Both Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo have both said they are unhappy about plans to run the Japanese MotoGP round at Motegi after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami damaged the nearby Fukushima nuclear plant.

Reigning world champion Lorenzo is very forthright on the subject, saying in plain and simple English he does not want to go while The Doctor is only slightly more circumspect, saying he hopes they aren't made to race at the circuit this year and joking that Suzuka is a good alternative.

Even though radiation measured recently at the track was less than in the middle of Rome and, it is said, less dangerous than taking the flight to Japan, the issue will be brought up at the Safety Commission meeting tonight.

"Everyone come to me and say they don't want to go. For me, I hope we don't go. I don't know if they want to make the race or not. All the riders and manufacturers should agree not to go. I don't want to decide. The situation is not very clear," said Rossi.

"People are very scared about Japan. For me a good idea is to go and race in Suzuka, it's only 500kms away. Some of the manufacturers are pushing to go but Ducati do not push so much. We will speak about it in the safety commission but a lot of the riders don't want to go."

Lorenzo added: "No, no I don't want to go. I don't know why we must go, we can wait a year for the race there. If you want to support Japan you can give some money. I don't know what the level of radiation is in Motegi, something could change with the (Fukushima) reactor, I don't feel safe to go over there. I don't want to spend the next 20 years wondering if something is going to happen to me or my children."