The 2024 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix will mark Takaaki Nakagami’s last home appearance in the discipline, with the Japanese preparing to hand over his seat to Somkiat Chantra for the 2025 season. stage, very attached to this event like the thousands of fans who welcomed him on the sidelines of the weekend.
While Honda will defend its interests at home this weekend at the Motegi circuit, the Japanese factory will perform at home for the last time with Takaaki Nakagami, after years of collaboration.
A weekend that the main party announces as both
“sad and moving, but special” when he was asked about his impressions before the start of hostilities at a press conference this Thursday.
“This will be my last home Grand Prix, at least as a full-time driver,
Takaaki Nakagami. But for the moment, I have the impression that it doesn’t change anything compared to before. Obviously it’s something special, because it’s my home Grand Prix, but nothing more. Day by day it will be a little different, but for the moment it’s okay, I don’t feel anything different. »To compete in the event, the local hero chose to wear a flowery helmet, to say the least, which pays homage to the culture of his country.
“This time I wanted to change a little, even completely change. It’s more of a kind of fall style, it’s not that simple, he continues. Then there is the Motegi layout design on one side. As well as the words: ‘Japanese Grand Prix, limited edition’. I like it, because it’s a completely different idea, with changing colors. So I love it. »
While waiting for the weekend sessions to begin, Nakagami took part in numerous activities with his peers, to whom he notably gave some Japanese lessons. Last week, in Indonesia, Johann Zarco’s teammate said he was rather optimistic about achieving good performances at home before bowing out. ” HAS Motegi I know the circuit very well, and it’s my last Grand Prix at home, so I will try to be super motivated, and not overdrive. »
As a reminder, Japanese fans will not have to do without a representative in MotoGP next year, since Ai Ogura, current leader of the Moto2 World Championship, has formalized his promotion to the premier category in the ranks of Trackhouse Racing from the next campaign.
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