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| | | MotoGP Motegi : A historical Grand Prix |  Written: 24/09/2007 : 14:41. Read 3992 times (3/day). | Last Sunday, in Japan at Motegi, took place under a cloudy sky, a Grand prix that we can qualify of Historical.
Loris Capirossi has won for the third year straight, Randy De Puniet made his first podium ever in MotoGP, and Most of all, Casey Stoner became 2007 MotoGP World Champion.
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Casey Stoner, valedictorian
He made his worst race ever this season, but despite that he is world champion...
Ok, he was sixth, but it is his worst result in the 2007 season, Casey Stoner always finished in the Top 5... And just because of that, it was impossible to imagine that the title would not belong to him.
At Motegi, e did not have to force his talent, as his major contender was far away off the game...
His only goal was to finish on his wheels (ahead Rossi), he did it, and he is world champion and most of all he diserves it.
Stoner has dominated all his contenders and take the best part of his package (bike/tyres).
But being world champion is also emotional...
"At the moment it all feels a little bit unrealistic! I'm struggling for words, I don't think there's any feeling that can compare to this, but I think it's really going to sink in as the day goes on and heads into tomorrow."
But casey puts back his feet on the ground and talk about his race :
"The race started out quite well, we were able to get up front quite early and I had a reasonably good feeling with the bike, I was in a happy position. But then my rain tyres started wearing out as the track dried, and Valentino and Dani (Pedrosa) came past. I didn't really know whether to come in or not, then my team put 'box' on my pitboard, so I had a bit more confidence to come in. After I changed bikes there was something up with the steering damper, the bike wasn't allowing me to tip into corners, so I had to slow down to unwind it. Then I started to find more of a rhythm, Valentino had a problem and we managed to finish ahead of him. I guess that was the aim of the game today."
Like the artist who see him offer an Oscar, Casey Stoner does not forgot his team and all those who have take a part in his great succes :
"Towards the end everything was creeping into my head, so I just tried to stay focused on the job in hand, I wanted to bring it home for my team. The whole thing is a bit overwhelming, because we didn't really expect to get the championship today, it's come on me quite quickly. There's a lot of people I have to thank: my parents, who have always been there for me, they've supported me throughout my career, my wife Adriana's who's been there this season and the past few and everyone else who's helped me along the way - Ducati, my whole team, Bridgestone tyres, a big thanks to everyone who's had anything to with my career - we finally did it!"
Capirossi and Ducati take once again Motegi GP
Since 2005, 3 GP took place at Motegi and three times, Capirossi won with Ducati and Bridgestone.
This year the race was sort of strange with a bike change in the middle.
Capirossi was the fastest but also the smartest, and what look like a hard race for him became an historical victory for him. In 2005 he was the first rider to win in Japan with a non Japanese bike...
"We struggled a lot this weekend and only yesterday did we find a better set-up solution. When I woke this morning and saw the rain I said 'wow, for sure this is going to be a difficult day'. We didn't know which would be the best tyres to use, so we started with medium rain tyres. At first it was really difficult, so I decided to pit early, and for sure my tactic was the best because I won my third consecutive race here, it's a great moment for me. It's also a great day for Casey, for Ducati and for the team. I congratulate Casey, he's a really strong rider, I'm very happy for him."
Randy De Puniet climbs his first MotoGP podium ever
French fans waited for so long this podium!
But all did not begun as good as it finished. Randy De Puniet has a good rythm at the begining but he made, as usual, some mistakes, came off the track. Two big mistakes that could cost a lot to him, but finally he decided to entered pits and change bike a ittle earlier, and it was the right (non)choice...
"I'm very happy because that was a really hard race. I chose to use a hard rain tyre but after a few laps it felt too hard and twice I ended up in the gravel, losing me a lot of time. I changed to the bike with the slicks and, when I exited the pits, I thought my race was over but I continued to push. When I saw on my pit board I was in second I was really surprised but to be on the podium in Japan for Kawasaki and Bridgestone is perfect. And I'm really grateful to my crew because they've worked so hard to help me get here."
Randy De Puniet will leave Kawasaki at the end of the season, he will ride for Honda and Luccio Cecchinello with a RC212V with Michelin tyres. Let's hope that he will be competitive but before that, that this podium was a clic in his mind to make as good or better for the last GP's.
Toni Elias, the end of the nightmare
Since Assen and his fémur injurie, Elias did not found his level of the past. Back on track at Brno the spaniard could not find either the confidence, major element of competitivity.
His return at the top, he had to wait it to last Sunday and the Japan GP.
He had a very good race strategy and change his bike at the right moment to climb in the Top 3.
Lap after lap he saw Guintoli catching him but stay calm and even better made the best lap of the race two laps before the end.
"I’m really happy to be back on the podium. This is an incredible result after the accident at Assen. It’s been a tough couple of months for me and this was a nice reward. I got a good start but I lost a few positions and found myself some way back. I didn’t have anything to lose so I came in early to change bikes. It proved to be the perfect time and the perfect strategy. In general it has been a perfect day, following on from a difficult weekend and a particularly tough race.”
Disappointements
How can not begin by Valentino Rossi. At the end he just can blame himself.
Fast at the begining, he was too obstinate and stay on track when the other riders were changing their bikes. He was like 5 sec less fast that Capirossi and when he rejoined the race with his slick mounted bike, he was so uncomfortable that he re entered pits to check if there was no problems.
He made several mistakes before find the right rythm, but it was too late. It's a rece to forget, a real fiasco.
“It’s a great pity for us how everything has turned out this weekend, because in the dry we were faster than Stoner and we could have had a good chance. The first problem today was the weather this morning, but actually we were able to find a good setting for the bike and when the race started we were quite hopeful. I got a bad start but on the drying track I had the fastest pace and I was able to make up five seconds to the leaders. After I passed Melandri (who entered pits) I came into the box to change and maybe this was one lap too late, but our strategy was more or less okay because I was able to come back into the race with only Loris in front of me. We had an intermediate front tyre, a slick cut which is normal in these situations, but the bike was almost impossible for me to ride and turn and it felt like there was something seriously wrong. I came back in but my mechanics could see there was nothing wrong so I went straight out again, and by then it was too late; the race was over for me and the championship was gone. After four or five laps the tyre began to work better and I was able to keep going to the end, but without this problem it would have been possible for me to be on the podium or even to fight for the win with Loris. The conditions were very unfortunate. However this is racing and now we have three more races and we will do our best to find a way to win and end the season on a high note. I’m really sorry for my fans and for everyone in the team.
But Valentino is fair play and tall some words for the champion and the race winner :
"Congratulations to Loris but especially to Casey on becoming world champion. I am very flattered that he made a dedication to me on his victory t-shirt, (Ducati made t-shirts for the title and put some of the heroes riders of Casey Stoner) if someone else has to win then I am glad it’s one of my fans! He is a great rival and I hope that we can continue this rivalry into the future."
The other rider very disappointed is Dani Pedrosa. He mad the pole position and dominated all practice sessions. The spaniard could stay at the front at the begining of the race.
But him too was obstinate, and stay for too long on track with rain tyres. Before he could entered pits, Dani Pedrosa made a small mistake and was forced to stop.
He made a high side and jump over his bike, now the problem is to be sure that he will be fit for Astralia. A retiremen that also make the game of Rossi...
“Well this is obviously a very disappointing finish to what had been a promising weekend until this morning. In the dry we seemed to have a very good package, but the drying track for the race turned things into a bit of a lottery. Still, I made a good start and felt reasonably comfortable in the early laps of the race. I was able to catch back up to the leaders but then fell in the last chicane. I don’t really know what happened, the back just snapped around even before I had given any throttle. With hindsight, perhaps I should have come into the pits a little earlier, but that’s an easier call to make now than at the time. We can certainly take some positives from this race even though the result is disappointing for me and the team. I think we had a good chance of winning if it had stayed dry so we must just continue trying for the final races. The more worrying thing for me right now is that it feels like I have broken a bone in my left foot. I will have more x-rays and really hope I’m fit for the next race in Australia. Congratulations to Casey on the championship. He has been very strong all season and really deserves the title today.”
So you understood it, this GP was a bit strange, like a lottery but where the smartest and brave rider win. The one who will change his bike at the right time (and not as soon as possible like Kurtis Roberts ). A Japan GP who was the place of the Title for Stoner and also a race that show that Ducati will be for sure World Champion at the manufacturere championship... This season will be for sure historical.
Championship world standings :
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 297
2. 
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 188
4. John Hopkins (USA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 156
5. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 152
6. Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda Gresini 148
7. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team 135
8. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team 112
9. 
10. Alex Barros (BRA) Pramac d'Antin 91
11. Toni Elias (SPA) Honda Gresini 87
12. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team 78
13. Alex Hofmann (GER) Pramac d'Antin 65
14. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki 54
15. Carlos Checa (SPA) Honda LCR 49
16. 
17. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Konica Minolta Honda 42
18. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 37
19. Kurtis Roberts (USA) Team Roberts 10
20. M Fabrizio (ITA) Honda Gresini 6
21. Roger Hayden (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team 6
22. Fonsi Nieto (SPA) Kawasaki Racing Team 5
23. Kenny Roberts Jr (USA) Team Roberts 4
24. Olivier Jacque (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team 4
25. S Ito (JPN) Pramac d'Antin 1
Article : Aurélien Filippi
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