The Japanese mentality will definitely never cease to surprise us!
When, after 111 participations in Grand Prix, the one who often shone in Moto2 without ever being able to achieve success at Italtrans finally manages to score his first victory after having achieved the best warm-up time 4 times in a row, the Idemitsu Honda rider begins his press release with excuses.
A humility that, apart undoubtedly from Japanese culture, we can also relate to the pressure suffered throughout these two and a half years spent in a very pampered team and financed by the giant Honda which expected good results in return. more concrete than those obtained so far.
Coming back to the Chiba native’s race; we will also notice that he does not have not at all the same appreciation of the last laps as Johann Zarco. But, with the arrival of the red flag, we will never know who was right, and ultimately it doesn't matter: #30 is delighted with his first victory while #5 is delighted to take the lead in the championship!
The last Japanese victory dates back to 2010 with Takahashi in Catalunya on the Mistral Tech3.
Takaaki Nakagami: “Je suis désolé, en particulier pour les fans japonais, de les avoir fait attendre si longtemps pour la victoire! Maintenant, je suis monté sur la plus haute marche du podium aujourd’hui, pour la première fois de ma carrière en Grand Prix. Nous avions un bon avantage en rythme de course et j’ai pris plaisir à gérer l’écart durant tout la course. La seule chose que j’ai ratée aujourd’hui, c’est de voir le drapeau à damier sur la ligne d’arrivée, mais néanmoins, au regard la pluie torrentielle qui tombait à ce moment, je pense que mettre le drapeau rouge était la bonne décision. Je tiens à remercier mon team, ma famille, et tous les sponsors qui m’ont toujours aidé.”
