Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1480014
ROUND 16 / SEPTEMBER 23-25, 2022 TWIN RING MOTEGI / MOTEGI, JAPAN P104 MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP from 10 to 18 points over Bag- naia, with Espargaro dropping to 25 points in arrears and Bastian- ini now 49 points behind. Marc Marquez was hoping for a dream return to Japan after his ultra-popular pole position in the wet, but the eight-time World Champion could only come home in fourth in his second ride back from arm surgery. Marquez bested Red Bull KTM's Miguel Oliveira, who made it two KTMs in the top five, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Ducati), Maverick Vina- les (Aprilia Racing), Quartara- ro, Bastianini and Marco Bez- zecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati) rounding out the top 10. 16th and with no points. The same no-points fate befell Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo). In a dar- ing last-lap lunge, the Italian went for the inside of title rival Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) for eighth place, only to lose the front and crash out. It was a crucial error for the Italian who lost another eight points to Quar- tararo in the title chase. The fourth rider in an ear- shot of a title chance, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) could only muster ninth place in Japan, meaning despite all the carnage and the fact he finished down in eighth, Fabio Quartararo extends his lead in the championship MARQUEZ: WHY IS EVERYONE SO NICE? Thursday's press conference was another event when the three title contenders—Fabio Quartararo, Pecco Bagnaia and Aleix Espargaro—smiled for the cameras and joked together. This year's title fight is still surprisingly friendly, with little to no aggression among the trio. But Marc Marquez countered. "Wait until there is a last- lap fight for victory between them," he said, "and then see how the contend- ers react. It reminds me a bit of my fight with Andrea Dovizioso. We got along well, with smiles, but the tension was noticeable. The good feeling that exists now is because we have not yet experienced a real melee, last lap. When I am in that situation, I play the cards differently." FIRE DISASTER AVERTED A full-blown disaster was narrowly avoided on Thursday evening when the Marc VDS garage went up in smoke as teams were filing out of the track and back to their hotels. During a heavy rain shower, water seeped through the roof and onto a starter motor, which then short-circuited, causing the start of an electric fire. Aprilia, whose garage was stationed next door, sounded the alarm. Track security and the local fire service soon put out the blaze and salvaged the equipment inside, including the bikes and spare parts. Suzuki's MotoGP team, also positioned next door, then helped the clean-up and rebuild. Marc VDS Moto2 rider Sam Lowes said, "We have to say thanks to Suzuki. Without them, stopping the fire early would've been difficult. In the end there wasn't big damage. Both bikes were okay." Briefly... (Above) Brad Binder took a brilliant second for Red Bull KTM.