A potentially pivotal weekend in the MotoGP title race is discussed in the latest edition of The Race MotoGP Podcast.

Host Toby Moody is joined by Simon Patterson and Valentin Khorounzhiy for a Japanese GP debrief and an assessment of the last-lap Pecco Bagnaia crash that has allowed a struggling Fabio Quartararo to nearly double his points lead.

They also discuss the Aprilia error that robbed Aleix Espargaro of a huge opportunity, the role Gresini Ducati rider Enea Bastianini is playing in the title race and a top-drawer Motegi MotoGP debut for KTM's Brad Binder.

Also on the agenda are Marc Marquez's first pole since 2019 and his reasonably encouraging race performance.

Finally, the crew talk about injured LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami riding with a "glove full of blood" - and express their dismay at the possibility the local hero may have done further damage to his right hand.

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