Shinya Nakano and Makoto Tamada

Shinya Nakano and Makoto Tamada

Shinya Nakano and Makoto Tamada are Japan´s two representatives on the MotoGP grid, and both have the potential to become key players in the 2006 World Championship.

Nakano will for the third year running ride for the Kawasaki Racing team. The Japanese outfit are confident of being able to finally achieve the jump in quality needed to fight for podium places.

After a troubled season curtailed by a wrist injury, Tamada will take part in his fourth MotoGP season with renewed hopes. He will again be Konica Minolta Honda´s only rider. Off the back of a difficult season the Japanese rider will hope to show the kind of form seen from him in 2004, and assume a lead role in the World Championship.