P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Live updates from Saturday’s qualifying and Sprint race at 2025 Japanese MotoGP at Motegi, where Marc Marquez has his first chance to win this year’s world championship.
The Ducati Lenovo rider arrives in Japan, a place of past triumph with Honda, with a commanding 182-point lead over his brother Alex.
Although Marc Marquez can’t secure the championship in today’s Sprint, he can secure his first MotoGP title since 2019 if he maintains a 185-point lead over Alex by Sunday.
Marc and Alex are the remaining contenders for the world championship, with Francesco Bagnaia falling 275 points behind his team-mate.
Francesco faces a challenge to keep third place as Marco Bezzecchi, just eight points behind, showed great form with a 1-2 finish in Misano.
Despite initial setbacks, Bezzecchi led day one at Motegi, followed by Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez.
Bagnaia showed promise post-Misano test, while Alex Marquez will aim to improve from his 15th position in Qualifying 1.
Saturday’s schedule:
– 10:10am (local) – MotoGP FP2
– 10:50am (local) – MotoGP Qualifying
– 3pm (local) – MotoGP Sprint
