Motegi, Japan — South African rider Brad Binder delivered an impressive performance on Friday, topping the practice session for the Japan MotoGP at Motegi. Binder, riding for Red Bull KTM, posted the fastest lap time of 1 minute 43.436 seconds, edging out six-time world champion Marc Marquez by a mere 0.033 seconds.
Championship leader Jorge Martin, who came into the race weekend with a 21-point lead over Francesco Bagnaia, secured third place, just 0.132 seconds behind Binder. The Spaniard, racing for Pramac, continues his pursuit of a maiden MotoGP championship after finishing runner-up to Ducati’s Bagnaia last season.
Close Competition at the Top
Binder’s late surge in the session saw him overtake Martin, who had briefly looked set to claim the fastest time of the day. Marquez, known for his competitive spirit, made a last-minute attempt to clinch the top spot, but fell short by a fraction of a second. The Repsol Honda rider’s second-place finish showed that despite recent challenges, he remains a force to be reckoned with.
Bagnaia Struggles, Finishes Seventh
Defending champion Bagnaia finished seventh, 0.318 seconds off Binder’s pace. The Italian has been under pressure to close the gap in the standings with only five races left in the season. After leading the rain-disrupted morning practice session, Bagnaia couldn’t replicate the same form in the afternoon.
Italy’s Enea Bastianini, who currently sits third in the overall standings, had a dramatic session. A crash midway through the practice briefly sidelined him, but he bounced back to post the fifth-fastest time, 0.169 seconds off the leader.
Acosta, Vinales Among Top Performers
Pedro Acosta, Maverick Vinales, and Alex Marquez were among the other riders who secured spots in the top 10, along with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi, rounding out a competitive lineup heading into the weekend.
Qualifying Battle Ahead
Saturday’s qualifying session will be crucial in shaping the grid for Sunday’s race. The top 10 riders from Friday’s practice have secured direct spots in the second qualifying session, where the first four rows of the grid will be determined. They will be joined by the two fastest riders from the initial qualifying session.
As the title race intensifies, all eyes will be on Binder, Martin, and Bagnaia as they vie for crucial points in the final stretch of the season.
