Race
Moto2 2026
Round 16
Double DNF Ends Difficult Japanese GP for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia
Mobility Resort MotegiThe 16th round of the 2026 Moto2 World Championship ended in disappointment for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, with both Mario Suryo Aji and Taiyo Furusato not finishing the Japanese Grand Prix Race at Mobility Resort Motegi. A dramatic start to the day saw Aji crash during the sighting lap, but the team worked quickly to repair his machine and allow him to take his place on the grid. However, both riders would ultimately crash during the race.
Aji, starting from P21, was able to take the start after the team completed an impressive repair job in a very short period of time. The Indonesian rider settled into the race and was fighting around the points positions before crashing at Turn 5, ending his home-region Grand Prix prematurely.
On the other side of the garage, Furusato made a progressive start from P20 and joined the fight around the points-paying positions. The Japanese rookie felt he had the pace to move further forward, with the riders ahead beginning to drop back, but after experiencing an unusual feeling during the final laps, he crashed at Turn 5 and was unable to finish his home Grand Prix.
It was a difficult and disappointing conclusion to the Japanese Grand Prix, but both riders and the team will now turn their attention to analysing the weekend and understanding what can be improved. The Asian Tour continues immediately next weekend at Mandalika, where Aji will contest his home Grand Prix and Honda Team Asia will look to bounce back strongly.
Hiroshi Aoyama
⠀ ⠀ ⠀
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia It was a very tough race for us, almost like a nightmare. We had 19 laps, and both riders started from P20 and P21. Before the race, Mario had a crash on the sighting lap, which created a very unusual situation for us. The mechanics did an amazing job to repair the bike and get him back on the grid in time, so it was a big effort from the whole team.
Both riders made a good start and were fighting around P17, but they were stuck in a group and it was difficult for them to overtake and make progress. Then, around Lap 9, Taiyo had some kind of issue and crashed at Turn 5. Mario also crashed at Turn 5 later in the race, so unfortunately neither rider could finish.
It was very tough for us to see this result at our home Grand Prix. There is not much more to say today. We need to be stronger for the next race and recover from this situation. I want to thank our sponsors, our supporters and all the team members for their hard work.Now we go to Mandalika next week, and we need to reset, recharge and come back stronger.
It was a very tough race for us, almost like a nightmare. We had 19 laps, and both riders started from P20 and P21. Before the race, Mario had a crash on the sighting lap, which created a very unusual situation for us. The mechanics did an amazing job to repair the bike and get him back on the grid in time, so it was a big effort from the whole team.
Both riders made a good start and were fighting around P17, but they were stuck in a group and it was difficult for them to overtake and make progress. Then, around Lap 9, Taiyo had some kind of issue and crashed at Turn 5. Mario also crashed at Turn 5 later in the race, so unfortunately neither rider could finish.
It was very tough for us to see this result at our home Grand Prix. There is not much more to say today. We need to be stronger for the next race and recover from this situation. I want to thank our sponsors, our supporters and all the team members for their hard work.Now we go to Mandalika next week, and we need to reset, recharge and come back stronger.
Mario Aji
64
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia It’s a shame. The crash on the sighting lap happened suddenly and I don’t really know why I crashed. Luckily, the mechanics were able to repair the bike. They did an amazing job, especially with such a short time before the race, and they made it possible for me to start.
In these last two races, I feel that I have been riding at a good pace, a pace that should allow me to fight for points or even better positions. But the results haven’t come yet, and sometimes the luck has not been on our side.
I need to stay positive, even in these difficult moments. I’m already looking forward to my home Grand Prix in Indonesia. I just want to repay the team for everything they have done this weekend by riding without any pressure and trying to deliver the result that we know we can achieve. I’m really excited to race at home. Sooner or later the result will come. I just need to keep pushing and keep going. Thank you to the team and everyone for the support.
It’s a shame. The crash on the sighting lap happened suddenly and I don’t really know why I crashed. Luckily, the mechanics were able to repair the bike. They did an amazing job, especially with such a short time before the race, and they made it possible for me to start.
In these last two races, I feel that I have been riding at a good pace, a pace that should allow me to fight for points or even better positions. But the results haven’t come yet, and sometimes the luck has not been on our side.
I need to stay positive, even in these difficult moments. I’m already looking forward to my home Grand Prix in Indonesia. I just want to repay the team for everything they have done this weekend by riding without any pressure and trying to deliver the result that we know we can achieve. I’m really excited to race at home. Sooner or later the result will come. I just need to keep pushing and keep going. Thank you to the team and everyone for the support.
Taiyo Furusato
72
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia It’s really disappointing, especially because this was my home Grand Prix. We suddenly had a problem during the race, which we didn’t expect, and unfortunately it ended with the crash. Before that, I felt that I still had some room to push more. I was riding quite calmly and I was quite confident that I could catch the group around P15 because I could see that the riders ahead were starting to drop back. I felt that I had the pace to make some progress.
However, during the last two laps before the crash, I started to feel something strange with the bike. Then I crashed quite suddenly and went out of the race. It’s a real shame, especially here at home, but it happened and now we have to look forward. We need to focus on improving our performance and take the lessons from this weekend. Next week we go to Mandalika, so I want to reset, work hard with the team and try to have a stronger race there.
It’s really disappointing, especially because this was my home Grand Prix. We suddenly had a problem during the race, which we didn’t expect, and unfortunately it ended with the crash. Before that, I felt that I still had some room to push more. I was riding quite calmly and I was quite confident that I could catch the group around P15 because I could see that the riders ahead were starting to drop back. I felt that I had the pace to make some progress.
However, during the last two laps before the crash, I started to feel something strange with the bike. Then I crashed quite suddenly and went out of the race. It’s a real shame, especially here at home, but it happened and now we have to look forward. We need to focus on improving our performance and take the lessons from this weekend. Next week we go to Mandalika, so I want to reset, work hard with the team and try to have a stronger race there.
