Nakagami Falls Short in Motegi as Honda Progress Shine

Honda HRC Test Team rider shows strong pace before crash ends his race early.

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It was heartbreak for Takaaki Nakagami at his home round in Motegi, as the Honda HRC Test Team wildcard rider suffered an unfortunate DNF while battling inside the points on Sunday.

Starting from 19th on the grid, Nakagami made steady progress through the field and was locked in a close fight with Jack Miller when disaster struck at Turn 10. Attempting an overtake, the Japanese rider ran wide and lost control, bringing his race to an abrupt end.

Nakagami Reflects on a Mixed Weekend

Speaking after the race, Nakagami admitted frustration but also highlighted the positives from the weekend:

“A little bit frustrating to not finish the race. I was trying to pass Miller and I ran off at Turn 10 and couldn’t restart. Before that I was happy with my performance and the bike was feeling better than Saturday. Overall it has been a good weekend, the podium for Joan is really fantastic and inside the Test Team we have done a lot of good work. The RC213V is clearly better than last year and we will keep working to improve it again.”

Honda’s Progress Continues

While Nakagami’s race ended early, Honda still had cause for celebration as Joan Mir delivered a podium finish, marking a rare highlight in a challenging season.

For Nakagami, the focus now shifts back to his role in Honda’s development program, as he resumes private testing duties to continue refining the RC213V.

Despite the disappointment, his performance in front of the home fans showed encouraging signs of progress for both rider and manufacturer.