Overview
- Marc Márquez ended prequalifying 11th after two crashes, missing direct Q2 for the first time this season and saying he felt tired following his title win.
- Francesco Bagnaia was 17th on Friday despite his Motegi turnaround built on a 2024-spec fork with reduced travel, a 2024 swingarm and an oversuspension resonator.
- Marco Bezzecchi led with a 1:29.240 ahead of Fermín Aldeguer and Pedro Acosta to secure Q2, with Alex Márquez 10th.
- Honda showed clear gains with Luca Marini fourth and Joan Mir sixth, while Yamaha advanced Fabio Quartararo, Álex Rins and Miguel Oliveira straight to Q2.
- Both factory Ducatis must fight through Q1 alongside Franco Morbidelli, Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio, as rider-market chatter persists with Alberto Puig not ruling out a future Márquez–Honda reunion and reports indicating Ducati wants to retain both riders.