Yukio Kagayama admits he was struggling to perform to expectations at Misano after pain-killing injections failed to quell the handicap of his hand injury.
Having decided to race this weekend despite breaking his hand in a crash at the Nurburgring, Kagayama was relying on injections to help him compete, but after complaining they weren't working in qualifying, little improved for the races.
Indeed, despite briefly impressing in the second race when a strong start lifted him to fifth place, Kagayama gradually slipped down the order to cross the line in 12th. He had finished 11th in the earlier race.
Apologising for not making the most of a bike he believes was capable to challenging for a podium, Kagayama was frustrated with his physical condition.
"Today the bike was good, but the rider's performance was not! I had pain-killing injections before both races and both times they worked for some laps, but nowhere close to the race distance. It was a big problem getting the bike to change direction and sometimes on the brakes.
“The broken bones heal quickly, but the ligaments take longer and they were causing me the problems today. After six or seven laps in both races, I began suffering with the pain, so I tried to use my right hand and arm more. But when the bike was shaking a bit, I found it difficult to hold the left side and it was not easy to push hard.
“Today, my left side performance was not as good as it should be and I am sorry because the bike has the potential to be on the podium. My team did a great job this weekend and I am just sorry I was not able to give them better results."
