125cc: Did you know?

Honda have taken nine wins in the 125cc class at Suzuka, Aprilia have won twice, and Derbi once.

The 125 race will have the youngest entry list ever for a Grand Prix race with fifteen riders still teenagers.

Japanese riders have won the last seven times that a 125 GP race has been held at Suzuka. The last non- Japanese rider to win was Dirk Raudies back in 1993; this was also the last time a non-Japanese rider started the 125 race from pole at Suzuka.

If Manuel Poggiali should win in Japan he will be the first reigning World Champion in the 125cc class to take victory in the opening race of the season since Fausto Gresini in 1986.

Youichi Ui, who started from pole last year at Suzuka, took his first ever GP win at this circuit in 2000.

Noboru Ueda, who has made 150 Grand Prix starts in the 125cc class, won at Suzuka in 1991 starting from pole position on his GP debut. He also won on a 125 at Suzuka in 1997 after starting from the back of the grid and calling into the pits to change his gearing after the sighting lap, having qualified on pole.

Last year's winner Masao Azuma, also won the Japanese GP when it was held at the Motegi circuit in 1999.

Jakub Smrz, now in his second full season of Grand Prix racing, will celebrate his 19th birthday on the day of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Japanese riders took a total of 23 wins in all classes during the 2001 season, more than any other nation. This is the most successful season ever for Japanese riders in terms of GP wins, surpassing their previous best of 18 GP wins during 2000.