Enea Bastianini nearly eclipsed Marco Bezzecchi for third in the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, setting four consecutive record laps and finishing in second place.
Dominant Late Charge After a Weak Season
This result is only the second time this year that KTM rider Pedro Acosta failed to finish a Grand Prix; the previous was the Spanish GP where Bastianini’s eighth place beat the factory team.
During the sprint, Bastianini lost a podium spot after crossing track limits on the last turn, yet his Sunday performance proved the effort worth the setback.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, and today it has arrived,” Bastianini explained after the race.
Tyre strategy again proved its value. Bastianini praised the hard tyre that the field adopted after a late morning warm‑up test, claiming it fit his riding style perfectly.
Tech3 team manager Nicolas Goyon noted the confidence Bastianini showed after the warm‑up, saying the rider felt the tyre matched him and was ready for a strong race result.
Bastianini is set to leave Tech3 at the end of the season and will join Trackhouse Aprilia for the 2027 campaign.
Championship Repercussions and Emotional Stakes
Bezzecchi, who had been eager to recover the podium after a personal loss, said the late assault by “Bestia” was “on fire”, stressing the effort he had put into the race.
Despite the win, Bezzecchi fell further behind in the standings, trailing Jorge Martin by 47 points, while Martin holds a two‑point lead over Marc Marquez.
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