Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Japan aiming to bounce back and continue the development
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP arrives at Yamaha’s home Grand Prix determined to put the difficult Austrian weekend behind it, continue the development of the YZR-M1 and return to the fight for the Top 10 at the Twin Ring Motegi.
Motegi (Japan), 30th September 2026
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Japan for an important round of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, with the Twin Ring Motegi hosting Yamaha’s home Grand Prix. The team arrives determined to put the difficulties of the Austrian Grand Prix behind it and resume the development path of the YZR-M1, with the objective of returning to the Top 10 and continuing to make progress with the new project.
The Japanese circuit has been part of the MotoGP World Championship calendar since 1999 and is characterised by its stop-and-go layout, with 14 corners, eight right-handers and six left-handers, as well as a series of heavy braking zones followed by strong acceleration. These characteristics could offer the YZR-M1 a different challenge compared with the faster and more flowing circuits where the team has found it more difficult to express its full potential. The weekend will also be an important opportunity to collect further data and understand the behaviour of the bike on a different type of track.
For Jack Miller, Japan represents an opportunity to get back to the positive trajectory he had been following before the difficult Austrian Grand Prix. The Australian knows the circuit well and has an especially strong record at Motegi, having dominated and won the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix. Pramac Racing also has positive recent memories of the circuit, with Jorge Martín finishing on the podium in 2022 before taking victory there in 2023.
For Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, meanwhile, Motegi represents another completely new challenge in his rookie MotoGP season. The Turkish rider will experience the Twin Ring Motegi for the first time on a MotoGP bike and is looking forward to learning the characteristics of the circuit and continuing his adaptation to the YZR-M1. With Yamaha’s technical staff and the wider Japanese workforce at the centre of the home Grand Prix, the whole team will be focused on making the most of the weekend and continuing the development work on the project.
The Japanese Grand Prix will also bring a significant change to the usual European television schedule. Japan is eight hours ahead of CET, as a result, all sessions and the race will be broadcast in Europe at earlier times than during the European rounds.
GINO BORSOI Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP
Japan is Yamaha’s home Grand Prix, so obviously the expectations are quite high and we are all very focused on continuing to improve the package with the latest evolutions we have been working on. It should be an interesting weekend, especially because it will give us another opportunity to understand whether the direction we have taken is the right one.
For Toprak, it will not be an easy weekend because he has never raced at Motegi, so once again he will have to learn a new circuit from scratch. Hopefully the weather will allow us to spend as much time as possible on track, which will be particularly important for him.
For Jack, on the other hand, it is a circuit where he has had good results in the past, including a victory, so he has a good feeling with Motegi. It will be interesting to compare what we see now with our previous experience there, but most importantly to understand whether the latest developments are taking us in the right direction.
It is also a back-to-back weekend, so we need to manage it well and, above all, avoid any crashes that could compromise the following race. It is important to stay focused, stay consistent and come through the weekend in the best possible condition.
JACK MILLER Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider
I’m really looking forward to the overseas rounds, starting with Japan. Motegi is probably one of my top three favourite tracks on the calendar, and I always love racing in front of the Japanese fans.
It’s also Yamaha’s home round, so we’ll try to put on a good show for everyone there. After a difficult weekend in Austria, I’m looking forward to bouncing back, getting back to work and hopefully having a strong weekend.
TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider
I have watched the MotoGP race in Motegi for many years, but I have never raced there before, so I’m really excited about this weekend. It will be the first time in my life that I race at Motegi with a MotoGP bike, so it will be a completely new experience for me.
It’s another new track to learn, and I will try to adapt as quickly as possible and understand the circuit with the MotoGP bike. As always, I will give my best and try to enjoy the experience. I’m really excited to race at Motegi.
Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP
For Toprak, it will not be an easy weekend because he has never raced at Motegi, so once again he will have to learn a new circuit from scratch. Hopefully the weather will allow us to spend as much time as possible on track, which will be particularly important for him.
For Jack, on the other hand, it is a circuit where he has had good results in the past, including a victory, so he has a good feeling with Motegi. It will be interesting to compare what we see now with our previous experience there, but most importantly to understand whether the latest developments are taking us in the right direction.
It is also a back-to-back weekend, so we need to manage it well and, above all, avoid any crashes that could compromise the following race. It is important to stay focused, stay consistent and come through the weekend in the best possible condition.