MotoGP, Nakagami: "I'm quitting at the right time. I can't wait to return to Japan."

He crossed his last MotoGP finish line 17th: that's how how Takaaki Nakagami ended the Montmelo GP, his last effort before his retirement from racing and his long-awaited and longed-for return to his homeland.

"I'm happy to have finished the race. That was my priority. The result wasn't so good, but I'm glad I made it. I've been with the LCR team seven seasons, and now I can't wait to start the new job. The celebration after the checkered flag with the team was something special. It was the best day of my career. I thank Cecchinello for this long period we shared," the Japanese rider said.

From now on, no anxiety, but a slower pace and, especially, less travel. "Pressure is part of the race weekend, and now I won't have it anymore. I'll have more freedom and maybe more solitude on test days. Personally, I've really loved this job were it not for the travel and, if I had the chance, I'd continue for years. I'd love to bring HRC back to the front, but it was still the best time. to say enough being back from an up-and-down season. Living in Europe wasn't easy and especially the initial adjustment. I suffered a lot from being away from home but, starting next week, I'll return to Japan and enjoy my free time more. I'm curious to see what's going to change and whether I'll find something to do as a hobby. Finally, I won't have to go to the airport all the time, and I won't have to do the same things all the time," he admitted.

He's away from the competition but not from the track. "Now I'll talk to Honda. I know they want to do several tests, maybe in Europe or Malaysia. We'll find out soon. Achance to do some wild cards? I think so, although I don't know where and how many. I'll ask top management what the plans are for the next few months. If they tell me to go, I'll have to," he asserted.

And, on the progress Honda has made, he glossed over the question: "Until mid world championship, we were always at the bottom. But, in the last five, six races, we've  improved in terms of speed, and this has allowed us to get closer to the top ten or at least the top fifteen, something that was initially impossible. This means that the team has made progress. We'll see how the new bike goes. I'll be in the paddock on Tuesday, so I'll be able to see it from the outside and hear the commentd of the riders."