The Marc Marquez you don't expect is the one who indulges in tears. The Pecco Bagnaia you've waited too long for is the one who wins the Motegi GP. In Japan, red is the color of happiness for a blessed Sunday. Marquez closed his circle with the mastery of a Giotto, a perfect bullseye as was his entire 2025. His second life is nothing like his first.
THE GOOD - More than a title, more than a number, more than a cup, more than a party, more than Marc Marquez. The superhero dropped the mask, cried and laughed, understood what winning really means. In Japan the more intimate side of Marc, not the rider but the man, won out. If possible, we liked him even more than when he rides.
THE BAD - The Pecco Bagnaia we knew is back, the fast and surgical one between the kerbs. The one who is more comfortable talking to the stopwatch instead of in front of the microphones. The only problem is that the transformation came too late. If they want to explain what has changed, there is still time.
THE UGLY - In the land of the rising sun, the KTM star has waned. Acosta did what he can and more. The others just put in the miles up and down the curves of Motegi, a circuit a little out of the way for a ride. This is what was on the plate right now; all that remains to do is pray that Indonesia will reserve some more satisfaction. It would take little.
DISAPPOINTMENT - No one expected Marc not to win the title at Motegi, but Alex did nothing to build any sort of suspense. In his brother's magical weekend, the Gresini rider failed to pull a rabbit, a dove, not even a butterfly out of his hat. Nothing wrong with that, but now it would be a good idea to watch out for Bagnaia.
CONFIRMATION - Real enthusiasts don't only live for MotoGP alone. Take a look in Moto2, at Dani Holgado, and you won't regret it. A rookie in name only, in fact he raced like a veteran. Applause.
ERROR - We appreciate Jorge Martin's precision, it wasn't easy to completely miss that braking and hit the one rider he should have avoided. Let's not rage about it any further, he has already paid dearly for his mistake.
OVERTAKE - He was the one who had the most to lose, he was the one who put on the best show. Marc Marquez never misses an opportunity to overtake, we thank him for that too.
SURPRISE - Who do we see again? Joan Mir on the podium! He had been missing for so long that they had to teach him the way to get there. He deserved it and removed a few pebbles from his shoe. He lashed out at those who had underestimated him, but it was not as if he had given much reason to do otherwise.
CURIOSITY - The riders like Japan. All classes saw helmets dedicated to Japanese culture, food, landscape, literature, history, graphics, nature, and animals. When too much is too much.
I TOLD YOU SO - Gigi Dall'Igna a week ago, "one day of testing is not enough to solve a situation as delicate as Pecco's." Engineers make mistakes too, and they couldn't be happier that they did.