After one of the most exciting
Grands Prix of the season in Australia, the MotoGP tour sets off for
Motegi for the third race in as many weekends; the A-Style Grand
Prix of Japan.
Nicky Hayden enters the land of the rising sun as the leader of a
closely-fought 2006 MotoGP World Championship. Valentino Rossi has
cut the gap between himself and Hayden for the last 3 races, and
with third place in Australia he narrowed the Kentucky Kid’s
advantage in the standings to 21 points. Both will be chasing a win
at Motegi to put themselves in with the best chance of raising the
MotoGP trophy this season.
Behind the leading two are a duo who can’t yet be ruled out of
lifting their first premier class title, although both had very
different fortunes at Phillip Island one week ago. Marco Melandri
took victory after the pouring rain caused riders to change machines
and tyres midway through the Australian race, whilst Dani Pedrosa
showed his aversion to wet conditions, especially whilst riding
injured, and only managed a lowly fifteenth. Both have accrued 193
points so far this season but Melandri lies ahead having won three
races to Pedrosa’s two.
Loris Capirossi lies 45 points behind Hayden, perhaps just one step
too far for the gutsy Italian. He is always in with a shout of
victory though, and could add further intrigue to the title race at
Motegi, where last year he claimed his second MotoGP triumph for
Ducati. He leads Casey Stoner and the American triumvirate of Kenny
Roberts Jr, John Hopkins and Colin Edwards.
Australian rider Chris Vermeulen took his first MotoGP podium at his
home race, and will want to do well for Suzuki in Japan. He
completes the top ten in the overall classification.
In 250cc, Jorge Lorenzo comes off a run of four victories in five
races and holds a 12-point advantage over Andrea Dovizioso. With
both consistent podium finishers, the title race could take many
twists and turns over the next two weeks, with the Phillip Island
race perhaps giving a better idea of who will take this year’s
quarter litre crown.
Alex de Angelis and Yuki Takahashi are separated by a single point
in their battle for third place, whilst Roberto Locatelli and
Hiroshi Aoyama round off the top six places.
The 125cc category has already crowned its World Champion, 21
year-old Spaniard Alvaro Bautista. The Master MVA Aspar rider has
been the dominant force in the class this season, with an incredible
seven wins and only having been off the podium on one occasion (a
fourth place at Le Mans). Mika Kallio is the frontrunner for second
place in the championship, 29 points ahead of Mattia Pasini.
The top six is completed by Sergio Gadea, Hector Faubel and Lukas
Pesek.Circuit information
Located amongst the vast natural beauty of the northern Kanto
district, the Twin Ring circuit at Motegi in Japan consists of a 1.5
mile (2.41km) oval and a 2.9 mile (4.8km) road course constructed to
international standards. Built by Honda as the ultimate test
facility in August 1997, the road circuit became home to MotoGP in
2000 whilst the oval is designed to introduce American motorsports
culture to the country.
Twin Ring Motegi is a major attraction for motorsports fans all year
round as it is the venue for the Honda Collection Hall, a museum
which houses an illustrious collection of motorcycle, car and racing
machines from throughout the ages. The complex also includes a
safety and riding school, dirt track, go-karts, hotel, restaurant,
shops and event halls and currently employs some 300 staff.
Later release from Dorna
The MotoGP tour arrived in the
paddock at Twin Ring Motegi today to prepare for the A-Style Grand
Prix of Japan, the final flyaway race of a gruelling three-week
schedule. Whilst the weather was fine for the riders as they
underwent their scouting laps, there is an outside chance that a
typhoon just off the coast of Japan’s main island may come close to
the circuit this weekend, which could throw up more of the surprises
which have become customary in the 2006 season so far.
Ahead of tomorrow’s practice schedule, a number of riders were taken
to a local sushi restaurant for a lesson in the art of preparing the
traditional Japanese delicacy. Shinya Nakano, Colin Edwards, Kenny
Roberts Jr. and Andrea Dovizioso also got the chance to play the
popular board-game “Othello” under the guidance of three local
Japanese champions.
There was a special presentation for the riders as they tasted their
handiwork, a disguised chef in appropriate ninja attire bringing out
a tray of “Nakano’s Ninja Sushi” for them to try.
Kawasaki rider Nakano was on double duty today, also attending the
customary press conference. The local star was accompanied by World
Championship leader Nicky Hayden, Valentino Rossi, last year’s
winner Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri, victorious less than one
week ago in Australia.
Just three rounds now remain in the title chase for MotoGP, and with
a maximum 75 points still available, mathematically five riders are
still in with a shout of the championship. Hayden (225) leads Rossi
by 21 points, whilst Melandri and Dani Pedrosa lie 32 points behind
the American. Capirossi is 45 points behind Hayden, but having won
this race last year, can still admit to having an outside chance of
the title.
Practice for the A-Style Grand Prix of Japan starts tomorrow, ahead
of the all-important race on Sunday afternoon.
Nicky Hayden - Honda
"Australia turned out alright, I actually liked the bike-changing in
the pits, with a bit of tweaking I think it could work alright. It
was a really tough first part of the race, so the rain helped me
out. Last year I was terrible here, although in my rookie year I
wasn’t so bad and I like the track. It isn’t my favourite race of
the year, but it’s kind of fun and an important race for Honda.
Screaming and pouting about yellow flags isn’t going to get you
anywhere, so what happened last week is something that stays there.
Valentino didn’t pass me personally under a yellow flag so I have no
excuse."
Valentino Rossi - Yamaha
"I gained important points in the last two races, but know we have
three very different Grands Prix to face, where maybe Yamaha aren’t
so strong. I have only won once here, back in 2001, and apart from a
few second places it isn’t my best circuit. Last year especially I
had braking problems and eventually had a crash with Melandri. I
didn’t see the yellow flags in Phillip Island, but I have been
unlucky with them before and I was lucky this time. Stoner retook me
and I was saved by that."
Marco Melandri - Honda
"I had some good fortune in Australia. It was a strange race. It is
good to be back in the championship battle as, even though Nicky is
quite a few points ahead of me, I have nothing to lose and can go
all-out. I like this circuit, even though I had that bad crash last
year."
Loris Capirossi - Ducati
"Last year was my MotoGP debut here, and it was a great weekend.
Watching Doohan and Gardner here back in the 80s and 90s and now
getting to hopefully have a race like that this weekend is a dream
come true. MotoGP is so different to any other class I’ve raced in
here, and as it is earlier on in the year than usual I’m hoping that
it will be a dry one."
Shinya Nakano - Kawasaki
"It is an important race. Everybody is here, from my friends and
family through to Kawasaki. I am confident after leading a race for
the first time at Phillip Island. Personally I didn’t find the
changing of the bikes too crowded…I was all on my own from pitting a
lap later! In Malaysia we had some new engine parts, and these have
been a huge step forward for Kawasaki, Motegi is difficult but a
track where I go well. If the weather is as forecast then I think
everybody will be using qualifying tyres tomorrow! I well be testing
here on Monday, but not an 800cc machine I don't think."
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