Brad Binder Leads MotoGP Practice at Motegi

Brad Binder of KTM topped the practice sessions for the Japanese MotoGP at Motegi, clocking a fastest lap of 1:43.436, narrowly edging out Marc Marquez by 0.033 seconds. Championship leader Jorge Martin finished third, while defending champion Francesco Bagnaia came in seventh. Binder expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting a shift in strategy that involved sticking to familiar settings rather than making drastic changes. KTM showed strong potential this weekend, particularly in the context of the track's layout favoring their braking and engine capabilities. Enea Bastianini crashed but managed to secure the fifth-fastest time, while rookie Pedro Acosta impressed by finishing fourth. The competitive atmosphere suggests that Ducati may face a credible challenge from KTM this race weekend.