Tech 3 confirms Japanese MotoGP attendance

Monster Yamaha Tech 3, which runs Colin Edwards and Cal Crutchlow, has become the first MotoGP team to announce that it will definitely participate in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Despite a recent report concluding that the radiation risk at Motegi - around 110km from the damaged Fukushima powerplant - is 'negligible', many leading riders are yet to make a final decision on whether they feel it is safe to attend.

A Tech 3 statement released on Saturday at Brno read: 

"After carefully considering the findings of a detailed independent report commissioned by Dorna into the possible risk of radiation contamination in the area surrounding the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, Colin Edwards, Cal Crutchlow and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team can confirm that unless there is a change in circumstances, they will compete in the Japanese MotoGP race on October 2."

Meanwhile, Edwards and Crutchlow will start Sunday's Brno race from eighth and eleventh on the grid.

Edwards made good set-up progress on Saturday.

“I'm much happier today with the performance of the bike and I need to say a big thanks to my crew again for their incredible work," he said. "Yesterday I just wasn't comfortable at all and had no feeling with the front or rear of the bike. I told my crew what I was feeling on the track and it is up to them to interpret that and try and improve the bike. And today they did an absolutely awesome job and I had a much better package."

Rookie Crutchlow lost places after a late crash.

“I'm happy on one hand because we made a big change to the bike to help it turn better and it was a really good step. But I'm a little disappointed on the other hand because I made a silly little mistake that probably cost me the chance to get on the third row," he said. 

"We were making some good progress with the new front set-up and I was faster in the first two splits than my previous best lap when I just ran in too hot at Turn 10. I should have just ran into the gravel but I tried to make the corner, squeezed the brake a bit harder and down I went."

source: crash.net

Grand Prix of Japan: Statement from the FIM

The FIM and Dorna Sports SL recently commissioned an independent report by a recognised body to investigate the current situation in Japan, in advance of the Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi which is scheduled to take place on 2 October.

This study is intended to complement the information already available from various Governments and the World Health Organisation, which addresses the general situation in Japan following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that occurred in March. This independent investigation reports specifically on the situation in Motegi and its environs, making it much more relevant to MotoGP participants.

The official detailed report will be delivered later this week, but a preliminary report has already been made available – with an original version in Italian and an English translation provided by the Championship organisers.

ARPA, the agency commissioned for this report, has measured levels of radiation from all sources including the air, environment and food. The final conclusion is that "based on the estimate dose it can be said with no doubt that the radiation risk during the race event is negligible".

Based on this information the FIM and Dorna Sports will announce later this week that, subject to there being no further serious incidents, the Grand Prix of Japan will take place on October 2 as planned.

Stoner, Lorenzo 'won’t go' to Japanese MotoGP

Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo, the two leading riders in the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, have announced that they will not race in the Japanese Grand Prix.

The bombshell came on Saturday at the Sachsenring and follows months of simmering anxiety among the riders over the risk of radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant. 

The Honda-owned Motegi circuit is just over 100km from the power plant, damaged during the earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. 

The FIM, Dorna, IRTA and the Motegi Circuit so far insist there is no reason for the race not to go ahead on its rescheduled October 2 date. 

The findings of an independent study into any radiation risk are due to be released later this month, but at least two of MotoGP's biggest stars will not attend the race regardless of the report's conclusions. 

"I will not go," said Stoner, during the Sachsenring post-qualifying press conference. 

"That's my opinion and I've had it for some time. Not as long as Jorge. I took more time to make my decision, but I will not go there. 

"I'm sure most riders are of the same opinion. That's my decision. I guess it's up to the organisers to figure out what's going to happen." 

Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa then avoided a definitive answer, before Lorenzo was given his chance to comment. 

"I took this decision [not to go to Japan] a long time ago," said Yamaha's reigning world champion. "So I am not active in the [ongoing discussions] about going to Japan because I have already made my decision." 

Stoner and Lorenzo rejected claims their decision contradicted the "With You Japan" stickers they carry on their bikes. 

"I don't think supporting someone and being in the same place is the same thing," said Stoner. "If a similar thing happened near my home in Australia I wouldn't be going back there. It'd be the same situation." 

"I really think if we go there things in Japan will not change," added Lorenzo. "If something like that happened in Spain I would not go either. I think if we can help Japan in another way we will, but I think going there is not real support." 

Stoner currently leads Lorenzo by 19 points in the world championship. Between them, they have won six of the eight races so far this year. 

A petition regarding concerns over the Motegi race had already been handed to MotoGP officials. 

It is said to contain the names of 16 of the 17 MotoGP riders (not Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama) and "90 percent" of the Moto2 riders.