Akiyasu Motohashi

Born October 1939. In the same cohort as Fumio Ito and Kunimitsu Takahashi. A late bloomer, he began amateur racing at age 21, and in 1962 was signed to Yamaha. Made a brilliant start by winning the Novice 250cc preliminaries of the first All Japan Road Race Championship (Suzuka Circuit) held in autumn of that year (DNF in finals). From 1964, won numerous victories in the Singapore GP, Malaysian GP and international races in other parts of Asia. And on the World GP scene, made spot entries in the Isle of Man TT with its illustrious history and tradition, and the Dutch TT, and in GP racing in his native Japan.

Achieved three podium finishes with a third in the 125cc class of the 1966 Japan competition, a third in the 125cc class on the Isle of Man in 1967, and a second in the 250cc class in Japan in 1967. Until he finally retired from racing in 1977, he also participated in major races in Japan and Asia while serving as a factory machine development rider. Devoted considerable energy to the development of successors like Hideo Kanaya, Ikujiro Takai and Tadahiko Taira.