The dust has settled on a brilliant weekend at Motegi, which saw Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) take a stunning double and reduce the deficit to Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) to just 10 points with four rounds to go. There was no shortage of drama, excitement and emotion at the Japanese GP, and these are some of the biggest Talking Points from the weekend.

“Marc, Vale, Lorenzo and Dovizioso... the Championship is moving in that direction now!”

Post-race, Bagnaia and Martin shared a moment in the cooldown room, with the Italian challenging his title rival to go into the final round of the campaign on level footing, something which Martin gladly accepted! In the Sunday Press Conference, Bagnaia noted how Championship battles have differed over the years, and how this season is similar to some classic scraps we’ve seen, with the emergence of multiple contenders through the campaign.

Bagnaia: “When you were watching races 2010, 2011, 2012, 20213, 2014, Marc [Marquez] , Vale [Rossi], [Jorge] Lorenzo and [Andrea] Dovizioso were fighting. They were always in the first top four, or before with Casey [Stoner]. It was something different compared to the Championship of today. The Championship I think is moving back in that direction right now. The stronger ones are always at the top. Three or four races from the start of the Championship we started to see that Jorge and I were always at the top, and Marc closed the gap, Enea [Bastianini] closed the gap. It is always us in the top four positions. If you also look at the gap today, we made the difference again.

“This is the saddest moment of my career”

It proved an incredibly frustrating weekend for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in Japan, with the rookie wonder claiming a maiden pole position, but unable to convert it into silverware, crashing out of both the Tissot Sprint and feature race while in a promising position. Despite the heartbreak, he has noticed the positives, though his frustration is clear to see.

“For sure, this was my most competitive weekend so we learned and saw the difference. The saddest weekend also. We were closer to the Ducatis and more comfortable so for this…well, we know we are not at the level of the Ducatis at the moment but we saw that it is not impossible to arrive to this level and they are not untouchable. We need to understand that everything has a process. We need to be a little calmer but still pushing.

“For sure this is the saddest moment of my career. In another way, it was a weekend that I had the best feeling. Painful to say.”

“In less than three years, he’ll be battling with us in MotoGP”

Away from the premier class, David Alonso (CFMoto Aspar Moto3™) made history by becoming Colombia’s first-ever World Champion. The newly crowned Moto3™ Champion delivered the title in style, and his performances have caught the eye of the very top riders in the sport.

Bagnaia: “I think he won 10 races in a single season in a Moto3 category where it’s like a jungle during the races. He’s the master of the last few laps. I think he’s much stronger than anybody else in that category. I’m happy for him. I’m happy for the team, because it’s the same I was with in Moto3. The same technicians, same mechanics. So, happy for them. They did a super job. They deserve all that they had because I think to win in Moto3 with four races to go is something that not everybody can do it.”

Martin: “On Saturday, I saw him in the elevator going to the room to sleep and he was still asking me how to do it. He didn’t need any advice. He already knew his strategy. Really, he’s quite clever and I think he’s really mature for his age. I think in less than three years he’ll be battling with us in MotoGP.”

Marquez: “I love David. Especially because he’s the kind of guy that he’s fast, super talent, but feet on the ground, has the charisma. Can be, and I think will be if I need to bet, a great Champion. Already he’s a Champion, but a better Champion in the future. But now it’s time to just enjoy the kid. Next year will do some mistakes with Moto2. But don’t put a lot of pressure to him because he’s super young. I hope and I wish that he arrives at the top level, I means to MotoGP.”

“Unbelievable, crazy what happened”

Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) picked another double DNF in Japan, but there was little he could do about his Sunday crash, after his RC213V got tangled up with Alex Marquez’ Gresini Ducati in a freak accident. The 2020 World Champion was left incredibly frustrated by the incident.

“At Turn 11, I took the opportunity to overtake Alex Marquez and then when we changed direction I was in the middle of the corner 12 he hit me - but massively on the back and his bike got stuck between my seat and my swingarm. I went straight to the gravel: unbelievable, crazy what happened.

“I am waiting on some news from Race Direction, probably they are sleeping or eating or something, I don’t know what they do and then an apology. I think I need that, when you destroy the race of someone, you have got to say sorry if you really feel it. It is normal that I am angry, and it is not the first time that this happens with him. The action similar to Aragon and what happened with Pecco. It is not exactly the same because I was clearly in front and Pecco was trying to overtake but his bike gets stuck in the same place. Crazy, crazy, crazy!”

“We look a bit stupid again”

At Yamaha, their riders did little to hide their disappointment with their performances at Motegi. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) ran out of fuel once again towards the end of the race, while Alex Rins and wildcard Remy Gardner suffered all sorts of problems with grip.

Quarta: “Fuel again, the strategy…”

“So yeah, it appears that we look a bit stupid again. Two times in three races, I think it is a bit too much.

“It's just that they are not still OK with the electronics. They maybe want to try a few things, but they don’t try them in a good way. And I think the strategy [with the fuel] we're trying is clearly not working.

“I mean also the lights in the dashboard. This is the main problem. The lights on the dashboard are not working as we expect it to work. So this is why like the light appear when I was without the fuel. It's too late!

“I don't know what to say. I won't say exactly what I think. I think it was a really tough weekend. But I felt I was with a used tyre from the first lap. I mean, I didn't feel any grip from the beginning and this was something that we can't understand. That our bike [grip] depends way too much from the track and not from the bike.

Rins: “I don't know what to say. I'm devastated, doing all the laps at 190 heart rate, giving my maximum for this, it was so difficult.

“We started the race with the setup from Austria to see if we were able to improve on braking side. If we were able to have more rear contact. More or less was a little bit better. I was able to feel a bit better the bike. But then, and until the end, as soon as the tyre dropped, it was almost impossible to control the spin.

“I don't know what to say. We need to find something because for sure it's not the way. It's not the way. I'm not happy with the work that we are doing.”

Gardner: “Honestly the biggest problem right now; rear grip."

“I have an important appointment to understand how my condition is”

Fabio Di Giannantonio enjoyed another strong weekend, placing P6 in the Sprint, and P8 in Sunday’s race, despite still struggling with a collarbone issue. The Italian hasn’t ruled out surgery before the end of the season, and could make a decision after a doctor’s appointment this week.

Di Giannantonio: “On Wednesday, I have an important appointment to understand how my condition is for now and for next year. So after that we will understand everything. For sure, as I say many times, my goal is to do as many races as possible and finish the season in a high way but also the important thing is to arrive at the first test at 100% so we have many things to consider.”

"Sad and emotional of course. It's my last home GP"

The weekend also allowed Takaaki Nakagami to bid farewell to his home fans as he leaves the full-time MotoGP™ grid at the end of the season. Before the weekend began, the #30 said it would be a sad and emotional weekend for him, and so it proved! You can follow his farewell weekend at Motegi below!