Shinya Nakano called to assess Twin Ring Motegi circuit preparations for Japanese GP – MotoGP news
Former Grand Prix rider Shinya Nakano was called to assess the damage caused to the Japanese Grand Prix circuit due to the recent earthquake.
Nakano is assessing the damages and preparations of the circuit to host the 15th round of the MotoGP calendar scheduled for October 2, 2011.
Shinya Nakano was approached by the race organisers to visit the circuit on March 19, 2011 and overview the damages. He said, “Mobilityland (the promoters) asked me to look at the track and give my opinion due to my MotoGP experience, even though I have
retired.”
Nakano, after a couple of laps talked about the track conditions and said, “I did the first run in a car and it seemed there had not been any severe damage, although when I went out on a Honda CBR1000 and took certain riding lines at speed – as in a race
situation – I saw three areas which had been damaged.”
Nakano also joined the team of Japanese Grand Prix promoters in 2010.
The damage to the Japanese circuit was done after a severe earthquake hit Japan which was further worsened by a Tsunami. As per the original schedule, the Japanese Grand Prix was going to take place on April 24, 2011, but the devastation in March damaged
the circuit.
Due to the damages to the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, the race was postponed to October to provide time to the race organisers, Mobilityland, for the preparations and required repair work.
Nakano, after driving through the circuit found out some tarmac sections which could create an adverse affect for the riders and the race event. He also highlighted that at turn one and three, the surface is waved and not smooth under braking. A same problem
was seen at the hair-pin entering the back straight.
The circuit officials have also called some other riders to come and experience the damage. The feedback from each rider will help the repair work to be more efficient. The track repairs are already in progress and are scheduled to be completed by the start
of June.
Nakano plans to visit the track once again in mid June to view the repairs done. The race organisers have set their first race event of the Japanese Championship on July 3, 2011.
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