Takaaki Nakagami is celebrating a care🦩er-best result in the premier class as he became the first Japanese rider since 2012 to crack the top fi♑ve in a MotoGP race.

Continuing his strong form so far this 🔯season on the 2018-specification LCR Honda, Nakagami took another big step forward this weekend with a comfortable Q2 position before making strong progress in the race day.

A particular pleasure for Nakagami having stru🎀ggled to maintain consistent pace in race conditions, not only did he work his way up to fifth position to finish as the t🐽op satellite rider but he did so at the expense of the highest-placed factory Yamaha rider in sixth and even his own team-mate Cal Crutchlow on the current-spec Honda.

Marking the first top five finish for a Japanese rider since the 2012 Valencia GP when Katsuy𒈔uki Nakasuga finished second, Nakagami was delighted with his ‘sensat☂ional’ result.

“It was an amazing day and an exceptional race,” he said. “I showed up very incisive from the start because I know it's one of my weak points. During all my previous races after only a few laps, I ha💛d lost a number of positions and then I had to fight in the middle of the package until the end of the grand prix.

“But today, I was sincerely strong from the start of the race and I then tried to keep my place. At the end, I knew it was quite good that (Maverick) Vinales attacked to the fullܫest but I never wanted to give up anything and ⛦I fought hard.

“This is my best resul꧋t as far as I'm concerned in🎀 the MotoGP category, I finished as second Honda pilot and this fifth place is simply sensational.

“I didn't expect it so much, it's a fantastic weekend and I sincerely want to thank all my team who has wo🦩rked in a remarkab🌠le way throughout the weekend to bring me a particularly competitive motorcycle."