Marc Marquez wins Japanese GP, closes to 2 points behind Martin
Synopsis
Marc Marquez turned the MotoGP title race on its head at Motegi — sweeping the sprint-race double, pocketing all 37 points on offer, and reducing Jorge Martin's championship lead to a barely visible two points. With six rounds remaining, what looked like Martin's title to lose is suddenly anyone's game.
Key Takeaways
Marc Marquez won the Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi on 4 October , his fourth Japanese GP victory.
Marquez swept the sprint-race double for 37 maximum points , moving to 331 points in the standings.
Jorge Martin finished second; his championship lead is now just 2 points with six rounds remaining.
Marquez passed Martin after 11 laps and won by 1.363 seconds .
Marco Bezzecchi claimed third, edging Enea Bastianini by just 0.078 seconds .
Francesco Bagnaia finished eighth; Pedro Acosta seventh.
Marc Marquez claimed a dominant victory at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday, 4 October at Motegi, completing a sprint-and-race double to slash his championship deficit to rival Jorge Martin to just two points with six rounds remaining. The win is Marquez's fourth at the Japanese Grand Prix and his most consequential of the season.
How the Race Unfolded
Marquez started from second on the grid behind Martin but bided his time, making his decisive move after 11 laps to seize the lead. Once ahead, he methodically extended his advantage, crossing the chequered flag in his Ducati Lenovo Team machine 1.363 seconds clear of Martin, who rode for Aprilia Racing. The result swings the momentum sharply in Marquez's favour as the season enters its final stretch.
Championship Standings After Japan
With 37 maximum points from the sprint-race double, Marquez now sits on 331 points — just two behind Martin's 333. The narrowing gap transforms what had been a comfortable Martin cushion into a knife-edge duel. Six rounds remain, meaning the title is firmly in the balance.
Podium and Points Finishers
Marco Bezzecchi in the second Aprilia claimed third place, edging compatriot Enea Bastianini by a razor-thin 0.078 seconds. Trackhouse MotoGP Team's Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura took fifth and sixth respectively. Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing finished seventh, ahead of Ducati Lenovo's Francesco Bagnaia in eighth. Fermin Aldeguer of BK8 Gresini Racing and Luca Marini of Honda HRC Castrol rounded out the top ten. Further down, Honda HRC Castrol's Somkiat Chantra took 13th, with Maverick Vinales and Franco Morbidelli claiming the final points positions.
Marquez on His Race Strategy
'It was very important to be close to 37 points (for a sprint/Grand Prix double), and we achieved it, so very happy,' Marquez said after the race. He added: 'The race was tough, especially when I was behind Jorge, but I knew that if I was able to lead the race, the pace was good. Jorge tried to attack, but then I increased the pace a bit more, and it was enough to do the last two laps more relaxed.'
What Happens Next
With six rounds still to run, neither Martin nor Marquez can afford a slip. The momentum — psychological and mathematical — has shifted to Marquez after Japan, but Martin's season-long consistency means the title fight is far from resolved. The next round will be a critical test of whether Marquez's Motegi form represents a turning point or a one-weekend surge.
Point of View
Yet it represents one of the most dramatic championship swings of the MotoGP season. Marquez's switch to the Ducati factory setup has progressively unlocked his pace, and a sprint-race double at Motegi is the clearest proof yet that he is operating at a different level when the bike suits him. Martin has been the model of consistency in 2025, but consistency alone cannot absorb a Marquez in this form. The next six rounds will test whether Martin can weather the storm, or whether Marquez's momentum proves unstoppable.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2025 Motul Grand Prix of Japan?
Marc Marquez won the 2025 Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi on 4 October, riding for the Ducati Lenovo Team. He crossed the line 1.363 seconds ahead of Jorge Martin to claim his fourth Japanese GP victory.
What is the MotoGP championship standings after the Japanese GP?
After the Japanese GP, Jorge Martin leads with 333 points and Marc Marquez sits just 2 points behind on 331. Six rounds remain in the season, making the title race extremely tight.
How did Marquez win the Japanese GP?
Marquez started second behind Martin but made his move after 11 laps to take the lead. He then gradually extended his advantage, completing the final two laps at a controlled pace to win by 1.363 seconds.
Who finished on the podium at the 2025 Japanese MotoGP?
Marc Marquez won, Jorge Martin finished second, and Marco Bezzecchi took third — edging Enea Bastianini by just 0.078 seconds. Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura rounded out the top six.
How many rounds are left in the 2025 MotoGP season after Japan?
Six rounds remain in the 2025 MotoGP season after the Japanese Grand Prix. With only 2 points separating Marquez and Martin, the championship is effectively wide open heading into the final stretch.
