{
  "id": 11550165,
  "title": "Alex Marquez clocks record lap at MotoGP Japan practice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/alex-marquez-clocks-record-lap-at-motogp-japan-practice",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T22:58:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/motor-sports/2026/10/1546514/alex-marquez-clocks-record-lap-motogp-japan-practice"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Spain's Alex Marquez shattered the lap record during a MotoGP practice session at the Motegi circuit in Japan. His impressive lap time of 1 minute 42.81 seconds was followed closely by second-place finisher Pedro Acosta. Marquez praised his performance, stating, \"Everything was coming in a natural way.\"\n\nBrother and reigning world champion Marc Marquez, riding for Ducati, secured the third-fastest time in practice. The Marquez brothers are closing in on season leader Jorge Martin, who currently holds a 12-point lead with only seven rounds remaining in the season.\n\nLocal favorite Ai Ogura of Aprilia-Trackhouse struggled throughout the practice session. His bike produced excessive white smoke and oil, prompting a red flag and a temporary suspension of the session. Japanese wild card Takaaki Nakagami on Honda also had to withdraw from the remainder of the weekend after crashing during the morning free practice and fracturing his collarbone.",
  "summary": "MOTEGI: Spain’s Alex Marquez set a new lap record at the Japan MotoGP Friday in a practice session dominated by the Ducati-Gresini rider.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}