MotoGP action bound for Japan

The Repsol Honda squad will have its championship-winning t-shirts packed as it heads to the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, with odds on championship leader Marc Marquez wrapping up the 2018 title at the manufacturer’s home circuit.

With a healthy lead of 77pts of his nearest rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), Marquez only needs to make sure he doesn’t lose more than 2pts to the Ducati rider on Sunday 21 October and he’ll be celebrating his seventh grand prix world championship, his fifth in the premier class.

“Of course we’ll try to get the best result in front of Honda’s people and home fans, but Motegi is a stop-and-go track where strong acceleration is a key factor, so we’ll have to work hard and improve a little bit in that area if we want to fight with Ducati,” said Marquez, who may be talking down his chances considering he not only scored his very first MotoGP victory at the 4.8km Twin Ring Motegi circuit on Honda machinery, but also wrapped up two of his four MotoGP titles there.

But there’s no doubt the Ducati GP18 machinery of factory riders Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo is the best its ever been and both riders will be looking to capitalise on the the improved handling and superior acceleration of the Desmosedici in a bid to keep the championship alive.

Third in the title chase is nine-time world champ Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) who, with a haul of 172pts, sits 22 behind Dovizioso and 99 shy of Marquez heading into the Motegi round. And with a maximum of just 100pts up for grabs in the last four races of the season (Motegi, Phillip Island, Sepang and Valencia), the Italian veteran will be determined to keep his third overall placing on his struggling Yamaha, or go one better for runner-up behind Marquez.

Perhaps luckily, it’s his factory Yamaha teammate of Maverick Vinales who’s 26pts further back, who will have his hands full fending off Lorenzo for fourth overall by the end of season, the five-time world champ may be recovering from injuries sustained at the previous two grands prix, but a late-season surge from the Ducati rider should mean the 16 points separating the two Spaniards will unfold into a fascinating duel.

Aussie Jack Miller will be looking to continue his improved run of form of late to achieve his early-season goal of finishing the season in the top 10. Currently sitting 12th in standings, the Alma Pramac Ducati rider finished 10th last time out in Thailand but will have his work cut out for him as he tries to depose both Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa in 11th and Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins who currently sits in 10th place on the title ladder.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda), Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Ducati) and Johann Zarco (Tech3 Yamaha), who head into the Japanese round separated by just 5pts and who sit sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, will not only be vying to better one another in the overall standings, but have the independent team rider championship to play for.

Likewise, it’s Franco Morbidelli (Marc VDS Honda) who leads the charge for the coveted Rookie of the Year honours. With four rounds to go, the Italian sits 5pts clear of Hafizh Syahrin (Tech3 Yamaha) and 15 clear of LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami.

The action kicks off this Friday 19 October with MotoGP’s FP1 at 11:55am AEST and culminates with the 24-lap MotoGP race at 4:00pm.