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After Jorge Martin won the Sprint on Saturday, with Francesco Bagnaia in third, the MotoGP paddock could leave Motegi with a different championship leader. As such, the race is very highly anticipated and it will be crucial in the complexion of the championship going forward.
Prediction 1
Brad Binder to win
4/1 (5.00)
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Prediction 2
Jack Miller to finish on the podium
5/2 (3.50)
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MotoGP Motegi 2023 Tips
Contents
The sprint race was a powerful display by Jorge Martin, who led from start to finish after starting from pole position. The Spaniard has closed his gap to Francesco Bagnaia for each of the last six races and will look to do it again to get the championship lead. Bagnaia bounced back from a crash in the Indian Grand Prix with a podium finish, but the pace to challenge Martin was not there.
Between the championship protagonists, Brad Binder finished second for KTM. The Austrian manufacturer has brought an updated chassis in Motegi and it has performed straightaway. The impact was also made by Jack Miller, who achieved his best result since Germany by finishing fourth in the sprint.
Third in the standings is Marco Bezzecchi, who endured a difficult day on Saturday. A crash early in Q2 left him in pain and he felt that through the sprint, but hopes to feel better ahead of the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Tip #1: Brad Binder to win
For the race win, we are going with an outside call, with high odds. Brad Binder has been lightning quick through the whole weekend, with the fastest time in practice and a second place finish in the sprint. Qualifying did not go according to plan, as he will start fifth, but the fast-starting KTM has the potential to put him in the podium places by the time the field reaches the first corner.
The new carbon chassis is performing very well for the South African and we expect him to challenge for the win. The longer race will aid Binder more than Martin, for whom the sprint format has been very suitable.
Add in Binder’s prowess in the rain and the added element of the battle for the title for multiple riders around him, a victory is a real possibility for the man that sits fourth in the standings, albeit more than a hundred points from the top.
Tip #2: Jack Miller on the podium
This pick is made with the weather in mind, as we expect rain for the Grand Prix tomorrow. Jack Miller looked renewed in the sprint, overcoming a stretch of bad races to return to front, as he finished fourth. That can be attributed to a couple of different reasons.
The first is the new KTM chassis, which also excelled in the hands of his teammate. The second is the Motegi circuit, one where he historically excels, the most recent example being his victory last year.
This season, Miller has struggled to maintain pace in the second half of races, but rain could negate that and se him challenge for the podium.
Weather conditions for the Japanese GP
The weather is a huge question mark ahead of the race at Motegi, as rain could become a factor in the 24-lap race. Precipitation is up to 90% around the time of the race, with 40% for much of the day.
Important details ahead of the Japanese GP
Where can I watch the Japanese GP? Find out where you can watch the race at Motegi.
When does the Japanese GP start? The fourteenth race of the season starts at 7:00 am BST (GMT +1).
Who took pole position? Jorge Martin beat Francesco Bagnaia in the battle for pole, to set the tone for a huge battle in Japan.
What happened in the sprint? Leading from start to finish, Jorge Martin won the sprint race.
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