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.
Pedro Acosta will start on pole after a track limits penalty denied Marc Marquez. Bagnaia is second, while a crash left Martin 11th.
The 12-lap Sprint race starts at 3pm (7am UK).
Another dramatic day in the 2024 MotoGP season comes to an end.
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Bagnaia holds onto a vital sprint win from Bastianini and Marquez. Martin is fourth.
The championship lead is now down to 15 points!
Bagnaia is being hunted down. Is Bagnaia easing off?
Bagnaia is now 1.3s clear in the lead courtesy of that battle for second.
Marquez gets the drive up the inside of Bastianini at Turn 9, but the factory Ducati rider fights back at Turn 10.
Marquez gets the move done on the exit, but Bastianini is back ahead at Turn 10. Great fight.
Bagnaia leads by 0.7s across the line. Marquez is hounding Bastianini for second now.
Actually, it looks like Raul Fernandez is still in the race. That was a graphics issue on the world feed. He is 11th.
Aleix Espargaro and Raul Fernandez have had crashes.
Bagnaia now leads Bastianini across the line with three laps to go, while Marquez is now third. Martin gains a place to fourth, but the points swing is now better for Bagnaia.
Acosta lost the front into Turn 7. He cannot believe it. What a blunder! Bagnaia leads.
Acosta has crashed out of the lead!
Acosta leads Bagnaia over the line by 0.622s.
Acosta has made a big break on this lap eight. He's almost eight tenths clear in sector three.
No change at the front with five laps to go. Bagnaia has not been able to get close enough to try a move on Acosta.
But you have to wonder just how much we will risk an overtake on Acosta.
Onto lap seven and Acosta's lead holds over Bagnaia. The top three are 1.5s clear of Marquez. Martin stuck in ffith.
Zarco given a long lap penalty for the Nakagami clash. He is 17th currently.
Halfway into this sprint and Acosta still leads Bagnaia. Bastianini is a lot closer to his team-mate too.
KTM says it is investigating Binder's issue.
The stewards are also investigating the Nakagami/Zarco incident.
Martin doesn't have great pace here. He's about 0.6s behind Marquez at this stage.
Nakagami has crashed at Turn 2. He was knocked off by LCR team-mate Johann Zarco.
Acosta's lead is almost 0.4s over Bagnaia at the start of lap five.
Acosta is so good through the first couple of sectors but Bagnaia is still there behind him.
