Kawasaki Racing Team - Motegi

Post by **MadKaw** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:43 am

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
23 SEPTEMBER 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SECOND ROW FOR ON FORM NAKANO AT MOTEGI

Kawasaki's Shinya Nakano missed out on a front row start in his home Grand Prix by the narrowest of margins today at Motegi, after finishing fourth fastest in what must rank as one of the most unpredictable and exciting qualifying sessions of the MotoGP season so far.

Nakano's Kawasaki teammate, Randy de Puniet, will start from eighth place and the third row of the grid, after running top three on the timesheet for much of this afternoon's qualifying session.

With rain threatening ahead of this afternoon's timed session, Nakano, like many of his factory rivals, opted to run a qualifying tyre right at the start, claiming pole position with his first flying lap.

The Kawasaki pilot was demoted from the top spot by Loris Capirossi just fifteen minutes later, but the Italian only managed to hold on to pole position for thirty seconds, before he was pushed back to second place by a hard charging Randy de Puniet.

At the halfway point Nakano put in a second flying lap on a Bridgestone qualifier, to move up to take second place behind his teammate, giving Kawasaki their first ever one-two at the top of the qualifying timesheet.

Capirossi bounced back with just ten minutes to go, shattering the previous pole position record to reclaim his place at the front of the grid, just ahead of the Kawasaki pairing.

Capirossi's lap was good enough to secure him pole position, but a flurry of fast laps in the last minute of the session saw both Kawasaki pilots pushed from the front two rows of the grid and, while Nakano was able to retake fourth place with his final flying lap, de Puniet was unable to improve his previous best time on his last qualifying tyre, and was forced to settle for eighth place at the chequered flag.

A mechanical problem with his number one bike forced Kawasaki's wild card rider, Naoki Matsudo, to switch to his spare Ninja ZX-RR for the second half of this afternoon's qualifying session. The 33-year-old Japanese rider was unable to improve upon his previous best lap time aboard his number two machine, but finished the session a creditable sixteenth fastest overall.

Matsudo will start his first Grand Prix for Kawasaki from the head of the sixth row of the grid, in front of MotoGP regulars, Carlos Checa and Makoto Tamada.

Shinya Nakano: 4th - 1'46.291
"I think this afternoon's session must have been exciting for the spectators, because it was certainly exciting for me! We weren't sure of the weather at the beginning of the session, so we put in a qualifier straight away, and with this I managed to take pole early on. At the end we were throwing qualifiers into the bike, and I was riding as hard as I could to try and get myself back on the front row. This was good fun, but, unfortunately, I couldn't quite do enough and I just missed out on a top three spot. Starting from the second row is not such a big disadvantage here at Motegi, but it's critical that I get a good start tomorrow if I am to stay with the leading group. If conditions change for tomorrow, then we might make some small revisions to set-up during morning warm-up, but my lap times have been both fast and consistent in race trim, so I'm confident we'll go to the line with a competitive package tomorrow whatever the conditions."

Randy de Puniet: 8th - 1'46.512
"Yesterday was a bit difficult, but today has been much better. The changes we made to the bike overnight meant I was fast from the off on race tyres this morning, and we were able to improve again in race trim this afternoon. Because the weather looked unsettled this afternoon, we opted to run a qualifier very early on, and with this I was able to take pole position. As everyone else switched to qualifying tyres I slipped back on the provisional grid, but I really thought it was possible to improve my position with my final flying lap on a qualifier. I don't know why, but the last lap didn't come together as I was expecting, leaving me on the third row of the grid. But, my times have been good in race trim, and I'm confident it's possible to put in a strong performance in tomorrow's race, despite my starting position."

Naoki Matsudo: 16th - 1'47.826
"We had a mechanical problem with my number one bike very early on in this afternoon's session, so I completed most of qualifying aboard my second bike, on which I was unable to improve on my previous best lap time. Tomorrow we'll try the number one bike again. Both the engine and tyres are working well, but we might make some small changes to our chassis set-up depending on the conditions for morning warm-up. I've enjoyed myself so far at my first MotoGP event for Kawasaki, and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's race."

QUALIFYING PRACTICE - FINAL TIMES
1. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1'45.724; 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Camel Yamaha Team +0.267; 3. Marco Melandri (ITA) Fortuna Honda +0.526; 4. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +0.567; 5. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team +0.592; 6. Toni Elias (SPA) Fortuna Honda +0.602; 7. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +0.765; 8. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team +0.788; 9. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +0.852; 10. Colin Edwards (USA) Camel Yamaha Team +1.002; 16. Naoki Matsudo (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +2.102

Duane · Post by **Duane** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:20 am

GO NAKKAS!!! #56 all the way!!!!!

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:24 am

Let's hope he gets as good a start as he did last weekend...

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:09 pm

Looks like Nakkers is off to Honda next year, does anyone have any idea who will replace him??

FrogZ · Post by **FrogZ** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:17 pm

Roll on race time I reckon...

Blackzxr · Post by **Blackzxr** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 4:57 pm

Have i ever mentioned how much i farken hate Gibersook

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:12 pm

Poor Nakkers...

Hang on, he's off the where next year???

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 6:07 pm

red_dave wrote:Poor Nakkers...

Hang on, he's off the where next year???

dont worry dave i wouldnt be so sure he's going anywhere - i heard negotiations were "well advanced" with kawasaki.

http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~Nakano ... 137774.htm

lets hope thats the case and he'll be able to continue with team green

greenmeanie · Post by **greenmeanie** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 6:16 pm

Not a good day for Kawasaki.

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:07 pm

Phil wrote:
red_dave wrote:Poor Nakkers...

Hang on, he's off the where next year???
dont worry dave i wouldnt be so sure he's going anywhere - i heard negotiations were "well advanced" with kawasaki.

http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~Nakano ... 137774.htm

lets hope thats the case and he'll be able to continue with team green

I may have heard it wrong, but I'm sure during the telcast this afternoon they said he was off to Honda next year.

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:10 pm

Nakers, interesting strategy on last lap..mmmmmm...

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:14 pm

frl0173 wrote:
Phil wrote:
red_dave wrote:Poor Nakkers...

Hang on, he's off the where next year???
dont worry dave i wouldnt be so sure he's going anywhere - i heard negotiations were "well advanced" with kawasaki.

http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~Nakano ... 137774.htm

lets hope thats the case and he'll be able to continue with team green
I may have heard it wrong, but I'm sure during the telcast this afternoon they said he was off to Honda next year.

nah, that said it alright, thay have been saying it for weeks.

they are the only ones "*still*" saying it

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:17 pm

hoffy wrote:Nakers, interesting strategy on last lap..mmmmmm...

what trying to make a pass in front of your home crowd with all the factory bosses watching

- nothing strange about that

good on him for having a go

just lucky the gibbersook didnt have him disqualified from the next race - remember motegi a few years back when tamada passed him for the race win............

Post by **icebreaker** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:43 pm

It was shaping to a great race result for Nakkers, considering he was possibly looking at 4th place which would have been his best race result without a single rider falling off in front of him... Even 5th would have been good, as well as Hayden being 1 more place back it would have been a top result..

Kawasaki really have picked up the pace the last 2-3 weeks compared to the rest of the season... Qualifying has been a tad better than before but race starts have improved and mid-late race performance from Nakkers def improved.

Lets just hope we see that sort of race effort from Nakkers from a Non-Home race...

Post by **MadKaw** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:51 am

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
24 SEPTEMBER 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KAWASAKI STILL POSITIVE AFTER DIFFICULT MOTEGI RACE

The curse of Motegi struck again for the Kawasaki Racing Team today as, for the second year in succession, all three Kawasaki riders failed to finish in this afternoon's Japanese Grand Prix.

But, despite the obvious disappointment of the final results, both Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet showed the potential of Kawasaki's latest Ninja ZX-RR, fighting for top ten positions before crashes brought their Japanese Grand Prix weekend to a premature close.

Nakano was quick away from the line, slotting in behind the leading group of riders and matching their pace during the opening laps of the race. As the leading trio managed to pull out a gap at the front of the race, Nakano was quick to pass Casey Stoner, who crashed out of the race shortly afterwards, and started to close on Sete Gibernau in fourth place.

The 28-year-old Kawasaki rider waited until the final lap before trying a pass on Gibernau, diving up the inside of the Spaniard at the end of the back straight. Nakano got into the turn a little too hot, and was left with no option but to pick his bike up mid-corner, as Gibernau cut across his front wheel to firmly close the door.

Nakano's front tyre touched Gibernau's rear wheel as he attempted to recover, launching the Kawasaki pilot over the top of his Ninja ZX-RR and out of the race.

Randy de Puniet's crew were forced to change the engine on his Ninja ZX-RR after this morning's 20-minute warm-up session, and the 25-year-old Frenchman noticed an immediate difference on the opening lap of the race.

The more aggressive power delivery of the replacement engine caused his rear Bridgestone to spin up out of the turns, forcing the Kawasaki pilot to ride more on the front tyre, with predictable results. De Puniet lost the front of his Ninja ZX-RR and crashed out of the race on lap nine, while fighting for ninth place with Colin Edwards and Makoto Tamada.

Kawasaki's wild card rider, Naoki Matsudo, was also forced to retire from the race on lap nine, after a mechanical failure on his Ninja ZX-RR left him with no other option but to return to the pits.

Despite the disappointment of the Motegi weekend, the Kawasaki Racing Team are confident that the latest specification Ninja ZX-RR is capable of allowing Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet to end the season on a high, with strong performances in the final two races at Estoril and Valencia.

Shinya Nakano: DNF
"What can I say; I was here to race, so I had to try for fourth place on the last lap. I'd already decided that if the gap were too big at the end of the straight then I wouldn't risk a pass. But the opportunity was there, so I took it. I got into the turn a little bit too hot, and both tyres were sliding by the time Sete shut the door on me. I could have held onto the brakes, but then we'd both have crashed, so I picked the bike up and tried to run straight on. Unfortunately, I clipped Sete's rear wheel and crashed. I'm sorry for the team, because the bike and tyres have been good all weekend, my lap times were consistent and we were looking forward to a good result this afternoon. In the end, the result is that I've given them some work to do fixing the crashed bike. But, like I said, I came here to race, so I had to go for it. Now we must look forward to the final two races, because I think it's still possible to improve my final position in the championship standings."

Randy de Puniet: DNF
"What a disappointment. Practice and qualifying went well for us yesterday, and we proved again during morning warm-up that our race set-up was good, but then we had to swap an engine ahead of the race and it changed the whole character of the bike. The rear was spinning up too easily out of the turns, and I lost a lot of time early on in the race when the rear threatened to come round on me a few times. From that point I was riding more on the front, and that's when I crashed. We now need to find out why my race engine felt so different to the engine we ran this morning, so we can avoid the same problem at the last two races of the season."

Naoki Matsudo: DNF
"I had some problems with the engine right from the start of the race; it felt down on power from the off and the problem seemed to be getting worse with each lap. I tried to keep the bike running as long as I could, but it just wasn't possible to continue past lap nine. It's disappointing not to finish my only MotoGP race of the season, but I've learnt a lot this weekend, and this will help me with my test and development duties for Kawasaki in the future."