The race is scheduled for 24 laps, the track is cool, 26 degrees. Another thing, it appeared in the statements of Acosta and Bagnaia the day before that they had had to set their on-board electronics to light mode to consume less fuel. Between the sensors on the tires, the sensors on the green parts of the track (which don’t work like the day before) and the consumption, MotoGP sometimes looks like a video game which is an extremely shame. The grid is the same as for the sprint, that too is a shame. Acosta/Bagnaia/Vinales on the front line. Marc Marquez starts nine, Martin eleven… Hard front tires for everyone, Medium rear tires except Zarco and Rins which are Soft. Acosta doesn’t move a muscle in his face, like a Greek statue. It’s certain that he’s playing big, he knows since the day before that he can win his first GP but also that riding in the lead is a very lonely exercise… Holeshot for Bagnaia in front of Acosta and Binder. Score five, Martin six. Then Martin cleans up, fourth, ahead of Miller and Marquez. Binder three. Martin passes two, Acosta falls again. Bagnaia is 1.4 seconds ahead of Martin, who would save the furniture! Binder three, Marquez four., Bastia six. Ahead there is no more match, Bagnaia is behind Martin, Marquez passes three, second podium in sight. At this point in the GP, Quartararo is twelve, Zarco thirteen. Martin is nibbling, less than a second behind Bagnaia, 18 laps remaining. Behind Marquez, a nice fight between Binder and Bastianini. There are sixteen laps left, Martin is seven tenths behind Bagnaia… Bagnaia counterattacks, taking in a little more air. Vinales Falls. In front it’s over, Martin returns the hand, the supreme fight, it won’t be here… On the other hand, Bastia gets back on Marquez, these two don’t spare each other in clinch… Not great GP , a second and a half between Bagnaia and Martin, Marquez is six seconds behind. Well… up front, the circuit is very empty… Real TV is going for the Espargaro/Miller fight, in 9th place! Four more laps, Martin wins back Bagnaia. But no, false hope for a good end to the GP. Finish line, finally. Bagnaia’s first victory in Japan. Eight in total.
MARTIN STILL LEADER OVERALL
Starting from twelfth position, Martin frankly saved the furniture, giving only five points to Bagnaia. There are four GPs left, which means that the counters have practically been reset to zero. Practically… Bagnaia started in the lead, we know that in this case, he is untouchable. His victory is anything but a surprise. Still overall, Bastia is only two points ahead of Marquez for third place! Marquez also left for dache, as usual in the end the real heroes are those who come back! By the way, almost at the finish line, Quartararo ran out of fuel again. By the way, Italy wins its 900th GP, colossal, and in Japan, a big symbol…
