We describe the $J$-invariant of a semisimple algebraic group $G$ over a generic splitting field of a Tits algebra of $G$ in terms of the $J$-invariant over the base field. As a consequence we prove a 10-year-old conjecture of Quéguiner-Mathieu, Semenov, and Zainoulline on the $J$-invariant of groups of type $\mathrm {D}_n$. In the case of type $\mathrm {D}_n$ we also provide explicit formulas for the first component and in some cases for the second component of the $J$-invariant.

Bondarko defines and studies the notion of weight structure and he shows that there exists a weight structure over the category of Voevodsky motives with rational coefficients (over a field of characteristic 0). In this paper we extend this weight structure to the category of Beilinson motives (for any scheme of finite type over a base scheme which is excellent of dimension at most two) introduced and studied by Cisinsky and Déglise. We also check the weight exactness of the Grothendieck operations.

In a recent paper, Bondarko [Weight structures vs. t-structures; weight filtrations, spectral sequences, and complexes (for motives and in general), Preprint (2007), 0704.4003] defined the notion of weight structure, and proved that the category DMgm(k) of geometrical motives over a perfect field k, as defined and studied by Voevodsky, Suslin and Friedlander [Cycles, transfers, and motivic homology theories, Annals of Mathematics Studies, vol. 143 (Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2000)], is canonically equipped with such a structure. Building on this result, and under a condition on the weights avoided by the boundary motive [J. Wildeshaus, The boundary motive: definition and basic properties, Compositio Math. 142 (2006), 631–656], we describe a method to construct intrinsically in DMgm(k) a motivic version of interior cohomology of smooth, but possibly non-projective schemes. In a sequel to this work [J. Wildeshaus, On the interior motive of certain Shimura varieties: the case of Hilbert–Blumenthal varieties, Preprint (2009), 0906.4239], this method will be applied to Shimura varieties.

We prove that the Chow motive of an anisotropic projective homogeneous variety of type F4 is isomorphic to the direct sum of twisted copies of a generalized Rost motive. In particular, we provide an explicit construction of a generalized Rost motive for a generically splitting variety for a symbol in . We also establish a motivic isomorphism between two anisotropic non-isomorphic projective homogeneous varieties of type F4. All our results hold for Chow motives with integral coefficients.