With Marc Marquez winning the 2019 MotoGP title last time in Thailand, Ducati team-mates Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci now have their focus firmly set on finishing as 'best of the rest' in the world championship.
This weekend's Japanese MotoGP should see Jorge Lorenzo become the youngest rider in history to reach 200 premier-class starts, at 32 years and 169 days old. But the question now widely being asked is how many more starts he will make at Repsol Honda.
Big braking loads and hard acceleration characterise the Motegi circuit in Japan, venue for this weekend's MotoGP. But the stop-go layout means a lack of flowing corners and therefore not as much stress placed on the rear tyres as at some other tracks.
After wrapping up the 2019 MotoGP world title, Marc Marquez says he will split his focus on early preparations for his 2020 championship defence along with aiming to clinch the teams’ and constructors’ crowns this year.
Maverick Vinales has conceded the same set-up and approach which earned him a podium in Thailand could not produce a similar performance from his Movistar Yamaha at Motegi.
Marco Bezzecchi slashed the championship gap to just one point with a perfect run run to the line as his rivals ended the Moto3 Japanese Grand Prix in the gravel.
IndyCar confirmed that the series will still be going to Japan one last time in September - but that the recent earthquake means that the race will switch from oval to road course.