For the second round of the MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship held at Mobility Resort Motegi (Tochigi) on April 13-14, 300 employees and their families came out to support the race, which enjoyed fine weather for both days.
Although this was the first race for all classes except the JSB1000 class, Kazuma Watanabe in the ST1000 class had to miss the race due to injury.
In Saturday's JSB1000 class Race 1, Kota Nozane started from 4th on the grid. He had to ride with a spare machine due to a problem that occurred just before the race, but got a good start and went into the 2nd corner in the lead. He was passed by two Yamahas and a Ducati, dropping him to 4th, but was able to hold off the rest of the pack and finish in 4th place, which was the top for Honda riders.
In Sunday‘s Race 2, an accident on the third lap forced a red flag. After a quick restart he was in 3rd, but was unable to improve his pace in the final stages of the race and finished in 5th place. In the ST1000 class, Kosuke Sakumoto got a good start in the final race and led the opening lap, dropping to 2nd on the second lap, and was able to finish the race in 2nd for his first podium finish of this season.
In the J-GP3 class, Burupa Wanmoon was involved in a crash right after the start and had to retire. Thanachat Pratumtong, who was racing overseas for the first time, was 11th on lap 8 and gradually positioned up to finish 9th, earning his first points.