Motegi hosts thirteenth Japanese Trial GP

The 2012 FIM Trial World Championship will make its next stop at Honda's famous Twin Ring Motegi motorsport race complex in Japan this weekend. This year marks the thirteenth edition of the Japanese Grand Prix at this unique venue. Twin Ring first opened its doors in 1997 and is so named due to having two race tracks, a 2.493 kilometre super speedway oval course and a 4.8 kilometre road course, which entwine. The oval course is the only one of its kind in Japan. It was originally built by Honda to develop its oval racing programme for IndyCar Racing, which is no longer held there. The road course is built in a stop-start straight/hairpin style and uniquely shares its garage and grandstand facilities with the oval course. It is a popular motorcycle racing venue and regularly features on the MotoGP calendar. The complex is home to further motorsports, boasting a second road course (the North Short Course), which is used for karting and Formula 4 events, and a dirt track for modified and sprint car racing. Twin Ring is also home to the Honda Collection Hall, which holds historic Honda racing and production cars and motorcycles, and the Honda Fan Fun Lab where all the latest Honda technologies and robotics are displayed. This unique setting, set against contrasting Japanese countryside, has made the annual Japanese round a true highlight in the international Trial calendar, and competitors will be no doubt be looking forward to making their return this weekend.