The Suzuka circuit according to Toni Elías
‘The chicane entering the main straight is the most difficult spot of the circuit’.
This circuit, property of Honda, is considered to be one of the most complicated and technical tracks of the championship. Therefore, the bike’s set-up is one of the most important factors for a good result. Last year Fonsi Nieto set the pole with 2´08.049 while Toni Elias, who was riding for the first time in this category, managed to set the eleventh fastest time. The race was carried out under heavy rain and there were several crashes.
According to Toni Elias: ‘Suzuka is a very technical and complicated circuit, maybe one of the most difficult of the World Championship. The straights and slopes of the circuit make it indispensable to have a good bike if you want to have the chance to fight for victory. The presence of the Japanese riders makes this race even more difficult because they know the layout very well and since they are not risking anything with regard to the World Championship, they do anything to achieve a good result in front of their fans. The chicane entering the main straight is the most difficult spot of the circuit and also one of the most complicated of the World Championship. Despite some modifications made there for this race I think that, after the photographs I’ve seen, it will still be a very decisive and difficult spot.’
Repsol drivers in Japan GP 2002
MOTOGP:
Valentino Rossi: Pole: 2.4.226. / Race: (1º) 49.32.766. / Race fastest lap: 2.19.105.
250:
Fonsi Nieto: Pole: 2.08.049. / Race: (13º) 49.05.459. / Race fastest lap: 2.28.106.
Toni Elías: Practice: (11º) 2.09.930. / Race: (11º) 48.40.935. / Race fastest lap: 2.30.305.
125:
Dani Pedrosa: Pole: (1º) 2.13.957. / Race: (8º) 46.56.459. / Race fastest lap: 2.32.683
