Moto 2 & Moto 3: Japan

Yours truly watched both the Moto 2 and Moto 3 races from Twin Ring Motegi in Japan.  But, here are the abbreviated highlights of each of those races.

In Moto 2, surprisingly, it was Switzerland's Thomas Luthi taking the win and he was followed on the podium by Maverick Vinales and Tito Rabat.  Johann Zarco and Mika Kallio completed the top five, while the top ten was rounded out by Julian Simon, Franco Morbidelli, Hafizh Syahrin, Ricard Cardus, and Xavier Simeon.

30 bikes finished the race.  Riccardo Russo did not even complete a lap and was caboose on the field, while other retirements from the race included Axel Pons, Anthony West, Mattia Pasini, Sandro Cortese and Sam Lowes.

#12 Tom Luthi     CHE.     Suter Linden

In the Moto 3 race at Motegi, it was Marc Marquez's younger brother, Alex taking the victory in the race over Efren Vazquez and Brad Binder.  John McPhee, Jack Miller (bound for MotoGP next year), Danny Kent, Romano Fenati, Enea Bastianinni, Niccolo Antonelli, and Alex Rins, round out the top ten finishers in Moto 3.  Check MotoGP.com for all the results.  24 motorcycles finished in Moto 3.  But, there were even more that were unclassified, or didn't finish lap one.

Unclassified finishers:

Miguel Oliveira
Juanfran Guevara
Jakub Kornfeil
Jorge Navarro
Alexis Masbou

Not finished 1st lap

Niklas Ajo
Andrea Migno
Hikari Okubo
Scott Deroue
Sena Yamada

Even some Japanese wildcards had bad luck.  34 bikes started the race with ten, non-finishers.

#12 Alex Marquez     ESP.    Honda Cervera

The MotoGP championship may be done and dusted in favor of Marc Marquez.  But, in Moto 2 and Moto 3, it is still all to play for with just three races remaining.  The next event is in Australia, at the Philip Island circuit, located in Victoria, Australia, this weekend.