03:21
Riders continue to stream out, it'll be a busy end to the session providing there's no more rain.
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).
03:20
Vinales, Acosta, Raul Fernandez and Martin also rejoin the track.
03:19
12 mins to go and the pitlane suddenly burst into life again with Quartararo, Marini, Miller and Bezzecchi all heading back out (on slicks).
03:13
All riders remain in the pits with 18mins to go.
The sun is breaking through the clouds but it's a classic case of the track being too dry for wets and too wet for slicks.
03:07
Monster Yamaha team-mates Quartararo and Rins are in discussion in the pit lane while waiting to see what the weather will do.
03:05
Current order:
- Bagnaia
- Martin
- di Giannantonio
- Marc Marquez
- Miller
- Bezzecchi
- Mir
- Zarco
- Vinales
- Bastianini
- Alex Marquez
- Nakagami
- Acosta
- Rins
- Aleix Espargaro
- Binder
- Quartararo
- Morbidelli
- Marini
- Raul Fernandez
- Augusto Fernandez
- Savadori
- Gardner
03:02
The umbrellas are now going up...
03:02
On board cameras show there are still rain spots falling on the back straight.
The likes of Martin and Bagnaia decide it's too dodgy and pull into the pits.
Bagnaia had just moved ahead of Martin to the top, followed by Fabio di Giannantonio in third then Marc Marquez and Jack Miller.
02:59
Riders are staying out and it looks like it's just a few rain spots for now. No sign of umbrellas being opened in the grandstands.
02:57
32mins to go and the rain flags are being waved...
02:57
Martin's title rival and reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia responds, the reigning champion is now just 0.087s behind the Pramac rider.
02:54
Title leader Jorge Martin is the first rider into the low 1m 45s this weekend, already just a few tenths off his best lap in opening practice a year ago.
02:52
Nakagami, Mir and Alex Marquez are fastest after the opening laps.
02:51
An early run-off for Remy Gardner at the Turn 11 braking zone.
02:49
Most riders are starting on medium tyres, front and rear, with a scattering of soft fronts.
02:45
Green lights are on and the 45-minute MotoGP FP1 session begins.
Takaaki Nakagami, riding in his final home grand prix as a full-time rider, Aleix Espargaro, Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez are among those with special helmet designs this weekend.
02:40
Motegi is one of three tracks where the bigger 340 mm or 355 mm front brake discs are mandatory due to the heavy braking zones at Turns 1, 4 and especially 11 (end of the back straight).
The only other circuits where use of the smaller 320 mm discs is not allowed are Red Bull Ring and Buriram.
02:33
Contrasting fortunes for two future MotoGP riders in the closing stages of the opening Moto2 session.
2025 Trackhouse rider and Moto2 title leader Ai Ogura starts his home grand prix with a close second (0.014s behind Filip Salac), while future Gresini Ducati rider Fermin Aldeguer fell on his way to sixth.
2025 LCR Honda rider Somkiat Chantra is absent from Motegi after injuring his leg last Sunday.
02:28
Some lap times to watch out for this morning...
The best FP1 lap at the 2023 Japanese MotoGP:
- Jorge Martin 1m 45.192s
The Official Motegi MotoGP Lap Records:
- Best lap: Jorge Martin 1m 43.198s (2023)
- Fastest race lap: Jack Miller 1m 45.198s (2022)
02:24
As a reminder, Miguel Oliveira is absent after fracturing his right wrist in Mandalika and replaced at Trackhouse this weekend by Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori.
World Superbike regular Remy Gardner is making his third appearance of the season for Yamaha, as a wild-card in the factory’s home round.
02:22
Just under half an hour to go until opening MotoGP practice begins at Motegi in Japan.
The Moto2 riders are currently in the final stages of their FP1 session.
Rain spots have fallen off and on throughout the morning, bringing out red and white flags in the early stages of the Moto2 practice.
The spots have since cleared, but more rain is a threat today and throughout the weekend.
