Dall'Igna hails Márquez's flawless Japanese GP win as Ducati reaches 100 MotoGP victories
Marc Márquez's Japanese GP win was his sixth MotoGP victory of the season in the last nine races, and it delivered Ducati its 100th MotoGP win.
- 6
- 100
- 37
- 10
What Happened
Ducati's Japanese GP was, in Dall'Igna's words, yet another perfect weekend for Marc: his sixth MotoGP win of the season, all within the last nine races, and his fifth double of the year back-to-back with Saturday's Sprint triumph. Dall'Igna called the race "a simply flawless performance" and "a near-masterful display of race management". Márquez banked 37 points across the weekend and clawed back 10 in the standings, taking his fourth win at this track. For Ducati, the victory was also the 100th MotoGP win of Dall'Igna's era.
Márquez wins the Sprint, completing the first half of his fifth double of the season.
In the Grand Prix he studies his rival, pulls off a brilliant overtake at the mid-way point and seals the win with two crucial fastest laps at the most decisive stage — his fourth victory at this track.
Ducati returns to the track in Indonesia for another stage of its sprint towards the title.
100wins
A milestone Dall'Igna says he reached with deep pride, on a technical and human journey that began a few years ago.
“I cannot help but express my deep pride in having reached my 100th MotoGP win with Ducati. This has been a most rewarding technical and human journey that began a few years ago: a grand, ambitious project, shared with a team of collaborators who are as exceptionally talented in their profession as they are outstanding as individuals.”
- Grand Prix winner; his sixth win of the season and his fourth at this track
- Eighth in the long race after a difficult start to the weekend — modest compared with his dominance here last year, but encouraging given his grit
The rear tyre choice was particularly challenging. The track resurfacing brought a significant increase in grip but also a sharp rise in tyre temperatures, which can cause severe tyre damage far beyond normal wear and tear — exactly what happened at Motegi. Ducati and the Michelin engineers were fully prepared: Michelin brought a harder tyre carcass, the same as used at Spielberg, to lower tyre temperatures, while Ducati used its thermal tyre simulation models to analyse engine, electronic and chassis parameters and achieve the same temperature drop on the medium compound. In the warm-up session the team chose the higher-performing of the two configurations.
Dall'Igna stresses the job is not done: "we must always keep this in mind," with the team already focused on Indonesia, where it will be back on track in just a few days. He notes that every GP recounts a unique story, as the constant shift in results keeps reminding the team. He signs off with a special thought for Ducati's fans: "Forza Ducati!"
Previously from Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
Our earlier coverage reported that Marc Márquez won the Grand Prix of Japan for the Ducati Lenovo Team at Motegi, delivering Ducati its 100th MotoGP victory under Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall'Igna. We also noted that MotoGP's flyaway tour reaches Indonesia for Round 17, where Márquez arrives two points off the championship lead and where Ducati has won three times.
- Márquez wins MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan as Ducati reaches 100 wins under Dall'Igna
- Ducati Lenovo Team heads to Mandalika for MotoGP Round 17 with Márquez two points off the lead
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The result matters for the championship fight: Márquez banked 37 points over the weekend and clawed back 10 in the standings, consolidating his recovery. It is also a milestone for Ducati, whose Corse chief credits the engineers, riders and staff behind the project. Ducati's focus now shifts immediately to Indonesia.
Terms in This Story
- Sprint
- A shorter race held on the Saturday of a Grand Prix weekend, which scores championship points.
- Tyre carcass
- The internal structure of a tyre beneath the tread, which influences how the tyre behaves and how hot it runs.
- Compound
- The rubber mixture a racing tyre is made from; softer and harder compounds behave differently in grip and temperature.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.