Jeremy McWiliams crashed out in the early stages in Suzuka

Jeremy McWilliams cannot wait for his Proton KR team to finish work on its new four-stroke machine after he crashed out of the Japanese MotoGP race.

The Ulsterman had overcome mechanical problems with last year's two-stroke machine in qualifying to make it to the grid at Suzuka only for his race to end prematurely after seven laps.

"I lost the front end and I really do not know why," said McWilliams.

"It was a bit of a mystery, but hopefully we can push on with developing the new four-stroke to give us a chance of matching the speed of the other machines."

The Northern Ireland rider should have been joined on the Suzuka grid by Newcastle's Chris Burns but a shortage of engines meant the Harris WCM rider was forced to sit out the race.

McWilliams will look for better fortune in the second round of the series at Welkom in South Africa on 27 April.

The South African GP will offer defending champion Valentino Rossi the chance to continue his perfect start to the season after he won at Suzuka.

Rossi guided the Repsol Honda to first ahead of fellow Italians Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Honda) and Loris Capirossi (Marlboro Ducati).

"The conditions all over the weekend were difficult but we showed the amount of work we put in over the winter really paid off because the setting of the bike was very good," said the champion.

Former 125cc world champion Manuel Poggiali, from San Marino, won the 250cc race on the MS Aprilia.

Italian Stefano Perugini was first in the 125cc race on the Abruzzo Aprilia as reigning British champion Chris Martin, from York, was 25th on the Seedorf Racing Aprilia.

Former British champion Leon Camier, from Ashford in Kent, was 26th on the Metasystem Honda.

Japanese Grand Prix result: