Prima Pramac Yamaha is gearing up for the Japanese Grand Prix at the demanding Twin Ring Motegi circuit, which hosts Round 17 of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship. As the season reaches its crucial final stages, riders Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller aim to demonstrate their growing skill and determination on this stop-and-go track renowned for its tight corners.
Emotional Visit to Yamaha Headquarters in Iwata
The race weekend began with Oliveira and Miller visiting Yamaha Motor Company in Iwata, where they met senior leaders including Toyoshi Nishida, Senior Executive Officer; Takahiro Sumi, General Manager of the Motor Sports Development Division; and Youichi Takeda, Senior General Manager of the Motor Sports Section. The riders toured several key Yamaha facilities such as the Innovation Centre, the Human Research Project, and the Aircraft Research division.
A unique highlight of their visit was testing VSOP, Yamaha’s innovative virtual pedal-powered airplane simulator. Following this, Miller traveled to Tokyo to engage with local fans at a Yamaha event, strengthening the connection between team and supporters.
Twin Ring Motegi’s Intensive Braking Demands
Motegi, a 4.801-kilometer circuit, poses one of MotoGP’s toughest technical challenges. Featuring 14 corners, primarily tight bends requiring second gear, the layout demands exceptional braking skill and precision. Brembo has rated Motegi’s braking difficulty at the maximum level of 6 out of 6.
- Turn 1: Riders brake for nearly five seconds, shedding significant speed.
- Turn 11: A severe downhill braking zone where speeds drop from 310 km/h to 85 km/h within five seconds across 239 meters.
- Braking equipment: To cope with the intense forces, teams replace standard 320 mm discs with larger 340–355 mm carbon ventilated discs.
Performance History of Miller and Oliveira at Motegi
Jack Miller boasts a strong record at Motegi, having won the race in 2022, achieved four other top-10 finishes, and earned front-row starts in 2018 and 2023. Miguel Oliveira also has notable experience on this track, including a Moto2 runner-up finish and a Moto3 podium, with four additional top-10 results. His standout qualifying moment was securing second place in Moto3 back in 2015.
Current Championship Standings for Riders and Team
- Jack Miller: Positioned 17th in the rider rankings with 58 points.
- Miguel Oliveira: Currently 21st with 24 points.
- Prima Pramac Yamaha: Holds 11th place in the Teams’ standings, accumulating 85 points.
Oliveira on the Importance of Racing at Yamaha’s Home Circuit
Miguel Oliveira reflected on the significance of competing at the Japanese Grand Prix as a Yamaha rider:
“This is a special race for me, not only because it’s Yamaha’s home GP, but also because I’m fascinated by Japan and always happy to return. Doing so as a rider for a Japanese manufacturer makes it even more special. I felt the big enthusiasm of the Yamaha employees today in Iwata, and I hope we can keep building on our recent progress. We’re improving every weekend and showing growing competitiveness, which is a huge motivation.” — Miguel Oliveira, Rider
Looking Ahead: Building Momentum in the Final Season Stages
As MotoGP advances toward its season conclusion, Prima Pramac Yamaha and riders Oliveira and Miller are focused on leveraging their recent improvements to climb higher in the rankings. Oliveira’s expanding competitiveness highlights his rising potential to impact upcoming races, particularly at technically demanding venues like Motegi. The experience gained and support from Yamaha’s dedicated team fuel their determination to finish the season strongly and challenge the leaders in future events.
