Moto2
The intermediate class race in
Motegi started under dry condi-
tions, but rain soon interrupted.
Polesitter
Jake Dixon (CFMoto
Inde Aspar Team) led the race
initially, while Izan Guevara
(CFMoto Inde Aspar Team) and
Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-
Idrofoglia Racing GP) lost posi-
tions after making contact.
A red flag was waved
due
to worsening weather, and the
race restarted with original grid
positions. Riders had to choose
between wet and slick tires, with
World Championship leader Ai
Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI Bos
-
coscuro) opting for slicks.
Dixon
again took the hole-
shot after the restart, but Ogura
Morbidelli took
fifth from
Binder, while Marco Bezzecchi
(Pertamina VR46 Ducati) and
his teammate Fabio Di Giannan-
tonio finished seventh and
eighth. Aleix Espargaro
(Aprilia
Racing) was ninth after Vinales
crashed.
Miller completed the top 10,
just ahead of Zarco. Fabio Quar
-
tararo finished 12th and Takaaki
Nakagami scored points in his
final
Japanese GP.
In the championship, Martin
clings to a 10-point lead on 392
points from Bagnaia's 382 and
Bastianini is third on 313.
[Acosta] was very close and
pushing hard, while at the end
Jorge [Martin] was making up
ground; when the lead dropped
to less than a second, I tried to
find that little extra pace-wise
and it worked. The final lap
was hard though, given the grip
level we had left. We managed
to complete plenty of laps
with used tires throughout the
weekend and worked well with
regards to mapping. Now we
head to Phillip Island with full
awareness of our abilities."
Bastianini chased Marc
Marquez for third but couldn't
overtake, with Marquez secur
-
ing the final podium spot and is
closing in on Bastianini
in the
championship.
ROUND 16 / OCTOBER 4-6, 2024
MOTEGI MOBILITY RESORT / MOTEGI, JAPAN
ROAD RACE I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
P88
Bagnaia's (center) smiling the
brightest with all the momentum
heading into Phillip Island.
