Overview

• To secure the crown in Japan, he must finish the Motegi weekend at least three points ahead of his brother Álex, with the title only confirmable after Sunday’s Grand Prix.
• He said he feels no sustained pressure and prefers race-day intensity, adding that a minor Misano test crash stemmed from a brief loss of concentration.
• Misano work focused on swingarms and aero for future direction as he completed 60 laps, posted a 1:30.871 for sixth, matched pace on GP24 and GP25, and denied running a new ride-height device.
• Only a sprint–Grand Prix double would clinch the title from his side regardless of Álex, while Álex can force a delay to Indonesia by taking one win and one second place in Motegi.
• An early wrap-up would free him to chase late-season goals, and he says the priority will shift to defending in 2026, as his garage stays calm compared with Francesco Bagnaia’s GP25 troubleshooting with engineers and Casey Stoner.