MotoGP Japan preview: Martin carries 12-point lead into Motegi as Marquez returns to the scene of his 2025 title
Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by 12 points heading to Motegi on 2–4 October, with Ai Ogura racing at home and Hakim Danish in Moto3.
MotoGP heads to Mobility Resort Motegi next weekend for the Japanese Grand Prix, 2–4 October, with the title race wide open. Round 16 is also the start of the season's Asian swing, which takes the riders on to Indonesia, Australia and then Sepang for the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia from 30 October to 1 November.
The standings after Austria
Pedro Acosta won his first MotoGP race at the Red Bull Ring last Sunday. However, the biggest change was further up the standings. Jorge Martin finished second for Aprilia, and Marc Marquez could only manage fifth for Ducati. The two had been level on 274 points before Austria. MotoGP.com reported that "Martin now leads Marquez by 12 points, with Bezzecchi 42 off the top of the table ahead of Japan."
According to MCNews, the top six are:
- Jorge Martin, 306
- Marc Marquez, 294
- Marco Bezzecchi, 264
- Pedro Acosta, 234
- Fabio Di Giannantonio, 230
- Ai Ogura, 222
Aprilia riders finished second, third and fourth in Austria, with Martin, Bezzecchi and Ogura. That shows how strong the Noale manufacturer has been in 2026. Bezzecchi won the first three races, and Ogura won in the Netherlands.
Motegi memories for Marquez
Motegi holds good memories for Marquez. Last year he finished second in the Japanese Grand Prix behind Francesco Bagnaia, who won both the sprint and the race. That result secured Marquez's seventh premier-class title. This year he arrives chasing, not defending, and with the lead just 12 points he can take it back with one good weekend.
Bagnaia, ninth in the standings, will want to repeat his 2025 Motegi form after a difficult season.
Home race for Ogura
This will be an emotional weekend for Ai Ogura. The Trackhouse Aprilia rider finished fourth in Austria, and MotoGP.com noted he was eager to keep his form going "before his home Grand Prix arrives in less than two weeks." A Japanese rider winning at Motegi would be a big story. Ogura's win at Assen shows it is possible.
Malaysian interest
Moto3 fans will follow Hakim Danish of Aeon Credit – MT Helmets – MSi. He became the first Malaysian to win a Moto3 race since Khairul Idham Pawi in 2016 when he won at Brno this season. After Motegi come Indonesia and Australia, and then his home race at Sepang, where he will race in front of a grandstand named after him.
Malaysian viewing times
Japan is one hour ahead of Malaysia, so the race is at lunchtime for local fans. Converted from Crash.net's published schedule, the MotoGP class times in Malaysian time are:
| Day | Session | Time (MYT) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, 2 Oct | FP1 | 9.45am |
| Fri, 2 Oct | Practice | 2pm |
| Sat, 3 Oct | FP2 | 9.10am |
| Sat, 3 Oct | Qualifying | 9.50am |
| Sat, 3 Oct | Tissot Sprint | 2pm |
| Sun, 4 Oct | Warm-up | 8.40am |
| Sun, 4 Oct | Grand Prix | 1pm |
Note the timing on Sunday: the Motegi race should finish a little over an hour before F1's Bahrain Grand Prix starts at Sepang at 3pm, so fans heading to the circuit can follow it on their phones on the way in.
Key takeaways
- Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by 12 points (306 to 294) going into Motegi.
- Marco Bezzecchi is third, 42 points behind.
- Marquez secured his 2025 title at Motegi, where Bagnaia won both races.
- Ai Ogura races at home after finishing fourth in Austria.
- The Motegi Grand Prix starts at 1pm Malaysian time on Sunday, 4 October.
FAQ
When is the MotoGP race in Japan in Malaysian time? The race is at 1pm on Sunday, 4 October. The sprint is at 2pm on Saturday.
Who leads the 2026 MotoGP championship? Jorge Martin (Aprilia), 12 points ahead of Marc Marquez (Ducati).
When is the Malaysian MotoGP? The Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia is at Sepang from 30 October to 1 November.
Sources: MotoGP.com, MCNews, Crash.net, Motorsport.com, Wikipedia