Kousuke Akiyoshi, Shinichi Ito to ride as additional HRC riders at Japanese GP – MotoGP news
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has decided to increase its appearance at the Japanese GP with Shinichi Ito and Kousuke Akiyoshi.
The MotoGP action will be resumed at the Twin Ring Motegi for the 15th event on October 2, 2011.
In order to show support to the Japanese nation, Honda have added two test riders in the event. Shinichi Ito has been with HRC since the start of the 2011 season.
Presently, there are six HRC riders in the 2011 MotoGP season. They include Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso for Repsol Honda, two riders at Honda Gresini Marco Simoncelli and Hiroshi Aoyama and one LCR Honda rider Toni Elias.
Shinichi Ito expressed his delight and said, “This year I started the role as HRC test rider, but I never thought that I would participate in the World Motorcycle Championship again considering that I'm 44 years old. I'm very proud of this as a rider and
I am very grateful to all the people who worked to make this possible.”
Ito further commented on the devastation of Motegi, as the area has recovered from severe destruction. The Motegi circuit was damaged from several sections. The grandstands and the track was repaired to host the Grand Prix in time.
He also explained the troubled situation of his hometown, Miyagi. There are still many people living in temporary houses and many of them have not yet restarted their normal lives, he said.
Ito said that he knows about the critical situation of the disaster but he himself is a victim of the trauma. However, he still wishes to help the victims as much as possible.
Kousuke Akiyoshi has previously ridden for Hiroshi Aoyama during the Assen event. Aoyama was called in by HRC as substitute for the injured Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa. Therefore, in order to fill the seat of Aoyama, Akiyoshi was seated at Honda Gresini
RCV.
Kousuke Akiyoshi said, “As a Japanese rider, it is a great honour for me to take part in the Japanese Grand Prix and I would like to thank Honda Racing and LCR Honda for giving me such an opportunity.”
The Japanese riders aim to show full support and do their best in putting up a great show for the nation.
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