Raga leads his rivals to Japan
This coming weekend the superb Honda owned Twin Ring race
circuit at Motegi will host the Japanese Grand Prix, which
marks round four of the series. As well as being the second
and final flyaway event of the year, Japan will also be the
last two-day competition of the season. The championship will
return to its more usual single day format when it returns
to Europe later in June.
Adam Raga – Gas Gas will arrive at the home of Honda
having gained a clear advantage in the overall standings thanks
to his double win at the US GP. With his Japanese bosses looking
over him Repsol Montesa HRC rider Dougie Lampkin will be looking
to continue his improvement curve having achieved two third
places and two second places in that order.
Lampkin’s teammate Takahisa Fujinami will be hoping
for a return to form after a disappointing stateside showing,
in order to rejuvenate his title campaign. This will also
be the case for the trio of Spanish riders, with Antonio Bou
– Beta, Jeroni Fajardo – Gas Gas and Albert Cabestany
– Sherco all looking for better results having failed
to shine in America.
Through in the Junior category British rider Michael Brown
– Beta was beaten for the first time at the US GP, and
will not want close rivals Daniel Gibert - Montesa or Daniel
Oliveras – Gas Gas to overshadow him on his virgin visit
to Asia.
Matching Raga’s double victory in the USA, 125 Youth
rider Alexz Wigg – Gas Gas now heads this class championship
after previous series leader Loris Gubian – Sherco bombed
to eighth place on the first day in Tennessee.
The facilities at Motegi are second to none, with the terrain
surrounding the famous interlinking tarmac circuits offering
an ample challenge for the visiting riders who will join a
field swelled by several home grown heroes.
Twenty six World riders, ten Juniors and ten Youth candidates
will fight it out in Japan for top honours in their respective
classes, in what is always voted one of the best rounds year
on year.
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