Jorge Martin will start the Motegi MotoGP Sprint from pole position, with Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta completing the front row. The Aprilia rider recovered from being eighth-fastest on Friday to claim the top spot, setting a new lap record as the Japanese circuit began racing on new asphalt.

The front row matches the order seen at the Red Bull Ring, with Acosta representing KTM in third. Ducati have won the last seven races at Motegi, while Aprilia are still waiting for their first podium at the circuit. Marco Bezzecchi, fastest in final practice, heads row two ahead of Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.

The starting order

Enea Bastianini, Raul Fernandez and Diogo Moreira occupy row three, with Moreira the highest-placed Honda rider in ninth. Johann Zarco, Ai Ogura and Fabio Quartararo follow in row four; Quartararo starts 12th as Yamaha’s leading rider. Francesco Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli and Somkiat Chantra make up row five.

Chantra, Joan Mir’s replacement, starts 15th in his first MotoGP race weekend of the year, ahead of Luca Marini. Brad Binder and Fermin Aldeguer fill row six. Maverick Viñales will launch his MotoGP return from 19th, ahead of Jack Miller and Alex Rins, while Toprak Razgatlioglu occupies the final grid place.

Takaaki Nakagami will not race after suffering a broken collarbone on Friday morning. The Motegi Sprint is scheduled for 12 laps and is due to start at 3pm local time. No penalties had been applied at the time of the update.