The 16th GP event of the year is on the agenda for the coming weekend. Repsol Honda rider Marc Márquez arrives fully motivated for his second MotoGP race since his comeback.
Eight-time motorcycle world champion Marc Márquez had imagined his return to the Grand Prix circuit to be somewhat different. The factory Honda rider did not get past the first lap of last Sunday’s race at MotorLand Aragón, because after two collisions with Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and brand colleague Taka Nakagami, the RC213V was too badly damaged.
For the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic, the overseas races in Asia will take place this week. The Spaniard has big plans for the Honda home game next weekend, because he didn’t have any major physical problems after the comeback in Aragón.
“I’m very excited to come back to Japan because it’s Honda’s home race. The race track is fun and the fans are always incredible,” said a delighted Márquez, who is 15th in the overall World Championship standings. “You can have any kind of weather in Motegi, so we have to watch closely what’s going to happen.”
Márquez knows that just one free practice session on Friday won’t make it any easier, but he’s still highly motivated. “Because we have a changed schedule, it will be a very intense two and a half days. But I feel physically good after Aragón, »said the 29-year-old. “I want to enjoy the weekend in Japan and continue working on full recovery and bike development.”
MotoGP result, Aragón (September 18th):
1. Bastianini, Ducati, 23 Rdn. in 41:35,462 min
2. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.042 sec
3. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 6.139
4. Brad Binder, KTM, + 6,379
5. Miller, Ducati, +6,964
6. Martin, Ducati, +12,030
7. Marini, Ducati, + 12,474
8. Zarco, Ducati, + 12,655
9. Rins, Suzuki, +12,702
10. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 16,150
11. Oliveira, KTM, + 17,071
12. Alex Marquez, Honda, +18,463
13. Viñales, Aprilia, + 18.730
14. Crutchlow, Yamaha, +20.090
15. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +27,588
16. Gardner, KTM, + 28,805
17. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +30,422
18. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 31,330
19. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 31.595
20. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 36,160
– Marc Marquez, Honda, 22 laps down
– Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, first lap not finished
– Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha, first lap not finished
MotoGP World Championship standings (after 15 of 20 races):
1. Quartararo, 211 Punkte. 2. Bagnaia 201. 3. Aleix Espargaró 194. 4. Bastianini 163. 5. Miller 134. 6. Zarco 133. 7. Brad Binder 128. 8. Rins 108. 9. Martin 104. 10. Viñales 104. 11. Oliveira 95. 12. Marini 91. 13. Mir 77. 14. Bezzecchi 74. 15. Marc Márquez 60. 16. Nakagami 46. 17. Pol Espargaró 43. 18. Alex Márquez 39. 19. Morbidelli 26. 20. Di Giannantonio 23 21. Dovizioso 15. 22. Darryn Binder 10. 23. Gardner 9. 24. Raúl Fernández 8. 25. Bradl 2. 26. Crutchlow 2.
Constructors’ Championship:
1. Ducati, 346 Punkte. 2. Aprilia 217. 3. Yamaha 213. 4. KTM 161. 5. Suzuki 134. 6. Honda 100.
Team World Cup:
1. Ducati Lenovo Team, 335 Punkte. 2. Aprilia Racing 298. 3. Monster Energy Yamaha 237. 4. Prima Pramac Racing 237. 5. Red Bull KTM Factory 223. 6. Gresini Racing 186. 7. Suzuki Ecstar 185. 8. Mooney VR46 Racing 165. 9. Repsol Honda 105. 10. LCR Honda 85. 11. WithU Yamaha RNF 27. 12. Tech3 KTM Factory 17.