Bocchi the Biker's Life 気まぐれバイク旅 
The MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix kicks off with free practice sessions on Friday. During these sessions, riders check the track conditions and make adjustments to their machines. Fans can witness them racing at near-race speeds, often leading to exciting battles on the track.
Highlights of MotoGP Friday Free Practice
- Relatively Uncrowded: Compared to Saturday and Sunday, the atmosphere is much less crowded, allowing for a stress-free viewing experience.
- Affordable Tickets: Prices for Friday tickets are significantly lower than those for the main event.
- Free Viewing Areas: Many times, you can watch from free seating areas, providing flexibility in your viewing location.
Affordable Viewing with Moto GP Japanese GP Friday Tickets
Tickets for Friday’s free practice are very affordable compared to weekend race tickets. For the 2024 Japanese GP, Friday tickets cost around 2,000 yen, while tickets for the main race exceed 10,000 yen, making it a great option for those on a budget.
| Adults (24 and over) | U23 (High school to 23 years old)） | Junior High | Elementary (3 years old to 12 years old) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Ticket ※3-Day Pass | 11,500yen 3-Day Park-Pass | 8,000yen | 1,900yen | 900yen | |
| Ticket at the door ※Valid only for the day | Friday, October 4 | 2,000yen | 2,000yen | 1,900yen | 900yen |
| Saturday, October 5 Qualifying/Sprint Race | 5,200yen | 3,700yen | 1,900yen | 900yen | |
| Sunday, October 6 Main Race | 15,400yen 1-Day Park-Pass | 10,800yen | 1,900yen | 900yen | |
Smooth Entry and Viewing Experience
With less congestion on Fridays, parking and shuttle bus wait times are shorter, ensuring a smooth entry into the circuit. Additionally, designated seating areas are often opened as free seating, making it easier to secure your preferred spot.
Even during free practice, riders push their bikes to the limit. The breathtaking speed through technical corners and full-throttle runs on the straights make for a thrilling experience. You can truly savor the excitement of MotoGP, even on a Friday!
Arriving at the Circuit: First, Buy Your Day Ticket
Upon arriving at Mobility Resort Motegi, the first step is to purchase your parking ticket. There are North and South Gates at Mobility Resort Motegi. If you plan to visit the Honda Collection Hall as well, it’s best to enter through the South Gate.
The parking fee for motorcycles on Friday was 1,100 yen.
After parking, purchase your day ticket at the circuit entrance. Note that purchasing tickets online can be quite cumbersome, requiring membership registration and credit card payments, so it’s advisable to buy them in advance.
The Appeal of Watching MotoGP on Friday
here are many appealing aspects to watching MotoGP on a Friday. It’s not just a regular free practice session—riders must set important lap times for the following day’s qualifying, which creates an intense atmosphere. Friday features Free Practice 1 (FP1) and Practice (PR), and the lap times in PR determine qualification for the qualifying sessions. As a result, riders push themselves to the limit, delivering performance akin to race day, giving fans the chance to witness serious riding up close.
The Excitement of Time Attacks
Especially during PR, riders aiming for a spot in the top 10 to secure direct entry into Qualifying 2 (Q2) engage in even more intense time attacks in the final minutes. This leads to thrilling moments, even on Friday. Additionally, since the starting grid positions determined by qualifying directly affect both the sprint race and the main race, the performances from Friday play a significant role in shaping the outcome of the weekend’s races.
Witness the Pinnacle of Motorcycle Racing: MotoGP
As you explore the circuit, you’ll find various MotoGP booths showcasing the latest bike models and merchandise. Be sure to stop by the Excite Zone to check out displays from manufacturers like Yamaha, Honda, and Ducati. Seeing the new models up close is exhilarating, so don’t forget to snap some photos!
Once the sound of MotoGP engines fills the air, you know it’s time to get into full race-watching mode. The roar of the bikes is ear-piercingly thrilling, and this is what makes MotoGP so special.
At the Honda booth, they displayed the championship-winning bike from the Suzuka 8 Hours. Thanks to the smaller crowds on Friday, I was able to take my time and enjoy a close look at it.
The tire shavings are impressive! I’d love to show them to the amateur racers across the country! (laughs)
Freedom of Viewing Areas Unique to Friday Free Practice
On Friday, in addition to the free viewing areas, you have access to V seats (including fan seats), A seats, G seats, Z seats, and V corner seats (VC-1, VC-2).
In the morning session, the downhill straight is still relatively empty, so you can choose your preferred seat easily.
Normally, you’d get a front-row view of the GP machines at the 90° corner. You can clearly see the rear dynamics of each machine as they accelerate, making for a unique and engaging viewing experience. Each class—Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP—has free practice sessions in both the morning and afternoon, so switching locations between sessions is highly recommended.
Combine MotoGP Viewing with a Visit to the Honda Collection Hall!
The Honda Collection Hall is a museum showcasing Honda’s legendary vehicles and historical racing machines. It features a wealth of exhibits showcasing Honda’s engineering prowess and innovation across two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles. Among the displays are rare race machines that have competed worldwide, including MotoGP bikes and F1 cars.
It’s a dream come true to see GP machines up close!
If you have extra time, make sure to visit the Honda Collection Hall in addition to watching the races.
Conclusion: The Appeal of Watching Friday Free Practice at the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix
Enjoying the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix with a Friday ticket is a fantastic way to experience an exciting day while keeping costs down. You get to enjoy the adrenaline of the practice sessions up close while avoiding the weekend crowds—an incredible advantage. For MotoGP fans, Friday free practice is an excellent choice that offers great value. Be sure to try this approach at the next Japanese GP!
Until the next race, see you then!
Ride on!
