[Webike Team Norick] All Japan Road Race Championship Series the 5th round / MFJ Cup the 3rd round

 
• Event Name: All Japan Road Race Championship Series the 5th round / 2016 MFJ Cup the 3rd round
• Category: J-GP2 / JP250
• Dates: Friday, June 24 – Sunday, June 26
• Venue: Sports Land SUGO (Miyagi Prefecture)
• Course: Dry

 
Under unstable weather conditions during the rainy season, All Japan Road Race Championship Series the 5th round in SUGO was held.
Two riders participated from Team Norick: Kamiwada in J-GP2 class and Miu Nakahara in MFJ Cup JP250 class. MFJ Cup was held at the same time as All Japan Road Race Championship.
Bad weather continued until the day of the final and it was extremely difficult to set up the machines to the full extent.

 
Kamiwada hit 1’31.391 and broke his own record in the qualifier race, but, what he got was the 9th position.
In the final, Kamiwada recorded 1’31.003 and broke his best record again.
However, he ended up the 6th prize because of the thick wall against the competitive J-GP2.
Kamiwada was the second place in overall ranking of best lap time in the final. He came close to the place as far as time is concerned; one more step.

 
Nakahara didn’t make it through the qualifier with the time of 2′ 2.386 because the tire choice worked negatively.
She ended up with a remorseful result.

 
As the halfway point in this season is coming close, how will the two riders apply their challenges and experience gained so far to their future races?
We want to expect the young riders’ development and will support them with all our efforts.
Thank you very much for your continued supports and warm cheers!

 

 

Comments from Kamiwada

Because the weather and conditions were unstable since the preliminary test, I didn’t make it all the test menus to a satisfactory extent.
Under such conditions, I concentrated on intense training runs and my time was gradually but surely improved.
During the race week, my conditions were not good but not bad; it was like “normal.”

I recorded my best time in a qualifier, however, I was placed in the 9th position.
I was somewhat with woolly-minded and lackluster feelings until the qualifier was over.
Yet, I had a strong feeling that “I can do a bit more” from the preliminary test through free ridings on the previous day, and even after the qualifier.

Toward the final, I had confidence that “I can improve my time more” and came into the race with a strong feeling.
In the final, I could take a better position at the start and follow the top group in the early stage.

When it came to the middle stage, the tires wore down and it was difficult to increase the speed. In the result, I finished the race in the 6th place.

My points to overcome in this race are apparent:
My persistence was not enough in the last half when conditions become severe, I couldn’t complete my machine setup in the early stage of the race week, and I couldn’t bring myself to higher conditions.
I will do my best so that I can overcome these points by the next race!

I was encouraged by the result that I won the 6th prize without turnover and accidents under difficult circumstances with a little running time from the test through the race.

My next race will be 2&4 at Motegi again after two-month summer brake.
I will train hard and do my best so that I can stand on the podium!!
I thank a lot of fans, team mates, sponsors for their many supports as always!!
I will get the podium in the next race!!

Takumi Kamiwada

 

 

 

 

photo by Ishizaki Nobuki , Komai Toshiyuki