For the final time as a full-time MotoGP rider, Takaaki Nakagami crossed the line in a Japanese Grand Prix.

Takaaki Nakagami ended his last Japanese Grand Prix as a full-time MotoGP rider in 13th place.

The Japanese rider had been having a terrible Japanese Grand Prix in the build-up to the race. Nakagami qualified in 21st and was then taken out of the Sprint Race by his teammate, Johann Zarco.

For the Grand Prix Nakagami was the only rider who took the gamble of using a soft rear tyre. The #35's gamble worked as he ended up hunting down the riders ahead of him in the latter laps.

“It was a very emotional race,” Nakagami said. “I’ve enjoyed it a lot, and I wanted to give my best to my fans. I knew I had nothing to lose starting from the back of the grid and scoring points is always nice.

“I gave my best until the end. If I had 2 laps extra, maybe I could catch that group. But I really enjoyed the end of the race. I'm really proud of myself.

“The soft rear was risky, but I was managing very well. It was a good decision. I was able to be consistent and in the very end of the race, I was even recovering a couple of tenths, and that's why I was able to catch the group in front.”

After seven years of representing Japan in MotoGP, the Japanese fans treated Nakagami to an emotional final cool-down lap in Japan.

“I will never forget today,” he said. “That cooldown lap was a very nice feeling. I want to thank everybody for supporting me. Each corner I saw all the fans and I felt, ‘OK, maybe this is going to be the last one, the last cooldown’.

“Again, I'm proud of myself, I gave my best, so this is a very special Sunday for me. When I came back to the pit, I saw all my crew, all the staff, and I was nearly crying.”