Rossi berada di urutan tercepat kedua, disusul Andrea Iannone (Suzuki Ecstar).
Para pebalap akan bersaing pada sesi kualifikasi untuk memperebutkan posisi start terbaik, siang nanti mulai pukul 14.10 waktu setempat atau 12.10 WIB.
Sebelumnya, mereka akan menjalani sesi latihan bebas keempat pada pukul 13.30 waktu setempat (11.30 WIB).
Berikut hasil sesi latihan bebas ketiga GP Jepang
1. ^1 Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 55.254s [Lap 16/18] 298km/h (Max)
2. ^10 Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 1m 55.283s +0.029s [19/19] 295km/h
3. ^4 Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 55.499s +0.245s [16/17] 298km/h
4. = Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP17) 1m 55.558s +0.304s [15/19] 295km/h
5. ˅2 Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 55.655s +0.401s [12/12] 298km/h
6. ^4 Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 56.139s +0.885s [16/18] 299km/h
7. ^11 Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 1m 56.218s +0.964s [15/18] 299km/h
8. ˅3 Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 56.257s +1.003s [17/17] 298km/h
9. ˅1 Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 56.267s +1.013s [19/19] 289km/h
10. ^9 Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 56.281s +1.027s [15/16] 293km/h
11. ˅5 Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac (GP17) 1m 56.329s +1.075s [17/18] 299km/h
12. ˅1 Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 1m 56.354s +1.100s [13/14] 297km/h
13. ˅12 Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP17) 1m 56.383s +1.129s [9/17] 297km/h
14. ^2 Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar (GP16) 1m 56.498s +1.244s [16/16] 295km/h
15. ˅6 Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 56.787s +1.533s [8/16] 291km/h
16. ^1 Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 1m 56.840s +1.586s [15/17] 291km/h
17. ^5 Hiroshi Aoyama JPN EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 57.218s +1.964s [19/19] 297km/h
18. ^2 Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia (GP15) 1m 57.237s +1.983s [13/15] 292km/h
19. ^4 Tito Rabat ESP EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 57.247s +1.993s [14/20] 292km/h
20. ˅5 Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar (GP15) 1m 57.405s +2.151s [16/16] 294km/h
21. = Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia (GP16) 1m 57.463s +2.209s [18/18] 295km/h
22. ˅9 Kohta Nozane JPN Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 57.497s +2.243s [10/15] 296km/h
23. ^1 Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1) 1m 58.528s +3.274s [17/17] 294km/h
24. ˅10 Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac (GP16) 1m 58.730s +3.476s [14/14] 294km/h
Berikut daftar 10 pebalap yang langsung turun pada kualifikasi kedua (Q2)
1. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP17)
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V)
3. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP17)
5. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1)
6. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)*
7. Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
8. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac (GP17)
9. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V)
10. Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
Fastest Friday time:
Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati 1m 54.877s (wet)
Official Motegi MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha 1m 43.790s (2015)
Fastest race lap:
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha 1m 45.350s (2015)