A win crafted lap by lap

The Japanese GP materialised in form and substance as yet another perfect weekend for Marc, securing his sixth MotoGP win of the season, and all within the last nine races. It also marks his fifth double of the year, back-to-back with Saturday’s Sprint triumph. On a personal note, I cannot help but express my deep pride in having reached my 100th MotoGP win with Ducati. This has been a most rewarding technical and human journey that began a few years ago: a grand, ambitious project, shared with a team of collaborators who are as exceptionally talented in their profession as they are outstanding as individuals. There is no better opportunity to thank our engineers, riders, and everyone who made this dream a reality, one which continues to drive its evolution today.

But let’s look back at Sunday’s race, and at a weekend where Marc truly left the mark of a champion, banking 37 points and clawing back 10 in the standings. His Grand Prix win was masterfully crafted lap by lap: he studied his rival, pulled off a brilliant overtake at the mid-way point, and then sealed his final triumph by clocking two crucial fastest laps at the most decisive stage. It was a near-masterful display of race management, there is no other way of putting it: a simply flawless performance. This was exactly what was needed, and he delivered it on a track where he had to be at his absolute best to consolidate his recovery. It is no coincidence that this marks his 4th win here, yet another minor record, proving he is always ready to seize the right opportunity.

Rock-solid to the point of appearing cold, showing striking authority, being surgical, fast, rational, and flawless: there are so many adjectives that fit his performance in a race like this one. He dominated without leaving any room for retort, yet without taking unnecessary risks.

For one reason or another, his was effectively the only Ducati to cross the finish line in the leading positions. Our second bike under the chequered flag was Pecco's; after a difficult start to the weekend, he managed to bring it home in eighth place in the long race. It was a very modest result compared to his dominance here last year, yet encouraging if we recognise the intrinsic and sheer grit of the champion he is.

The choice of rear tyre for the race proved particularly challenging. As is often the case, the track resurfacing brought a significant increase in grip, but a sharp rise in tyre temperatures as well. This latter aspect can cause severe tyre damage, far beyond normal wear and tear. And that is exactly what happened at Motegi. It is important to note that both we and the Michelin engineers were fully prepared for this scenario. They came equipped with a harder tyre carcass, the same as used at Spielberg, to lower the tyre temperatures. Meanwhile, by using our thermal tyre simulation models, we analysed a combination of engine, electronic, and chassis parameters to achieve that identical temperature drop while running the medium compound. Finally, during the warm-up session, we selected the more high performing configuration of the two.

But the job is not done yet: we must always keep this in mind. We push forward from here in every sense, as our focus is already on Indonesia, where in just a few days we will be back on track for another stage of this thrilling sprint towards the title. Every GP recounts a unique story: true, we said it before, but the races and the constant shift in results keep reminding us. With a special thought for our fantastic fans: Forza Ducati!