MotoGP Japanese GP had become an event of pure drama and pure emotion. The real winner in Motegi was Francesco Bagnaia, but more importantly was Marc Marquez. His second place finish put him in the position of MotoGP world champion again- his seventh MotoGP title and ninth was his career title in any class. Winning a race by one man, a satisfying story of redemption, to the other.
Bagnaia came out swinging. He pinned the start and was up the front into the first corner and had never seen the rear mirror. Pedro Acosta attempted to hang before but Bagnaia’s speed was inhuman. After a lap or two the gap was gaining and the race had sunk into his pace. Marquez intended to play smart behind him. Starting in third place he timed his opportunities and moved to second place and held there. It was neither glaring, nor extravagant
By half you could see Bagnaia going first, Marquez second, and Joan Mir at his heels. To Honda, a podium on home soil by Mir was it. Still the emphasis remained on Marquez. The points math favoured him with his brother Alex completing sixth. Another competitor, Second place, claimed the 2025 championship – 5 races before the season concluded.
This is what made it a different moment. Marquez had not won the MotoGP trophy since 2019. More crashes had left people wondering whether he would ever make it to the top again after six years of missing races as a result of surgeries. But Motegi proved he could. Therefore, upon the completion of the race, the Spaniard burst into tears and the trip was termed as Marc against Marc. He said that he came back too early after being hurt, made errors. And yet he acknowledged reprieve “I feel okay with myself.
Neither can be the day of Bagnaia. It has been a rollercoaster of the seasons he admitted, sometimes he even felt he was not the one in the saddle looking in the mirror at him. The ancient fire came back in Japan, though. He was a bagger of pole, a winner of the sprint, and coolly in command of his race. He was relaxed even when smoke was puffing out of his Ducati towards the end of play and proceeded to take it out and emerged the winner. In the case of Bagnaia it entailed not 25 points, but a statement.
Mir deserves a third place. Misfortunes that have befallen Honda during this season have been extensively reported on and in this case before the home supporters, Mir helped Honda regain its footing on the podium. However it was not a win, it was more like one. Sometimes an outcome does not consist of figures it is a source of pride.
At Ducati, there were mixed emotions, relief when Bagnaia finished, pride when Marquez was crowned. The two highlighted the reason Ducati has been the class of the field this year.
So how will the Moto GP Japanese GP of 2025 be recalled? Not the statistics, not the statistics. Bagnaia back in form. Marquez, champion once more. Winning a race is not necessarily about coming at the end first but also overcoming yourself.
Fatal five races have no more, the title is placed. But do not plan let intensity decline. Bagnaia will pursue victories his competitor will fight for each spot on the podium and Marquez will be free, having nothing to disprove yet much to prove.
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