Everything pointed to it being a good race for the Repsol riders. In Portugal we had learnt a lot of things, both Honda as well as Michelin, and when we arrived at Motegi, where engineers from HRC seemed to be everywhere, we were already one step ahead compared to the other circuits.
We had the day off on Wednesday, because unlike other races the material had not arrived, due to the short time that the logistics people had in addition to the slow customs checks in Japan, they like to look at everything. Nicky`s team, after eating at the circuit (many prefer to eat there so as to avoid the Japanese food) visited the Honda Collection Hall (Honda museum). Later we went kart racing, also owned by Honda, where they gave us a 5 minute theoretical class before getting in the tiny vehicles. We spent the Friday checking the bikes, the settings and the right developments for the circuit, and on the Saturday Nicky was on the first row again and everything pointed to him improving on his fourth position at Estoril. But something was missing, rain had not fallen over the whole weekend and since I have been going to Motegi it has always rained. So we began the Sunday with rain, which under normal conditions would not be any problem, but as the time got nearer for Nicky we saw things clearer, it was going to be one of those complicated races that was neither wet nor dry.And so it was, Nicky started with rain tyres and he destroyed them in a few laps, he was one of the first to change bike, going back on the track with grooved slicks, which he had never tried because as you all know in the AMA where Nicky raced before, when it rains they stop the race until the circuit is dry, and that is why he has very little exerience in the wet. He took some time to find his pace on the Sunday and so he finished the race in a position that he was not at all satisfied with. But we still had two days of practice ahead of us where we were going to prepare the race at Philip Island and try to finish the season demonstrating why we are here.
