Si and J have flown over for the atmosphere, action and incredible motorcycle culture of Japan, travelling over to experience the 2026 Motegi MotoGP from the ground… Words & Photos: Simon Naish, Justine Crump
BikeReview’s Si and J have swapped the Australian Spring for the atmosphere, action and incredible motorcycle culture of Japan, travelling across from Australia to experience the 2026 Motul Grand Prix Of Japan from the ground. Check out their shots from race day…
Sunday delivered another fantastic day of racing at Motegi, with BikeReview’s Si and J enjoying all the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 action while capturing plenty of great photos along the way. From the on-track battles to the atmosphere around the circuit, they’ve been making the most of every moment of their Japanese Grand Prix adventure.
Away from the racing, the pair have also explored some of Japan’s rich motorcycle history with a visit to the impressive Motegi Honda Mobility Resort and Museum, checking out some of the iconic machinery and milestones that have helped shape the motorcycling world. We’ll have a dedicated feature on their visit coming soon.
It’s been a memorable few days of racing, travelling, exploring and experiencing Japan, and there’s plenty more to share. Alongside our Motegi race coverage and galleries, we’re putting together a full BikeReview Japan travel feature covering the practical details of making the trip yourself, from flights and accommodation to transport, costs and the must-see experiences. Keep an eye on BikeReview for more from Si and J’s Japanese adventure! Check out Gallery One here…
Pic: MotoGP Press
Sunday Brief – Marc Marquez doubles up at Motegi as title fight tightens
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed a perfect weekend at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, defeating championship leader Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) to claim victory in both the Sprint and Sunday’s 24-lap Grand Prix. Martin finished second, retaining the championship lead by just two points heading into next weekend’s Indonesian Grand Prix, while Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) held off late pressure to secure third.
Pic: MotoGP Press
Martin started from pole position and grabbed the holeshot ahead of Marquez, with Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez moving forward early. The leading pair quickly established a gap, but Marquez stayed within striking distance. On Lap 11, the reigning World Champion made his decisive move at Turn 9, diving up the inside of Martin to take control of the race.
Martin responded with a series of quick laps, but Marquez had the pace to maintain his advantage and eventually crossed the line 1.2 seconds clear. Behind them, Enea Bastianini charged towards Bezzecchi in the closing stages, but the Aprilia rider kept his composure to secure the final podium position. Raul Fernandez completed the top five.
Pic: MotoGP Press
The result gave Marquez his 79th premier-class victory and completed a significant championship recovery. Martin heads to Indonesia on 306 points, with Marquez on 294, setting up another important battle in the closing stages of the season.
Moto2
Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) capitalised on a dramatic pre-race problem for championship leader Manuel Gonzalez to claim his second consecutive victory and significantly tighten the title fight. Gonzalez suffered a clutch issue on the grid and was forced to start from the pit lane, almost 30 seconds behind the leaders.
Pic: MotoGP Press
Guevara made the most of the opportunity, taking the holeshot from pole position ahead of Tony Arbolino and Filip Salač. The trio established themselves as the leading contenders, with less than half a second separating them through much of the race.
Pic: MotoGP Press
Arbolino attempted a move at Turn 9 with three laps remaining but ran wide, allowing Guevara to retake the lead. The Spaniard controlled the final laps to secure his third win of the season. Arbolino claimed second for his first podium in 34 races, while Salač completed the top three. Gonzalez finished outside the points, leaving Guevara just 10.5 points behind the championship leader heading to Indonesia.
Moto3
David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) secured his third victory of 2026 after resisting intense late pressure from championship leader Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team). Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the podium.
Pic: MotoGP Press
Almansa made a strong start and remained in contention throughout a frantic race. A double Long Lap Penalty for Brian Uriarte, who had initially led, reshaped the contest, allowing Almansa to regain the lead and begin pushing at the front.
Pic: MotoGP Press
Quiles steadily closed the gap, setting up a final-lap showdown. The championship leader searched for an opening through the final sector, but Almansa defended superbly to win by just 0.046 seconds. Quiles will now have another opportunity to clinch the title in Indonesia, while Carpe recorded his seventh podium of the season. Full results here… and the full BikeReview reports are here…
Read our 2026 MotoGP Coverage here…
How Did the Aussies Do?
Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) finished 16th in Saturday’s Sprint after starting from 20th on the grid. Sunday proved more difficult, with Miller crashing late in the Grand Prix before remounting to finish 19th.
Pic: Jack Miller FB
Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) battled grip issues in Moto2 to finish 13th, having qualified 10th. In Moto3, Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing) endured a challenging weekend that included a crash and grid penalty. Starting from 23rd, Kelso finished 17th.
The MotoGP paddock now heads to Indonesia, where the championship battles across all three classes continue. With just two points separating Martin and Marquez, the premier-class title fight is building towards another intense showdown.
Gallery Two – Motul Grand Prix Of Japan BTS
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