GP of JAPAN: OPENER FOR ANNUAL ASIA/AUSTRALIAN TRIP
This weekend’s Grand Prix of Japan, round 15 of the 18 races including calendar, marks not only the opener for the annual October flyaways but also the opening round for the final stage of the 2015 World Championship.
It isn’t something new for Stefan Bradl with the three back-to-back races this month but this time he will encounter somewhat of new experiences when he will visit the circuits in Japan, Australia and Malaysia aboard his factory Aprilia RS-GP for the first time. Nevertheless, Bradl looks forward with confidence to his upcoming tasks in Japan because the demanding track layout at the Twin Ring Motegi suits Bradl riding style well. Beyond that, the 25-year Bavarian looks back to a great victory in 2008 and for this he is eager to make something better than last time out at Aragon where he endured complicated days of practice as well some tyre issues forced him to slow down his pace during the race.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia) – World Championship-position 20 (11 points):
“After a good trip to Japan I look forward with confidence to the Motegi round where I won the 125cc race in 2008 which was my second Grand Prix victory at this time. So I have good memories to the Motegi circuit but I like the track’s layout in any case and in particular, it suits my riding style with many hard breaking points. We have taken some good steps forwards recently: race by race I feel more comfortable with the team and I’m learning how to exploit the bike’s potential better and better, so I think we will be able to do well this weekend. Considering the fact that all of my practice session went very complicated last time out at Aragon, I hope to be able to start off strong straight away from Friday morning and in doing so to prepare as well as possible for Sunday’s race.“
Moto2™ Time Schedule for the GP of Japan (CET):
Friday, 9 October: 03:55 – 04:40 FP1
Friday, 9 October: 08:05 – 08:50 FP2
Saturday, 10 October: 03:55 – 04:40 FP3
Saturday, 10 October: 06:30 – 07:00 FP4
Saturday, 10 October: 07:10 – 07:25 QP1
Saturday, 10 October: 07:35 – 07:50 QP2
Sunday, 11 October: 02:40 – 03:00 Warm Up
Sunday, 11 October: 07:00 Race (24 laps – 115,2 km)
Facts Twin Ring Motegi:
First time venue for the GP of Japan: 1999
Length: 4.801 meters
Width: 15 meters
Longest Straight: 762 meters
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 8
Best MotoGP™ Pole-Position: 1´32.915 (2013)
MotoGP™ Circuit lap record: 1´33.906 (2013)
Stefan Bradl‘s Results 2014: Startplatz 9 / 7th
MotoGP™ World Standing 2015:
1 Valentino ROSSI / SPA / Yamaha / 263
2 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Yamaha / 249
3 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Honda / 184
20 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia / 11