Marquez Japanese GP Victory
Marquez Wins Japanese Grand Prix to Narrow Championship Gap on Martin
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Marc Márquez won the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi on Sunday, slashing Jorge Martín's championship lead to just two points. Motorsport.com reported Márquez overtook pole-sitter Martín on lap 11 and crossed the finish line 1.363 seconds ahead. The victory capped a dominant weekend for Márquez, who also won the sprint race on Saturday.
The win marks Márquez's sixth grand prix victory of 2026, despite missing two full race weekends due to foot and shoulder surgery in May. SuperSport noted Márquez's remarkable comeback comes while operating at reduced physical capacity following those procedures. The seven-time world champion now trails Martín by just two points heading into Indonesia's next race on October 11.
Márquez Executes Perfect Pass to Overtake Martin
Martín led from the start after claiming pole position, but Márquez steadily applied pressure over the opening laps. Motorsport.com reported that on lap 11, Márquez made his decisive move at Turn 9, sweeping past Martín to take the lead. From there, the Ducati rider pulled away to win by over a second, completing a flawless race day.
Martín remained upbeat despite the loss. SuperSport quoted the Aprilia rider saying, "It was one of the days when I rode almost perfectly... smooth, really confident, and even then I couldn't win." Marco Bezzecchi finished third for Aprilia, while Pedro Acosta, last week's Austrian GP winner, slipped to seventh after early tire troubles.
Comeback Season Despite Major Surgery Setback
Márquez underwent dual surgery on his right foot and shoulder in Madrid during May, forcing him to miss the Le Mans and Catalonia rounds. Motorsport.com noted his surgeon reported the arm now operates at roughly 50% strength due to historical injuries. Yet Márquez has still notched six wins in 2026, showcasing his elite racecraft even while recovering.
Before the weekend, Motorsport.com reported Márquez explained his transparency about the recovery: "I posted the photo because it's the best way to stop people talking about my arm... if you're honest, everything becomes easier." His dominant Motegi performance silenced doubts about his readiness for a full championship fight.
Championship Battle Tightens With Indonesia Next
Martín now leads with 333 points to Márquez's 331 — a two-point gap down from 12 points before Motegi. Motorsport.com confirmed Márquez's sweep of both the sprint and main race victories earned him 24 points combined over the weekend. The seven-time champion has closed the deficit with three races still remaining on the 2026 calendar.
SuperSport reported that Martín still possesses confidence in the Aprilia package, stating he has "a good package to fight for the rest of the season." With the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia up next on October 11, both riders will push hard to gain advantage in one of the tightest title races of the year.
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