Sunday’s race at Motegi was more than just another round on the calendar; it marked the conclusion of one of the sport’s greatest comeback stories. By finishing second, Marc Márquez sealed the 2025 MotoGP world championship, capturing his seventh premier class title and ninth overall championship. His journey back to the top has been torturous: years of crashes, repeated surgeries and speculation about his ability to ever return to his peak form. But at Motegi, he made it clear, this was not just a comeback, but reclaiming a legacy.
Qualifying & Sprint: Bagnaia Sets the Tone
The weekend began with a statement for Ducati. Francesco Bagnaia stormed to pole position, smashing the lap record with a time of 1:42.911.
In Saturday’s sprint race, Bagnaia converted that into a commanding victory, finishing around 1.8 seconds ahead of teammate Márquez. The win was much needed for Bagnaia after a relatively poor season, and it also tightened the pressure on Márquez’s title rivals. Meanwhile, Alex Márquez, Marc’s closest rival, had a miserable time in Japan, finishing tenth in the sprint, effectively ending his title hopes.
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The Grand Prix: Bagnaia Dominates, but Márquez Is Undeniable
At lights out, Bagnaia got a sharp launch and secured the holeshot. He immediately pulled ahead, with Pedro Acosta briefly slotting into second with Márquez holding third. By only the second lap, Bagnaia had extended his lead, already setting a pace that Márquez knew he didn’t need to match, as second was enough for the big prize.
As the laps wore on, Márquez began to chip away at Acosta, eventually passing him and settling him into second. Joan Mir, in a fine ride, hovered in behind and applied pressure. Bagnaia, however, had his own problems despite being four seconds ahead for much of the race. Puffs of smoke emanating from his bike drew concern and anxious looks from the pits, but he managed to keep his composure and hold onto his lead. With seven laps remaining, Márquez found himself in what was effectively the title-winning position, meaning he could wind things down, manage risk, and protect his points lead.
The closing laps saw Márquez maintain a safe distance from Bagnaia and carefully nurse his tyres. Meanwhile, Mir sealed a home podium for Honda with a composed performance. Crossing the line, Bagnaia took a well-earned victory, with Márquez following in 4.196 seconds behind. Mir claimed the final spot on the podium, which was his first since 2021. After the chequered flag, Márquez paused to soak in a tribute video that his team had put together, a powerful moment reflecting on everything he had endured to reach this point.
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Full Race Results
- Francesco Bagnaia – 42 minutes 9.312 seconds
- Marc Marquez – +4.196s
- Joan Mir – +6.858s
- Marco Bezzecchi – +10.128s
- Franco Morbidelli – +10.421s
- Alex Marquez – +14.544s
- Raul Fernandez – +17.588s
- Fabio Quartararo – +21.160s
- Johann Zarco – +21.733s
- Fermin Aldeguer – +23.107s
- Enea Bastianini – +23.616s
- Brad Binder – +23.882s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio – +29.359s
- Miguel Oliveira – +30.788s
- Somkiat Chantra – +30.990s
- Maverick Viñales – +31.712s
- Pedro Acosta – +34.157s
- Alex Rins – +34.792s
- Jack Miller – DNF
- Takaaki Nakagami – DNF
- Luca Marini – DNF
Significance & What Lies Ahead
This race will be remembered not just for Bagnaia’s perfect weekend, but more so for what it signifies for Marc Márquez. Six years had passed since he last donned the MotoGP crown. Now with this title, his seventh in the premier class and ninth overall, he draws level with Valentino Rossi on the all-time list and cements one of the most remarkable comebacks in motorsports history.
For Bagnaia, the win is a statement; he has rediscovered his form and confidence, and with teammate Márquez no longer under threat in the standings, he may now push harder for race wins and pride in the remaining races.
As for the rest of the riders, the battle for individual race glory and podiums intensifies now that the title fight is settled. With still five rounds remaining, expect fierce contests, strategic gambles, and perhaps a reshuffling of bragging rights in the paddock.
I think it’s difficult to decide. Personally, I would rate them as equal to each other. They didn’t race against each other in their prime, as Rossi was towards the end of his career, but then again, he never managed the comeback that Marc has. I think it’s safe to say they are both two of the best riders in MotoGP history.
Does this mean the GOAT debate is settled or does he need to win one more to beat Vale’s record?