P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Takaaki Nakagami’s MotoGP return yields sixth at Le Mans as he mirrors Johann Zarco’s winning strategy.
Takaaki Nakagami completed Sunday’s MotoGP race without crashing or changing bikes, joining Johann Zarco as the only other rider to do so. Competing as a wild-card with Honda’s test team after retiring at the end of 2024, Nakagami finished sixth – his best result since 2021. He praised Zarco’s stunning home win and admitted it was chaotic at the start with changing weather conditions. Nakagami mentioned the challenges with the wet track and the difficulty in understanding the situation. Despite the long and challenging race, he enjoyed it and considered the top six finish unexpected but rewarding for the Test Team. Nakagami noted the struggles with setting adjustments due to the changing weather and the mismatch with the electronics, but hoped the data would contribute to further development. He is anticipated to have at least one more wild-card appearance this season alongside Aleix Espargaro.
