In Japan Albert Arenas makes it back to back podiums, Raul Fernandez finishes 19th

Two weeks after his victory in Thailand, the Gaviota Ángel Nieto Team were celebrating again in Japan today thanks to Albert Arenas. The Spaniard was back on the podium at Motegi, confirming his great form with second place in a race that he had started from the 12+1 position on the grid. Arenas needed less than a lap to move up to the top six and he stayed in the lead pack throughout, eventually heading into the final lap in third.

With 4.8 kilometres of the race remaining Arenas took his chance to move ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki before launching a late attack on the leader Lorenzo dalla Porta, but the Italian held firm by just 0.094 seconds. Second place was Arena’s first podium that has not been a win, after his victories in France and Australia in 2018 and in Thailand two weeks ago.

Dalla Porta’s joy was doubled with the news that his title rivals Aron Canet and Tony Arbolino had both failed to finish the race, meaning his advantage at the top of the championship now stretches to 47 points with just 75 remaining. Alongside Dalla Porta and Arenas on the podium in third place was Celestino Vietti. Gaviota Ángel Nieto Team rider Raúl Fernández, who started from 26th on the grid, managed to make up several positions and at one point was running sixteenth before eventually finishing nineteenth.

2nd Albert Arenas:
“Second place feels different after three wins but it had to happen at some point. It was a very good race, I really enjoyed it but I suffered too. My pace was good and that gave me confidence, I went into the race knowing I had the potential to fight for the win but I didn’t know if I could do it. I am happy with the way I came through at the start and to be back on the podium two weeks after the last one. I’ve enjoyed itself this weekend and saw that I could do it again.”

19th Raúl Fernández:
“I started the race from a long way back and managed to make up positions on the first laps. It is a shame that I was losing almost half a second in the first two sectors, but then in the corners I was able to make it up. I gave everything I had but it was difficult to stay in the pack today.”