Motegi, 28 September 2008: after yesterdays good qualifying session result, LCR Honda MotoGP racer Randy De Puniet made a good start from the 8th place for the 24-lap race at Twin Ring Motegi race track getting the 12th position overall. The fifteenth round of the season, which saw Rossi winning the 2008 World Championship, started today at 14:00 local time and was held in dry conditions although a threatening sky welcomed the premier class riders this morning.

The Frenchman aboard the Michelin-shod Honda RC212V nr. 14 did a good start from the third row but was trapped in the first corner ending the first lap in 14th position. After that Randy tried to set his pace but struggled a lot with rear grip and, in the last laps of the race, his injured wrist started to ache a lot. The 27-year-old managed to finish the race but he honestly expected a better result at the Japanese circuit.

De Puniet – 12th: “Honestly we expected a better race here. I made a good start but in the first corner Dovizioso braked to late and went a bit wide. I tried to pass him in the inside but some riders overtook me because did not have enough corner speed. So I lost few places finishing the first lap in 14th place. After that I tried to remain concentrated but the bike started to slide. However at 4 laps to go I caught Hopkins and Toseland but was impossible for me to pass them. Besides my wrist started to ache a lot and did my best to finish the race”.

Race:

1 Rossi
2 Stoner
3 Pedrosa
4 Lorenzo
5 Hayden
6 Capirossi
7 Edwards
8 Nakano
9 Dovizioso
10 Hopkins
11 Toseland
12 De Puniet
13 Melandri
14 Guintoli
15 West
16 Elias
17 De Angelis

OUT: Vermeulen, Akiyoshi