After MotoGP qualifying postponed due to rain at the Twin Ring in Motegi, scene of the Japanese Grand Prix, 16th stage of MotoGP 2022, the riders took to the track directly for Q1 with more than an hour late given the cancellation of the third free practice session. A session marked by the fall of Enea Bastianini which saw Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin leave for Q2 without him. An exercise contested in equally daunting conditions which saw Marc Marquez return to pole position after 1 days without being able to reach it. The last time was also on Motegi, in 071…
The eight-time world champion set the best lap in 1'55.214, signing his 63rd pole in MotoGP, the 91st of his career as he competes in his second Grand Prix since his return to competition. Behind him are placed Johann zarco with the Ducati Pramac and Brad Binder with the KTM, respectively at 0.208s and 0.323s. Maverick Vinales with the Aprilia will open the second line where we also find the Ducati Pramac of George Martin and his teammate Aleix Espargaro.
Only seventh was one of the wet specialists, Jack Miller. The Australian from Ducati is ahead Miguel Oliveira with the KTM crashing. fabio quartararo (Yamaha) and Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) were in difficulty, the Frenchman leading the Championship with 10 points ahead of the Italian. “El Diablo” finished ninth at 1.112s from the top, while the Piedmontese is even 12th at 2.159s. A worrying gap, even if the weather for the race is good with dry conditions promised this Sunday.
Luca marini, excellent fifth in the dry, finished tenth with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati 1.140s from the top. He will start from fourth row. The best rookie was Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati Mooney VR46 Racing Team) 13th, followed by Fabio DiGiannantonio (Ducati Gresini) 16th, Remy gardner (KTM Team Tech 3) 20th, Raul fernandez (KTM Team Tech3) 22nd and Darryn binder (Yamaha WithU RNF) 24nd.
In Moto2, Aron canet will start from pole position in Japan after qualifying also disrupted by the rain which interrupted the Q2 debates which only resumed many minutes later. The stage location Suzuki will start at the head of the Moto3 pack with his Honda Leopard.
What will these races in Japan have in store for us? You won't have to miss anything this Sunday to find out, and, in fact, here is the program...
Motul Grand Prix of Japan:
Sunday 25 September:
03:00 – 03:10: Moto3 Warm Up
03:20 – 03:30: Moto2 Warm Up
03:40 – 04:00: MotoGP Warm Up
05:00: Moto3 Race (20 laps)
06:20: Moto2 Race (22 laps)
08:00 a.m.: MotoGP Race (24 laps)
