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NAKASUGA PUTS THE YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM ON TOP AT SUZUKA

  |   News Racing

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team led the way on the second day at Suzuka, with Katsuyuki Nakasuga securing the top spot on the timesheet with an impressive lap time of 2’06.798 in this afternoon’s second hour-long practice session.

 

Hot and humid weather and heavier on track traffic greeted Nakasuga, Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark in the first of today’s two practice sessions. Unfazed by the tropical conditions and the additional bikes on track, the Yamaha trio were all quick to find their rhythm during their 20-minute stints, with their pace and consistency securing them second place on the timesheet with a lap time of 2’07.908.

 

The three Yamaha riders all completed this afternoon’s second hour-long free practice on used tyres and in full race trim, but that didn’t stop Nakasuga from improving on the team’s best lap from the morning session by over a second, with the Japanese ace the only rider to break the 2’07s barrier today. Nakasuga’s lap time of 2’06.798 ensured that the Yamaha Factory Racing Team, who are chasing a fifth consecutive victory at Suzuka this weekend, ended the second day at the top of the timesheet.

 

The Yamaha Factory Racing and YART Yamaha EWC teams will be back in action at Suzuka tomorrow, with free practice in the morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon and then night practice to round out the day.

 

Michael van der Mark – Yamaha Factory Racing Team: “For me today was still mostly about adapting to the bike and the tyres once again. This morning I went out on a new set of tyres for the first time and I felt so much better straight away, with a lot more confidence. My lap times were quick enough and, just as importantly, they were also consistent. Practice time was limited today, so none of us did that many laps, but the laps all three of us did do were both fast and consistent. I’m happy with what we’ve accomplished today. We were fastest overall, but for me the most important thing is that all three of us have a very good pace.”