-Closes the gap to Jorge Martin in the World Championship
-Marc Marquez finishes third
-Pedro Acosta crashes again!
Ducati Lenovo team’s Pecco Bagnaia won the Japanese Grand Prix and it could not have come at a better time. If he wants to keep Jorge Martin from taking this year's title, the defending World Champion has his work cut out in these final set of races.
Pecco’s perfection
Pecco made the perfect start as the lights went out and shot into the lead quickly. Pedro Acosta on the Gas Gas Tech 3 bike and the rest of the field were in hot pursuit. Jorge Martin, meanwhile, started in P11 and also made quick progress up the field.
A few laps later, Pedro Acosta crashed at Victory Corner and was out of the race. The rookie could have won his maiden MotoGP race but such was fate.
Pecco, meanwhile was cruising in the lead. A master at managing the tyres, he skilfully kept a steady pace and responded to anyone mounting a challenge.
In fact, by the second half of the race, Jorge Martin was in P2 and was catching Bagnaia. Pecco. However, his cool and had enough tyre left for the last few laps to keep Martin at bay and take the chequered flag.
Marc Marquez shines again
Marc Marquez has been the most successful rider on the GP23 Ducati this season. Once again, his skill and racecraft came to the fore as he made his way up the field, from P9 to P3. It was a bit of a processional race for him as he sat in P3 for the majority of the race.
Jorge Martin, meanwhile, was content with his second-place finish. He pushed as hard as he could but had a moment with a few laps to go. He was wise enough to settle for the points in P2 rather than risk a crash in his pursuit of Pecco.
The gap between Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia has shrunk to 10 points only. With four rounds to go, the Championship is going to go down to the wire.
The next race will be held at the Philip Island Circuit in Australia from 18 October to 20 October.
