Nakano´s fifth place brightens Gresini Sepang visit

Whilst Alex de Angelis struggled with tough riders and tyre difficulties in Sepang, Shinya Nakano was enjoying his time at the front battling with Casey Stoner for fifth. The Japanese rider eventually ousted the Australian for the position.

Shinya Nakano - Fifth

`I´m satisfied with this race – I got a good start and quickly moved up from fifteenth to sixth. I followed Stoner for a while and tried to pass him in several places but it wasn´t easy because he was so fast and he was braking very deep in the corners. Anyway, I soon realised that he was starting to have some issues, it looked like the front end of his bike, so I was able to make the pass and then hang on to fifth place until the end.´

Alex de Angelis - Fourteenth

`I´m really disappointed with today´s race because I made a good start but I got pushed wide by Toseland, who braked really late into turn one, and a few riders were able to pass me. I got my pace together but then lost a lot of time fighting with Melandri, and in the second half of the race I struggled with the tyres and I couldn´t get back on the pace I´d been able to set in practice. It was a really tough race but I´m confident I can bounce back at Valencia and make the most of our last chance this season.´