Watch MotoGP rider’s bike catch fire MID-RACE as home favourite Takuya Tsuda has lucky escape in Japanese GP

MOTOGP star Takuyu Tsuda miraculously escaped unhurt after his bike caught fire at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The local favourite, 38, was mid-race when the calamity unfolded.

As the replacement for Joan Mir came through Lap 12 – the sparks broke out within his Team Suzuki Ecstar entry.

Tsuda quickly pulled off the race track at Turn 5 as the flames grew dangerously near the fuel tank.

The race marshals were quick on the scene with a fire extinguisher to stop a potential fireball breaking out.

Luckily, there was no need for a red flag and the race continued.

Tsuda only recently returned to MotoGP in September on a wildcard with Team Suzuki Ecstar.

Jack Miller of Ducati dominated the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix, after team mate Francesco Bagnaia crashed on the last lap.

It was Miller’s first win since last year’s French Grand Prix.

And once he grabbed a lead on Lap 3, he always seemingly appeared in control.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

However, the race was a disaster for the three championship challengers – Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro.

Frenchman Quartararo finished all the way down in eighth, while Espargaro recorded a 16th placed finish after he was forced to swap to another Aprilia on the warm-up lap because of a mechanical problem.

It means Quartararo now has an 18-point lead going into next week’s Thailand GP.

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk