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Red and orange, a splash of colours, motorbikes and emotions on the Jerez asphalt. Bagnaia who overcomes the technical problems, the imaginative decisions of the Stewards and his opponents and returns to being the number 1, in name and in fact. Binder and Miller ride as if they are in a drifting race and never want to get off the podium.
Three riders like this are more than sufficient to provide all the required entertainment, even without the sprint races and the media hype. Open the throttle and smoke the tyres, just like in the good old days. Like those of Dani Pedrosa, who in fact was there to enjoy the show and also from up close.
Races like this can't be ruined even by the Stewards, no matter how much effort they put into it.
THE GOOD – Only Stoner was missing, then the reunion of the Magnificent 4 would have been complete. A dinner would have been a matter of course, so Valentino was at Jerez as team owner and mentor to a slice of the MotoGP line-up, Lorenzo was involved in interviews, while Pedrosa was still out on track. Since talent has no expiry date, Dani gave his old rivals a bit of a show and made everyone want to see him again in the races soon.
THE BAD - When he was racing Freddie Spencer was nicknamed 'Fast', now that he sits in the control room, he has earned many epithets that we simply cannot report. Because he and his Stewards press buttons at random and almost never push the right ones. There’s always a way to make things worse and the riders are getting angry. About time too.
THE UGLY – In the wrong place at the wrong time, there is always Miguel Oliveira. It feels like he's wearing a bullseye on his leathers, and it might be one rider, then another, but there's always someone who crashes into him. His Aprilia has already been in the garage too many times this year, we can only wish him all the best to see him always on the track.
DISAPPOINTMENT – While discussing who is Valentino's heir, we must worry about finding Bagnaia's. The young Italian Moto3 hopefuls are offering little satisfaction, with Fenati the best at the chequered flag in Jerez. He’s certainly not a first-time rider, where are all the others?
CONFIRMATION – Number 1 numbers… those of Bagnaia, of course. Pecco has gone back to being Pecco, which means winning. It wasn’t a walk in the park, but a quick stop first in the garage (to sort out his Ducati) and then on the track (against the KTMs). When he reached the top he took a deep breath and planted his flag. From above the view is better than when lying on the gravel.
ERROR – The plural would be needed here because Joan Mir is making far too many. It's clear that he and the Honda aren't understanding each other, never a flash and crash after crash. The technical situation isn't the best, but never even getting to the finish line doesn't help.
SURPRISE – Sometimes you even forget that he’s racing, then the right weekend arrives, and he deserves the spotlight. Sam Lowes is like this: all or nothing. In Jerez it was all’s turn.
PASS – Bagnaia on Miller, but not the one giving rise to the penalty. If anything, it was the decisive one, at the penultimate corner, where it's difficult to even think of overtaking. Stuff for connoisseurs.
ANECDOTE - In the last 30 Grands Prix, Ducati has always had at least one of its bikes on the podium.
TOLD YOU SO - "The KTM is a good bike, but it is still lacking something": this was our view after the winter tests. We might have gotten things a bit wrong.
