The LCR Honda rider concluded his season with another solid result at Portimao and will be one to watch closely in 2021.
Takaaki Nakagami will not have managed to achieve his first podium in MotoGP this year, but he has certainly shown his consistency and his potential by getting closer than ever. With a final 10th place in the Championship, he has reached a milestone and can finally hope to achieve his goal next season.
He once again proved his solidity in the race this Sunday with a new top 5 which he really sought by fighting with six drivers, including Johann Zarco and Andrea Dovizioso. Slightly in difficulty at the start of the race, he was able to gradually recover and have the last word to cross the finish line leading the chasing group.
It is therefore only a postponement for the podium since the Japanese driver will continue with the same team in 2021. “First of all, I want to thank my team because this season has been relatively tough with almost no breaks but they prepared my bike for me, it was always perfect and I appreciate each and every one of them so thank you”, did he declare. “I thank all my sponsors for their support. And I want to thank Cal again because it was his last race with the LCR Honda team. Cal has been a great teammate throughout my three years on the team and I wish him the best for the future. »
“Today it was difficult to find a strategy during the race. It's hard to build something from 11th place but I got off to a good start and was strong from the start. The race was very competitive and in the end I had good times and we took another fifth position and I am very happy with that. Compared to my performance last year, we have passed a big milestone this season so I would like to thank my team again for their work. We are already thinking about next year. I think we can still take a step forward and maybe fight for the championship, that's my goal. See you next year ! »
MotoGP Portimão J3: Ranking
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
