- Israel to mark October 7 attack as Gaza war spreads
- Gauff fights back to reach China Open final
- Recovering Stokes ruled out of first Pakistan Test
- Hezbollah battles troops on border as Israel pounds Lebanon
- Alcaraz, Sinner breeze into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Bagnaia wins Japan MotoGP sprint to cut Martin's lead
- Alcaraz breezes into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Gaza cultural heritage brought to light in Geneva
- 'Bullet for democracy': Trump returns to site of rally shooting
- Italy targets climate activists in 'anti-Gandhi' demo clampdown
- South Korean cult-horror series 'Hellbound' returns at BIFF
- Nepalis fear more floods as climate change melts glaciers
- Honduras arrests environmentalist's alleged murderer
- Pogba says 'nightmare is over' after drug ban cut to 18 months
- Padres pitcher Musgrove needs elbow surgery
- Supreme Court lets stand rules to curb mercury, methane emissions
- Boston beat Denver in NBA exhibition season opener, but Jokic says omens are good
- Chagos diaspora angry at lack of input on islands' fate
- Biden says 'not confident' of peaceful US election
- US trade chief defends tariff hikes when paired with investment
- Lukaku stars as Napoli beat Como to hold Serie A top spot
- Public shown video evidence in France mass rape trial
- Ohtani set for MLB playoff debut as Dodgers face Padres
- Pogba's drug ban cut to 18 months from four years
- Stubbs hits maiden ODI century as South Africa crush Ireland
- South Africa, New Zealand win big in Women's T20 World Cup
- Devine leads New Zealand to victory over India in Women's T20 World Cup
- Devine leads New Zealand to big win over India in Women's T20 World Cup
- Bosnia floods kill 16 people
- EU court blocks French ban on vegetable 'steak' labelling
- Prosecutors seek dismissal of rape charges against French rugby players
- Meta AI turns pictures into videos with sound
- Bolivia's Morales says claims he raped a minor are a 'lie'
- MLB Reds hire two-time champion Francona as manager
- Daniel Maldini receives first Italy call-up for Nations League
- US dockworkers return to ports after three-day strike
- Ancelotti points finger at Madrid's 'lack of intensity'
- Haiti reeling after 70 killed in gang attack
- Five Czech kids in hospital over TikTok 'piercing challenge'
- What happens next in Iran-Israel conflict?
- Country star Garth Brooks denies rape accusations
- Stubbs hits maiden century as South Africa make 343-4 against Ireland
- DR Congo to begin mpox vaccination campaign Saturday in east
- Odegaard injury has forced Arsenal to be 'different', says Arteta
- Ratcliffe refuses to guarantee Ten Hag's Man Utd future
- Meta must limit data use for targeted ads: EU court
- Mauritius to hold legislative election on November 10
- Britain qualify for America's Cup final after 60-year wait
- Muchova stuns Sabalenka to set up Beijing semi with home hero Zheng
- Iran says its allies 'will not back down' in war with Israel
Bagnaia wins Japan MotoGP sprint to cut Martin's lead
Francesco Bagnaia profited from a mistake by rookie Pedro Acosta to win the Japan MotoGP sprint on Saturday and close the gap on overall championship leader Jorge Martin.
Spaniard Acosta crashed with four laps to go while leading the field at Motegi, allowing defending world champion Bagnaia to take first ahead of Enea Bastianini and Marc Marquez.
Spain's Martin finished fourth and saw his overall lead over Italian Bagnaia in the championship standings cut to 15 points.
"I am very happy because with these conditions, it's not very easy to win and gain points," Bagnaia said after a sprint race that took place under heavy clouds with intermittent spots of rain.
"It's the maximum so thanks to my team again and let's keep working like this."
Four race weekends remain after Sunday's Grand Prix in Japan.
Pramac rider Martin is looking to win his first MotoGP championship after finishing second behind Ducati's Bagnaia last year.
Acosta was looking for his maiden sprint win after taking pole for the first time in the morning qualifying.
The 20-year-old lost the lead to Bagnaia at the first corner but regained it soon after and was pushing hard for the victory.
Instead, he slipped off his bike and let Bagnaia through, although the Italian still had to fight hard to hold off Bastianini and Marquez in a frantic finish.
Bagnaia finished just 0.181sec ahead of Ducati team-mate Bastianini and 0.349 in front of Marquez.
"The pace was very good for the sprint race," said Bastianini, who is third in the overall championship standings and shaved Martin's lead over him to 72 points.
"At the end, I was really close to Pecco (Bagnaia) but I lost time in the last two or three laps."
Martin started from 11th place on the grid but a tremendous start saw him move up to fifth on the first lap.
Marquez finished third after suffering a disappointment in qualifying when he set a new course record, only to see it wiped off for exceeding track limits.
Six-time world champion Marquez said he was able to put it behind him and "focus on the sprint race".
"I knew that I had the pace," said Marquez.
"In the last lap, I was pushing and catching them. It was a good fight with Enea."
Spain's Maverick Vinales, who started third on the grid, finished ninth after a disastrous first lap.
South Africa's Brad Binder, who went fastest in Friday's practice, did not finish.
D.Schneider--BTB