Marc Marquez wasted no time asserting his authority in the opening practice session of the 2026 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. The Ducati Lenovo rider set the benchmark with a 1m 44.073s, edging out Aprilia's Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, who had to settle for second and third respectively.
However, the session was overshadowed by a nasty incident involving wildcard rider Takaaki Nakagami. The Honda test rider suffered a heavy highside on his out lap and was immediately declared unfit for the remainder of the weekend with a fractured left collarbone. "Unfortunately Takaaki has sustained a fracture to his left collarbone and has been declared unfit for the weekend," the team confirmed.
Despite the setback, the on-track action remained intense. Aprilia showed strong pace early on, with Martin and Bezzecchi trading the top spot. But Marquez, who clinched the 2025 title at this very circuit, found his rhythm in the closing stages and surged to the front, ultimately finishing with a comfortable margin.
Behind the leading trio, Alex Marquez ended up fourth, followed by an impressive Fabio Quartararo and Diogo Moreira. Francesco Bagnaia, a double winner at Motegi last year, could only manage seventh, while KTM's Pedro Acosta, fresh from his maiden MotoGP victory in Austria, was 12th.
The resurfaced Motegi track has prompted Michelin to bring a revised tyre allocation, including the reinforced rear construction that caused issues for Ducati in Austria. But Marquez seems to have adapted well, setting a blistering pace.
With this result, Marquez sends a clear message to his rivals. He currently trails Martin by 12 points in the championship standings, and the battle between the two is expected to intensify as the weekend progresses.
Practice gets underway later this afternoon. Will Marquez maintain his form, or will Martin and Aprilia strike back? Stay tuned.
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