MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

 
A crash in qualifying turned Motegi into something of a headache for Jorge Martin. But he still left Japan with a lead of 10 points over Pecco Bagnaia.

 
Weapon. Pecco Bagnaia's Ducati Desmosedici GP24. The GP24 is the best bike on the grid by some margin.

 
If you've left it until then, it's too late.

 
Drag, dragger, draggest. The rear of Luca Marini's Honda RC213V drops a long way on corner exit.

 
They may have changed the flywheel on Marc Marquez GP23, but it's not slowing him down much

 
Obligatory tunnel shot.

 
Aleix Espargaro had a miserable Motegi. Despite that he still finished ninth on Sunday.

 
Style check: Aleix Espargaro is old school on corner entry

 
With the benefit of longer limbs, Luca Marini can move his weight a long way back and stick his leg a long way out

 
Where Takaaki Nakagami has to wave his leg out wider to get the same effect. And he's losing weight over the rear, as the rear wheel is coming up

 
Romano Albesiano has a lot of work on his hands for next year.

 
Sparks flew on track, when Alex Marquez rammed Joan Mir on the opening lap. Then they flew off track, as Joan Mir labeled Marquez' move as "Crazy, crazy, crazy".

 
Pedro Acosta led on Saturday, ran in second on Sunday, and crashed both days.

 
Man in the middle: Gigi Dall'Igna owns MotoGP right now.

 
Motegi wasn't as kind to Jack Miller as it has traditionally been.

 
The sighting lap wheel. The rear tire Maverick Viñales used to ride to the grid on, before swapping it out for fresh rubber.

 
His last home race as a full time rider. The cooldown lap was quite emotional for Takaaki Nakagami.

 
For different frames, seven different engines, but still no joy for Yamaha. But you can't say they're not trying.

 
Pedro Acosta, third youngest polesitter.

 
The only time it's close in MotoGP at Motegi: on the opening lap.

 
Franco Morbidelli getting it sideways going into Turn 11.

 
Brad Binder shows how physical it is wrestling the bike around at Motegi, about to throw his KTM RC16 from right to left.

 
Given Fabio Di Giannantonio only has basically one and a half shoulders, he's done a sterling job in this triple header.

 
Fabio Quartararo discusses the wet track in FP1 with rider coach Julian Simon.

 
Ducati, Ducati, Ducati. Your typical podium, sprint or Sunday.

 
Finally equipped with the updated aero, Nakagami wasn't so far back at his home GP.

 
Still the favourite. Jorge Martin demonstrates how far off the bike you need to get in MotoGP now.

 
Style. Pecco Bagnaia looks smooth and sweet as honey.

 
The illusion of speed. Enea Bastianini came up short at Motegi, missing out on the podium by half a second. 

 

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