KENNY Roberts Jr., riding for the Banbury-based Team Roberts, started the Japanese Grand Prix with the momentum of the third fastest time in the Sunday morning warm-up. But as the battle began it soon became apparent that the rising track temperature was adversely affecting the New Generation chassis of the KR211V and Roberts struggled to a ninth place finish. "Hopefully it's our worst race of the next two anyway," Roberts said, as the 2006 MotoGP World Championship draws to a close. From 14th on the grid, Roberts bolted quickly into tenth, then ninth on the second lap, his forward progress taking him to the back of world championship leader Nicky Hayden.

He was soon joined in the fray by Toni Elias (Honda), the trio running in close formation until they were caught up by Casey Stoner. The young Australian was in front of Roberts when he crashed just past the mid-point of the 24 lap race.

By then it was clear that the new chassis, which had arrived just prior to the race, didn't suit the high temperatures. Roberts found he was better off running by himself and settled into tenth, gaining one spot on the final lap when Shinya Nakano crashed.