One awkward braking zone can undo a weekend, and Turn 3 at Motegi proved that again. On the opening lap of the Japanese Sprint, a chain reaction wiped out three riders before most fans had settled into their seats.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was one of them. Alex Marquez went up the inside, contact with Pedro Acosta’s rear followed, and all three ended up in the gravel. For the Italian, it was a harsh end to a short race. Alex Marquez had made a mistake in the braking zone, and all three riders were out within moments.
The damage in the standings
Points are precious at this stage, because the fight behind the title leaders is only a few points wide. The good news is that the picture is still healthy. Di Giannantonio remains sixth overall on 230 points. Acosta is fourth on 243 and Ai Ogura fifth on 237, so the gap to fourth is just 13 points.
Ogura is only seven points ahead. A clean weekend could move Di Giannantonio past him, and the three riders involved in the Turn 3 crash are still locked in the same fight.
Elsewhere, the title race has tightened. Marc Marquez won the Sprint and the Grand Prix at Motegi, and Jorge Martin leads him by two points.
Mandalika offers a fresh start
The next stop is the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika, round 17 of the season, from 9 to 11 October. It is a race the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team treats as a home event, and the squad has unveiled a special Garuda livery for it.
Di Giannantonio and team-mate Franco Morbidelli will both ride the red and white design. Fans of VR46 will hope the colours bring better luck than Motegi did.
A reset is exactly what the Italian needs. If Fabio Di Giannantonio can avoid trouble at the first corners, the standings suggest fourth place is within reach. Mandalika gives him the first chance to prove it.
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