Takaaki Nakagami

Japanese rider, Takaaki Nakagami, currently racing in the FIM^* MotoGP World Championship Moto2 class, will compete in the MotoGP premier class from the beginning of the 2018 season.

Nakagami first competed in the Moto2 class in 2012 season. Two years later, he joined IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia, a part of Honda’s initiative to nurture Asian riders to compete on the world stage. In 2016, Nakagami was on the Moto2 podium four times including his first victory at the Dutch TT. This season, he has already finished on the podium three times, and as of the completion of Round 11, the Austrian Grand Prix, Nakagami is 7th place in the championship.

In the upcoming 2018 MotoGP season, Nakagami will be joining LCR Honda, riding Honda’s RC213V MotoGP race bike to challenge established teams.

“Since riding a pocket bike when I was four years old, I have always aimed to compete with the world’s best. This opportunity has become real thanks to all of my associates and fans. There are still seven Moto2 races left this season, including the Japanese Grand Prix. I’ll be concentrating on these races, while gaining the abilities I need for next year. I hope everyone will continue to support me the way they have up to now.”

“I am very pleased Nakagami will be racing in the premier class. His outstanding performance, serious attitude towards racing and consistently aggressive riding style were all considerations. I believe that by Asian riders competing on the world stage, Honda can make a big contribution to the promotion of motor sports in the Asia region including Japan. I wish him success in his new stage, and hope that he develops into a Grand Prix rider that the younger generation can aspire to.”

“Nakagami continues his journey into 2018 as an HRC contract rider, and using his passion and riding skills to their fullest, will undoubtedly become a rider that the younger generation from Japan, and the Asia region, will aspire to be like. I believe his dreams will drive him to become a top-class rider who will impress many fans.”