The Weather and Schedule for MotoGP in Japan: Watch Out for Those Early Morning Alarms!

The MotoGP Asian tour continues: after Indonesia, the action moves straight to Motegi! Here’s the weather and schedule for MotoGP in Japan

MotoGP is racing for the third week in a row, and this time we’re in Japan at the Mobility Resort Motegi. It’s a home race for Honda bikes on a track owned by the team itself, built in 1997 as a test lab for new models by the manufacturer. Honda has been struggling recently, but could this weekend be the first glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel?

Pecco vs. Jorge: A Two-Rider Showdown

With Marc Marquez’s forced retirement (due to engine failure) and Enea Bastianini’s crash in Indonesia, this year’s MotoGP title race will once again be between Martin and Bagnaia. The Spanish rider currently holds a 21-point lead over Pecco, but nothing is set in stone: there are 12 points up for grabs in each Sprint Race and 25 in every main race left this season. The winner will be the one who finds the best bike setup—and most importantly, the one who makes the fewest mistakes.

The last winner of the Japanese GP was Jorge Martin, during a weekend where the Spaniard also broke the track record with a 1:43.128 lap. His goal will be to repeat the success he had in Mandalika, although the track’s characteristics might favor Pecco.

UK Times for the Japan GP

Friday, October 4th
• 2:45 AM – FP1
• 7:00 AM – PR

Saturday, October 5th
• 2:10 AM – FP2
• 2:50 AM – Qualifying
• 7:00 AM – Sprint Race

Sunday, October 6th
• 6:00 AM – Race

As for the weather, Japan is currently in the middle of typhoon season. While temperatures are expected to be mild with cloudy skies, it’s worth keeping an eye on the forecast and hoping for better luck than last year, when rain cut the race short.

Photo: MotoGP, Honda