OK, it's very busy motorsport weekend now. F1, WRC and also MotoGP along many lesser series.
This time, MotoGP makes its Japanese visit early in the season, instead of traditional late-season slot. Motegi held Japanese GP early in 1999, but since then it had been late season, and Suzuka held a race early in 2000-2003 until that race was dropped after track was considered too dangerous for bikes following Daijiro Kato's fatal accident.
Standings before the race
MotoGPStoner Ducati 25
Rossi Yamaha 20
Lorenzo Yamaha 16
Edwards Yamaha 13
Dovizioso Honda 11
de Angelis Honda 10
Vermeulen Suzuki 9
Kallio Ducati 8
ElÃas Honda 7
de Puniet Honda 6
Pedrosa Honda 5
Hayden Ducati 4
Gibernau Ducati 3
Melandri Kawasaki 2
Takahashi Honda 1
250Barberá Aprilia 25
Cluzel Aprilia 20
Di Meglio Aprilia 16
Aoyama Honda 13
de Rosa Honda 11
Lüthi Aprilia 10
Bautista Aprilia 9
Wilairot Honda 8
Locatelli Gilera 7
Talmácsi Aprilia 6
Faubel Honda 5
Tomizawa Honda 4
Pešek Aprilia 3
Debón Aprilia 2
Baldolini Aprilia 1
125Iannone Aprilia 12.5
Simón Aprilia 10
Cortese Derbi 8
Espargaró Derbi 6.5
Smith Aprilia 5.5
Folger Aprilia 5
Terol Aprilia 4.5
Bradl Aprilia 4
Webb Aprilia 3.5
Rabat Aprilia 3
Aegerter Derbi 2.5
Gadea Aprilia 2
Redding Aprilia 1.5
Corsi Aprilia 1
Zarco Aprilia 0.5
Wildcard riders this weekend:
125 Hiroomi Iwata, Yuma Yahagi, Yuki Oogane, Yuuichi Yanagisawa, Satoru Kamada, all with Hondas.
250 Kazuki Watanabe (Yamaha), Shuhei Aoyama (Honda)
With new rules this year, there is only free practice on Friday, also for 125 and 250.
Top tens:
125: Iannone, Simon, Bradl, Rabat, Terol, Aegerter, Smith, Espargaro, Cortese, Marquez
250: Simoncelli, H.Aoyama, Bautista, Pasini, Barbera, de Rosa, Talmacsi, di Meglio, Locatelli, Debon
MotoGP: Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo, Vermeulen, Edwards, Capirossi, Dovizioso, Melandri, Elias, Toseland