Lorenzo: We will see how we are in some years…

MotoGP News
Date: 5/October/2011

After mild hysteria, from some quarters, the 2011 Japanese MotoGP passed off remarkably normally.

Just months earlier, the grand prix seemed in doubt as title leaders Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo headlined a rider rebellion by stating that they would not attend due to radiation fears.

The damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant is around 110km from the Motegi circuit, although independent reports insisted the radiation risk was 'negligible'. Stoner and Lorenzo, who ride for Japanese manufacturers Honda and Yamaha respectively, subsequently made a U-turn.

So too did Ducati's Valentino Rossi, MotoGP's biggest and most powerful name, who seemed content to let Stoner and Lorenzo be the public face of opposition for much of the debate, before suggesting that he too would not go when their resistance began to wane.

Ultimately Dorna (commercial rights), the FIM (Governing body) and IRTA (teams' association) held their nerve and were able to put on a show with all the uninjured MotoGP riders in place.

Stoner, who finished third in a race won by his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa, felt that the situation should have been handled better.

"The riders all got a lot of pressure many months ago, when the situation [in Japan] still wasn't clear," he said. "We all got our own opinions, from people we trust. The more time that passed, the more clear things became."

The only Motegi absentees were a few lesser known riders from the support classes, some mechanics and the majority of the Italian media.

However food and drink was imported by many teams to help sooth fears of contamination - and Lorenzo admitted he was only showering with bottled water.

"We are alright at the moment. We will see how we are in some years!" smiled the Spaniard, second in the grand prix. "Now we are ok and the situation seems ok, no radiation. Everything is good."

Stoner agreed with that assessment: "Everything here seems normal, but you don't see these things [contamination]. It's not easy to spot. But our trip here has been like normal and for sure next year will be clearer."

Given the destruction in the region, and the uncertainly hanging over the event, only 34,000 fans attended the race - but many held home-made signs thanking MotoGP for coming.

"My view about Japan has always been very good. I love Japan and I always like to be here," said Lorenzo.

The Japanese F1 Grand Prix will be held at Suzuka this weekend. The Suzuka circuit is around 400km from Fukushima.