"Nobuatsu and Atsushi made a big effort in this race, but there was much rain in Suzuka before race-week so we couldn't test enough," said Yoshimura team manager Fujio Yoshimura of his team's third place. "We didn't find a good set-up for the bike unfortunately but third fastest isn't so bad. We are proud but unhappy to be honest. This isn't the end though and we are starting today in preparation for next year's Suzuka 8 Hours."
Behind the podium finishers, Okada and Deguchi took fourth with Kiyo and Tamada ending their troubled race in fifth place, one lap down on their team-mates.
"I am very disappointed because we couldn't win the race," confessed BSB championship leader Kiyonari. "We thought we could win it and we were going to win it. During my first and second stint, front brake judder occurred and I had to come into the pit. For the last stint, I was pushing hard to mark the fastest lap and I am happy I did it. When I passed Okada san during my last stint, I kind of bowed to him to show 'Sorry Okada san'. If I can ride with Tamada san again, we will try our best to win the race."
"I feel very sorry to HRC because although they asked me to take part in the race, I could not show my full potential," added
MotoGP star Tamada. "I also feel sorry to my fans who came to Suzuka to watch us win the race. I wanted to win desperately so I am very disappointed. If I can ride with Kiyonari again, we must win the race. Today my knee wasn't so bad but my right wrist, which I broke last year, was hurting very much toward the end. I had three weeks before the next MotoGP race in Brno so I will relax to heal it. The Czech GP will be really important for me.”
The Masked Rider Honda pairing of Yamaguchi and Tokudome were next home a further two laps down in sixth place. The Yoshiteru Yokkaichi Honda of Japanese rider Yoshiyuki Sugai and Australian WSBK rider Joshua Brookes crossed the line in seventh, one lap clear of the Kawasaki of Tsuruta and Matsudo.
