Francesco Bagnaia’s victory The MotoGP at Motegi comes 36 years after the Italian’s first historic success at the Japanese Grand Prix on March 26, 1989 thanks to Ezio Gianola in the 125 class Jorge Martin in great form but unable to win despite driving at a very high level. Marc Marquez was thirddespite being fourth in the standings with this podium, he keeps his ambitions of winning the title alive. Let’s see how the heroes of the first grade did in our usual report cards.
I’m the first 3
Francesco Bagnaia: 10+ – his performance was flawless, and with Acosta’s early exit, he was able to put together a top race. Still leading Martin by more than a second, he didn’t even have a chance to catch his breath with a few hundred meters to go, but he proved worthy of his goals. He has recovered a bit in the standings and is now ten points off the top, but the end of the season is getting more and more exciting and nobody is going to give up, at least Pecko. His race is perfect.
Jorge Martin: 9 – It was normal for him to enter the race after consolidating his lead in the championship, albeit slightly. clear marker, With two World Cups already in his pocket, without losing sight of the pedigree striker. Unable to get past the elusive Bagnaia, he limited his spoils to second place, not feeling the pressure from his pursuers, who were nearly four seconds behind at the finish line. Although he lost five points, he is still in the lead Pecko and refers to twists or hopefully masterpieces to the next races where things can still go upside down. Mature.
Mark Marquez: 8 – he has a lot of guts but has never had the Bagnaia-Martin pairing, pulling off one of his best rides to finish third with four rounds to go in the championship. Marc Marquez is the athlete that everyone has been waiting for and has been a real gardener for the two leaders of the standings since the middle of the season. They still remain on his wrist good shots to hit and let’s hope he keeps the tension high until the last corner of this exciting championship final.
Hero of the day
Enea Bastianini: 7.5 – it took him some time to recover, but in the end he is sure to finish fourth behind the MotoGP monsters, even for them there is “no fourth” Animal. Able to shake off slower riders like Binder or Morbidelli, the Romagna rider is the third force in the championship and could still mathematically win. He is the one who says that with four races to go, it is still too early to close the accounts and it is very good for the race.
I’m down to 3
Jack Miller: 5.5 – there was the illusion of seeing him up front, fighting with the leaders, and it made us believe that he could get a good result for KTM this season in the strong south-west weather conditions. The Australian gradually retreated lose their positions and finished in tenth place as if nothing had happened. The shrimp creator was created as a result of others crossing over. Could starting too strong be a way to avoid ending up brutally at the finish line? Miller certainly could, but that’s not entirely his fault, he could do a little more.
Alex Marquez: 3.5 – he did not do it in any round disaster the innocent Joan Mir, who has tied herself to the Honda’s tail, also leads to hell, the Ducati is abandoned “at any moment” by Alex Marquez. Undoubtedly, a blow that could have had worse results, but when he analyzed the gesture, the rider of the Gresini team had little patience and coldness. A low mark on these report cards for him, as it could have been avoided and it didn’t hurt to get Bastianini close to the podium. On the contrary.
Pedro Acosta: 4 – no matter how fast it is and how often the same script is repeated. He set off with his usual aggressive gallop teenage wonder the race ended on lap thirteen when he scraped the inside curb for the last time on the hairpin bend before the main straight, lost grip completely and found himself back on the Motegi gravel. Too bad for another wasted moment with great anticipation for a late victory. But before repeating the same mistakes again and again, something needs to change, especially in the future.