MotoGP heads to Japan for the Motul Grand Prix at the Mobility Resort Motegi, with the title race heating up. Overall, only 185 points remain in the upcoming races. Jorge Martin leads the championship by 21 points ahead of Francesco Bagnaia.

Martin’s win in Indonesia was a huge statement after past struggles there, and he will be confident heading to Motegi, where he won both the GP and Sprint last year. Bagnaia, known for thriving under pressure, needs to be careful. With 21 points to catch up, he must focus on races without major mistakes.

Enea Bastianini and Marc Marquez are still theoretically in the title fight, sitting 75 and 78 points behind. Bastianini showed serious speed before crashing out in Indonesia, and Marquez will be looking to bounce back after a tough weekend.

For Honda and Yamaha, the Japanese GP is special. Takaaki Nakagami will race his last home Grand Prix as a full-time rider, while Fabio Quartararo will aim to continue his strong form after taking seventh last week.

Pedro Acosta impressed in Indonesia, securing a podium and moving closer to winning Rookie of the Year honors. Maverick Viñales and Marco Bezzecchi are also on a roll, as both riders have scored top finishes recently.

Meanwhile, Brad Binder will be eager to bounce back after Indonesia, as will Aleix Espargaro. Alex Marquez hopes to improve after last weekend, while Jack Miller returns to a venue where he surprised the field in 2022.

With the season nearing its end, every race counts more than ever. Can anyone shake up the standings, or will the title fight stay locked between Martin and Bagnaia? These are the answers we’ll find out this weekend.