TAKA BATTLES HARD FOR POINTS FINISH

IN CATALUNYA 6 June 2021 | Catalan GP

Race

LCR Honda IDEMITSU rider Takaaki Nakagami overcame adversity to claim a creditable

points finish at the Grand Prix of Catalunya. The Japanese star went off track in the early

stages of the race and was subsequently handed a long-lap penalty, which further damaged

his chances, but still managed to fight back and secure 13th position at Montmelo.

Although he qualified in 14th, Taka again demonstrated his potential at the circuit as he

went quickest in the morning warm-up session. But his hopes of moving through the field

at the start disappeared when he was unable to make the corner at turn one and he then

focused on finishing the race and securing valuable championship points.

Takaaki Nakagami – 13th

“At the beginning of the race, Iʼm not sure which lap, I couldnʼt stop at turn one and I went

straight on. I lost my position and some time and then after two laps I got a longlap

penalty. Afterwards, unfortunately, I got a second long lap penalty because I touched the

green limit line for a few centimetres.

Anyway, apart from that, our pace was not so bad until the middle of the race and, as you

saw, there were many crashes but we finished the race and we collected some points. So,

weʼll take the positives. We need to improve our bike package to use its full potential and

for this, tomorrow will be a very important test.”