Ducati Unbeaten in Japan Post-Pandemic as Aprilia Still Chases First Motegi Podium

The MotoGP paddock heads to the Motegi circuit in Japan this weekend for Round 16 of the 2026 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.

The Japanese Grand Prix kicks off the traditional autumn flyaway tour across Asia and Australia, which could prove decisive in the title fight. Jorge Martin currently leads the overall standings by 12 points over Marc Marquez, with Marco Bezzecchi sitting third, 42 points adrift.

On paper, the advantage should be on Marquez's side in Japan, as Ducati has triumphed in MotoGP's last four visits to the Land of the Rising Sun. Jack Miller took victory with the factory team in 2022, before Martin triumphed in the wet on the satellite Pramac machine a year later. Francesco Bagnaia claimed victory in the last two editions of the Japanese Grand Prix, with his Motegi triumph last year standing as his most recent MotoGP win.

Meanwhile, the Japanese circuit has been far from kind to Aprilia, with the Noale-based manufacturer still searching for its first podium at the venue. The best result for an Aprilia rider at Motegi remains Bezzecchi's fourth-place finish a year ago.

Given these track records, it is easy to assume Ducati will hold the upper hand over Aprilia this weekend. However, what happened at the Red Bull Ring just over a week ago cannot be overlooked, where Aprilia displayed stronger pace on a track layout remarkably similar to Motegi. In Austria, however, both Aprilia and Ducati were upstaged by KTM's Pedro Acosta, who secured his maiden MotoGP victory and will undoubtedly be inspired to chase back-to-back wins at the Japanese Grand Prix.