After another dramatic weekend in Mandalika, 21 points separate Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia heading into the Japanese MotoGP.
Martin might have celebrated his first grand prix victory since Le Mans in May but an opening lap mistake by the Pramac rider in the Sprint meant Bagnaia still left Indonesia three points closer in the title fight.
Martin did the double at Motegi last year, winning a dry Sprint ahead of KTM’s Brad Binder before beating Bagnaia in the soaking wet grand prix, red-flagged after 12 laps due to the conditions.
Wet weather is again forecast during the 2024 event.
A Sunday crash in Mandalika for Enea Bastianini and engine failure for Marc Marquez have left their title hopes hanging by a thread, although they start this weekend just three points apart in the fight for third.
Marquez took his final Honda podium at Motegi last year.
Mandalika runner-up Pedro Acosta could again prove a thorn in the side of the Ducatis, while Binder will be looking to wrestle fifth in the standings back from his future team-mate.
Jack Miller was on the front row a year ago and is one to watch if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
The stop-and-go circuit will be a test of Aprilia’s braking progress, with Yamaha and Honda aiming to continue their top ten momentum in front of the factory bosses.
FP1 starts at 10:45am local time (2:45am BST) followed by Practice at 3pm (7am BST).
That's all from us for today, but keep your eyes fixed on Crash.net for all the latest MotoGP news from the Motegi paddock across the rest of Friday.
Join us again from 2:10am UK time tomorrow for final practice and qualifying at the Japanese GP.
Binder does hold onto top spot with a 1m43.436s to lead Marc Marquez and Martin in second practice.
Bagnaia is seventh, while Jack Miller's late crash was costly as he is knocked out of the top 10.
Nakagami leads the Honda charge in 12th, while Quartararo is 14th for Yamaha.
The chequered flag is out but there are some fast laps still coming in.
Nakagami has found a lap good enough for ninth to get a provisional Q2 place. That would be a great story on his final Japanese GP as a full-time rider.
Zarco has crashed at Turn 5. Rider ok but yellow flags out, which will ruin a lot of laps.
Binder now back on top with a 1m43.436s.
Big improvement for Bastianini to come up to second after his earlier crash.
Miller has crashed at Turn 3. Rider ok.
It's very tight just outside of the top 10. Alex Marquez is 0.015s outside of the Q2 places, with Aleix Espargaro a further 0.004s adrift.
The current Q2 runners with five minutes to go are:
Bagnaia and Acosta set identical laps, but Martin blasts them away with a 1m43.568s.
Bagnaia goes top now with a 1m43.754s.
Acosta goes fastest with a 1m43.754s.
Acosta up to second with a 1m43.987s.
Brad Binder goes top of the pile with a 1m43.879s.
Vinales did feel coming to Japan that it offered a good opportunity for Aprilia. So far, that's ringing true.
Vinales moves up to second with a 1m44.084s.
Big improvement for Raul Fernandez to jump up to fifth.
A few more riders are heading out on fresh soft rubber. This should be a pretty frantic final 15 minutes.
Nothing going for Quartararo on this lap on the Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo looks to be the first rider to go for a new soft tyre for a time attack in this final 17 minutes of Practice.
Martin lets Bagnaia go at Turn 12, and now it's time for the Pramac rider to get a good look at his rival.
The two leaders in the championship are line astern on track right now. Bagnaia is getting a good view of how Martin is riding.
