Wed Sep 14, 2005 5:51 pm
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2005
ROUND 12 - GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN, MOTEGI
14 SEPTEMBER 2005 - EVENT PREVIEW
KAWASAKI TEAM PRIMED FOR HOME RACE AT MOTEGI
The Kawasaki Racing team are targeting a season-best result at their home race, the Japanese Grand Prix, at Motegi this Sunday.
The assault will be led by home hero Shinya Nakano, a class act who delivered a memorable third place podium result aboard a Ninja ZX-RR in this race just one year ago.
Nakano, 27, opened the championship with a superb fifth place in the Spanish GP at Jerez and has been impressively fast ever since that first race.
Boosted by the positive results at recent test sessions, both Nakano and German teammate, Alex Hofmann, are in a confident mood in advance of the 12th round of the MotoGP World Championship.
Sunday's race will be conducted under the full glare of Kawasaki's management and staff, plus a boisterous band of Japanese fans with a specially allocated "Green Team" grandstand already sold out.
Four hours of practice and qualifying with give Nakano and Hofmann an opportunity to complete final evaluation of the latest specification Ninja ZX-RR in advance of Sunday's 24-lap race.
At recent test sessions at Brno and Autopolis (in Japan) an upgraded engine specification has shown improved top end power, at increased engine revs, while maintaining bottom-end acceleration.
Like Kawasaki, Motegi is a home race for leading Japanese tyre brand Bridgestone, who are eager to repeat their outstanding 2004 race result - victory with Makoto Tamada and third with Nakano.
Bridgestone's latest generation of increasingly competitive race rubber with improved grip and endurance, plus their winning experience at Motegi, will be a key factor.
Both Nakano and Hofmann have enjoyed a two-week break since last month's busy Brno race and test schedule, although Nakano has had little time to relax.
The popular Japanese rider is in big demand for promotional, media and sponsor obligations, which must be balanced against his motivation to deliver a strong race performance in his home event.
But Motegi is a happy hunting ground for Nakano, who won his first grand prix (250cc) here in the 1999 and his five-year-old 250cc lap record, set in 2000, still stands.
The Twin Ring Motegi complex is a convoluted combination of 4.8 km road circuit and high-banked Indycar oval. Despite its length the GP circuit is notoriously stop-go, with six extreme braking points with short corners linked by drag-strip straights.
Shinya Nakano: #56
"I'm chasing my best result of the season, I want to show that fifth in Jerez, or even higher, is the potential of the Kawasaki team. The latest engine parts have improved top end power, with more over-rev, and we have also found a good balance with bottom-end power, which is very important at Motegi. My podium last year is a very nice memory but everyone is going much faster now - even a top four result will not be easy. Tyres will be critical and Bridgestone have been working very hard, I'm sure we will have something special for this race. I understand the Motegi track very well and combined with the latest engine and chassis parts I'm confident the ZX-RR will be very competitive."
Alex Hofmann: #66
"Motegi is always a special race for our team but I enjoy it, the atmosphere is great and the track a different challenge with the very heavy braking and tight corners. The work at our recent tests appears positive for Motegi - more stability under braking and some impressive tyre options from Bridgestone. Grip under acceleration and endurance will be critical this weekend and I'm sure Bridgestone will have the answers. No doubt there will be plenty of focus on Kawasaki's efforts this weekend and I'm eager to show the full potential of the Ninja ZX-RR and contribute to what I hope will be our best team result of the season."