“I never have been there. I'm really curious. I asked for information from my more experienced companions and everybody told me that Laguna is different and difficult,” he said. “Well, the great majority of things are new for me in the MotoGP class. So, I'm getting used to facing new challenges.

“I will try to understand by myself as many things as I can about Laguna Seca, then I will knock on Nicky Hayden's motor home and ask for his advice; he declared himself glad to teach me the secrets of his home circuit.

“We reached a point at which I feel necessary to work a little bit more on the set-up, to improve my performances. In the first races, the target was simply – not to do silly things and learn as much as I could. Now I want to make a step ahead and leave the last position to some other guy.”

Talmacsi has finished 17th and 16th in his two races to date. Should he finish 15th or better this weekend he will become the first Hungarian to score points in the premier-class since Arpad Juhos finished ninth at the East German GP in 1972.

Takahashi's departure reduces the MotoGP grid back to 18 riders, although only 17 will be at Laguna Seca with Pramac Ducati's Mika Kallio out injured.