Motegi `perfect opportunity´ for podium aspirant Nakano

Japan´s only full-time participant in the MotoGP World Championship, national pride rests firmly on the shoulders of San Carlo Honda Gresini´s Shinya Nakano at Motegi. The veteran rider has yet to take a podium since joining the Honda ranks from Kawasaki in 2007, but believes that the factory-spec RC212V and the high-performance Bridgestone tyres could take him to the rostrum on what could be his Motegi swansong.

`I can´t wait to race in front of my friends and family – it all gives me extra motivation to do well. Motegi is a circuit I know really well and my objective is to finish on the podium – I won´t try to hide it,´ says Nakano.

`So far my best result this season has been fourth place at Brno so my home Grand Prix in Japan represents the perfect opportunity to better that. The new bike, which I have only been using for three races, has a good balance and I am convinced it will adapt well to the characteristics of the track.

Unfortunately for the 30 year-old, results since Brno have not been exactly to his liking. At Indianapolis he ended his record of scoring points in every Grand Prix of the year, leaving Valentino Rossi as the only rider with a chance of increasing his tally at every race. Nakano is not letting recent fortunes affect his positive approach to the A-Style Grand Prix of Japan, but will have one eye on the skies as he looks to find his setup for a dry race.

`At Misano and Indianapolis, where amongst other things the weather didn´t help, things didn´t go well but I´m sure I can bounce back at Motegi. The most important thing this weekend is that the weather stays stable so that we can do our job on the bike and put together a good rhythm for the race.´

Nakano has been out of the points at Motegi for the past three seasons.