At first glance, a 37-point haul for Marc Marquez hardly suggests an unusual or intriguing weekend. But Motegi almost always provides novel sub-plots - and 2026 was, in fact, no exception.
Last-corner penalties, first-lap crashes, a new track surface, Honda's ups and downs at home and Michelin banning one of its own products were just some of the stories fizzing beneath the top line. While Marquez should be saluted for dealing with everything thrown at him and drawing almost neck-and-neck with Martin in the points race, that's pretty much expected these days. So let's look a little deeper as we examine the winners and losers from MotoGP's Japanese Grand Prix.
