 |  Melandri has won three times this season and he cannot be discounted |
Marco Melandri caught us all on the hop with his win at the Australian MotoGP, although weather conditions played a huge part in his victory.
Everything became a bit of a lottery once the heavens opened and it was like having two separate races.
The first three or four laps were dry and then it all changed completely.
I certainly didn't have Melandri down to finish in the top three but it all happened for him when the rain came.
He has been bit of a disappointment in the last few races, but he has now put himself firmly back in the picture and will be looking for a repeat in Motegi on Sunday.
That was his third win of the season, which is one more than Championship leader Nicky Hayden has managed, so he cannot be discounted.
The conditions played such a massive part in the outcome of the race that all the teams were forced to gamble on what compound tyres they had on.
| Japanese MotoGP
Highlights: Sun, BBC Two, 1335
BBC Interactive:
Sun, MotoGP live, 0540, repeated at 0830, 1000 and 1130 |
No one had tested on wet tyres all weekend so the riders just had to jump on their bikes and ride them.
It came down to who was feeling good and whose bike felt good underneath them and Melandri emerged as that guy from the word go.
One of the most interesting aspects to emerge from this season is the friction between Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa.
Before last week's race Rossi came out and criticised the Spaniard's riding style.
Whether his comments were mind games or not, they certainly seemed to do the trick in Phillip Island as Pedrosa was absolutely useless in the wet and finished 15th.
But then again he has been absolutely useless everytime there has been any wet weather.
If he wants to win a World Championship title he is going to have to improve on this massively.
Everyone loves to see a bit of friction between riders, we don't want them all to be matey as a bit of controversy certainly adds a bit of spice to the season.
Not that this season requires anymore spice.
Every race is crucial and it's been an amazing battle, so much so that four riders could be on the same points at the start of the last race in Valencia.
Japan is another track that isn't for the faint hearted.
It's another strength-sapping circuit due to the heat and the conditions can be very tough.
Trying to predict this race is very difficult - you might as well close your eyes and stick a pin on any one of Melandri, Capirossi, Rossi, Hayden or Pedrosa.
Predictions: 1. Rossi 2. Capirossi 3. Hayden
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