Everything set for a frantic end of the 2005 season.
Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden will be fighting to become runner-ups in MotoGP and Dani Pedrosa is firmly getting closer to his second title in the 250cc.
Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Australia, Turkey… The final straight of the 2005 World Championship has begun and everybody is getting ready for the final sprint. The twelfth round of the 2005 season will be staged this weekend on the Japanese circuit of Motegi, followed the next weekend by Malaysia, to give way – only a couple of days later, because it will be held on Saturday – to the Qatar Grand Prix. This means that the riders and teams have three really intense weeks ahead, where any mistake can result extremely expensive. In the premier class, Max Biaggi’s podium finish in the Czech Republic (third), revitalized the Repsol rider, who moved up to second overall, an excellent position to fight for the runner-up position against a long list of hard rivals, including his own team-mate Nicky Hayden. Young Hayden, with an improving performance at the Czech Grand Prix, is also conscious about the fact that the place of the World Championship runner-up would be a good result to close a season where he managed to clinch his first victory -Laguna Seca, USA GP-, and the fact of visiting circuits he likes, may be an additional incentive to get back on the podium and score some valuable points.
In the 250cc, Dani Pedrosa is currently enjoying an important advantage in the lead of the overall standings -59 points over the second, Stoner-, after his six victories and one second place as best results this season so far. Pedrosa already won in Japan last year and he admits that Motegi is one of his favourite layouts. A new victory this weekend would with no doubt take him really close to his second consecutive title in the 250cc class. And while Pedrosa is moving closer and closer to the World Championship title, the two Repsol riders and Aspar pupils have not been able to enjoy a positive season so far and, although they have both taken a victory they are quite far behind from the leader, and even from the second place. Some good results in the three consecutive races ahead might substantially change the situation of Sebastián Porto and Randy De Puniet.
And in the minor class, time has come for Héctor Faubel and Sergio Gadea to get the result that is resisting to come, either due to mechanical problems or due to crashes. In Motegi, Sepang and Losail, both of Jorge Martínez Aspar’s pupils will have a good chance to finally take the so longed place on the podium.
Repsol rider´s comments:
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden:
‘I’m looking forward to this end part of the season. Lots of races in a short period of time suit me fine and all the tracks I enjoy. Last year the race in Japan ended pretty fast when a whole bunch of us went out at the first corner; in the fact the whole weekend was hard as I was getting over the shoulder and leg injury that caused problems about this time last year. I’m happy to say I’m super fit now so I can concentrate 100% on riding the bike in Japan which for a factory Honda rider is a real honour. We left Brno two weeks ago after the race and tests in pretty good spirits. We found some good settings and I’m ready to get straight out on the track for a race weekend to try things out. We seem to have got the whole qualifying thing pretty well sorted but we’re still missing that little something in the race which we need to find to fast as this season is gonna’ be over before we know it.’
MotoGP. Max Biaggi:
‘After the relative rest of the summer with only one GP since Germany back at the end of July I’m really looking forward to the busy end to the season. The last race was very satisfying in the end with a good podium finish – enough to retake second place in the championship. The race shows to everyone that I always give 100% and I made all the laps with a good consistent lap time that helped me pass so many riders. I qualified OK last year in Motegi but ended the race very early in the big crash on the first corner. This year we need to go well from Friday. We had a good few days test after the last GP in Brno and I don’t think we’ll be riding the new bike, which needs a further work. I really want to keep the second place in the championship and I want to show all my fans and my team that we can make it. Japan is always a good track for me and it’s also a good opportunity to meet all my Japanese fans again.’
250. Sebastián Porto:
‘We had bad luck at the race in Brno, but at least we managed to score some valuable points. Now we’re going to race far from Europe and we have to give our very best if want to make up some positions. All the circuits ahead demand a good physical shape due to the high temperatures, especially in Malaysia and Qatar. We’ll first go to Motegi, a Honda circuit. We try to work hard from the very first day to be as close as possible, but it will be a difficult job, because the Hondas are performing really well this year. I’m optimistic and trust that we’re going to be in the front.’
250. Randy De Puniet:
‘After the average result in Brno, I’m really looking forward to doing a good job in Japan. Motegi is a complicated circuit but I like it a lot. The Hondas have a certain advantage there, because they’re racing at home, but if we manage to find the right setting from the first day, I’m sure that we’ll be able to be in the front. I started from the third place last year, but in the middle of the fight for the third place with Aoyama, I broke late and lost control over the front end of the bike. I ended up in the gravel and although I managed to rejoin the race, I had to settle for eleventh.’
250. Dani Pedrosa:
‘Japan always means the start of the decisive part of the Championship. It’s the first of three consecutive races and, whether you like it or not, the result can always have an influence on what comes next. I particularly like Motegi. It’s actually one of my favourite circuits and I’ve always done a good job there. Last year was probably a bit more complicated because I arrived just after undergoing surgery due to the compartmental syndrome and the stitches were still tender. But we did a great race and won anyway. I hope to be able to get another good result this time’.
125. Héctor Faubel:
‘As it is being usual, bad luck followed us in Brno and with three laps to go I crashed due to the rain. I’d like to get a good result in Motegi, but we’ll have to work really hard, because the Hondas are going to be ahead. Let’s see if we finally manage to round off the job we’re making with a place on the podium.’
The venue of the GP:
Built in 1997 and changed in 1999, the ‘Twin Ring Motegi’ is located in a beautiful mountainous spot in the Japanese district of Kanto. The Japanese circuit was pioneer and revolutionized the world of competition combining two independent tracks in the same complex: the ‘Super Speedway’ oval and the ‘Road Course’ racetrack. The Twin Ring got its name due to this unique combination, where each of the tracks was designed to host the most important international motor racing competitions, both American and European style. The oval or ‘Super Speedway’ is 2.4 km in length with two long straights connected by two corners with a radius of 220 and 160 metres each and a 10º gradient. The races of the IndyCar Series, as well as other American style races staged on the Motegi oval have turned the circuit into the centre of considerable races loaded with excitement.
The classical course or ‘Road Course’ hosts different races of the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) and many other national series on four wheels, such as the Formula Nippon. It is also the venue of high-level motorcycling races, both national and international, such as the Japanese Grand Prix of the Motorcycle World Championship. The classical course is 4,801 metres in length, with 13 corners, 6 left-hand and 8 right-hand, carefully designed with a computer, in addition to some interesting gradients to guarantee interest and excitement. However, its differentiating feature lies in the fact that the riders have to pass under two tunnels and twist between the oval. With a main straight of 762 metres and the pole position on the left hand side, the Twin Ring Motegi is a high-speed track complying with the highest standards as regards safety. Built by Honda on its 50th anniversary as a test lab, Motegi hosted the Japanese Grand Prix for the first time in 1999.
The Twin Ring Motegi is not only a race circuit but also a large entertainment resort combining motor sport competitions with driving experiences, nature explorations and other activities, which the fans of motor sports can enjoy all year long. The large site hosts the Honda Museum or ‘Honda Collection Hall’, to enjoy a trip down the history lane of the golden wing factory viewing the legendary competition motorcycles and automobiles of all times. Visitors can also have a look at the ‘Fan Fun Lab’, where people can see and think of future manufacturing possibilities, together with the humanoid robot ASIMO. At the ‘Active Safety Training Park’, people can learn about the systems and mechanisms of various means of transportation and experience simulated dangerous situations that could actually occur. Dirt-track and go-kart tracks, hotel, camping sites, restaurants, shops and other facilities that employ 300 people and secure activity throughout the year round off this sports resort.
The records of the circuit are held by Makoto Tamada in MotoGP (1’48.524), Shinya Nakano in the 250cc (1’52.253) and Dani Pedrosa in the 125cc (1’58.354).
