Marc Marquez moved a step closer to clinching his seventh MotoGP world title this weekend in Japan after finishing second in the sprint race on Saturday behind Francesco Bagnaia.
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Ducati's Marquez is on the verge of winning his first world championship crown since 2019 and can seal the deal if he finishes second in Sunday's grand prix at Motegi, even if his brother and closest rival Alex wins the race.
🥇 @PeccoBagnaia returns to Saturday winning ways as @marcmarquez93 charges to 2nd in the closing stages of the Sprint 🚀#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/5oKPANZeUD
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 27, 2025
The Spaniard was not at his dominating best in the sprint after starting third on the grid but stretched his championship lead after picking up nine points to his brother's zero.
Alex Marquez finished 10th after starting eighth on the grid.
"The pace was good, the feeling every time is better and better, so tomorrow will be a long race," said Marc Marquez.
"But we cannot forget that our main target this weekend is another one (title)."
Italian two-time world champion Bagnaia has struggled this season but he has been in vintage form so far at Motegi.
He took pole position with a track-record lap in qualifying and was untouchable in claiming his first sprint win of the season.
"I want to say thanks to the team that, like always, have done an incredible job," said Bagnaia, Marc Marquez's Ducati teammate.
"I was able to push, I was able to control, and it's super sweet, these emotions."
Bagnaia, who won both the sprint and grand prix in Japan last year, roared away from Joan Mir as the race began and never looked like being caught over the 12 laps.
First gold medal of 2025 for @PeccoBagnaia 🥇#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/Z0khEwRc4E
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 27, 2025
Marc Marquez was overtaken by KTM's Pedro Acosta on the first lap to leave the championship leader in fourth place.
Marquez gradually regained his place, picking off Mir and Acosta to take the chequered flag in second, with Acosta finishing third.
"It was quite difficult because I think I have the two most difficult riders to overtake on the break point," said Marquez.
"They are braking super late and then every time I tried, I went wide.
"I was losing time and then I saw Pecco (Bagnaia) go away and I decided to try to do my race."
Defending world champion Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi both went down at the first corner in heavy crashes.
Pramac's Jack Miller also crashed late in the race.