Steady Improvements Mark Japanese GP Race for IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia
Mobility Resort MotegiIDEMITSU Honda Team Asia completed Round 17 of the Moto2 World Championship at Mobility Resort Motegi, with both riders delivering determined performances and clear signs of progress in front of the passionate Japanese fans.
Mario Aji faced an uphill challenge after receiving a grid penalty for slow riding in qualifying, forcing him to start from the last position in P28. Then the Indonesian rider launched a strong opening half of the race, climbing into the top 20. In the closing laps, the early effort affected him physically, and he crossed the line in 21st place. While points remained just out of reach, the weekend again demonstrated his fighting spirit and ability to recover against the odds.
On the other side of the garage, home hero Yuki Kunii produced one of his best performances of the season. Starting 25th, the Japanese rider managed his race with patience and composure, running close to the top 20 throughout. In the final stages, he overtook his teammate and continued to gain ground, securing 18th place at the checkered flag. Just three positions away from his first championship point, Kunii's ride reflected his steady improvement and strong mindset, boosted by the support of his home crowd. With both riders showing progress, the team now turns its attention to the Indonesian Grand Prix next weekend, where confidence is high for another step forward.
This weekend we had a demanding race here in Motegi. Mario started from the very last position due to a penalty, but he did not let that stop him. He pushed hard at the beginning, recovered many places, and showed he can fight in the group around the top 20. In the final laps the pace dropped, which is normal after such an intense start, but overall we saw encouraging signs of progress.
For Yuki, I think this was one of his best races of the season. He stayed calm, managed the tires well, and made consistent progress throughout. Overtaking Mario in the closing laps and finishing 18th shows the steps he is taking. The support from the fans gave him extra motivation, and he delivered a strong ride in return. Both riders are moving in the right direction, and we aim to keep building on this momentum in Mandalika.
This weekend we had a demanding race here in Motegi. Mario started from the very last position due to a penalty, but he did not let that stop him. He pushed hard at the beginning, recovered many places, and showed he can fight in the group around the top 20. In the final laps the pace dropped, which is normal after such an intense start, but overall we saw encouraging signs of progress.
For Yuki, I think this was one of his best races of the season. He stayed calm, managed the tires well, and made consistent progress throughout. Overtaking Mario in the closing laps and finishing 18th shows the steps he is taking. The support from the fans gave him extra motivation, and he delivered a strong ride in return. Both riders are moving in the right direction, and we aim to keep building on this momentum in Mandalika.
This was a very special race for me because it was my home GP, and I felt the support of the Japanese fans all weekend. Starting from P25 was not easy, but I stayed patient, managed the tires, and kept my pace. I spent most of the race close to the top 20, and in the last laps, I felt stronger and was able to overtake Mario and a few more riders. I finished 18th, which is my best result so far this season, and I am proud of the way we fought.
Of course, being so close to scoring a point makes me even more motivated. The gap to the riders ahead is getting smaller, and this shows that step by step we are improving. I want to thank the team for their support and the fans who gave me incredible energy this weekend. Now I will take this result to Indonesia, where I feel confident and ready to keep building.
This was a very special race for me because it was my home GP, and I felt the support of the Japanese fans all weekend. Starting from P25 was not easy, but I stayed patient, managed the tires, and kept my pace. I spent most of the race close to the top 20, and in the last laps, I felt stronger and was able to overtake Mario and a few more riders. I finished 18th, which is my best result so far this season, and I am proud of the way we fought.
Of course, being so close to scoring a point makes me even more motivated. The gap to the riders ahead is getting smaller, and this shows that step by step we are improving. I want to thank the team for their support and the fans who gave me incredible energy this weekend. Now I will take this result to Indonesia, where I feel confident and ready to keep building.
It was a tough race for me. The feeling with the bike was okay, but after about 10 laps I struggled to keep consistency, which was disappointing. I know the bike and the team gave me everything this weekend-it was on my side that I wasn't able to maximize the potential.
It has been one of the roughest weekends for me, but I want to take the positives, learn, and understand how to improve myself for the next races. I want to thank the team because they worked so hard and gave me full support throughout the weekend. Now I'm looking ahead to my home race in Mandalika. It won't be easy, but I'm excited to perform in front of the Indonesian fans.
It was a tough race for me. The feeling with the bike was okay, but after about 10 laps I struggled to keep consistency, which was disappointing. I know the bike and the team gave me everything this weekend-it was on my side that I wasn't able to maximize the potential.
It has been one of the roughest weekends for me, but I want to take the positives, learn, and understand how to improve myself for the next races. I want to thank the team because they worked so hard and gave me full support throughout the weekend. Now I'm looking ahead to my home race in Mandalika. It won't be easy, but I'm excited to perform in front of the Indonesian fans.
