Marc Marquez Leads Opening MotoGP Practice in Motegi

Marc Marquez delivered a strong performance to lead the opening free practice session of the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. The reigning champion showcased his prowess by outpacing both Jorge Martin and Bezzecchi in the closing stages of the session.

Track conditions presented a unique challenge under cloudy skies with light sprinkles, yielding ambient temperatures of 16 degrees and an asphalt reading of 21 degrees. Meanwhile, Chantra stepped in to replace Mir at Honda alongside wildcard rider Nakagami.

Despite the tricky track surface, several riders quickly tested their limits, including Jorge Martin and Bezzecchi who experienced a scare at the heavy braking zone of turn 11. Unfortunately, Nakagami suffered a heavy crash at the same spot, resulting in an immediate high-side exit.

The Japanese rider was promptly transported to the medical center where examinations confirmed a fracture in his left collarbone. Consequently, Nakagami has been ruled out of competition for the remainder of the race weekend.

The unfortunate incident cut his running short before he could even complete a full flying lap.