MotoGP Japan FP1 LIVE: Jorge Martin fast but unhappy, ahead of Augusto Fernandez!

The Mobility Resort Motegi is hosting this weekend the 14th of the 20 rounds of the World Champion MotoGP. After a much-hyped Indian GP, ​​we head east for another clash of the titans, with the gap at the top of the general classification the tightest the Championship has seen in some time, the fall of the leader Francis Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) at Buddh having left the door open for its closest rivals to reduce their delay.

« Pecco » will seek to redeem himself, but George Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) arrive with the wind in their sails and their teeth long. Martin took another victory in the Sprint, equaling the record of Francesco Bagnaia this year, then got a second place in the snatch on Sunday. The Spaniard is only 13 points from the lead, while Marco Bezzecchi may not have done the double, but was undoubtedly the fastest driver in India, and came within 44 points of the lead, with potentially 259 left to score.

First of the non Ducatisti, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) scored big points again after a nightmarish end to practice and Q1, with yellow flags negating his best efforts. But despite starting outside the top 10, he took off like an arrow to place P4 in the Sprint and the Grand Prix. The South African is now 100 points off the lead, but he was on the podium last season at Motegi and this year has the all-new carbon chassis to take on the six bikes from Borgo Panigale, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Luca marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) being withdrawn due to injuries, while Enea Bastianini, with the same status, is replaced by Michele Pirro at Ducati Lenovo Team.

As for Japanese manufacturers, who have shown definite progress in India, we will be monitoring fabio quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda team) who have found some bite at the foot of the Himalayas, even if the two do not want to make India anything other than a one-off case.

Unlike the Moto3 and Moto2 categories, MotoGP welcomes a wildcard rider to the land of the rising sun, Cal Crutchlow, on the 4801 meter stop and go route which is very demanding on the brakes. 355 mm carbon discs are also available there. With the return ofalex rins (LCR Honda Castrol) and local performance Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) or the only Frenchman to have won at Motegi, John Zarco (Prima Pamac Racing), these are all subjects of interest for this 43rd Japanese Grand Prix.

Weather question, an often thorny subject in Motegi, if we avoid cyclones and other earthquakes this year, we let you be the judge of the days to come...

While waiting to discover more, as the 20 drivers prepare for this first 45-minute free practice session in the dry, with a clear sky and temperatures of 33° in the air and 36° on the ground , let's enjoy these few live moments thanks to the official website MotoGP.com :

Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far...

Motegi MotoGP™	2019	2022
FP1	1'44.509 Jack Miller (See here)	1'45.192 Jorge Martin (See here)
FP2	1'55.232 Marc Marquez (See here)
FP3	CANCELLATIONDUE TO RAIN (See here)
Q1	1'55.300 Johann Zarco (See here)
Q2	1'45.763 Marc Márquez (See here)
Warm up	1'45.850 Jorge Martin (See here)
Course	Miller, Brad Binder, Martin (See here)
All time lap record	1'43.790 Jorge Lorenzo (2015)

When the red lights go out... we break traditions and Fabio DiGiannantonio rushes first in front fabio quartararo, Raul fernandez the last.

Almost all riders opted for mediums, both front and rear, with the exception of Johann Zarco and Alex Rins who preferred to tighten it at the front.

From his first lap launched, Johann zarco goes straight, without falling.

Meanwhile, George Martin registered the first reference in 1'47.527 then Maverick Viñales displays 1'46.449 in front Fabio Quartararo, Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi.

On the next pass, the Aprilia rider improved to 1'46.034 ahead Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro.

fabio quartararo is the first to go below 1'46, in 1'45.952, but must bow again to " Top Gun » in 1'45.819 after 10 minutes.

Before the end of the first run, we witness the return of the Ducati, Francis Bagnaia in 1'45.631 ahead Jorge Martin.

The hierarchy is then composed of Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Maverick Vinales, Fabio Quartararo, Marc Márquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Raul Fernandez, Franco Morbidelli, Aleix Espargaro, Miguel Oliveira, Pol Espargaro, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Jack Miller, Augusto Fernandez, Takaaki Nakagami, Joan Mir, Brad Binder, Cal Crutchlow, Alex Rins, Michele Pirro and Johann Zarco

We observe that Johann zarco left with a medium front tire and moved up to 5th position, while 17 drivers were within the same second.

Joan mir minor fall at turn #5.

George Martin gets angry on the front axle of his GP 23 while Raul fernandez seems to confirm a new lease of life by positioning itself fifth.

Braking, by Marc Marquez...

As the last quarter of an hour approaches, Marco Bezzecchi progresses from seventh to third provisional place, while George Martin left with a hard tire on the front.

This seemed to suit him better since the Madrilenian took command in 1'45.509 before improving to 1'45.366 then 1'45.192.

Unfortunately, at this pace the Pramac driver ends up falling, fortunately without any seriousness at turn #3.

Five minutes from the checkered flag, we attack a final run which sees Augusto Fernandez jump to third position with a front hard/rear soft tire combination.

The Tech3 driver progresses by one more place on the next pass, but we also see that Brad Binder is now in the top five in medium/medium.

The Tech3 driver progresses by one more place on the next pass, but we also see that Brad Binder is in the top five in medium/medium.

Back at his box, George Martin still seems unhappy with his front end despite his temporary domination.

MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix FP1 results at Motegi:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com