Martin walks on water to narrow Bagnaia’s lead
Rain might have shortened a dramatic Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix, but Jorge Martin did not care as he made his latest championship statement.
Martin was crowned the winner ahead of Francesco Bagnaia, meaning the latter’s once huge championship lead is now down to just three points.
Marc Marquez made a celebrated return to the podium for the first time since Australia last year and Jack Miller finished sixth as heavy rain meant just 13 of the 24 laps were possible and the race ended under red flag conditions in a belated restart attempt.
The race began in mixed conditions and riders got 13 laps in before the rain became too severe and the red was waved.
Half an hour later a restart attempt was made, but the track was still too wet to race so another red arrived and the race was declared.
Riders were set up for a dry race, but sudden rain threw a curveball and scrambled teams into action getting wet weather bikes ready in the pits.
Martin and Miller got a good jump with the Pramac Ducati leading into turn one where contact between Marco Bezzecchi, Johann Zarco and Maverick Vinales sent the latter falling into the gravel.
His Aprilia teammate had a more enjoyable start, flying up to third ahead of Bagnaia after a multi-corner battle through the second sector.
By turn 11 it was Miller who had the momentum down the straight and he made a move on Martin for the lead.
Amazingly he led almost all riders dived into the pits for wets aside from Michele Pirro, Fabio Quartararo, Stefan Bradl, Franco Morbidelli and Carl Crutchlow.
Back in the pits it was game on as Martin, Espargaro, Marquez, Miller and Bagania left the lane neck and neck.
The Pramac Ducati won the drag race ahead of Espargaro and Marquez, while Miller held fourth before losing it to Bagnaia in a matter of corners.
Martin was in control of the race for the effective lead but he bowled a wide at turn three and dropped all the way down from fourth to 10th.
The gamble for the top five tiptoeing on slicks did not work as the conditions worsened and the leaders caught Morbidelli within two laps.
By lap four Martin had worked his way back past Miller to be right behind his fellow championship rivals just outside the top five.
After a brief arm wrestle Espargaro and Marquez were the leading wet runners as Bagnaia slid past Bezzecchi.
Pirro’s slick gamble lasted four laps as he pitted from the lead and rejoined down in 20th, which put Espargaro into the P1.
On lap five Martin returned to the top three by muscling his way past Bezzecchi and Marquez, but still had Bagnaia ahead of him.
Binder was the first victim of the wet weather, with a big crash on entry to turn three, while Martin made his move on Bagnaia at turn nine.
He then used the power of his Ducati to blaze past Espargaro and return to the lead just four laps after falling to 10th.
Marquez found himself going the opposite direction, slipping to sixth, while Bezzecchi won a long arm wrestle with Espargaro for third.
Within a handful of corners Espargaro fell to sixth behind Miguel Oliveira and Marquez as Morbedelli finally swapped his useless slicks to wets on lap eight.
These battles had allowed Martin to pull a second clear of Bagnaia, who was 1.6s ahead of Bezzecchi.
Miller was in the middle of a breathtaking battle with Joan Mir for seventh, but a scary mistake at the end of the main straight into turn 11 meant the Australian lost and dropped to 10th.
On lap 11 Marquez was a man on the move again, swooping down the inside of Oliveira for fourth.
A lap later the #93 returned to the podium places by getting Bezzecchi down the main straight as the rain became increasingly heavy.
This move proved to be crucial as it occurred moments before the red flag which arrived at the end of lap 13 as conditions were too wet to continue.
The turning point proved to be Zarco’s high-speed crash in the final sector as riders started to wave their arms due to the deteriorating conditions.
The race was set to resume with 12 laps to go 26 minutes later but after it was deemed too wet during the warm up lap, the race was declared.
Due to more than 50 percent ion the race distance was completed, full points were rewarded.
This means just three points split Bagnaia and Martin as a thrilling championship battle looks set to continue in Indonesia on October 13-15.
Image: Gold and Goose
2023 Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix results
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