Pecco Bagnaia pleaded guilty to killing the show and his opponents. Jorge Martin holds out, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini carry on their personal battle. David Alonso takes Colombia to the top of the world and Ai Ogura prepares to do the same with Japan.
THE GOOD - Some people write letters to Santa Claus, David Alonso writes it to himself and gives himself the world title. The Colombian from Spain, has four more Grands Prix to break a few assorted records and take his place in history. Bagnaia was asked what he eats for breakfast, from what was seen in the race the answer is: opponents. The breakfast of champions.
THE BAD - There is no need to investigate, the culprit is Bagnaia. Responsible for killing the show two races in a row. The verdict is written down, but there is no punishment. Only rewards: a couple of wins and a good ten points recovered. The perfect crime.
THE UGLY - To many faces in Aprilia, the trip to Motegi served only to meet their new employers. Albesiano, Espargaró, Jimenez are just a few of those who will leave Noale for Tokyo. Otherwise, nothing was seen on the track. Pitch black, anything but the rising sun.
DISAPPOINTMENT - Out of fuel. Running out a few miles from a date with a girl who had played hard to get for so long. An 11th place finish certainly does not resemble the woman in his life, but these days, Fabio Quartararo on the Yamaha cannot afford to be picky. And it's already the second time this has happened to him.
CONFIRMATION - The skin of the Martin bear, a species endemic to the forests of Madrid, is tough and leathery. Thinking of selling it before catching it is impossible, Bagnaia the hunter knows it well. A few shots have already come Jorge's way, but for the moment he has absorbed them in. It is not enough, however, to resist, it's time for attack.
MISTAKE - The diabolical Acosta is not content with making mistakes; he perseveres in the error. For a rookie it is all good experience, but sometimes haste is bad advice. And here we end it with a cliché, hoping Pedro has learned (at great cost) the lesson.
SURPRISE - Ai Ogura likes to gamble, especially when he wins. He forgets for a moment that he is leading the championship and risks a move like someone who has nothing to lose. With slicks on a still damp asphalt, he breaks the bank. When he stops with bike racing, the Japanese will have a future as a weatherman.
OVERTAKE - The award-winning Marquez-Bastianini pair is what's needed to give MotoGP a bit of pizzazz. They fight, they overtake, they don't give up. We thank them for their commitment, but on Sunday even they can't work miracles.
CURIOSITY - Pecco Bagnaia gave Italy victory number 900 in all MotoGP classes. The first one came in the second GP in the history of the World Championship, in Bern in the Swiss GP on 2 July 1949, by Bruno Ruffo on a Moto Guzzi in the 250 class.
I TOLD YOU SO - Acosta after the crash in the Sprint: "I'm not looking for excuses, but for solutions." Given his encore on Sunday, he doesn't seem to have found them.