Japanese Grand Prix
Twin Ring Motegi Circuit, Japan - PREVIEW
LAST ROUND IN JAPANESE LAND FOR THE TEAM PRAMAC
D’ANTIN MOTOGP
 We’re
now at the last of the three extra-european races of this
three weeks. After the intensive warmth in Malaysia and the
cold weather in Australia, it’s time to fly to Japan
before going back to Europe. The 15th race of the season will
be on the Twin Ring Motegi Circuit. The German ALEX HOFMANN,
after the good position he obtained during the race in Phillip
Island, wants constancy and is dreaming about the Top Ten,
while the Spanish JOSE LUIS CARDOSO wants to make a good race
to get more points for the classification before the last
two races that will take place in Portugal and Spain. The
whole Team PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP is really motivated
and the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP06 “Sat.” is already
ready to go on track for the first session of free practice
that will be on Friday 22 September at 10.00 a.m. in Japan
(GMT + 9).
LUIS D’ANTIN (Team Manager): “here
we are, this is the final round of these three weeks. In Australia
our work has been rewarded by the 13th position of HOFMANN,
that ended the race as first of the DUNLOP riders. We will
go on like this to get more points for the classification
and finish the season in the best way”.
ALEX HOFMANN #66: “Last year I didn’t
finish the race as I crashed and then was forced to miss the
four next races. A real pity as I had done a good job during
the qualifying session. This year, I will do the maximum to
obtain the best result as possible, the Japanese track is
nice and, after the last race in Australia where I could have
ended in the first ten riders, it’s important to go
on making the maximum to end the season with the most points
as possible. I can’t wait to ride on track”.
JOSE LUIS CARDOSO #30: “It has been
a long time since I was here for the last race, in 2001. It’s
not a difficult track but a good acceleration and a right
stability in the braking points are necessary. We will see
what will happen, I hope that everything will go better than
during the last two races, I would like to get some points
before going back to Europe. I will make my best together
with my Team”.
CIRCUIT DETAILS
The Twin Ring Motegi Circuit, Japan, consists of a 2,5 km
oval and a 4,801 km road course with 14 corners (6 to the
left and 8 to the right), constructed to international standards
and built by Honda in 1997 to be the ultimate test facility.
In 1999, it hosted its first Grand Prix and now will go on
doing it until the safety improvements at Suzuka won’t
be completed.
The track has a comparatively long back straight but a series
of slow corners and also two tunnels to allow an Indy Car
style oval to run round the outside.
It’s a Stop&Go track with lots of violent braking
points, and that makes it really hard physically as well.
Longest straight: 762m
Wide: 12-15m
Pole Position: left
Direction: clockwise
MotoGP - Circuit record: 1’47.968 (Loris Capirossi -
2005)
MotoGP - Fastest Lap: 1’46’’363 (Loris Capirossi
- 2005)
2005 MotoGP Race: 1. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2. Max Biaggi
(Honda) 3. Makoto Tamada (Honda)
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