Mo൩tegi, venue for this weekend's Japanese MotoGP, is characterised by a series of hard-braking and acceleration areas.

The exit of slow corners has long been a strength of the Ducati, which has won five times at the✅ Honda-owned circuit, including Andrea Dovizioso's last lap showdown withꦛ Marc Marquez in the wet last year.

"For sure our bike, I think, is really good in that part. Not just for the wheelie control. This is why I think we can be very competitive here," said Dovizioso, who can delay Marquez's title celebrations by beating the Spaniard this week🦂end.

Repsol Honda's Marquez acknowledges the Ducati has the edge in terms of hard acceleration, but hopes to gain tꦆime in the mid-corner.

"Of course it's one of the parts where we struggle a little bit more, during these last years and for example꧒ in Thailand it was the part where I struggled more, especially on the acceleration side," Marquez said of the RCV's wheelie control.

"It's also one of ꧟the strongest ༺points of the Ducati and for that reason, I say maybe this weekend will be difficult, but we will try.

"Anyway, we have other strong points - the turning in the mid-corne꧂r and tight turning - where we can have some small advantage there to compensate for what we lose i☂n other places."

And could Yamaha cause a surprise this weekend?

Maverick Vinales was behind Marquez and Dovizioso in Thailanඣd, but only 0.270s from victory. Vinales revealed he will try the M1 fairing upgrade,🦹 briefly debuted by team-mate Valentino Rossi in Buriram, this weekend.

"Actually in Thailanꦺd we improved a lot the wheelie control," Vinales said.

"We have a new fairing to try here, trying to keep the front wheel a little ✃bit moꦗre down and use more power, which I think is what we needed in Thailand to be able to win the race.

"So let's see if we can manage 💃well and we can be strong."