2018

On paper Danilo Petrucci’s tough MotoGP weekend at Motegi shows no signs of letting up, with the Italian stating he will need to “make the impossible” tomorrow from the fifth row of the grid after a disappointing qualifying.

Cal Crutchlow described his mood as “pretty disappointed” after missing out on a front row start for the Japanese MotoGP race at Motegi due to a late mistake on his fastest lap in Saturday's 15-minute qualifying shootout.

On paper, it looked like a case of everything is different, but not much has changed for Yamaha during qualifying at Motegi.

Dovizioso takes pole position for the Japanese MotoGP at Motegi ahead of satellite stars Zarco and Miller. Title leader Marquez - who fell at the end of FP4 - will start from the back of row two, alongside Crutchlow and Iannone.

Jack Miller said he “got as close as he could to a perfect lap” of Motegi as the Australian claimed a third front row start of the season before crashing while attempting to claim a second MotoGP pole position.

Sebastian Vettel says he appreciates the “mutual respect” that exists between himself and Formula 1 title rival Lewis Hamilton.

Gene Haas says his team is effectively racing in 'Formula 1.5', such is the current performance advantage of Formula 1’s leading three outfits.

Five places may separate Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez on the grid for the Japanese MotoGP outing at Motegi, but the Italian feels that will count for very little once the race is underway.

Fernando Alonso says McLaren’s confirmation to bin its full-time plans to return to IndyCar in 2019 means “nothing has changed for me” as he looks to finalise his plans for next year.

There was to be no second guessing Andrea Dovizioso’s intentions after the Italian secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, with winning a fourth race of the year on Sunday his only concern.

Johann Zarco is looking toward Sunday’s MotoGP race with lofty ambitions after qualifying second for the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, the Frenchman stating he believes victory is within his reach.

Marc Marquez still has his sights set on trying to wrap-up the 2018 MotoGP title from the top step of the podium at Motegi, despite being left sixth on the grid.

Qualifying results from the 2018 Japanese Moto2 Grand Prix, round 16 of 19.

Francesco Bagnaia found the best line at the best time to ease to pole ahead of the Moto2 Japanese Grand Prix.

Andrea Dovizioso putting his Ducati on pole position for this year's Japanese MotoGP was not much of a surprise. But having satellite stars Johann Zarco, Jack Miller and Cal Crutchlow as his nearest rivals hadn't been part of the script.

Bautista and home star Nakagami lead Qualifying 1 and now progress to the Q2 pole position shootout, where they will join the ten fastest riders after third practice. The others will start, in the following order, from 13th on the grid onwards…

Xavier Simeon has been confirmed as leaving MotoGP after one season, but will remain with the Avintia Team in 2019 by competing in the new electric MotoE World Cup.

Marquez puts Honda on top for the first time this weekend during FP4 for the Japanese MotoGP, despite a fall in the closing stages.

Gabriel Rodrigo claimed his first pole of the season on his final lap of Motegi in qualifying for the Moto3 Japanese Grand Prix.

Qualifying results from the 2018 Japanese Moto3 Grand Prix, round 16 of 19.

Dovizioso stays fastest during a dry FP3 at the Japanese MotoGP, followed by Crutchlow and Zarco. The top ten riders after FP3 (combined times) receive direct access to the second and final part of this afternoon's qualifying session.

Free Practice (3) results from the Japanese Moto2 Grand Prix, round 16 of 19.

After a damp day in Austin, Crash.net F1 Digital Editor Luke Smith brings you his paddock notebook,

Pirelli has confirmed it will use a new Formula 1 tyre coding system from 2019 that sees its range of tyre compounds reduce from seven to three as teams choose from Hard, Medium and Soft compounds.