Track temperature can be around the 50-degree mark, making tyre choice crucial for a good result in qualifying and the race.

Sepang is a track that the team is familiar with as Team Manager Gianluca Montiron explained, “Malaysia is well known to us. We tested there during the winter and I think the machine has made a big step forward compared since then and so have the Michelin tyres so for this reason I expect to see some much better lap times from Shinya. We are very close now to the end of the season so we are aiming at our best results of the year from these last two races.”

Nakano agreed with his manager saying, “I enjoy the Sepang track very much and I and the other riders know it well, because we go there often during the winter tests. It's almost home as its part of Asia so that also makes it special for me. I know the track well and I know each and every corner. Because of this, we know what problems we've had there before so that helps and it means we can concentrate on getting a good set-up from first practice.”

As the end of the year approaches he is keen to impress, “I've had some good memories at Sepang, including a 4th place finish in 2001, and we all know that we've only got these last two races to fulfill our potential and get some good results.”