Ducati Lenovo Team heads to Motegi for MotoGP Japanese GP with Márquez and Bagnaia hunting top form
The Ducati Lenovo Team opens MotoGP's run of five consecutive overseas races at Motegi, a circuit where Ducati has won nine times and where Marc Márquez and Pecco Bagnaia both need strong results.
- 9
- 294
- 01:42.911
- 4.8 km
What Happened
The MotoGP paddock heads to Japan for the first of five overseas races in a row, with the Mobility Resort Motegi hosting the Japanese Grand Prix. The circuit holds a special place for Ducati and its fans: it is where the Italian squad secured the Riders' World Championship twice, first with Casey Stoner in 2007 and then with Marc Márquez in 2025. Ducati has taken nine overall victories at Motegi, from Loris Capirossi's legendary three in a row starting in 2005 to Pecco Bagnaia's dominant back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025. The track has historically been ideal for showcasing the strengths of the Desmosedici GP.
Marc Márquez arrives in Japan determined to get fully back into the fight for the top positions. He fought tooth and nail through a tough weekend in Spielberg, which he nevertheless ended with second place in the Sprint and second in the general standings. Pecco Bagnaia, a self-described Japan addict, comes off a solid weekend in which he rediscovered good feelings and consistently returned to the points, and is preparing for one of his absolute favourite tracks.
Loris Capirossi starts a run of three consecutive Ducati victories at Motegi.
Casey Stoner secures the Riders' World Championship at Motegi.
Pecco Bagnaia wins at Motegi, the first of his back-to-back victories.
Bagnaia wins the Japanese GP and the Sprint, takes pole in 01:42.911 and sets the fastest lap in 01:44.412; Marc Márquez finishes second and Mir (Honda) third. Márquez also wins the Riders' World Championship at the circuit.
Motegi hosts the first of five consecutive overseas rounds, with Márquez and Bagnaia riding for the Ducati Lenovo Team.
- Circuit: Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan
- Track length: 4.8 km, with 14 turns (8 right, 6 left)
- Race distance: 24 laps; Sprint race distance: 12 laps
- Circuit record: Bagnaia (Ducati), 01:42.911, set in 2025
- Maximum speed: M. Márquez (Ducati), 320.4 km/h, set in 2025
- 294 points, 2nd in the riders' standings; 298 GP starts, 104 wins, 170 podiums, 21 Sprint wins, 105 poles, 9 world titles
- 156 points, 9th in the riders' standings; 249 GP starts, 41 wins, 86 podiums, 14 Sprint wins, 35 poles, 3 world titles
- 432 points, 1st in the constructors' standings; Ducati Lenovo Team 450 points, 2nd in the teams' standings
“The 2025 Japanese GP represents an indelible memory that creates a special bond between me and the Ducati Lenovo Team. That memory, along with the incredible affection of the Japanese fans, gives me an extra boost for the weekend. Motegi is a track I really enjoy: the goal is to do well and be competitive.”
“I love Japan, and every year I'm really happy to come back and race here. Motegi is where I took my last win, and that's a positive thought to keep in mind heading into the weekend. In Austria we struggled, but we still managed to get back in the points: now we have to keep working hard to regain the best riding feeling.”
Previously from Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
Ducati's most recent MotoGP weekend before Motegi was an unpredictable one. In our earlier coverage, the team said its expected challenge faded at a track it has always dominated, with Marc Márquez salvaging fifth and Pecco Bagnaia finishing seventh.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Motegi is the first of five overseas races in a row for the MotoGP paddock, so a large share of the season is packed into a short stretch of the calendar. Ducati leads the constructors' standings with 432 points, but its riders sit second and ninth, which puts attention on Márquez and Bagnaia to close those gaps at a track where the Borgo Panigale manufacturer has historically been strong.
Terms in This Story
- MotoGP
- The premier class of motorcycle road racing, contested by prototype machines built specifically for the series.
- Sprint
- A shorter race held on the Saturday of a MotoGP weekend that also awards championship points.
- Pole position
- The first starting spot on the grid, awarded to the fastest rider in qualifying.
- Desmosedici GP
- Ducati's factory prototype racing motorcycle used in MotoGP.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.