The Grand Prix of Japan has been successfull for Yamaha, who collected the GP win in each class with Billy Mackenzie and Stefan Everts. Everts won both motos for this last Japanese appearance, while Mackenzie shares the wins with Antonio Cairoli.
There was no suspens in the MX1 class, as Stefan Everts was stronger than ever in Sugo. After his pole position on Saturday, he collected two holeshot and did impressive races on a demanding track. “I won my first title in 91 in Japan, and to end my career in Japan with a win is a great feeling for me. I’ve been racing so many times in Japan that I know many people from several manufacturers and once again I want to thanks all these Japanese people who supported me during my career. You told me that I won everything since the beginning of season, that’s true but I never look back, I will have time later. At the moment I always look ahead, and I have to keep this form. I would like to win everything this season, we’ll see what happens but that’s my goal. Today was a special day for me, I am happy to win as Yamaha is really much involved in this organisation and that’s a good way to thanks them for the support they gave me,” said Stefan Everts. Fourth and second Steve Ramon captured the second place, followed by Ken De Dycker who got his first ever podium, a Belgian one in fact.
The MX2 class was more exciting than the MX1, with four different riders on the podiums of the day. Winner of the first heat and third in the next one, Billy Mackenzie renewed his 2005 success, beating Antonio Cairoli and Marc De Reuver. “ It’s an incredible feeling to come here in Japan and to leave with the win! We’ve been working hard on the bike, we got some new parts from Rinaldi this weekend and the bike was working really good. The track was really nice, almost perfect you know and I need now to work on my starts. I just came here with my mechanic, it was good as I had no pression from anybody. I want to be top three every weekends now, I know that I can do it,” explained the British rider. De Reuver and Cairoli were leading the first race when both crashed in the opening lap, but they recovered pretty well to score a podium result. Fourth overall with a desastrous start in the second race, Christophe Pourcel is now leading the series by two points over De Reuver and fifteen over Rattray who crashed in the second race and retired with a damaged shoulder.