Marc Marquez made a strong start to the Japanese Grand Prix weekend by setting the fastest time in the opening MotoGP free practice session at Motegi.
The Ducati rider finished FP1 at the top of the timesheets, edging Jorge Martin by just 0.099 seconds in a session complicated by tricky track conditions and a heavy crash involving Honda wildcard Takaaki Nakagami.
A few drops of rain made conditions difficult to judge during the early stages of the session. With little to gain from taking unnecessary risks, Marquez initially remained in the garage and eventually completed only ten laps.
The caution proved justified, particularly after events at Turn 11. Marco Bezzecchi managed to avoid a potential crash before Nakagami suffered a violent highside.
The Japanese rider, competing at his home Grand Prix as a Honda wildcard, was left in pain following the accident. Subsequent medical examinations revealed a fracture to his left collarbone, bringing his Motegi weekend to a premature end.
Marquez beats Martin in the closing stages
As track conditions gradually improved, lap times began to fall and the order changed repeatedly.
Raul Fernandez, Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez all featured near the top of the standings before the leading contenders launched their final attacks.
Jorge Martin appeared to have done enough to finish FP1 fastest, but Marc Marquez responded in the closing moments.
The Ducati rider produced a 1:44.073 to take first place, beating Martin by only 0.099s.
Marco Bezzecchi completed the top three, while Alex Marquez finished fourth. Johann Zarco put Honda fifth on the timesheets, with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo following behind.
Bagnaia eighth as Viñales returns
Francesco Bagnaia endured a quieter opening session and was unable to challenge for the leading positions. The Ducati rider eventually completed FP1 in eighth place, while Pedro Acosta secured a position inside the top ten.
There was also significant attention surrounding Maverick Viñales as the Tech3 KTM rider returned to MotoGP action.
Viñales used the opening session primarily to rebuild his confidence on the bike and assess his physical condition after his spell on the sidelines.
The Spaniard completed 13 laps and finished 18th, 1.442 seconds behind Marquez’s benchmark.
The opening session at Motegi therefore ended with very little separating the leading riders, as Marquez and Martin finished less than a tenth apart.
Attention now turns to Practice, where outright speed will become even more important. The ten fastest riders will secure direct access to Q2, while the remainder of the field will have to fight their way through Q1 during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.