US MotoGP: Hayden leads American 1-2

Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda, 7th: “In the first turn of the race I had to leave the inside of the track to Barros and Nakano that have both touched me on the left side of the bike. I have seriously risked to fall, but somehow I made it to remain on my bike even if I lost precious time and some positions. While I was overtaking Nakano, at the end of the race, I have may cut the turn too much, touching with my left hand the rubber pole which delimit the circuit and this has blocked me for some successive turns. The RC211V and the tyres have been effective, allowing me to recuperate various positions. My feeling with the bike, in the final part of the race, with the tank almost empty and therefore lighter is surely improving. I consider this race for me and for the Team a positive experience, in fact is only from now that I am in good physical conditions after a series of disturbing inconveniences.”

Gianluca Montiron, Konica Minolta Honda Director: “All in all a satisfying race for us. A honourable seventh place in a competitive race. Makoto is recovering his physical condition and notwithstanding the last week medical operation to his right forearm he has gone through, he made it to maintain a good rhythm during the all race. This has been for us one of the first races of the season where we have raced in almost optimal conditions and this make us look in a positive way the rest of the season. We consider this the starting base to obtain those results that we all aim.”

John Hopkins, Suzuki, 8th place: “I’m disappointed, it’s definitely not where we wanted to finish. I got passed by a few in the beginning and it’s so hard to make the passes back. I ended up having to stick where I was, I tried for the longest time to get past Bayliss and it just didn’t come along.

“With the higher temperatures we had to use a harder tyre that we hadn’t really got on with all weekend and I didn’t feel too comfortable on it. I wanted to put on a good show for the fans and I’m sure I did as I was sliding around a lot all race. It’s good to see American riders one and two at their home GP, I just wish it was me.”

Tak Hayasaki, Group Leader Suzuki Motorcycle Planning Department: “This is the first time I have been to a MotoGP and was very impressed by how well the team works. It has great organisation and operation and the teamwork is very good, but the competition is very tough here. I realise that we need to get better but the time is so quick and we will have to do everything we can to get a better result.

“This visit is going to be a great asset for me. I have been very impressed with the promotion of the team and the support from Red Bull, but we are definitely looking for better results and I think step by step it’s not easy at all. I think we can do it, we will try 100%.”

Paul Denning, Suzuki Team Manager: “It looked like a frantic and hard race for all the top guys at the USGP. Starting from the second row, John stuck his Red Bull Suzuki right into the thick of the action in the early laps and hung in with the front running group. He got involved in a race-long battle with the Hondas of Bayliss and Tamada and it’s a testament to the way he is improving as a rider that he hung in there and didn’t make a mistake all race.

“We are still searching for a bit more torque and more grip. Bridgestone assisted us with the right choice of race tyre which stayed consistent to the end of the race, but maybe didn’t have the extra grip that John needed to stay in the mid-24s, which he was capable of doing in the shorter runs during the practice sessions. I’m sure Bridgestone will take the lessons learned from here and keep improving as we keep improving. The Suzuki GSV-R performed well here at Laguna and ran all weekend without missing a beat.

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