Jack Miller (Ducati) has given a driving masterclass at the Japanese MotoGP 2022 today at Motegi Circuit. From a seventh starting position, the Australian rider dominated the race with ease to finally beat Brad Binder (KTM) by 3.4 seconds, claiming his first victory since France 2021. Jorge Martin (Pramac), for his part, finished third after being passed by the South African rider on the last lap. 

As for the title fight, current leader Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) has been the pilot to take the greatest returns this Sunday… albeit not by his own merits. Following a tepid performance, the head of the standings could only manage eighth place. The debacle of his title challengers, however, has turned that mediocre result into a victory. 

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Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati), winner in a row in Holland, Great Britain, Austria & San Marino, crashed out on the final lap when he attempted to overtake his French rival. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), or his part, finished in sixteenth place. Previously, some mechanical issues on the warm-up lap had forced him to change to his second machine and, as a result, he had to start from the pit lane rather than his qualifying sixth place. 

His title bid has suffered a blow after this weekend, same as that of the Turinese pilot. The crown defender now commands the table with 219 points, 18 more than Bagnaia and 25 more than Aleix, third. 

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Binder takes the lead at the start ahead of Miller   

Marquez lost his first starting place to a sensational Binder at the start at theJapanese MotoGP 2022. Copying the South African pilot, who had leapfrogged from third place, Martin performed his own sensational jump from fifth to third. 

The unstoppable Spaniard, however, would pass Binder shortly after to command the test. A few meters behind, Marc lost steam and was overtaken by an outstanding Miller, who had gone from second to seventh place in the blink of an eye.

The flaming Aussie then took the lead of the Japanese MotoGP 2022 after passing Martin on the third lap. From that moment on, he set up an impossible pace for his rivals to follow. So much so that he broke Jorge Lorenzo’s fastest lap record in Motegi. 

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At that speed, he soon was 0.3s ahead of Martin, second, and 0.4 before Binder, third. Meanwhile, after being crushed by the South African, Marc was running fifth and trying to catch Miguel Oliveira (KTM) up, fourth.  At the lead things remained unchanged.

Gradually, Miller was upping his ante and, with fifteen laps to go, he had increased his advantage to 1.7 seconds over Martin, who was 3s ahead of Binder.  Five laps later, an exceptional Aussie had escaped with 4.5 seconds.  

Behind, Martín lowered his pace allowing Binder to come 1.8 seconds behind, and to just a few tenths of a second moments later. Marc who was visibly dissatisfied with his fifth place passed Miguel Oliveira (KTM) for fourth in a very precise manoeuvre. The Spaniard was less than four seconds away from the podium. 

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Bagnaia crashes out on last lap  

The final lap arrived with Miller comfortably leading the Japan MotoGP 2022. Then, the championship suffered another blow when Bagnaia, and part of his title hopes, crashed out on the Motegi asphalt when the Turinese rider attempt to overtake Quartararo. Ahead, the Australian claimed his unexpected victory ahead of Binder, who had passed Martin in the final meters to steal second place. 

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Images of Japanese MotoGP 2022: Michelin.