At Motegi’s Twin Ring circuit, Tatsuki Suzuki of Japan powered his home Grand Prix weekend by securing the first pole position of the Moto3 season and achieving a career best in pole starts. The strong performance elevated the local favorite to the front of the starting grid, a rare birthday milestone for Suzuki as he turned 25, and it set the tone for a highly competitive race ahead. The session’s drama culminated in a close battle for top position, with the field narrowing under changing track conditions as the leaders chased the best possible time. Suzuki edged ahead during the final push, signaling a bold statement to the challengers and the rivals who are chasing the title contender pack. [Source: MotoGP]
With the track still slick from ongoing rain showers, the riders approached the session with a mix of caution and aggression, understanding that any slip could dramatically alter the outcome. Sergio García Dols, riding for GasGas, promptly stamped his presence by setting a fast benchmark early, reflecting his consistent pace and intent to close the gap to the championship leader Izan Guevara. García Dols clocked a time of 2:12.386 in his third run, a strong response that kept him firmly in contention as the session wore on. Nearby, David Muñoz, another Spaniard aboard KTM, faced a hiccup at Turn 3 and hurried to make repairs in hopes of rejoining the action and continuing the fight for a strong result. [Source: MotoGP]
The lead would soon shift again as the local favorite Suzuki turned the tables, posting 2:12.037 during his rapid final laps and moving ahead of García Dols as most riders intensified their late efforts. García Dols, determined to reclaim the top spot, embarked on another run that featured the fastest segment times, finishing with a lap of 2:11.788 and briefly surpassing Suzuki before the Japanese rider responded with a blistering 2:11.246. The pursuit then intensified, but Suzuki could not be matched on that last attempt after a Turn seven crash disrupted the run that would have extended his advantage. [Source: MotoGP]
Across another section of the circuit, Izan Guevara pushed to improve his position from a tentative earlier result. He battled through traffic and even found himself teased by his own teammate, yet the final lap elevated him from a low teens place into a provisional top ten, only to be nudged down slightly by a few riders who posted marginally faster splits. Guevara ultimately found himself slotted into a third row on the grid, with Riccardo Rossi and Marine Pioneer joining him on the front line, while Tatsuki Suzuki and Scott Ogden lead the initial Potions of the lineup. Ayumu Sasaki and Dennis Foggia stood among the second row, with further riders such as Jaume Masiá and Carlos Tatay also in the mix as the field lines up. [Source: MotoGP]
The grid order reflects a tapestry of talent across the field, with multiple teams represented across Honda, KTM, and CFMoto machinery. Rossi, a prominent Honda rider, joins the front group, followed by Pioneer, and a steady lineup of other competitors who are all intent on grabbing a strong early-season result. The sequence of lap times and strategic choices during the final minutes underscored the competitiveness of Moto3 at Motegi, where every corner and straightaway could be decisive in shaping the race outcome. The session closed with the top contenders setting the pace and signaling a tense, unpredictable race ahead for a crowd ready to witness a dramatic battle on home soil. [Source: MotoGP]