The fifth round of the 2008 MotoGP season took place today at the French circuit of Le Mans. Yuki Takahashi put in a race full of commitment once more, confirming to the competition that he is a rider with a very strong character. The start of today’s 250GP was delayed a little thanks to the rain, which affected the 125cc GP. The JiR Team Scot rider quickly took his 12th place on the grid, and from the start put in a series of laps in which he made many passes on the other riders to take second position on just the third lap. The condition of the track was precarious but the circuit got drier and there was more grip with every lap so that by the finish the whole circuit was dry. Only in the final laps was the Japanese rider that lives in Cattolica passed, but he tried valiantly to defend his position from Pasini and Simoncelli but in the end he took fourth position returning to the pits to applause from his team.
Cirano Mularoni – Team Manager, JiR Team Scot
“Yuki proved again today that he has the ability and capacity to fight for the podium. He had an aggressive race all in ‘full attack’ mode and with good style on the wet asphalt he really made the difference. The team has worked well together with Yuki and have prepared the bike excellently. We are sorry that he couldn’t make the podium that was literally in our hands but we are satisfied because we take some more very important points and in the championship we are still fourth.”
Yuki Takahashi – Rider, JiR Team Scot 250GP
Final position: 4th - 6th
Best lap: 1’ 40.275”
“I started very well in the wet conditions and I overtook a lot of riders. The bike was very well prepared by the team and during the warm-up we took the time to verify the settings of the Honda and that they were correct. During the race the asphalt began to dry but I looked and could see that one corner was still a little damp but I had no reference with the other riders about how fast to go through the corner and I didn’t want to take a risk to fall and lose the points. I think that at that point on the track I was losing some time to the other riders but after Pasini and Simoncelli came past on the straight it was difficult to keep contact with them. I would like to have been on the podium today to make right the fact that we didn’t have the rostrum in China, but the next time out at our home race in Mugello I want to make amends.”
Gianni Berti – Technical Co-ordinator, JiR Team Scot
“After the practice with the changing weather and climatic conditions this morning in the warm-up we were certain that Yuki was in the position to make a good race. The bike was well prepared and Yuki had high morale and was ready to do the best he could and give 100%. We are satisfied with the results because the performance in the race confirms the good work of the team and the good condition of the rider and that encourages us to continue in this way.”
