07:59
Bagnaia goes second. Great lap from the world champion.
Marc
2023 Japanese MotoGP: Friday Practice - LIVE UPDATES
Reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia leads the standings by just 13 points over Jorge Martin after a costly fall in last Sunday’s Indian Grand Prix, where a dominant victory for Marco Bezzecchi moved the VR46 rider to within 44 points of the top.
But the inaugural Buddh event also took its toll on the full-time riders, with two more - Alex Marquez (ribs) and Luca Marini (collarbone) - suffering fractures that will see them join Enea Bastianini in missing this weekend’s Motegi round.
Ducati test rider Michele Pirro continues in place of Bastianini at Ducati, however Alex Rins, sidelined since Mugello in May due to leg fractures, is making his return for LCR Honda this weekend.
Also on track will be Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow, making his first official wild-card appearance since retiring at the end of 2020.
The 37-year-old Englishman made ten starts as a replacement rider for Yamaha during 2021 and 2022, with a best race finish of 12th at Sepang last year.
Joan Mir will have one 2024 Honda prototype this weekend, as debuted at the Misano test, while factory KTM riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller are thought to have the factory's new carbon fibre chassis available.
29 Sep 2023
08:02
It's Binder who tops second practice at Motegi ahead of Bagnaia and Aleix Espargaro.
08:00
Marc Marquez is down at turn one with a minute left of Practice 2.
07:57
We have a new lap record as Binder goes quickest by over three tenths.
07:56
Lap cancelled for Bagnaia is who far from comfortable.
07:53
Brilliant lap from Di Giannantonio who has gone within a couple of tenths of the lap record. The Italian has broken into the 1m 43s barrier as a result.
07:52
Bagnaia is still outside of the automatic Q2 spots with under ten minutes to go.
07:47
Binder goes quickest but there's drama for Quartararo who has suffered a big fall at turn six.
07:47
Aleix Espargaro is your new leader after clocking a time of 1:44.387s.
07:43
Marc Marquez goes third after setting an impressive time aboard his factory Honda.
07:37
Johann Zarco has made a mistake at turn ten and had to run through the gravel before returning to the track.
07:31
Time attacks have already begun with half the session remaining - Oliveira has gone top.
07:27
Strong lap from Fabio Di Giannantonio as he moves up to third behind Martin and Binder.
07:23
Raul Fernandez has crashed at turn ten after looking set to go fastest.
07:21
Bagnaia has managed to find time and moves up from 19th to P11.
07:20
Bagnaia is back out on circuit but it's not looking like a good lap for the Italian.
07:13
Bagnaia is not happy with the feeling he's getting from the rear of his Ducati. The world champion is a frustrated figure at the moment.
07:09
Jorge Martin pops to the top of the leaderboard with the first sub 1m 45s lap of the day.
07:07
Lap times are alrady surpassing FP1 as Brad Binder goes quickest with a time of 1:45.060s
07:00
Here we go with the second practice at Motegi.
06:53
Good morning and welcome back to Friday practice at the Japanese MotoGP. Coming up next is Practice 2
03:34
FP1 ends with Martin fastest from Augusto Fernandez, Bezzecchi and Bagnaia. Now it's the practice start period.