What went on in Motegi...

[Japan in photo's]

With all MotoGP riders and the majority of the crew, Japan weekend went ahead. They done a brilliant job fixing up the track in time after the devastating Earthquake and Tsunami that hit earlier in the year, despite the country still recovering the Japanese were all smiles for the Grand Prix and they were in for a treat.

In 125's, after almost clenching his first win at Misano but missing out to Nicolas Terol, Johann Zarco won his first Grand Prix! Congratulations Johann!!

Moto2 kicked up another exciting race, Stefan Bradl had a disappointing qualifying, unable to turn it around in the race  for a podium, Marc Marquez took full advantage and is now 1 point ahead of Bradl in the Championship hunt, with a few more races to go this may go down to the wire, each deserving but there can only be one champ!

MotoGP saw Valentino Rossi out on the first lap, in a Yamaha sandwich he collided with Ben Spies (a racing incident) and although Rossi had to reitre with [at the time] no suspected injuries the Texan Terror Ben Spies was able to rejoin, after a rocky weekend suffering with severe food poisoning Spies finished the race in 6th.

[Valentino Rossi going down - he has a fractured little finger but should be fit for Australia]

Casey Stoner fell back on Lap 5 after being late on the brakes and taking an excursion through the gravel trap but later made his way up to 3rd - he was unable to catch Jorge Lorenzo for 2nd.

THREE riders got penalised for jump starts, Andrea Dovizioso, Marco Simoncelli and Cal Crutchlow were all given drive through's.

Alvaro Bautista had a cracking start to the race, climbing to third before Stoner over took however Bautista later lost control after the tunnel and crashed the Suzuki.

[Proberly thinking "What happened there?"]

Other retirements from the race were Hector Barbera (who's suffered a broken collarbone and  has had an operation in Barcelona), Toni Elias, Damian Cudlin- who was a replacement for Loris Capirossi who has a broken collarbone. Along with Rossi and Bautista.

With Stoner able to take the title at his home race in a weeks time, he has to win the race, he needs to claim 10 more points than Lorenzo to become a double world Champion after winning his first in 2007.

[Dani Pedrosa after crossing the line] 

[Podium: Jorge Lorenzo (2nd) Dani Pedrosa (1st) and Casey Stoner (3rd)]

Next up Philip Island, Australia!