MotoGP™: Miller wins Japan GP on hard-compound MICHELIN Powers

Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) dominated the Motul Grand Prix of Japan to beat Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) by 3.4 seconds. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was third as two different tire compounds finished on the podium of the 2022 MotoGP^TM World Championship’s sixteenth round.  

Miller leapt from seventh on the grid to appear in front on the third of the afternoon’s 24 laps, before his hard front and rear MICHELIN Power Slicks helped him to clock the race’s fastest lap (1m45.198s) ninth time around.

Clearly confident in his choice of rubber, he set a fast pace throughout and was almost four seconds up at the halfway point. He then took advantage of the exceptional grip provided by his tires to defend his lead to the flag.

Binder – also on hard Michelins – got the better of Martin (hard front + medium rear) on the last lap to claim second and equal his best result of the campaign so far (Qatar).

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) celebrated his second start since his comeback from injury with an impressive run after claiming pole position in Saturday’s downpour. On hard and soft tires front and rear, he clinched fourth place with two laps remaining to showcase the longevity of the soft rear MICHELIN Power Slick.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) rounded out the top eight.

Tire choice for Sunday proved complex given that the riders benefitted from just one dry free practice session. Saturday’s FP3 was scrapped altogether due to heavy rain and higher temperatures on race day prompted numerous last-moment switches on the grid. Everyone ended up choosing the hard front, while the top four featured three different rear compounds in a further sign of the range’s outstanding versatility.

Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) has extended his cushion in the provisional championship standings to 17 and 25 points respectively over Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who fell on the last lap, and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) who started from the pitlane after suffering a technical problem at the start.

Next round: OR Thailand Grand Prix, Chang International Circuit (September 30-October 2).