Pedro Acosta started the Saturday session at Motegi strongly as the KTM rider topped the timesheets in the final Japanese MotoGP practice.
Acosta took advantage of a strange session, which saw a number of crashes and a mixed order as he finished fastest by 0.125s.
It was a difficult start to the day for VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio, who crashed in the opening minutes of the session to limit his running before qualifying.
Marc Marquez also tucked the front of his Ducati after setting the fastest time inside the first 10 minutes, with the bike getting beached in the gravel at Turn 5.
The difficulties Marquez faced allowed Acosta to capitalise, as the KTM rider ended the session as the fastest rider with a 1:44.108.
Home hero Ai Ogura delighted the fans ahead of qualifying in second place, while Marquez completed practice inside the top three.
Francesco Bagnaia continued his momentum as he took fourth, with Franco Morbidelli completing the top five.
Luca Marini maintained his strong performance for Honda in sixth ahead of Marco Bezzecchi in seventh.
Honda wildcard Takaaki Nakagami was eighth at the chequered flag, while Fabio Quartararo was the best Yamaha in ninth.
Alex Marquez rounded out the top 10, edging out the second factory Honda of Joan Mir in 11th.
Brad Binder ended the final practice in 12th, leading Jack Miller in 13th and rookie Fermin Aldeguer in 14th.
Reigning World Champion Jorge Martin set his best time for 15th ahead of former team-mate Johann Zarco in 16th.
Raul Fernandez was 17th as the session drew to a close, while Enea Bastianini narrowly clinched 18th over Pramac’s Miguel Oliveira.
Maverick Vinales was the last rider within a second of Acosta’s best lap time in 20th ahead of Alex Rins in 21st.
Di Giannantonio settled for 22nd at the flag after his crash, while Somkiat Chantra completed the standings in 23rd.
AloJapan.com