MotoGP Sprint race results as Francesco Bagnaia wins and Marc Marquez second at Motegi

Add as preferred source on Google

Francesco Bagnaia showed a change in fortunes at the Japanese Grand Prix as he won the Sprint race ahead of championship leader Marc Marquez and KTM’s Pedro Acosta.

Marc Marquez could win the 2025 MotoGP title this weekend at Motegi, needing to outscore his brother Alex Marquez by three points over the course of the race weekend.

Bagnaia took his second pole position of the season on Saturday morning, and the Ducati rider got off to a good start in the Sprint race to keep his lead amid pressure at turn one.

Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi tangled at the first corner, with both Aprilia riders crashing out of the race after such a positive showing from the team at the previous round of the season in San Marino.

Marquez made his way up to third place on the seventh lap of the race, finally dispatching Joan Mir after chasing the 2020 premier class world champion for several laps.

The championship leader then moved past Acosta on the following lap, setting his sights on his factory Ducati teammate, which turned out to be in vain as the Italian rider kept his cool to take his first Sprint race victory of the current campaign.

Mir took the chequered flag in fourth ahead of Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Quartararo and Luca Marini.

Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura took eighth and ninth, respectively, with Gresini’s Marquez rounding out the top 10 riders.

READ MORE: MotoGP 2025 Grand Prix of Japan: full weekend schedule and how to watch as Marc Marquez prepares for title victory

Sprint race results for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix