2022 MotoGP (Road Racing World Championship) Round 16 Japan GP will be held for three days from September 23rd (Friday) to 25th (Sunday) at Mobility Resort Motegi, Tochigi Prefecture. In the past two years, the tournament was canceled due to the corona disaster, but this year will be the first time in three years.
Motegi hosted the first Japanese Grand Prix in 1999. After that, in the four years from 2000 to 2003, two races were held in Japan, the Japanese GP at Suzuka Circuit in the spring and the Pacific GP at Motegi in the fall. Since 2004, the event has been held only at Motegi, and since then it has established itself as the stage for the Japanese GP.
Honda teams challenge home GP for the first time in 3 years
The Japanese GP has been held in autumn since 2010, and has attracted the attention of racing fans around the world as the title-deciding race at the end of the season. This year’s event, which will be held for the first time in three years, will be a series of races starting with the 15th round of the Aragon GP, followed by the 17th round of the Thai GP following the Japanese GP, making it the first three-race series of the season.
Three years ago, Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team) won his 6th world title at the Thailand GP held before the Japanese GP, and returned triumphantly to the Japanese GP, Honda’s home GP, as the world champion. In the final, he won the championship for the third time following 2016 and 2018. In addition, Marquez played a great role that year, winning the 25th Constructors’ title for the fourth consecutive year at the Japanese GP, delighting the Japanese racing fans.
This year has been a tough year for Honda, but it is hoped that the Japanese GP, the first in three years, will take a big step toward a comeback.
Marc Márquez, who returned following seven races in the previous round, the Aragon GP, showed a run that was hard to believe that it was the first real race in three and a half months, including free practice and qualifying. In the race, which got off to a good start, the rear tire slid at the third corner of the opening lap, and the overall leader Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) behind him collided with the slowing Marquez and fell. Marc Márquez, who had a problem with the machine due to the contact, suffered from a problem where the steering wheel was taken to the left side from the 7th turn to the 8th corner, collided with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda IDEMITSU) who was behind the left, and Nakagami fell. In a row of happenings to do. Marquez retired following the first lap and apologized to both riders for contact.
Marquez, who will change his mind and challenge the Japanese GP this tournament, has had many memorable races at Motegi. In 2014, when he was crowned champion, he stood on the podium in 2nd place and won the championship for the second year in a row. With 11 wins out of 15 races this year, Honda won the title for the first time at its home Grand Prix, and it was a tournament filled with joy for fans and officials alike.
In 2016, the Japanese GP was once once more the stage for the title decision, and Marquez won the title for the first time in two years with his fifth win of the season. In 2017, he fought hard once morest Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) who finished 2nd overall in a rainy race and finished 2nd. After that, at the final round in Valencia, he won the title for the second consecutive year and for the fourth time.
In 2018, he entered the Japanese GP as the title champion once once more, and won his 8th win of the season to win his 5th championship for the 3rd year in a row. In 2019, he won his ninth victory at the previous round in Thailand and won his sixth title, and won his 10th victory at the Japan GP to win the Constructors’ title.
This year will be his second race following re-surgery on his right upper arm, which he fractured at the 2020 Spanish GP. .
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda IDEMITSU), who is approaching his home Grand Prix, has announced that he will continue to participate in the next season before the opening of the previous round, the Aragon GP. This tournament will be challenged with the best motivation of the season, but on the opening lap of the previous round Aragon GP, he collided with Marc Márquez and fell, injuring the little finger and ring finger of his right hand. He underwent surgery at a local hospital. Although he is not in perfect condition for this tournament, he is determined to do his best if he receives a medical check on Thursday, the day before the start of the tournament, and is cleared to participate.
Until now, Nakagami won PP in 2017 when he was competing in the Moto2 class at Motegi, and finished 6th in the final. In 2018, which was his first challenge in the MotoGP class, he qualified 12th. He went off the track in the final due to contact during the race, and then fought back to finish in 15th place. In 2019, he injured his right shoulder and finished 13th in qualifying and 16th in the final.
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) finished 15th in the difficult early stages of the previous round, the Aragon GP, when he ran off the track due to confusion on the first lap. It was just a race to score points. He finished 3rd on the podium in the opening round of the season, Qatar GP, but has been struggling ever since. The last few races have not led to results, but he has shown good runs everywhere, and expectations are high for his performance in this tournament.
Espargaro’s record at Motegi is 3rd place in 2009 when he was competing in the 125cc class, 2nd place in 2012 and a win in 2013 when he was in Moto2. In the highest class, 6th place in 2016 is the highest. This year, we will do our best to aim for even more.
Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) has three wins at Motegi so far. He won in Moto3 in 2013 and 2014, and in Moto2 in 2017. This will be the first time for him to run at Tegi in the premier class, but he will do his best to aim for the best this season.
Alex Marquez finished 12th, the highest among Honda riders, in the previous round at the Aragon GP. However, Motegi is his favorite course, so he is looking forward to his first ride.
Due to logistics problems from the previous round, the Aragon GP, Friday’s running was limited to the followingnoon. Normally, Fridays have two free practice sessions of 45 minutes each, but this year there will be only one free practice session on Friday, which will be extended to 75 minutes.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)
“I am very excited to be back in Japan. This is Honda’s home race. It is an interesting circuit and the fans are great. It’s been another very busy two and a half days due to the schedule change, but I’m feeling better following Aragon, hopefully I’ll be able to enjoy the weekend in Japan and recover fully in our way. And I would like to continue working on the development of the machine.”
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team)
“Aragon was tough, but we’re heading home to Honda. We’ll tour the factory and meet the Japanese fans once more, which will be a big encouragement. The atmosphere in Japan is always great. Support us. I will continue to work hard to put on a good show for everyone who will be there.Also, this circuit is special because I won the Moto2 class in 2013. I want to make more good memories this year.”
LCR Honda IDEMITSU
“I had surgery on my right ring finger and little finger on Monday morning because I had a tendon damage in a fall.The surgery was successful but of course I am in pain.I had a medical on Thursday and will be in FP1 on Friday. I hope I’m ready.I’m not feeling well, so I have to figure out my level.I just want to have a good weekend in Motegi with the fans.”
Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol)
“First of all, I have to do better than Aragon. I had a big crash in the warm-up before the race. I still have some pain in my left hand, but I feel a little better. As usual we have to work 100% because the weather forecast is for rain or sunshine.I think it will be an interesting weekend.This time we only have one Friday practice so it will be special. It’s going to be a great weekend. It’s my first time driving a MotoGP machine at Tegi, so I’m feeling a little rookie.I’ve got a pretty good rhythm since the summer break, so I’ll do my best.”
