The victory was Marquez's 79th in MotoGP and his fourth in Japan — Motegi is the circuit where he clinched the 2025 title last year. The entire field raced on hard rear Michelin tyres over the 24-lap distance.
"It was very important to be close to 37 points, and we achieved it, so very happy," Marquez said. "Jorge tried to attack, but then I increased the pace a bit more, and it was enough to do the last two laps more relaxed." Martin admitted Marquez was the better rider on the day but said he had "a good package to fight for the rest of the season."
Sources: motogp.com: Two points in it: Marc Marquez doubles up at Motegi to reel in Martin, Reuters: Marquez wins Japanese GP to cut Martin's lead
The Ducati Lenovo rider collected all 37 available points across the weekend, adding Sunday's grand prix victory to Saturday's sprint win. Polesitter Martin finished second for Aprilia Racing — his sixth runner-up finish of the season.
Two points in it
With the result, Martin leads the riders' standings with 333 points to Marquez's 331, setting up a six-round fight to the finish. The championship heads next to Indonesia, at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit on Lombok.
The decisive moment came on lap 11 of 24, when Marquez lunged up the inside of Martin at Turn 9, seized the lead and controlled the race to the flag. Martin had led the first eight laps from pole.
Marco Bezzecchi finished third for Aprilia, holding off Enea Bastianini in the closing laps to complete an Aprilia double podium. Bezzecchi sits third in the standings, 49 points behind Marquez.
A happy hunting ground
The victory was Marquez's 79th in MotoGP and his fourth in Japan — Motegi is the circuit where he clinched the 2025 title last year. The entire field raced on hard rear Michelin tyres over the 24-lap distance.
"It was very important to be close to 37 points, and we achieved it, so very happy," Marquez said. "Jorge tried to attack, but then I increased the pace a bit more, and it was enough to do the last two laps more relaxed." Martin admitted Marquez was the better rider on the day but said he had "a good package to fight for the rest of the season."
Sources: motogp.com: Two points in it: Marc Marquez doubles up at Motegi to reel in Martin, Reuters: Marquez wins Japanese GP to cut Martin's lead
