I remember thinking when Ducati announced he was moving to the factory team for this season that everyone else was going to have a problem, but I'll admit. I didn't think it was going to be THIS big of a problem. I can genuinely see him winning every race left in the season.
Thing is, the Ducati is probably not even the best bike on the grid now, I think the Aprillia just about edges it and the KTM isn't a million miles away. But he's found a way to win that makes it look easy, and means he's not riding to the point of crashing like he was on the Honda.
After that Jerez crash in 2020, I thought it was more likely he'd retire than win another championship. Didn't think he'd ever get back to this level again after that one.
The Honda he rode wasn't the best bike on the grid either but he was/is clearly the best rider. At the end of his days with Honda the bike had almost become unrideable & MM was the only rider getting points. He was close on the 23 Ducati last season that as soon as he got the factory ride I thought he would do what he is doing. The counter to that is how poor Bagnaia has been, he looked like he'd given up after Austria, it's a shame Ducati can give him a 24 bike so his confidence can return and he can be a bit more competitive.