- Martin leads MotoGP by 21 points.
- Tight title race with Bagnaia.
- Unpredictable weather expected in Japan.
Spaniard Jorge Martin took a commanding 21-point lead over Italy’s defending champion Francesco Bagnaia after winning last week’s Indonesia MotoGP, while Bagnaia finished third. With just five races left, starting at Motegi this weekend, the title fight appears to be a two-man battle between Martin, riding for Pramac, and Bagnaia, representing Ducati.
Martin won last year’s rain-shortened Japan MotoGP at Motegi but is cautious about this year’s race, expecting unpredictable weather conditions. “Last season was good, but it was a different scenario. I was chasing, now I’m defending,” said Martin, who is eyeing his first MotoGP championship. “The weather forecast is quite unpredictable, and it’s going to be tough.”
The Indonesia weekend saw mixed fortunes for both title contenders. Martin crashed out of the sprint race, which Bagnaia won, but recovered to win the Grand Prix the following day. Bagnaia finished third behind Spain’s Pedro Acosta, allowing both Martin and Bagnaia to extend their lead over the rest of the field.
Behind the leading duo, Enea Bastianini is third in the standings, trailing Bagnaia by 54 points. Spain’s six-time world champion Marc Marquez is in fourth, just three points behind Bastianini. While both riders are still mathematically in the title race, Martin believes their chances are fading, saying, “It’s more about Pecco and me now.”
Despite their intense rivalry, Martin and Bagnaia have a healthy respect for each other. “It’s a pleasure to fight with champions like Pecco, Marc, and an amazing rider like Enea,” Martin said. “We’ve had fair battles, and this weekend will be another big challenge.”
For Bagnaia, the rivalry with Martin is reminiscent of last year’s championship, where the roles were reversed. “It’s nice to be fighting again, but this time with me chasing,” Bagnaia said. “Jorge and I always have fair fights, and I’m looking forward to another close battle.”
As the championship race heats up, all eyes will be on Motegi, where unpredictable weather could play a key role. Both riders are prepared for a challenging weekend, with Martin looking to defend his lead and Bagnaia determined to close the gap.
