07:32
With just under 30 minutes to go, the top 10 is:
- Bagnaia
- Martin
- Vinales
- Acosta
- Bezzecchi
- Di Giannantonio
- M.Marquez
- Bastianini
- Quartararo
- Miller
Jack Miller, Motegi
2024 Japanese MotoGP: Friday Practice as it happened
Recap Friday practice at the 2024 Japanese MotoGP.
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).
07:31
Looks like Bastianini's crash could have been a gearbox issue as the front went suddenly while he was downshifting.
07:30
Bastianini is running down pitlane now back to his Ducati garage for his second bike.
07:29
incident
Enea Bastianini has crashed at Turn 13. He lost the front on the way into the corner. He's up and ok after a fast off.
07:27
Marquez is very animated in his Gresini garage and doesn't look happy with how his bike is performing. He's seventh just now and 0.748s off the pace.
07:25
Marquez has improved to sixth. Bagnaia still leads the way by 0.248s.
07:24
incident
Raul Fernandez has crashed at Turn 3. Rider ok.
07:22
Marquez improves to a 1m45.020s, which moves him to 12th. But that didn't look like the most comfortable of laps.
07:20
Marc Marquez had a big rear slide coming through Turn 6 while on a push lap on a new soft rear. The Gresini rider is currently 19th with just under 40 minutes left in Practice.
07:18
Pretty much every rider is working with the soft rear tyre right now, while - unsurprisingly - the hard front is the preferred choice.
07:15
Acosta is continuing to run the 'bat wing' aero on the rear of his KTM. Clearly a positive development on the RC16. He's used those to jump up to third with 15 minutes of the session gone.
07:11
incident
Augusto Fernandez has crashed at Turn 10. Rider ok.
07:10
After 10 minutes of running, the top 10 is:
- Bagnaia
- Martin
- Bezzecchi
- Di Giannantonio
- Acosta
- Bastianini
- Quartararo
- Miller
- Espargaro
- Morbidelli
07:08
Bagnaia is now fastest with a 1m44.072.
07:06
Martin improves to a 1m44.320s, with Bagnaia 0.075s behind him.
07:04
Jorge Martin sets the benchmark at 1m44.916s.
07:01
Unsurprisingly, everyone is heading out to make use of the dry conditions.
07:00
green flag
Second practice at Motegi is under way.
06:50
Just 10 minutes till pitlane opens for second practice in MotoGP.
06:44
Fastest lap time from FP1 was a 1m45.209s from Francesco Bagnaia. All-time lap record at Motegi for the MotoGP class is a 1m43.198s, which was set by Jorge Martin last year.
06:39
After the earlier iffy weather that hit FP1, conditions have cleared this afternoon at Motegi.
06:38
practice build-up
Good morning/afternoon!
Welcome back to our live coverage of the 2024 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix.
Second practice is due to start in 20 minutes at 7am UK.
03:25
6mins remaining and most riders have decided it's too risky and have pulled back into the pits.
03:22
...But there are reports of more rain in pitlane.
