The Sky VR46 rider will have needed time to adapt to the Triumph engine and the new format of Moto2 testing and qualifying, but it will have been beneficial to him since he has returned at full speed to the Championship for three Grands Prix and can still aim for the Championship.
Pole position and victory, Luca marini couldn't dream of better in Japan. Even more, he won two consecutive races for the first time in his career after his victory in Thailand and asserts himself, just like last year, as one of the protagonists at the end of the season.
If last year it was his physical condition which prevented him from performing well at the start of the year, this time it was all the changes made to the intermediate category which confused him somewhat. He, who announced himself as one of the big favorites for the title, ultimately needed more time than expected, but he proved on this overseas tour that he is indeed back in the race.
“The race was very good, with another victory. We did an excellent job in all conditions,” did he declare. “Perhaps our pace was not the same as in Thailand to try to escape, and I preferred to manage the tires as best as possible at the start. We didn't attack much at the start and Tom [Lüthi] closed the gap. When he overtook me I tried to stay focused, not to make mistakes and to stay in his slipstream so as not to damage my rear tire. I was faster in turns 6 and 7 and I tried. I had fun, perhaps more than in Buriram, and it was a great fight. »
Thanks to his two consecutive victories, he occupies sixth place in the general classification and is 58 points behind the leader, Álex Márquez. With 75 points remaining to be distributed, the title is mathematically still catchable. However, that of vice-world champion is completely achievable since he is now 22 points behind second. The final ranking therefore still reserves surprises…
