MotoGP | 2026 | Race 16 | Japan | Motegi | Oct 1- Oct 4

Quicktoy

Quicktoy

Is it Winter yet?
Welcome back MotoGP race fans. It is a fly away to Japan this week to the track not nearly as good as Suzuka but still a good track. I’m thinking Marc needs to try and double this weekend to prepare for the upcoming rounds that he won’t be as good on. The question is can he do it. We know the apes will be strong especially with Ogura back and at his home track. I’d love to see Pedro up on the mix too. I have no clue what’s going to happen this weekend but I can’t wait.
Let’s get it on.
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Looks to be a green track this weekend. Japan has been under heavy monsoons but should get a clearing of weather this weekend.
 
I found this online.
“
Did you know that the Mobility Resort Motegi was built by Honda in 1997 as a facility for testing and development? ️

MotoGP officially started racing at Motegi in 1999, just two years after the circuit was opened.

The track is approximately 4.8 km long, featuring 14 corners — 8 right-handers and 6 left-handers. It is well known for its heavy braking zones, hard acceleration, and demanding stop-and-go layout.

Another interesting fact: the current MotoGP lap record at Motegi was set by Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia in 2025. ⏱️

So, can Bagnaia repeat his incredible pace and set another record at Motegi this year?

And when it comes to the most MotoGP wins at Motegi, four legendary riders are tied with 3 victories each:

Dani Pedrosa — 3 wins
Jorge Lorenzo — 3 wins
Loris Capirossi — 3 wins
Marc Márquez — 3 wins

They are followed by Francesco Bagnaia with 2 victories.”
 
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No hard carcass tires this weekend, so the Ducati/Aprilia fights will hopefully be good entertainment.
 
Quicktoy said:
Didn’t he suck last year before Motegi and then surprised us all?
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He swept the weekend. Was untouchable the whole time.

Last year Pecco qualified in P1, with Mir in P2 (incredibly), and MM in P3.

In the sprint Pecco won over MM by ~2seconds with Acosta nearly 4 seconds behind in 3rd and Mir, shockingly, finished in 4th

In the GP Pecco won over MM by ~4 seconds with Mir (!!!) 7 seconds back in 3rd and on the box. Yowza.

As for the rest of the group, Bez crashed out of the sprint and was 5th in the GP but the Aprilias didn't seem to really factor during the weekend. Raul and Ai were adrift in 8th & 9th in sprint and Raul finishing in 7th in the GP and Ogura not starting from the looks of it but I can't remember.

With the exception of Pedro the KTM's weren't really doing much, the rest of the Hondas were scattered about, and the Yamakas were invisible.
 
onesixsix said:
He swept the weekend. Was untouchable the whole time.

Last year Pecco qualified in P1, with Mir in P2 (incredibly), and MM in P3.

In the sprint Pecco won over MM by ~2seconds with Acosta nearly 4 seconds behind in 3rd and Mir, shockingly, finished in 4th

In the GP Pecco won over MM by ~4 seconds with Mir (!!!) 7 seconds back in 3rd and on the box. Yowza.

As for the rest of the group, Bez crashed out of the sprint and was 5th in the GP but the Aprilias didn't seem to really factor during the weekend. Raul and Ai were adrift in 8th & 9th in sprint and Raul finishing in 7th in the GP and Ogura not starting from the looks of it but I can't remember.

With the exception of Pedro the KTM's weren't really doing much, the rest of the Hondas were scattered about, and the Yamakas were invisible.
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Wasn't his bike also puffing smoke hard? Wonder how close his bike was to blowing up and/or if it's that theory of a lightbulb being the brightest right before it goes out. Maybe he just got by on the skin of his teeth and the motor didn't pop on him during the race.
 
Wheel Bearing said:
Wasn't his bike also puffing smoke hard? Wonder how close his bike was to blowing up and/or if it's that theory of a lightbulb being the brightest right before it goes out. Maybe he just got by on the skin of his teeth and the motor didn't pop on him during the race.
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He credited better front end feel after the race. I remember thinking at the time they may have finally gotten the GP25 to his liking. But it was a one off happiness....
 
LukeLucky said:
I think we're going to see a much stronger showing by the Aprilia riders this weekend than previously as well.
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If the Austria round was any indicator you're probably spot on.........the Apes coming around on a track that was historically Duc-centric.

As mentioned, best case scenario is Ogura takes the checkered for his home race.

Quick search reveals that the last Japanese rider to win a GP at their home track was Aoyama for 250cc in 2006.

Last premier class win was Tamada in 2004.
 
Wheel Bearing said:
Wasn't his bike also puffing smoke hard? Wonder how close his bike was to blowing up and/or if it's that theory of a lightbulb being the brightest right before it goes out. Maybe he just got by on the skin of his teeth and the motor didn't pop on him during the race.
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Yes, that right. W/ 9 laps to go it started puffing smoke. The story after the races was a failing or loose filter that caused the smoke.
HPPT said:
I remember a lot of chatter at the time about going back to a GP24 setup for that race.
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I also remember the chatter about him actually testing one of VR46's GP24's and that he immediately went faster. And maybe it was a fever dream but I thought there was some suggestion that he actually raced a GP24 at Motegi.
 
onesixsix said:
I also remember the chatter about him actually testing one of VR46's GP24's and that he immediately went faster. And maybe it was a fever dream but I thought there was some suggestion that he actually raced a GP24 at Motegi.
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www.motogp.com

VR46 confirm Bagnaia tried their GP24 at Misano Test

Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team Director Alessio Salucci confirms in pitlane that Bagnaia took a 2024 Ducati for a spin after the San Marino GP
www.motogp.com www.motogp.com

I was pretty sure when Pecco recently made the comments that were meant to be off the record about Ducati not letting him decide his setup, it was because he wants a '24 and they will only allow him to start with a '26.
 
LukeLucky said:
www.motogp.com

VR46 confirm Bagnaia tried their GP24 at Misano Test

Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team Director Alessio Salucci confirms in pitlane that Bagnaia took a 2024 Ducati for a spin after the San Marino GP
www.motogp.com www.motogp.com

I was pretty sure when Pecco recently made the comments that were meant to be off the record about Ducati not letting him decide his setup, it was because he wants a '24 and they will only allow him to start with a '26.
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The 25 was faster than the 24 and the 26 is faster than the 25. On a 24, he'd be riding around with Toprak and Marini.
 
Spang308 said:
The 25 was faster than the 24 and the 26 is faster than the 25. On a 24, he'd be riding around with Toprak and Marini.
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That's just not true. I hate to bring data into it, but It's not that cut and dry.



MotoGP race-lap records still standing:

Bike
Assen
1:31.866 – Bagnaia, 2024
GP24
Mugello
1:45.770 – Bagnaia, 2024
GP24
Sachsenring
1:20.667 – Martín, 2024
GP24
Misano
1:30.877 – Bagnaia, 2024
GP24
Red Bull Ring
1:29.519 – Bagnaia, 2024
GP24
 
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