Bezzecchi tops Motegi practice as Martin fractures collarbone Sprint

Marco Bezzecchi topped Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix at Twin Ring Motegi but the weekend took a dramatic turn in the Sprint race when teammate Jorge Martin crashed at the first corner, suffering a displaced fracture to his right collarbone that required surgery and ruled him out of the rest of the weekend. Bezzecchi had earlier shown strong pace despite two early tumbles in the morning practice sessions and went fastest in the afternoon with a 1m43.193s lap, while Martin’s crash in the Sprint prompted immediate medical attention and a subsequent operation in Barcelona.

Bezzecchi’s fastest time came after a chaotic practice in which the lead changed several times. Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez were among the other front-runners, with Acosta posting quick laps before a late crash at Turn 1. Alex Marquez, who had been consistently reaching Q2 all season, made an uncharacteristic mistake and finished 15th in Practice, sending him into Q1. Several riders, including Jorge Martin, Franco Morbidelli, Jack Miller and Somkiat Chantra, recorded falls that limited their running.

Bezzecchi said he had felt confident from his first lap at Motegi and acknowledged that early...