06:25
The big battle now is for third. Acosta still heads Mir and Bezzecchi, but he feels a little bit like a cork in the bottle at this stage. He was the slowest of that trio last time around, though not by much.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2025 Japanese MotoGP
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Live reaction as Marc Marquez is crowned 2025 MotoGP world champion
Lap-by-lap coverage of the 2025 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix from Motegi.
The 17th round of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship concludes on Sunday with the 24-lap Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.
Marc Marquez begins Sunday's race facing his first match point in the 2025 title chase, following a second-place finish in Saturday's sprint as sole championship rival Alex Marquez failed to score in 10th.
This has given the factory Ducati rider - who will start from third - a favourable set of permutations to secure his seventh MotoGP world title on Sunday.
Marc Marquez will win the championship today if:
- He is first or second regardless of where Alex Marquez finishes
- He is third and Alex Marquez is no higher than second
- He is fourth, fifth or sixth and Alex Marquez is no higher than third
- He is seventh, eighth or ninth and Alex Marquez is no higher than fourth
- He is 10th or 11th and Alex Marquez is no higher than fifth
- He is 12th and Alex Marquez is no higher than sixth
- He is 13th and Alex Marquez is no higher than seventh
- He is 14th and Alex Marquez is no higher than eighth
- He is 15th and Alex Marquez is no higher than ninth
- He scores nothing and Alex Marquez is no higher than 10th
Alex Marquez starts from eighth, while Pecco Bagnaia will be looking to grab his first grand prix win of the season since Austin from pole position following a first sprint triumph of the campaign on Saturday.
Aprilia's Jorge Martin will not start due to a shoulder injury from a crash on Saturday, while home hero Ai Ogura has withdrawn due to ongoing pain in his hand from an incident at the San Marino Grand Prix.
28 Sep 2025
06:24
Lap 13/24
Half distance and Bagnaia's lead is stable around 3.7s. Marquez was fractionally faster than him last time around.
06:23
As it stands now, Marc Marquez will be the world champion.
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06:23
Still no movement for Alex Marquez in seventh. He's about 1.7s down on sixth-placed Franco Morbidelli.
06:22
Lap 12/24
Bagnaia leads at the start of lap 12, 3.7s clear of Marquez, who is 0.7s ahead of Acosta now.
06:22
Bezzecchi is looming in this battle for third ahead of him now.
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06:21
That KTM has had a bit of an issue preserving tyres this year and it looks like that phase may have come for Acosta.
06:20
Marquez takes second from Acosta at Turn 3.
06:20
Lap 11/24
Bagnaia is now 3.4s clear of Bagnaia, while Marquez is close on Acosta now.
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06:20
Again Marquez was a bit wide at Turn 10.
06:19
Lap 10/24
Bagnaia's lead is now 2.9s even before half distance. This has been vintage Bagnaia. Let's hope this is form that is back permanently now.
06:18
Marquez wide at Turn 10 but holds third.
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06:18
Mir has been flashed a 'mapping 2' message on his dash, which will either be fuel management or traction control for tyre management.
06:17
Lap 9/24
Another lap down, no change at the front. Bagnaia has extended his advantage to 2.6s. Wow!
06:16
Outside of the top 10 is Binder, Di Giannantonio, Aldeguer, Bastianini and Miller for the final points places.
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06:15
Alex Marquez hasn't advanced on seventh.
06:15
Lap 8/24
Onto lap eight now and Bagnaia's lead remains 2.1s from Acosta, who is 0.6s clear of Marquez.
06:14
Marquez was a bit hot into Turn 5 and that has put Mir right on his tail.
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06:13
Lap 7/24
Bagnaia is in form today. He's already two seconds clear of the field.
06:13
Marquez said yesterday he was nervous in the sprint. And that looks like being the case right now. He looks like he is riding cautiously.
06:12
Bezzecchi was the fastest rider on track last time around.
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06:11
Lap 6/24
Bagnaia extends his lead to 1.7s at the start of lap six over Acosta, while Marquez is being closed more by Mir.
06:11
Bezzecchi launches his Aprilia on Morbidelli at Turn 7 and gets fifth. That's an important move because he does have podium pace here.
06:10
Lap 5/24
We're on lap five now. Bagnaia's lead is up to 1.5s over Acosta, who still has Marquez behind him and Mir closing.
The fight for the race win already looks done.
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06:08
Marini has now pitted.
