With no time to rest, and after the exciting race just a few days ago at the track in Estoril, the World Championship starts its Asian tour with a quick visit to Japan.
After Dani Pedrosa`s and Nicky Hayden`s great race in Portugal last week the two Repsol Honda Team riders go to Honda`s home ground especially motivated and optimistic. The Honda and the Michelin tyres were competitive once again in Portugal, and Dani Pedrosa was very, but very, close to winning after Hayden got the pole position the day before, his first of the season. Motegi is a special circuit for both the Repsol Honda Team riders.
Dani Pedrosa won at the track in Japan in 125cc in 2002 and in 250cc in 2004. Nicky Hayden has never won there, but in his first year in the category – 2003 – he got his first ever podium finish.In 250cc, Shuhei Aoyama returns to his country to race in front of his own fans. Aoyama, who got better as the race went on last weekend in Portugal until a mechanical problem forced him to retire, hopes to get a good result at a circuit that he knows perfectly. For his teammate Julián Simón, as well as for the young Repsol riders in 125cc, Bradley Smith and Esteve Rabat, this is another chance to get the result that has been out of their reach so far this season. There are only four dates left until the 2007 season finishes.
