MotoGP: Bagnaia and Michelin shine in Japan as Marquez claims a 7th world crown
The Motul Grand Prix of Japan, Round 17 of the 2025 MotoGPTM World Championship, was dominated by Francesco Bagnaia who qualified on pole and won both races at Motegi. Meanwhile, his Ducati Lenovo team-mate Marc Marquez came second in Sunday's grand prix to make sure of a seventh title in motorcycle racing's premier class – his fifth on Michelin rubber. Michelin's tires performed strongly all weekend and helped the winner to establish three new records.
Marc Marquez made MotoGPTM history in Japan by claiming a seventh title, six years after picking up his last crown in Thailand, in 2019. The Spaniard drew level with the score of Valentino Rossi with five rounds to go in this year's championship after celebrating 11 grand prix wins, 14 sprint successes and 14 pole-positions. His title is Michelin's 36th in the sport's blue-riband category.
Bagnaia put an end to what has been a difficult period for him with a grand-slam weekend, pocketing both race-wins after topping qualifying on his Ducati which has undergone several modifications. In the process, the Italian established three new MotoGPTM benchmarks for Motegi: track record, race-lap record and – aided by the consistency and outstanding grip of his MICHELIN Power Slicks – the shortest race-duration.
He got away superbly from pole at lights-out for Sunday's showpiece and took advantage of the grip provided by his medium-compound slicks to pull out a handsome early gap over his chasers. After clocking the afternoon's best time on the second of the race's 24 laps, he was more than 3.7 seconds clear of Marquez at the halfway point.
Clearly in his element, the Italian kept his cool to collect his second win of the campaign, ahead of his Spanish team-mate and Castrol Honda Team's Joan Mir whose fightback and podium finish at his employer's home round point to the latter's return to form.
Marquez's start from third on the grid was a little less assertive, but he managed to hold position behind Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Racing Factory) before easing into second spot just before the mid-distance.
Motegi is notoriously tough on tires but Michelin's slicks took its different challenges in their stride, as well as playing a part in the new records set by Bagnaia. All the riders paired the medium front MICHELIN Power with the soft rear for Saturday's sprint, then switched to the medium rear for the grand prix itself.
Next round: Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, Mandalika Circuit (October 3-5).