2012 MotoGP - Motegi Photo Gallery

Dani Pedrosa lead the way during Friday's practice at Motegi.

Check out photos from the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi in the 2012 MotoGP Motegi photo gallery.

$Jorge Lorenzo was just a fraction of a second behind Dani Pedrosa during practice at Motegi.$
Jorge Lorenzo was just a fraction of a second behind Dani Pedrosa during practice at Motegi.

Casey Stoner returned from an ankle injury to compete at Motegi.

Valentino Rossi was fifth-fastest in practice at Motegi.

Andrea Dovizioso found himself suited to the hard-braking demands of the Motegi circuit during Friday's practice.

Ben Spies was sixth in both the morning and afternoon practice sessions at Motegi.

Stefan Bradl posted the fourth-fastest time during Friday's practice at Motegi.

Alvaro Bautista continued to struggle with his front end suspension during practice at Motegi.

Ben Spies was fourth in qualifying at Motegi.

Jorge Lorenzo earned his 50th career pole at Motegi.

Dani Pedrosa was second-fastest in qualifying at Motegi.

Casey Stoner took seventh in qualifying at Motegi.

Cal Crutchlow posted the third-fastest time in qualifying at Motegi.

MotoGP Motegi podium with Dani Pedrosa (center) in first, Jorge Lorenzo (left) in second and Alvaro Bautista (right) in third.

Dani Pedrosa (26) got ahead of Jorge Lorenzo (99) mid-race and went on to build a gap and take the win at Motegi.

Alvaro Bautista (19) and Cal Crutchlow (35) faced off in a battle for third with Bautista claiming the final spot on the rostrum at Motegi.

Alvaro Bautista celebrates his podium finish at Motegi.

Alvaro scores his second podium of 2012.

Alvaro Bautista signed on to ride with San Carlo Honda Gresini through 2013.

Casey Stoner admitted after the race at Motegi that he wasn't yet physically strong enough to push for a podium finish.

Casey Stoner continued to walk with a limp at Motegi as his right ankle injury still causes him pain.

Cal Crutchlow battled with Alvaro Bautista for third-place until he ran out of fuel on the final lap and was forced to retire.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3's Herve Poncheral worried that fuel consumption would be an issue and here sees his fears come true when Cal Crutchlow pulls out of the contest on the final lap.

Jorge Lorenzo was subdued about his second-place finish at Motegi, but he just couldn't keep pace with race winner Dani Pedrosa.

Jorge Lorenzo led the contest at Motegi through the opening laps, but Dani Pedrosa soon passed and couldn't be caught.

Valentino Rossi pushed as hard as he could and could only manage a seventh-place finish at Motegi.

Rossi felt he maxed out his potential on the Ducati at Motegi.