The keys to Japan’s career, by Manuel Pecino

They have been Decisive moments of the Japanese GP race played this Sunday in Motegi.

Bagnaia’s solidity throughout the weekend

With his victories in the two races held in Motegi, the Italian driver had an impeccable weekend that led him to reduce his deficit in the World Championship with Jorge Martín to 10 points; when it arrived in Japan four days earlier it was 21 points.

2

Martín’s crash in Q2

It happened on Saturday, yes, but starting in 11th position weighed on Jorge like an anchor tied around his neck. When he took second place on the second lap, after a brilliant double pass on Bastianini and Márquez, Bagnaia had already opened up a gap which the Madrid driver tried to neutralize in every possible way… without success.

3

Acosta’s fall

He repeated yesterday’s strategy, as if silently clinging to Bagnaia’s rear tire to prevent him from escaping. Unfortunately the result was the same: he crashed on the third lap of a 24-lap race. The Murcian obviously wanted to… but he couldn’t.

4

Brake problems

Márquez complained at Mandalika, and Motegi is the most demanding circuit with brakes, here not only Marc had problems, but most of the drivers. Motegi pushed the brakes to exhaustion, startling the pilots because of the lack of uniformity in their feel. In the same lap, the front brake lever can move 1 cm in a corner, like touching the handlebars after six corners.

5

The KTMs melted like sugar in the second half of the race

Binder took the podium positions early in the race and Miller managed to ride fifth, but as the laps went by he gave up the positions to the Ducati riders who came from behind. The difference between the Austrian bike and the Italian continues to be enormous. The seven Ducatis that finished the race qualified in the top eight.