MotoGP: Miller's victory in Japan, Quartararo's good operation overall despite an eighth place

In Japan, Fabio Quartararo finished far from victory but emerged victorious from the fight of the contenders for the general classification.

Eighth in a Grand Prix brilliantly won by Jack Miller (KTM), the Frenchman (Yamaha) slightly filled his mattress in advance at the top of the championship.

His place as leader was threatened but the eight points earned this weekend allow him to extend his lead to 18 units, ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), who crashed during the last lap of the race.

THE FALL of Francesco Bagnaia 😱#JapaneseGP ▶: https://t.co/Q9uXtTYtRy pic.twitter.com/zQAjC3DvQw

— CANAL+ MotoGP™ (@CanalplusMotoGP) September 25, 2022

Spaniard Aleix Espargero, third overall, and now 25 points behind the reigning world champion, experienced a technical problem on his Aprilia and had to resolve from the pit lane.

Ninth on the starting grid, Quartararo (23) therefore consolidates his position four races from the end of the championship.

Starting second but author of a failed start, Johann Zarco fell to eleventh place for his 100th race in MotoGP.

Up front, Miller won ahead of his future South African team-mate Brad Binder.

The Spaniard Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac) completes the podium while Marc Marquez, the six-time world champion, failed at the foot of the box.

The Honda driver, who returned to competition last weekend after a three-month absence due to an operation on his right arm (the fourth in two years), signed his first pole since Saturday on the sodden Motegi circuit. 2019.