Jorge Martin had to accept a bitter reality at Twin Ring Motegi after realizing that even his absolute best pace was not enough to stop his title rival's masterclass.
Starting from pole position, the Spaniard led the race early on, showcasing vastly improved machinery from Aprilia compared to previous years. However, unrelenting pressure from Marc Marquez paid off just before the halfway mark when the multi-time champion swept past at Turn 9.
Martin later admitted he had to manage fuel consumption during a crucial phase of the grand prix, a momentary setback that allowed Marquez to seize the lead and control the pace. Despite pushing hard until the chequered flag, he ultimately crossed the line 1.3 seconds adrift in second place.
The outcome at Motegi drastically tightens the championship battle, with Marquez's latest victory narrowing the gap at the summit to a razor-thin two points ahead of the remaining rounds.
"Even on one of my good days, it was impossible to beat him," Martin conceded to the media, though he took consolation in securing a milestone podium at a circuit where his factory squad historically struggled.
Read Also
Marc Marquez akui alasan egois gunakan pemeran pengganti di pra-balap MotoGP Jepang demi fokus perebutan gelar juara dunia melawan Jorge Martin.
Enea Bastianini sukses amankan podium perdana musim ini di MotoGP Jepang setelah tunjukkan magis konservasi ban bersama Tech3 KTM di Motegi.
Perebutan gelar juara dunia MotoGP 2026 semakin memanas setelah Marc Marquez memangkas selisih poin dengan Jorge Martin menjadi tinggal dua angka saja.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!