Nakano podium repeat up in smoke.

Shinya Nakano saw a potential second podium finish in a row snatched away early in Saturday's Qatar Grand Prix, after his Ninja ZX-RR suffered a mechanical failure.

The retirement was a huge disappointment for the fifth on the grid Japanese speed merchant, who overtook Alex Barros for fourth on the opening lap, then sliced past Ruben Xaus to move into third place - behind eventual race winner Sete Gibernau, and Carlos Checa - on lap two.

But it came to a premature, and dramatic, end on lap four when plumes of smoke began trailing from his ZX-RR, dousing his pursuers in oil (pictured) before Nakano became aware of the problem and promptly pulled off the circuit.

"I had bad luck today, but that's racing," said Shinya, trying to put a brave face on the disappointment felt by the whole of team green. "Obviously Kawasaki have to work hard to understand our engine problems, but despite this result, I'm very confident for the future after qualifying fifth and racing in third place."

Team manager Harald Eckl was more self critical after seeing such a prized result slip away.

"It is disappointing to know that the ZX-RR has the performance potential that Shinya again showed today, only to have some engine problems rule him out of the race," he began. "It is clear that we have to work harder to keep our motors alive and that is our priority now. Shinya did a fantastic job this weekend, so I understand completely how he feels today."

Meanwhile, Nakano's team-mate Alex Hofmann finished ninth, to claim his best result of the season.

"That was a really tough race, but I'm really happy because it's my best result of the season after starting so far back," said Alex, who lined up 18th on the grid. "But it could have been even better, because towards the end of the race I could run at the same pace as Hopkins and Abe, but I was just too far behind."