MotoGP News: Marquez wins 7th MotoGP title, Bagnaia wins race

Marc Marquez clinched his seventh MotoGP world championship and ninth overall title at the Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

In his debut season with the factory Ducati Team, Marquez won 11 Grands Prix and 14 Sprints, securing his first world crown since 2019 with a second-place finish behind teammate Francesco Bagnaia.

Bagnaia dominated the weekend, claiming pole, the Sprint, and the Grand Prix, leading every lap despite tension in the Ducati garage when smoke poured from his Desmosedici on lap 15, recurring four laps later. His commanding lead ensured an unthreatened victory, crossing the finish line four seconds ahead of Marquez.

Marquez, celebrating a historic moment just over five years after a career-threatening crash in Jerez, had all but sealed the title with a Sprint podium on Saturday. Needing to avoid losing more than six points to his closest rival, Alex Marquez, he extended his lead to 201 points as Alex finished a distant sixth for Gresini, officially ending his title challenge. This triumph tied Marquez with Valentino Rossi for the most premier-class titles.

The race began with Bagnaia taking the holeshot into Turn 1, followed by Pedro Acosta on KTM and Honda’s Joan Mir. Acosta briefly challenged Bagnaia at Turn 5 but faded, allowing Marquez to overtake Mir on the opening lap and pursue second. After a mistake at Turn 10, Marquez passed Acosta on lap 11 at Turn 11, securing second.

Honda celebrated a milestone as Mir overtook Acosta on lap 14 to claim third, marking his first podium with the manufacturer and HRC’s first of 2025. Acosta’s struggles continued, running off the track on lap 19 and dropping to the back.

Marco Bezzecchi capitalized on Aprilia’s sole factory entry, charging from ninth on the grid to fourth. Franco Morbidelli took fifth on the VR46 Ducati, followed by Alex Marquez in sixth.

Raul Fernandez secured seventh for Trackhouse Aprilia, while Fabio Quartararo, fading from fourth to eighth after lap 2, disappointed on Yamaha’s home soil. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) and Gresini rookie Fermin Aldeguer, on last year’s Ducati GP24, rounded out the top 10. Brad Binder was the top KTM finisher in 11th.

2025 Japanese MotoGP, Motegi – Race Results (24 Laps)