The reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia has cautioned MotoGP fans against expecting significant changes in the standings between now and the season finale. The Japanese Grand Prix winner believes that the primary contenders will continue to be the same riders who dominated the race in Japan, currently occupying the top four spots in the championship standings: Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, and Marc Marquez.

Bagnaia’s remarks came after observing the considerable gap between the top four and the next best rider, Franco Morbidelli, at the end of the race. The leading quartet finished within five seconds of each other, while Morbidelli trailed Bastianini in fourth by 13 seconds.

“The gap between the first four and the fifth is impressive,” Bagnaia noted, having narrowed his points deficit to Martin to just 10 after Japan. “The pace of the top four was remarkable, and I expect it to remain that way until Valencia.”

He also pointed out that their speed was significantly faster than during the last dry Japanese Grand Prix two years ago. Although Bagnaia was referring to the top four finishers, he likely considers KTM's Pedro Acosta among the frontrunners for the final four rounds. Despite being a distant sixth in the points, the rookie secured pole in Japan and had his most competitive weekend of the season so far. However, he did crash out in both races while trying to push the limits.

The margins within this leading group were razor-thin. Achieving perfect weekends, like Bagnaia did in Japan, will be crucial for gaining an edge in any upcoming race.

“This weekend went well, and we need to use it as a blueprint for the future,” Bagnaia stated. “We must replicate our approach, work flawlessly, and strive to perform our best in each race. We executed everything smoothly.”

“I aim to retain the championship! I need to recover points consistently while minimizing risks. We must maintain our belief and never give up.”