Japan – Qualifications: Pedro Acosta unlocks his counter

Pedro Acosta took advantage of Marc Marquez's setbacks to secure his first MotoGP pole position in Japan.

Free Practice 2:

• The second day of the Japanese Grand Prix MotoGP started on a more or less dry track. In reality, the Moto3 and Moto2 sessions were held in mixed conditions, but the intermediate class riders managed to set decent times just before the premier class took to the track.
• In terms of timing, Bagnaia started the session with some difficulties, before setting the best time of FP2 in 1:44.569. A time nonetheless a second slower than that posted by Brad Binder the day before during testing, which can be explained by the weather conditions.
• Johann Zarco suffered a big crash late in the session, but was able to take part in Q1 a few minutes later.

A big one at Turn 6 for @JohannZarco1 😱

Fortunately he's up and OK! 👍#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/YY6LUYJOYJ

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) October 5, 2024

• Pedro Acosta and Maverick Viñales defend the interests of their brand, and complete the top three.

MotoGP Japan – Qualifying Results

Qualification 1:

• At the start of Q1, the rain seemed to be starting to show its face again, but the session ultimately remained fairly calm.
• Favorite of this session, Franco Morbidelli does not betray the reputation of his GP24, and offers the best time in 1:43.746 Three tenths behind, fabio quartararo snatches the last available place for Q2 on the wire.
• The best Honda is sixth (sixteenth on the starting grid). It is Johann Zarco who best defends the interests of the brand despite his fall in FP2. The Frenchman did not fail to impress the other HRC drivers with his ability to brake throughout the weekend, and therefore makes the difference compared to them.

Qualification 2:

• The track is still evolving, and the times keep falling in Q2. While Jorge Martin seems rather comfortable at Motegi, the latter falls and abandons his hopes of pole position. In front, Pecco Bagnaia struggles to tame his GP24, and we see numerous slides of the n°1 under braking.
• It was therefore Marc Marquez who stood out from the rest to take provisional pole, before seeing his time cancelled for failure to respect track limits at turn 4.
• Previously second, Pedro Acosta inherited a surprise pole, KTM's first this season, but also his first in the premier class.
• Pecco Bagnaia is second, but will have a serious advantage over his title rival, Jorge Martin, whose time was also cancelled. The Spaniard will start from the fourth row, in eleventh position, alongside Fabio Quartararo (twelfth). For his part, Marc Marquez of class ninth.