Nakano frustrated by raceday slump

The team have had a frustrating season with Nakano struggling to adapt to the 800c Honda, but had cause for optimism in qualifying yesterday when he achieved his best grid position since Jerez in March.

But Nakano could not maintain his pace in race conditions and soon fell down the order.

"Initially I found I could stay with the middle group at the start of the race," he said. "My pace at the start wasn't too bad - I was actually faster than during practice - so I was enjoying myself.

"Unfortunately from the middle to the end of the race I couldn't keep my rhythm going. Our problem was chattering from the front-end of the RC212V when under hard braking for the two hairpin corners."

Nakano is now banking on a change of approach for next weekend's Malaysian race.

"I think what we need to do is start Friday with a faster lap time and then make changes from there to find a setting that works better when we're going faster in the race," he said.

"That's what I want to do next weekend in Sepang. I like the track a lot and want a good result for the team and myself."

Team boss Gianluca Montiron admitted that they had hoped for better after qualifying.

"Today the result is similar to others we've had this year but at least we took some more points," he said. "We would have wished for a better result after such a good grid position, but this is the way racing is sometimes.

"Shinya decided to use a softer tyre as he got good feeling from it, but from the middle of the race he lost a little confidence and began to lose his rhythm."