Has MotoGP Lost Its Thrill? A Closer Look at the ‘Boring’ Era of Japanese Grand Prix

Is the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi typically uneventful for MotoGP?

The lackluster Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi has sparked criticism from MotoGP's leading figure, drawing attention to underlying issues that hinder the series from regaining its thrilling edge.

Since August's British Grand Prix, MotoGP races have not experienced multiple lead changes. During the race in Austria, Jorge Martin briefly took the lead for a lap until Francesco Bagnaia passed him, offering a fleeting moment of excitement.

Marc Marquez dominated the Aragon race from start to finish. At the Misano races, there was just a single lead change in each event. In Indonesia, Martin maintained his lead from the first turn to the finish line, and Bagnaia did the same in Japan, facing no competition along the way.

The Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi last weekend could be considered the lowest point for MotoGP in the current era of aerodynamic and ride height technology. Bagnaia managed to overtake Pedro Acosta right at the start, moving from second to first by the time they reached Turn 1, and maintained his lead throughout the race. Martin, starting from 11th position, applied some late pressure on Bagnaia, but it wasn't enough to create a real contest for the lead.

Marc Marquez delivered a remarkable performance by advancing from ninth place to secure third position. The Gresini team member, alongside Enea Bastianini, who finished fourth, executed some of the race's most exciting overtakes. Although they approached each other in the final laps, there were no significant developments from their battle.

For many European fans, waking up early to catch their beloved sports event was scarcely justified. Marquez didn't hesitate to call it "a boring race" shortly after dismounting his GP23. If even he, as a participant, found it lackluster, what impression could it have left on the global audience?

Not all races can be considered legendary. However, the Motegi event marked a particularly disappointing moment under the present MotoGP rules, which have been progressively declining since the latter part of the season. Since the British Grand Prix, most races have typically been short on excitement.

The Motegi track is known for being the toughest on brakes, requiring the compulsory use of Brembo's 355mm discs. This circuit, alongside Red Bull Ring and Assen, is one of the best examples of how aerodynamics and ride height devices have altered the thrilling racing experience that MotoGP used to provide until fairly recently.

The circuit's design, which involves frequent stops and starts, results in all participants accelerating similarly out of the turns. Meanwhile, the airflow created by the bikes' aerodynamics causes significant disturbance at the front when a rider enters the braking areas.

Grand Prix victor Bagnaia detailed the issue faced by riders trailing him, providing his perspective on why Pedro Acosta fell from second place while pursuing him during the third lap of the 24-lap race.

Bagnaia mentioned that he needed to exert extra effort in the early stages of the race due to Pedro's intense push to regain his position. He explained that when you are less than half a second behind the competitors ahead, managing the front becomes extremely challenging.

Martin, who closely followed Bagnaia for much of the race, confirmed this by saying, "It was challenging to pass other riders coming from behind. I believe I had to push the tires a bit harder than Pecco did. As I began closing the gap, being within half a second made handling the bike quite tricky."

Marc Marquez is well-acquainted with intense duels at Motegi, with his 2017 showdown against Andrea Dovizioso in rainy conditions being one of the standout races of recent times, marking what many consider the last truly thrilling championship fight in the top tier. During the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, although he advanced significantly up the rankings, Marquez clarified that his progress was mostly due to targeting straightforward opponents.

"There were no overtakes, which made it dull for me since I really enjoy them," he remarked. "Pecco executed a flawless plan by beginning in the lead and continually pushing forward. He managed the tyres while attempting to widen the gap because he was aware that Martin and I were starting from behind."

In this type of track, characterized by its stop-and-go nature, starting behind another driver significantly affects braking performance. Additionally, the aerodynamics prevent any advantage on the exit, making it much harder. You can only pass the person ahead if you're three or four tenths of a second quicker. Being just one tenth faster won't allow for an overtake.

If describing riders like Brad Binder as "easy prey" seems overly harsh, consider the final standings for context. The leading four racers—Bagnaia, Martin, Marquez, and Bastianini—finished within 4.3 seconds of each other. There was then a gap of 13.582 seconds before Franco Morbidelli crossed the finish line in fifth place. The pace set by the top four in Japan was extraordinary, much like it has been throughout the year, yet it resulted in a scoreboard reminiscent of the less competitive era of MotoGP seen in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Certain elements hindered the race's dynamics. Martin's crash in Q2 meant he started out of position, which deprived us of the chance to see the two championship contenders begin the race in closer proximity. Given their pace during the grand prix, this might have resulted in a more tightly contested race, although the previously mentioned difficulties with overtaking would still have been a factor.

Pedro Acosta is a rider who challenges the typical beliefs surrounding contemporary MotoGP motorcycles. As part of the Tech3 GASGAS team, Acosta would have been a significant competitor to Bagnaia in the grand prix. Unfortunately, he crashed while holding second place early in the race. This incident resulted in a second consecutive Did Not Finish (DNF) for the Japanese GP, as Acosta had previously fallen while leading the sprint race.

Marc Marquez had a lap in Q2 that was nullified, which would have placed him in the pole position but instead left him in ninth. This development took a leading contender out of the equation. If Bagnaia, Acosta, Martin, and Marquez had all been competing closely, the race might have been even more thrilling than it was.

In the final moments of the sprint, Marquez and Bastianini delivered an exciting performance as they competed for second place, but that was the highlight of the Japanese GP weekend. Sadly, the focus shifted after the sprint due to a delay in annulling Marquez’s Q2 time, which was eventually attributed to a technical error. This type of issue has been occurring quite frequently in recent times.

The competition for the championship title is still very close. Bagnaia's expertly executed performance in the grand prix has brought him within just 10 points of catching up to Martin in the rankings. However, the excitement of this championship has been somewhat diminished by the fact that Bagnaia has experienced seven race retirements but also claimed victory in eight grand prix events, yet he remains behind. Additionally, both competitors have not engaged in significant on-track duels this season.

The race in Motegi marked a particularly disappointing moment in the season, reflecting a decline that has been evident since the summer break. The new track surface at Phillip Island introduces some unpredictability, promising a more thrilling Australian Grand Prix. However, this event is expected to be an exception in an otherwise uneventful stretch in MotoGP.

The upcoming season is expected to provide a vital fresh start. However, the new front tire from Michelin, designed to handle heat more effectively and facilitate easier overtaking, will not be released until 2025, contrary to the initial schedule.

Following the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, the postponement creates a sense of discomfort, suggesting that significant changes are unlikely to occur in the near future.

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