MotoGP News: Bagnaia wins Japan Sprint race after Acosta chokes

Factory Ducati team rider Francesco Bagnaia has powered to an impressive Tissot Sprint victory at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, after the race leader, rookie Pedro Acosta, choked and fell with 4 laps to go.

Bagnaia has brought the title gap down to just 15 points ahead of Sunday’s feature race after Jorge Martin could only manage fourth – fighting from P11 on the grid.

Bagnaia would defeat his Ducati teammate Enea Bastianini and Marc Marquez riding a year-old Ducati after the pair had their own breathtaking battle.

Tension was high on the grid, with variable conditions throughout the day and spots of rain in the air, it was building to be an unforgettable Tissot Sprint. Bagnaia bagged the perfect launch, storming into the lead on the run to Turn 1. The #1 put the hammer down immediately, with polesitter Pedro Acosta dropping to third.

However, Acosta began to gain back some of the ground lost, passing Bastianini for second and beginning to set sights on the reigning World Champion. The move came on Lap 3, with Acosta charging into the Sprint lead for the first time and began to push on.

The gap soon increased on Lap 8, with the rookie edging his lead to over half a second for the first time He led until 4 laps to go and then choked on in turn 7 on lap 9!

A MONUMENTAL MISTAKE FROM THE ROOKIE! 💥@37_pedroacosta crashes out of the lead at Turn 7 😱#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/mswvSl7Tsr

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 5, 2024

Crucially, Bagnaia was promoted into P1, extending a seven-tenth margin to teammate Bastianini, who was now under pressure from Marc Marquez in third. The #93 pounced on Bastianini on Lap 11, with ‘The Beast’ not waiting to respond, launching an attack at Turn 11 with inches separating the pair – to the delight of the Japanese fans.

Heading onto the final lap, Bagnaia had a one-second advantage, which was closed to less than two-tenths. However, Pecco remained unstoppable, claiming an incredible Tissot Sprint victory from Bastianini, who denied the recovering Marc Marquez second, who claimed an incredible result – battling from the third row.

2024 Japanese MotoGP, Motegi – Sprint Race Results

* Rookie