This victory was the Ducati Lenovo rider’s eighth Grand Prix win of the 2024 season, as he continues his pursuit of a third consecutive MotoGP title.

Francesco Bagnaia, reigning MotoGP world champion, delivered an outstanding performance at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi, securing a crucial win that brought him closer to rival Jorge Martin in the race for the 2024 title. Bagnaia, riding for Ducati Lenovo, completed a dominant weekend by winning Saturday’s sprint race and Sunday’s main event, reducing the points gap between him and Martin to just 10 points as the championship enters its final four races.

Bagnaia’s victory was his eighth of the season, marking a personal milestone and an important win for Italy, as it was the 900th MotoGP victory by an Italian rider in the sport’s history. Bagnaia started Sunday’s race from second on the grid, after a strong qualifying session that followed his control of practice sessions throughout the weekend. In Saturday’s sprint race, he set the tone by taking first place, and his impressive form continued as he held off challenges from Martin on Sunday.

Martin, riding for Pramac Racing, finished second in the race, maintaining his lead in the championship standings with 392 points to Bagnaia’s 382. Although Martin crashed in qualifying, which placed him in 11th on the grid for Sunday, he recovered brilliantly during the race. He quickly moved up through the pack, gaining seven positions on the opening lap and soon positioning himself behind Bagnaia. However, despite his aggressive start and competitive pace, Martin couldn’t overtake Bagnaia, who managed his lead with composure. Bagnaia crossed the finish line 1.189 seconds ahead of Martin.

Reflecting on his victory, Bagnaia expressed his satisfaction with the weekend’s outcome, highlighting the importance of the 11 points he gained in the championship standings. “I feel super happy. We managed to gain 11 points during this weekend,” he said, emphasizing that the pace and strategy his team employed worked perfectly.

The race began under cloudy skies at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, with young Spanish rider Pedro Acosta starting on pole. Acosta was quickly overtaken by Bagnaia at the first corner of the race, as the Italian took control early on. Meanwhile, Martin’s surge from 11th place brought him into contention within the first few laps, eventually passing KTM’s Brad Binder to claim second place on lap four. Acosta’s unfortunate run continued when he crashed out of the race, echoing his misfortune from the sprint race the day before.

As the laps unfolded, it became clear that the battle for the win would be between Bagnaia and Martin. However, Bagnaia kept his rival at bay, maintaining a steady gap throughout the race. “Jorge today was much stronger, so I was just trying to manage the gap,” Bagnaia explained. He credited his team’s strategy and his ability to control the pace for the win, adding that they need to carry this momentum forward into the remaining races with the same level of ambition.

In addition to the Bagnaia-Martin duel, the fight for third place added further excitement to the race. Marc Marquez of Gresini Racing, who started from ninth on the grid, produced a spectacular ride to claim the final spot on the podium. The six-time MotoGP world champion faced significant pressure from Ducati’s Enea Bastianini but defended his position with a masterful performance, adding another podium finish to his remarkable career. “Another podium. It was a difficult weekend, but we’re on the podium again, so super happy,” Marquez said after the race.

With just four races remaining in the 2024 MotoGP season, the title fight is intensifying. Martin holds a narrow lead over Bagnaia, and both riders will be looking to maximize their performances in the upcoming rounds. Bagnaia’s win in Japan has shifted the momentum slightly in his favor, but the championship remains wide open, promising an exciting conclusion to the season.